http://fourhillschurch.com Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:38:00 +0000 http://snappages.com en http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/25/authoring-inspiration http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/25/authoring-inspiration Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:38:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/25/authoring-inspiration
In about 2 weeks, my first book will be released on [...]]]>
In about 2 weeks, my first book will be released on Amazon.com. It is entitled "Still Here: Diary of a Church Planter" and it exists solely because of my blogging habit.

You see, when we began Four Hills Church, I began to write about it...a lot. After a couple of years of plugging away at the planting thing, I found it quite amazing to read my early thoughts on the subject and learn just how much I have changed as reality has taken hold. It has already been quite a journey, you know.

So, I compiled all the good posts (you can write a lot of junk in two years) and sent it in for publishing. I would love to tell you that some Christian publishing house picked it up and paid me tons of money for mass distribution, but...the truth is, it is being self-published by yours truly through Lulu (pretty cool site, by the way). You can buy it for $15 or download it for $5. Most of that money ends up in Lulu's hands (all but $3), but it's pretty cool to have a book in my hands.

I am hoping that some ambitious young man or woman out there might take a spell to read the rantings of someone who has planted a church...and find inspiration. It may not seem inspiring to write a book about a church that grew from 4 to 50 people. I might not be the wunderkind that set the church world on fire with an explosion of new church vitality.

But...it is inspiring to know that God still calls people to do difficult things. He still gives dreams and visions. And He is still faithful to remain with those people as they plug away...even from 4 to 50.

I hope I can inspire someone to do a difficult thing that God has called them to do.

Heck, I'll even give you the $3 they give me if you promise to read it all the way through. :)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/08/anniversaries http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/08/anniversaries Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:45:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/08/anniversaries
We're still here.

We have kept our promise. Neither of us have died. Our anniversary is a [...]]]>
We're still here.

We have kept our promise. Neither of us have died. Our anniversary is a celebration of survival.

I realize that does not sound romantic. We should celebrate the love, or passion, we share. But, our world is filled with couples that celebrate their love...and split up later. Promises and commitments aren't about the emotions of the experience (although there are many). Promises are about honoring the words you have spoken.

We spoke words of meaning 16 years ago and have not broken them...ever.

This Sunday, we celebrated our 1st year as a church at Four Hills. God called us to do it. We listened to Him and stepped out on a limb. Others stepped onto that limb with us. We committed to make this place into a church for imperfect people. And, after 1 year...

We're still here.

It hasn't been easy. There have been highs and lows. But, for every disappointment, God has opened an opportunity. We don't celebrate our excitement or our unending enthusiasm to plant a church. Those things ebb and flow, after all. Instead, we celebrate a promise we made to the Lord to plant this church, and His promise to be faithful to our efforts.

Lots of churches fail within the first 6 months. It's been a year. We celebrate survival. God is faithful and...

We're still here.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/02/man-vs-mower http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/02/man-vs-mower Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:30:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/02/man-vs-mower
Again.

Thus far this summer, I have replaced a battery, a fuel line, a fuel shutoff valve, and safety contacts under the seat. Now, the drive belt for the mowing deck has snapped. This happened in the middle of cutting the 6 acres surrounding the church. I could not stand to leave it [...]]]>
Again.

Thus far this summer, I have replaced a battery, a fuel line, a fuel shutoff valve, and safety contacts under the seat. Now, the drive belt for the mowing deck has snapped. This happened in the middle of cutting the 6 acres surrounding the church. I could not stand to leave it undone, so...I used a pushmower on the rest.

I may have lost 10 lbs. in the process.

I find it funny that my life as a church planter has led me to wear so many different hats. I can honestly say that I never thought I would become a yard machinery mechanic, but...someone has to do it. Our church consists of many great people that have helped me with many different things, but when the rubber meets the road, most of them are working their jobs during the hours I am repairing mowers.

Here are some other hats I have worn in the past two years:

Chef - I am not a great cook. In fact, my wife might tell me that I am awful. But, if there is a hot dog to be grilled, I will grill it. Burgers, too. I can cook just about anything on the grill now. What's that? You want meatloaf? Grill.

Accountant - My previous bosses will tell you what a horrible person I am with numbers. We have a church treasurer, but...as I said before...the day job interferes with him handling the everyday finances of the church. So, I put on my accountant hat. It becomes easier when I realize that it is God's money I am dealing with. Somehow, it makes me far more diligent.

Kids Worker - Our people do a great job with children's ministry. But, if I want them to step up to the plate, I have to be willing to do my share, also. Each Wednesday night, while the adults do their Bible Study, I play with the kids, teaching them Bible stories, while playing kickball. At the end of the night, there is always a snack...and I am always worn out. It keeps me young.

Painter - I have painted more than you can imagine. I didn't know how to paint until one of my members taught me. Now I have a roller and I am dangerous with it. We painted our old church building. We painted our new church building. We painted Veggie Tales characters on the walls of the nursery. We painted chalkboards and dry erase boards. Now...if I could just paint my own house.

Electrician - I realize that I should have a license for this one. But, sometimes, you just have to get stuff done. We have wired lights and sound gear. I have traced bad lines back to their source. I even discovered the hard way that our fire alarm system doesn't work properly.

Landscaper - That is my fancy term for saying that I cut the grass. A lot of grass. Sometimes, I get the mulch out and do the flower beds. It is fun. I have a tan.

Tentmaker - Okay, I don't literally make tents. This term is often used to describe a pastor that works a job in addition to his pastoral duties. When we started our church, I worked for the cable company. After a while, I was able to become a full-time pastor. Now, we are to the place where we have a chance to grow and minister...if I am willing to wear this hat again. I am, so on Monday, I will begin another "tentmaking" job. It is a hat that I must wear from time to time.

Storyteller - I could say preacher or teacher. But, to tell the truth, I do not wear those hats. But, I love to tell stories about Jesus and His Word. I love to see the look on the eyes of the people when I am telling it well. The Word of God is life, so it should be told with life. I have become a masterful storyteller and I think that is one of my favorite hats.

Cowboy - When I need to dress up for an event, I do it. This past Sunday, I was a cowboy. It was hilarious. Our church had fun. I even wore a cowboy hat. Not bad.

It's been fun wearing my writer's hat for a bit. But now, there is a lawnmower to fix. I gotta find that hat to put it on. Ah, the life of a church planter.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/01/how-time-flies http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/01/how-time-flies Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:46:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/06/01/how-time-flies
But...this isn't one of those posts.

This weekend, Four Hills [...]]]>
But...this isn't one of those posts.

This weekend, Four Hills Church will celebrate its One Year Anniversary. It has been about two years since we originally conceived the church that now resides on Zhale Smith Road. It started with a couple of people in a Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey and now, well, let's just say that things have come a long way.

So, I thought I would take this chance to note some things at this milestone:

1. Our church looks nothing like I thought it would. You know how you dream things and then, the reality looks far different. This is one of those situations. Only, in this case, the difference isn't bad...it's amazing. I always said I wanted a church that was different from the others, but I always envisioned a church that looked the same as everyone else. I am pleased to say, we went for different...and different is what we got. We have a family filled with normal church rejects and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

2. Things progressed much faster than I thought they would. Looking back at our initial planning, we assumed we would be a portable church for at least two years and that I would be bi-vocational during that time. Amazingly, God has provided a way for me to devote my time to the church and for us to be in a building that is dedicated to our uses...in less than a year. Wow!

3. Helping people is harder than I thought. In my mind, I had this idea of a church that helped the community and the people in that community. It turns out, that is easier said than done. For one thing, it costs a lot of money to help people. For another, people run and hide when you offer to help them. They are waiting for the other shoe to drop. But...we have found a way to help, through our Angel Food Ministry and our benevolence fund. In our first full year, we spent more money on others than on ourselves. Not bad.

4. When we said we wanted to minister to kids, God took us seriously. We committed to being a church that valued their children. We decided that we would attempt to minister to them in a highly-prioritized way (we just had our 5th Sunday Family Worship and it was amazing). God, being the One that listens when we pray, decided to honor us with a ton of kids. That's right, our downstairs children's ministry competes in attendance with our upstairs adult worship service. Thank you, God, for taking us seriously.

5. When everyone gives, things can happen. For a small church, we have an unusually high percentage of givers. In fact, it is uncanny how many of our people participate in that part of worship known as the offering. Our income has increased with each season and we are coming to realize that the more we give away, the more God trusts us with. A giving church is blessed by giving people who are blessed by a giving God. Nothing wrong with that.

6. Miracles happen when you call on the name of the Lord. We have story after story of miraculous events in the lives of our people. Some are financial. Some are emotional. Still others are actual physical miracles. Heck, my grandmother was dying in a hospital and now she has recovered with doctors hanging their mouths open wondering how. We prayed. We believed. God delivered.

7. Family can get on each others nerves. We have said from the beginning that we want Four Hills Church to be a family, no matter the size. We have experienced love, redemption, jealousy, in-fighting, and restoration. It feels like...um...a family. It makes me smile to think about it.

8. People have begun to read the Bible. That may seem like a no-brainer. But, the churches of today place a pretty heavy priority on worship and leave a good chunk of people out there feeling good, but not reading. We are excited that our people are opening up the Book that matters and giving it a chance. God works through His Word.

9. There is still so much to do. In the next year, we are wanting to get a full-fledged youth ministry going, along with Men's and Women's ministries, some form of boys and girls clubs, and a stronger outreach effort. It would be a pretty lousy excuse for a church if we just thought, "Things are good. Let's rest now."

10. We know that God is faithful. With a long road behind us and a longer road ahead of us, we can take this moment to thank God for His faithfulness and to trust that it will continue. Isn't it good to know that He delivers on His promises? Isn't it good to stand with Him?

Time sure does fly...but...

We've only just begun.

Happy New Year!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/24/my-confession http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/24/my-confession Tue, 24 May 2011 11:38:50 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/24/my-confession Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. - 2 Corinthians 9:13

They tell me confession is good for the soul. It seems like a pretty [...]]]> Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. - 2 Corinthians 9:13

They tell me confession is good for the soul. It seems like a pretty nice adage. In fact, I can remember many times when I had been guilty of something and...when the time of confession came...sure enough, it felt great to let the truth be heard.

Of course, when the Bible speaks of confession, it has two distinct approaches. The word "confession", as it appears in the Old Testament, is a clear statement of sin guilt. The people would confess their sins and God would be faithful to forgive them. In the New Testament, the word "confession" is almost exclusively used as a means of declaring the Lordship of Christ. A person would confess Jesus as Lord or confess the gospel of Christ.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but...those sound like complete opposites.

When I think of confession, I almost always think of the "sin" confession. Maybe it is the dominance of the Catholic faith in the U.S., but, in my eyes, I must confess all the wrong in my life. How cool is it to learn that, with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, my confession no longer is about my sin, but about His victory over that sin.

So, without further ado...my confession:

• There are times when I wish I were not a pastor, but Jesus reminds me that He is the shepherd and not me.
• I have sinned more as a Christian than before I was a Christian, but His blood covered ALL of the sin, so I am white as snow.
• When people talk about the end of the world, I roll my eyes, but when Christ does come back, He will be returning for me anyways.
• I am often a horrible father and husband, but Jesus has blessed me with the most wonderful family that they keep me in line.
• I have failed in ministry more times than I can keep count, but He continues to call me onward.
• I find there are times that I do not like people, but Jesus reminds me that I am loved, so I must love others.
• Jealousy consumes me when I look at other churches and their pastors, but Jesus offers swift reprimand and then gives me a hug.
• I cry a lot more than you might imagine, but Jesus keeps my tears in a bottle.
• When I stand before Jesus, I will have very little to show from my life that isn't shameful, but He will look at me and say, "Well done", not because I am great, but because I am weak and I let Him be strong.

There you go. Confession is good for the soul. After reading this, I am reminded that it is all Him and none of me. He is Lord.

It's a good thing, too.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/16/small-church-mentality http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/16/small-church-mentality Mon, 16 May 2011 11:33:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/16/small-church-mentality They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they [...]]]> They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

I have a small church mentality.

This is a big deal because I just realized it. I was talking with a good friend yesterday about church growth and what the vision for Four Hills Church is and the subject of "small church" came up. You see, we have a fairly small church right now. It is growing, but it is like cooking in the crock pot...slow and steady.

Unfortunately, I have been trained (as many of us have) to resent "small church" and strive for more, more, more. I went to Church Planting Boot Camp (which was wonderful) where I was told that, "If people come and see a small church, they will think you want a small church...so do everything you can to make your church look bigger and fuller." In the world of church planting...heck, church in general..."small" is bad and "big" is good.

That doesn't sound like Jesus, though. I realized this during my conversation yesterday.

When did having a "small church mentality" become a bad thing? God forbid I become a shepherd that does not know even one of my sheep. The truth is, large churches with a counters instead of a roll call sounds more like corporate America than the Kingdom of God. How could we ever sing about "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" when the roll in our churches is just counting rear ends that are in the seats?

Don't even get me started about how attendance counting turns all pastors into liars (including myself).

So, with all these conflicting thoughts, I went back to the passage that inspired the birth of our church in Acts 2. Everyone was together and had everything in common. They met everyday and broke bread in their homes. That sounds like a pretty "small church mentality" to me. Of course, the passage ends that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. It dawns on me now...

The disciples founded "small churches" while fostering a "HUGE KINGDOM".

When the vision of my church becomes about my church, I have faltered. When it becomes about His Kingdom, it is rock solid.

Let me tell you a little story that happened yesterday after church.

I was shaking hands with people at the front door (my usual practice) and a young lady with an unusual name crossed my path. I called her by her name and received a huge smile.

"You got my name right!"
"Why wouldn't I? It's a unique name...kind of hard to forget."
"Still, it's cool for a pastor to remember my name."

With God's help, this "small church mentality" will lead to lots of people whose names I remember. :)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/12/weird-ambitions http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/12/weird-ambitions Thu, 12 May 2011 15:34:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/12/weird-ambitions All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. - Revelation 13:8

I have been evaluating the church we are planting recently and I am finding some interesting things (when comparing it [...]]]> All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. - Revelation 13:8

I have been evaluating the church we are planting recently and I am finding some interesting things (when comparing it to other churches planted around the same time).

One, we are smaller than almost every other church that I know of that was planted around the same time. Well, we are numerically smaller. From a weight standpoint, we might have a couple of them beat. Just don't know.

Two, we are the only one of our comrades that are not striving toward church sovereignty (we are still under the direction of the KY District). I do not know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It simply means that our budgets still aren't completely stable. Not bad...just not stable.

Three, we are the only church of the group that has moved locations within their first year. I like to think that is a good thing. But, just as with the others, who knows? The truth is, I am really bad at measuring the success of our church. Why?

I don't measure success the way other people do.

Somewhere in the midst of reading the Bible, Jesus turned my success-o-meter on its end. I am told constantly that good evaluation is critical to success as a church planter, but I have difficulty evaluating the things that I find important in a church. Things like:

Authenticity - I have always wanted to pastor a church where REAL people had REAL problems and didn't fight to hide them from everyone else. I wanted to build a church where the pastor was just as flawed as the congregation and nobody was expected to be perfect. How do you measure that?

Family - I have been striving to build a church where people became close like family to one another. That includes getting on each other's nerves like family and feeling like you had people you could lean on like a family. I have been a part of too many churches where people enjoyed the show, but didn't get to know the people. How do you measure that?

Maturity - It's cool to be real and be close. But, I have always felt that those things should lead to a person being closer to God this year than they were last year. Sometimes, that is harder than it sounds. A lot of it depends on the individual, but the church should play a role in it. Again, I am not sure how we measure this?

You see, my ambition has never been to have a big church or even a wealthy church. My ambition is to be a good pastor, the way Jesus was. Unfortunately, His ambition was to lay down His life (from the foundation of the world), which means that my ambition...well, it must be the same. How I measure my success depends upon how much of my life I have laid down.

How do you measure success? The world has some interesting ways to determine success, but most of them seem contrary to Jesus. This week at Four Hills, we will talk about A WEiRD Way To Measure Success. It should be interesting.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/09/blue-jeans-in-church http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/09/blue-jeans-in-church Mon, 09 May 2011 13:52:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/09/blue-jeans-in-church Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. - John 13:3-4

I am not certain why it is on my mind today, but I thought I would take a moment to discuss [...]]]> Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. - John 13:3-4

I am not certain why it is on my mind today, but I thought I would take a moment to discuss church dress codes. Maybe it is the abundance of church attire I witnessed during the Mother's Day restaurant scened. Or it could be the WEiRD sermon series that we are doing at church. I really do not know my inspiration, but I am going there anyways.

I was taught that there is a certain way to dress in church. This way was told me through various anecdotes, such as:

"The Bible says that you should wear your best before the Lord."
Of course, when I hear someone say this one, it confirms to me what I have always thought...people just don't read the Bible. I had one person tell me that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" was in the Bible. That would have been funny, except that the person was a senior adult who had gone to church since she was in diapers.

"How would you dress if the President were coming today?"
You see the switcharoo? Based upon this statement, it would appear that I have more respect for the President than I do for our Lord and Savior. Nevermind that God is omnipresent, so He sees me when I am in the restroom or cutting grass. Based on this logic, my only encounter with God during a given week is on Sunday morning, which begs a much greater question about my decision to follow Jesus in the first place.

"The pastor should dress like a pastor."
I know that this one is specific to clergy, but I have to hear it just the same. Somewhere along the way, it was decreed that pastors wear suits. This would cause great problems for female pastors, except that the persons who came up with this system would never allow for a female pastor in the first place. Jesus had great difficulty finding suits in His day, but the apostle Paul...now that was a suit-wearing maniac.

"If we don't dress our best, people may end up wearing blue jeans and the like to church."
Ah, there it is. In Satan's grand scheme for defrauding the church and making the sacred unholy, he began with the denim fabric as a foundation for illicit behavior of the worst kind. The slippery slope of khakis and polo shirts will only lead to jeans and t-shirts. Next thing you know, people will show up naked to church.

The "blue jeans" argument came full circle one day at a church I served in the south end of Louisville. One of my students arrived for a Sunday night service wearing blue jean shorts. She was not allowed access to service because she was dressed so inappropriately. She came to me in tears. The Bride of Christ had made their judgment upon her and her blue jeans.

I promised myself that when I pastored a church, I would wear blue jeans every Sunday. I realize that I don't look as cool as others do in them. I definitely do not wear them because they are so comfortable. But, when the day comes that one of our people want to cast judgment on another for their attire, I want them to be able to point to me and say, "He doesn't seem to mind that I am wearing blue jeans." I want to be the worst dressed person in the room.

When Jesus came into His glory, He put a towel around His waist...the attire of a servant.

I want to be like Jesus. He was the worst dressed person in the room, so that He could serve all of the others. That sounds like the kind of pastor that I want to be. That sounds like the kind of church I want to build.

Be like Jesus.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/04/about-bin-laden http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/04/about-bin-laden Wed, 04 May 2011 10:33:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/05/04/about-bin-laden Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

So, I am reading a book called "Weird" and preaching a message series called "Weird". It [...]]]> Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

So, I am reading a book called "Weird" and preaching a message series called "Weird". It seems that I am destined for weird-ness, so I thought I would try to bring some people with me.

In Matthew 7, Jesus speaks about the wide road and the narrow road. He makes a strong point that the direction that the majority of the world is going "leads to destruction". We could take that to mean Hell or just general destruction of life. Either way, I am not too into heading for destruction, so I definitely want to head down the narrow road, where few travel.

Of course, this brings up some interesting questions about:

• the way that I dress
• what I watch on television
• the words that come out of my mouth
• how I treat other people
• what I allow myself to do with my body
• countless other things in my life

Just this week, we got to see the world react to the death of a pretty terrible man. It was pretty normal to hear someone say some pretty hateful things. I heard phrases such as "rot in Hell", "wish they could've killed him twice", and "we got him", many of these from God-fearing people that I knew. I am not saying that people were not justified in their statements.

It is perfectly normal to hate your enemy, especially one as evil as that.

But, that really is the point of weird-ness, isn't it? When Jesus called us out of the world, He was asking us to put normal aside. He even goes so far as to say, "You have heard it said to love your friends and hate your enemy, but I tell you, Love your enemy and pray for those who spitefully use you." Wow. That speaks volumes.

Weird people would have loved Osama bin Laden?

When I heard the news report, my first reaction was disbelief. My second was a smile on my face. How sick is that? I am not as weird as I need to be.

I saw a gentleman from the Kentucky Baptist Convention on television being interviewed. He had helped with the relief effort after the bombings in 2001. Here was a man that had seen the devastation caused by bin Laden first hand. What would he say about this reckoning?

"I find that I cannot rejoice over the death of any man. We prayed for Him, just as Jesus wanted us to. Christ loved him. Do we have a greater claim than Him?"

Pretty weird, huh? The guy loved his enemy because Christ loved His enemy.

Let me be weird like that.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/29/a-brief-post http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/29/a-brief-post Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:45:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/29/a-brief-post Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. - James 4:14

According to my research, people are more likely to read a blog post that is roughly half the size of the ones I post. So, we shall make this brief.

It has [...]]]> Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. - James 4:14

According to my research, people are more likely to read a blog post that is roughly half the size of the ones I post. So, we shall make this brief.

It has been a pretty wild week. Easter, followed by business meetings in Henderson, led to tornadoes and flooding (in the church basement). A Wednesday night of kids on my own (my wife had to care for our sick one at home) and a Thursday of church politics have brought me once again to Friday. I am preparing for a weekend of weddings (not royal ones) and sermons.

It is during weeks like this one that I wonder how quickly the sand is creeping through the hourglass of my life. I want to spend my time to doing meaningful things, but I sometimes feel that my time is spent on what must be done, rather than what should be done.

Ever feel like that?

So, for a moment, I will pause and thank God for this gift of life. I will once again promise to use it to the best of my ability. I will grind through the things that must be done and revel in the things that should be done. But, above all, I will cherish every moment of life. Life is brief...like this post.

Live life to please God. That is what matters.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/25/my-easter-adventure http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/25/my-easter-adventure Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:05:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/25/my-easter-adventure
I had a new shirt I had purchased for this Easter. Unfortunately, being the "man" that I [...]]]>
I had a new shirt I had purchased for this Easter. Unfortunately, being the "man" that I am, I did not bother with the Fitting Room and ended up with a shirt that looked like it had swallowed me whole. With a belt around my waist, it would appear that I was wearing a cute summer dress. I tucked my shirt tail for the first time in ages.

It shouldn't have mattered, since I would be wearing a coat, but, of course, the coat didn't fit, either (too small). I left for church in the pouring rain, only to be greeted by horn-honking traffic and persons showing me their tallest finger at an intersection. One vehicle followed me entirely too closely, making me wonder if I was prepared to deal with this bout of road rage, only to pull into a church parking lot after a few miles.

When I arrived at church, I discovered that I had printed the wrong set of notes, as well as leaving my prop Easter Egg at home. The day was going swimmingly, but I joined our worship team in prayer. That felt better. Right after prayer, my wife arrived with the egg I had left at home. Things were looking up.

...until I cracked the egg in the parking lot while trying to open my umbrella...

I preached without notes and went to hide in my office after church. While in my office, the church treasurer came in to count the offering. His triplet daughters followed and I took the opportunity to slam one of their little heads in the door (by accident).

I drove home, but stopped for gas on the way. $60 and a full tank later, I was once again travelling home. I had dinner with my family, went to more family's for some fun, and about ripped the bumper off of my car pulling out of their driveway.

By the time I was winding my day down, I found myself chatting on Facebook with someone whose day had gone considerably worse than mine, trying to convince him that things would be alright. I knew the right words to say, but that doesn't mean that I beleived them. My day had done nothing for my faith.

Ever have a day like that? Have you even had to tell others how good God was, when you were having trouble convincing yourself?

Then, I get an email from the Church Multiplication Network (the organization that helped us plant our church) asking for me to give them a report on our Easter Sunday. I left it alone. They didn't want to hear about my day.

But...

God is good. He really is.

That guy I chatted with on Facebook. He is gonna be alright. And I get the feeling that he appreciated the company.

I got a text from someone that was at church yesterday. They have re-committed to Christ and were thrilled to tell me about it.

My wife told me about someone this weekend that thanked us for planting Four Hills...said the church saved her life...

Wow.

My day wasn't bad. It was just another leg in a difficult journey...

...a journey with a great destination.

So, if I didn't seem cheery enough yesterday, I apologize. I will make it up today. Because He is risen. He is risen indeed. And He is good.

Happy Easter (on a Monday)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/18/weird http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/18/weird Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:28:24 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/18/weird But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9

The world has changed.

It is a cool opening line, right? Obviously, when Peter Jackson crafted his Lord [...]]]> But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9

The world has changed.

It is a cool opening line, right? Obviously, when Peter Jackson crafted his Lord of the Rings movies, he knew how to catch a person's attention. Of course, the world really has changed. No one can recognize this more than the Christ-follower.

I realize that I am supposed to be writing a blog about Easter and Christ's death and resurrection. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. But, I am in the midst of preparing some teachings that are all about becoming truly set apart from the rest of the world with how we behave and think. I am seeing the world around me become increasingly more God-opposed and it has begun to dawn on me that...

If they are opposed to Him, then they are opposed to me.

It used to be that the media was filled with anti-God sentiment. Now, you can leave the television off, put down the newspaper, and avoid the radio, but you will still experience the joy of antiChrist in the world today. Our people revel in the idea of "no one can tell me what to do" and have made the ultimate statement of this by "killing God" in their hearts and minds. It is the only way to behave as we do and not feel convicted.

I do not wish to be unnormal, but if I want to truly follow Christ, it seems that I must become something peculiar to others...something weird. In the book of John, Jesus tells His disciples that if the world persecuted Him, then they will persecute them, as well. It seems that following Christ has a definite price to pay.

For the early church, the price to pay was significantly larger than the price that I must choose to pay. Sure, I may be looked upon as odd, weird, or significantly maladjusted. But, they were fed to lions. They were sought out for destruction.

And, when they faced their certain death, they would sing. They would rejoice that they were going to die for the sake of their Savior. They were...weird.

I am reading a book by Craig Groeschel entitled "Weird". It has inspired me. I want to be the strangest anomaly to the world around me. I want them to see me following Jesus and say, "Man, that guy is off his rocker!"

He is weird.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/15/something-to-eat http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/15/something-to-eat Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:01:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/15/something-to-eat For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, - Matthew 25:35

At Four Hills Church, we love food. We love food so much, that it is one of our Core Values. We believe that people [...]]]> For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, - Matthew 25:35

At Four Hills Church, we love food. We love food so much, that it is one of our Core Values. We believe that people get to know one another over the course of a meal, so we desire the intimacy that comes with food.

That is one of the reasons that you will find coffee and pastries in our foyer when you walk in the door. It is the reason that we serve a full meal prior to Bible Study on Wednesday nights. It is why every time that we hold an outreach event, the grills are fired up and the food is rocking!

But, not everyone can afford to eat the way that you and I do.

Groceries are expensive and our budgets are getting smaller. There are a lot of people that must simply buy the cheapest things on the shelf and cannot be concerned with nutritional value or quality of product. When you only have so much money, you just have to make do.

We don't think a person should have to live that way.

We have participated in programs to help feed those that need groceries. We have worked with other churches that offered wonderful programs to assist those in need. When all is said and done, we are trying to go bankrupt from helping people to get the food that they need.

All that said, we have just begun a partnership with Angel Food Ministries, in which we will serve as a host site for the distribution of their orders. Angel Food is a ministry that strives to offer quality, affordable food to those that might not otherwise be able to purchase it. A typical Angel Food box (Signature) supplies a family with approximately one week of groceries for $31. We believe that people in the wealthiest nation on the planet should not have to go without proper groceries and Angel Food helps to make good eating possbile for everyone.

So, please pray for Angel Food Ministries and for those that they serve. Pray for our church, as we try to be a quality vehicle for this ministry to function. And...

If you have a need, let us know about it. No one should have to go without.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/12/my-rival-god http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/12/my-rival-god Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:14:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/12/my-rival-god I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

I am not a fan of misquoted scripture. In fact, I take great issue with it when a person grabs a single verse out of a passage and decides to make it mean whatever they want it to mean. The verse above has that occur quite often. Hopefully, I [...]]]> I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

I am not a fan of misquoted scripture. In fact, I take great issue with it when a person grabs a single verse out of a passage and decides to make it mean whatever they want it to mean. The verse above has that occur quite often. Hopefully, I will not do the same thing today.

You see, Paul (the author) was writing a chapter all about how he has learned to take the good with the bad. He is spending a few minutes letting people know that they can deal with the tough times and that they can do this "though him who give me strength". It is a passage about coping, not about conquering. It is about dealing with things that we do not want to deal with.

The time has come for me to deal with something in my own life.

I have often felt invincible. Apparently, this is quite the male trait. I have spent a great deal of my life living in a fashion that pleased me, without acknowledging the consequences of that living. I am not talking about foolish, loose living. I am talking about...eating.

I am obese. I should not be. The time has come to deal with it.

My kids ask me about things that they shouldn't have to ask me about. My health insurance costs more than it should. I have to pay extra money because of the additional X's that my clothing sizes comes with. It is not healthy and it is not right.

I have made commitments in the past. On occasion, I have kept them. For the most part, I have pushed them aside whenever I felt like it. But...

A person should not allow anything to dominate their life but Jesus. It is time to get rid of the rival god that food is, and implement some discipline into my world. This is not something that I pray to God for Him to take care of, because He looks back at me and says, "I will do my part, if you do yours." I must decide to do my part.

I walked a mile today and got light-headed. Not good. But, I can do this.

Through Him. He gives me strength.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/11/a-life-without-fear http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/11/a-life-without-fear Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:04:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/11/a-life-without-fear “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” - Luke 14:36

At Four Hills, we have been talking about what it means to live a life without fear. This becomes [...]]]> “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” - Luke 14:36

At Four Hills, we have been talking about what it means to live a life without fear. This becomes somewhat of a problem heading into the Passion Week, since it is apparent that before His crucifixion, Jesus felt great fear. There are passages that describe His stress as such that caused Him to sweat drops of blood. That is pretty fearful, right?

What do you do when the God that you serve (the one that told you not to be afraid) exhibits fear?

Before you cry, "Blasphemy!" and tell me that our God isn't afraid of anything, let me remind you that God became flesh. One of the joyous things that our flesh comes with is a preset sense of self-preservation. In the face of His imminent death, Jesus felt fear, specifically in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Fear of death is what helps us to make good decisions about our driving habits. It keeps us from eating the wrong kind of mushrooms (as if we gather our own mushrooms today). Fear of death plays a keen role in the perpetuation of our species.

Jesus faced His fear of death and responded with these words.

Not My will, but Your will.

You see, it might not be possible to live a life completely immune to fears that have been instilled in us since birth. That might not even be beneficial to do. But, how we deal with our fears becomes the real hallmark of who we are as a person and a Christ-follower.

Will we worry, fret, stress, and live concerned about our future well-being. Or will we be set free from our fears with the simple trust that comes from saying, "Not my will, but your will." When we take all the control of any situation and place it in the hands of our Father, we can face our fears with the confidence that God is in control.

There is nothing to fear. He has a plan. Get ready for Easter!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/06/when-reality-sets-in http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/06/when-reality-sets-in Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:09:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/04/06/when-reality-sets-in
At Four Hills, we had our Grand Opening of our LaGrange campus on April 3rd. In the month leading up to that date, there was work to do and cards to mail and doors to knock on and...well, [...]]]>
At Four Hills, we had our Grand Opening of our LaGrange campus on April 3rd. In the month leading up to that date, there was work to do and cards to mail and doors to knock on and...well, it was a lot of work. But, that work was quite a joy, because the date was looming and we knew that we would be glad when it came and we saw the results of our labors.

Well, the date has come and gone. We had a great Grand Opening and met lots of new people. The service went well and the majority of people I spoke with seemed to want to come back again. In fact, you could say that all the work paid off...with one minor problem...

There is still work to be done. There are still cards to be mailed and doors to knock.

There just isn't a date or goal looming to motivate us.

We call this reality and the true measure of our church will be how well we perform our tasks when there is not Big Event headed our way. Of course, we could always make another Big Event. We could look at Easter (3 weeks away) as another little goal date, so that we will continue with diligence. We could have a Grand Opening every month, for that matter.

But...at what point in time do we have to simply do the work prescribed to us because we love God and want to see His Kingdom advanced. That is the sign of real maturity. Our little church plant (still in its infancy) may not have matured to that point, yet. But, that should be our real goal, right?

In the meantime, I will cut the grass because I have set a goal to have the landscaping done by Easter. It doesn't hurt to make a goal for myself.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/31/the-stylist-and-me http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/31/the-stylist-and-me Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:54:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/31/the-stylist-and-me I'm not sure. Proper grammar may be "The Stylist and I". Let the debate ensue.

I got my hair cut today. It was a typical haircut. I commented that I do not have much hair left. The stylist complimented me on my eyes (a way to avoid talking about my baldness or weight). Small talk dominated the morning as we talked about [...]]]> I'm not sure. Proper grammar may be "The Stylist and I". Let the debate ensue.

I got my hair cut today. It was a typical haircut. I commented that I do not have much hair left. The stylist complimented me on my eyes (a way to avoid talking about my baldness or weight). Small talk dominated the morning as we talked about children and news stories.

Then, I said the words that I always debate about saying.

"I am a pastor."

Those words can lead to awdward silence or endless conversation. Either way, there is no turning back once I play the Pastor Card. I am in full commit at that point. When someone asks what you do and you tell them that you talk to God on a regular basis, there are certain expectations.

"I am a pretty spiritual person," she says. "I find that as I get older, spiritual stuff matters more."

It is at this point that I have a distinct choice. I can nod in agreement and let the conversation drift to her telling me her views on God. Or we can decide to "get real" for a little bit. This morning, I chose to "get real".

I tell her spirituality growing as she gets older makes sense...since she is getting closer to the end.

"The end of what?" she asks.

Life. As we grow older, we see people dying and recognize that our turn is coming. It makes us want to know more about who created us to begin with, since we may be on our way to meet Him in a short time.

The haircut stops. I look in the mirror and tears are in her eyes. It is time for me to not just be a pastor. It is time for me to be her pastor.

We talk about life and death. We talk about Jesus and what He did so that we can have confidence of our eternal destiny. We talk about bad choices that are overcome by His decision to die for us while we were still sinners.

Then we pray.

The haircut doesn't really seem so important after that, but it must be finished. Of course, there are awkward smiles all around. She lives in a different part of town than my church, so I offer some suggestions of churches she can be a part of. I tell her about our church.

Now, I trust God that He who has begun a good work in her will be faithful to complete it. Sometimes, being a Christian is less convenient than others. But, it does not stop just because I am sitting in a stylists chair.

I left her a good tip. Pray that God will continue to speak to her.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/28/welcome-to-our-mess http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/28/welcome-to-our-mess Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:55:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/28/welcome-to-our-mess
We have torn down walls, constructed stages, painted walls...and more walls, replaced framework and begun landscaping tasks. Our April 3rd deadline was daunting to complete all of [...]]]>
We have torn down walls, constructed stages, painted walls...and more walls, replaced framework and begun landscaping tasks. Our April 3rd deadline was daunting to complete all of the work, but at long last, I can say without question...

We are not done. Not by a long shot.

Don't get me wrong. When doors open on April 3rd for our 11 AM service, no one will be the wiser about everything that is still incomplete. We can do a pretty good job of masking the fact that the baseboard in the Sanctuary is not yet installed (shouldn't have told you that) or that the flower beds by the main sign are not yet planted (slipped up there, too). There is just so much to do, after all. It seems that when one project is completed, another one begins.

That's a lot like my life, actually.

If you are anything like me (or any of our people), then you know exactly what I am talking about. My life seems to be a constant construction zone of good intentions that often fall short. I wonder if, when God made me, He thought to Himself, "Yep, that one is going to me a mess." He must have known what a tragic mistake I would be.

Of course, He made me anyway.

Maybe, in the midst of my mess, I bring Him pleasure. It could be that the constant ups and downs that my life consists of are exactly what the Lord knew they would be...and He chose to give me a chance anyway. So, I welcome Him to my mess. It is there that we can meet and He can mold me.

This Sunday, we will welcome the community of LaGrange to our mess. I get the distinct feeling that most of us will be able to identify with the incompleteness of a renovation. It will be wonderful.

Welcome to our mess!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/21/when-email-goes-down http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/21/when-email-goes-down Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:58:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/21/when-email-goes-down He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. - Judges 16:20

After several days of receiving no communication via email (something highly unusual for me), I investigated to find out that there is some problem with my [...]]]> He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. - Judges 16:20

After several days of receiving no communication via email (something highly unusual for me), I investigated to find out that there is some problem with my email account. The highly technical people that get paid to deal with this sort of thing are on it, so hopefully I will be back to normal soon. But, the whole ordeal has raised an interesting question for me.

It took me approximately 3 days to notice that my email was not working properly. My life was so busy that I did not see that something had occurred. My question is...what if my life got so busy that I did not notice if God had departed?

I know. That goes a little deeper than you intended to go, didn't it? But, in the book of Judges, the Bible says that the Lord had left Samson and that he did not recognize it until his time of need came. Samson had become used to simply calling on God when he wanted Him and ignoring Him the rest of the time. God finally had enough (Samson allowed his hair to be cut...the final straw that broke his Nazarite vow) and ditched him, but he didn't know the difference.

This little email snafu has reminded me of my need to spend quality time with the Lord.

You see, if I am constantly seeking Him, longing to learn more about Him and striving to be more like Him, then it will be pretty obvious if He has left the building. But, you know what the cool thing about that is. If I am doing all of those things, He won't leave the building.

Had Samson been honoring his vow and honoring the Lord, not only would he have noticed the Lord's absence, he would have pleased God causing Him not to leave in the first place.

Just a little nugget for today. Hope they get my email fixed soon.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/07/what-a-church-should-be http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/07/what-a-church-should-be Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:28:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/03/07/what-a-church-should-be
As we prayed about our facility, [...]]]>
As we prayed about our facility, our church, and our future in LaGrange, something struck a chord with me about what our church is and what it should be. What it is? Well, it is a work-in-progress and that is alright with me. What it should be? Well, here you go.

A Place Where The Bible Is Read - There are so many voices in this world, it becomes hard to hear God's voice. The church should be a place where God's voice rings loud and clear. It is wonderful when He speaks to us in our hearts and spirits, but we can always guarantee that He will speak to us through His Word. At Four Hills, we commit to reading the Bible and teaching the Bible. Opinions and good ideas are just that. God's Word is eternal.

A Place Where Everyone Can Belong - Contrary to what you may have heard about the church, it isn't a "members only" club. Sure, God has some great teaching to offer you about your life and your lifestyle, but the love that you receive at church should not be conditioned on whether you follow or not. We must accept people because Jesus thought they were worth dying for...period. That does not mean that we do not teach them about His better way, but that does mean that we don't show them the door for being human. As people experience this Christ-like love, they will grow to follow Him. No doubt.

A Place Where People Can Get Hurt - What? That doesn't sound right. Why would I want to go somewhere where I can get hurt? Well, we aren't talking about physical safety here (that goes without saying). Rather, a church should be a place where relationships become so deep that we become vulnerable to one another. We call this intimacy and if a person cannot find it at church, they will find it elsewhere. It is inevitable that we will hurt one another emotionally at some point in time or another, but that is what happens in families. Think about it. Do you want to belong to another organization or something that matters?

A Place Where God Is Present - If we meet, do good works, and get to know one another, but never meet with God, then we are nothing more than the Rotary Club or the United Way (nothing against those organizations, by the way). As the church, we believe that God can solve problems that people cannot. We believe that God has provided answers that cannot be found elsewhere. So, if you come to His house, He should be there. We will pray, invite, worship, and encounter God in our church. We want you to feel Him when you walk in the door.

So, there you have it. It is no coincidence that these four items are the "hills" that our church was built upon (teaching, fellowship, intimacy, and prayer). When it comes right down to it, if we can get those four hills right, then we will be okay. Pray for Four HIlls. If God calls you, come and be a part of Four Hills. We are dedicated to doing His will in Kentucky.

To God be the glory.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/28/an-introduction-to-four-hills http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/28/an-introduction-to-four-hills Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:29:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/28/an-introduction-to-four-hills
Welcome to Four Hills [...]]]>
Welcome to Four Hills Church...one of the least perfect churches you will ever see!

I realize that most of us have grown up going to perfect churches, where everyone wore their nicest clothes and sat up as straight as possible while the pastor was delivering his weekly address. Unfortunately, we are not that church.

I know that just down the street you can find churches with massive auditoriums, television screens that would make most of us drool, and worship teams that are ready to go on tour with their awesome musical ability. Unfortunately, that one isn't us.

We are the little church that you might drive by and not notice.

Now, hold on a minute. Don't click away just yet. I have only said what we are not. You must hear what we are before making a snap decision.

We are a church you can feel comfortable in.

Is that your kid making tons of noise downstairs in our Kidz Church? Don't worry. That's just because kids are noisy and our church lets them be noisy for God.

Are you walking in the door with your blue jeans on? Geez! You might have outdressed the pastor today.

Church should be a place that feels like home.

We are a church you can become a part of.

Do you like to sing? We will need an audition tape, along with where you studied music...wait! That's some other church. Here, we will simply need to know that you love God and want to give Him your best.

Do you want to make friends? That's unfortunate. Because we want you to become family...not just a friend. We believe in doing life together.

Church should be a place that feels like home.

We are a church you can meet Jesus in.

Do you already know Him? That's great. Here, you will find that He is the most important piece of the puzzle. If you know Jesus, you will recognize Him as soon as you walk through the doors.

Have you not been introduced? Don't worry. He is pretty easy to notice around here. We will make sure that you hear a lot about Him before you leave. After all, He is the biggest part of our family.

Church should be a place that feels like home.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/22/destroying-a-church http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/22/destroying-a-church Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:03:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/22/destroying-a-church No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. - Luke 5:38

In case you haven't heard, we're moving. Our church of less than a year has found some new digs and we are more than a little excited about it.

So, this weekend, I took a hammer and a screw gun, and began destroying the church. (Wow, that sounded [...]]]> No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. - Luke 5:38

In case you haven't heard, we're moving. Our church of less than a year has found some new digs and we are more than a little excited about it.

So, this weekend, I took a hammer and a screw gun, and began destroying the church. (Wow, that sounded controversial, didn't it?)

The building that we are moving into once housed another church. It is a church building. Unfortunately, the church that was there before had to shut its doors (the reasons are not important for this discussion). But, where tragedy exists, so does opportunity. In this instance, the opportunity was given to us to have a place to call our own.

But, it didn't look much like us when we walked in.

Don't get me wrong. It was a beautiful church. Every item of furniture was placed throughout with exceptional care. Each row of seating had evenly spaced tissues ready for use. You could tell that someone had taken great care to make it look the way it did.

Notice I said "did", not "does". Yep, we have emptied most of it. We have torn down walls to make rooms larger. We are painting, replacing, and shaping the place to be Four Hills Church, rather than the church it once was. Putting a new church body into an old church building could have worked for a while, but we felt that an overhaul was the best approach to make sure that our new wine didn't have problems because of an old wineskin.

Right now, it looks like a mess.

The saying goes, "In order to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs." Well, in order to build a new church, you have to destroy the old church. That sounds harsh and horrible, and I really don't mean for it to. I love old church. I love the hymns and the potlucks. I love the Ladies Auxillary and the penny parade in Sunday School.

Yet, God has called us to do something new. We must put the old aside, even if it makes a mess. This can be applied in our lives, as well (with a little thought and prayer).

So, if you are driving down Zhale Smith Lane and you notice the sign on the old church building has changed, don't worry! That's just us. We are Four Hills Church. We are starting something new there.

We are making a mess.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/14/self-promotion http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/14/self-promotion Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:46:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/14/self-promotion If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. - 2 Corinthians 11:30

In the past few days, I have been taking a little tour of the World Wide Web. More specifically, I have been viewing church websites. Since we are changing locations in the coming months, it seemed like the right time to revisit [...]]]> If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. - 2 Corinthians 11:30

In the past few days, I have been taking a little tour of the World Wide Web. More specifically, I have been viewing church websites. Since we are changing locations in the coming months, it seemed like the right time to revisit our own site design, and the best way I can do that is by looking at other churches. That makes sense, right?

I have discovered a glaring problem with our site.

It appears that one of the most common features on most church websites (ones that I am actually drawn to look at) is some form of "Our Church Is Awesome" campaign. It only makes sense, I guess. When you look at the vast majority of commercial advertisements on television, you will find that almost 50% of your average commercial break is dedicated to promoting the channel you are already watching. Why shouldn't churches use the same tactics?

So, I found myself choosing between the "look at what our church did" and the "we are so much cooler than the lame churches you are used to" messages as to which one was my favorite. There were also the handful of "you don't have to dress nice to come here" and "here is a testimony of what God has done through our church alone" campaigns. Can you tell that I am a little disgusted? I think I know the reason.

Our church just doesn't compete.

We have made efforts to serve the community and our fellow man, but those efforts probably wouldn't impress you that much.

We would love to be cool, but we...well, I...find that the harder I try, the lamer I become.

You can absolutely wear what you want here, but that doesn't seem like much to promote. Once you see what I wear, you will think anything in your closet is pretty nice.

And right now, we aren't HUGE enough to do much anything all by ourselves. Most of our efforts are teamed with other churches in our community.

You can probably see my jealousy rising. If we want to be a self-promoting church, then we are going to have to really step up our game. It is hard to promote a church that specializes in weakness and struggle. It is hard to promote a pastor that has to teach himself the message before he can teach it to his church.

I thought about promoting our Authenticity ("REAL people here"), but the truth is, we are just as hypocritical and phony as everyone else.

So, what is the solution for a church like ours? How can I convince people that this is a place worth visiting? What can I say that will spark your interest? What can I promote?

We serve a pretty awesome God. He truly has done some amazing things for the people in and around our church. We love to worship Him and do everything we can to honor Him.

We also love people. Sure, we care about the faceless community around us. What we really like is getting to know people personally. Part of our mission is putting faces on the community around us, so that we can truly love the people behind those faces.

We may not be perfect. We may not even be the best version of ourselves. But, we are learning. We are growing. And we are ready to meet our new community.

Four Hills Church
Experiencing God, Embracing People

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/10/the-move http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/10/the-move Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:22:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/10/the-move
Some may wonder what the significance is about having a permanent facility. Aren't [...]]]>
Some may wonder what the significance is about having a permanent facility. Aren't there hundreds (if not thousands) of churches that meet in homes, movie theaters, community centers, and storefronts? Is it that important to have a building just so that you can meet there once a week on Sunday mornings? Let me offer you some reasoning (which may not account for much).

1. Stability

"The church is not the building. It is the people." I certainly believe that particular saying. As a pastor of a church in a temporary facility, that has become our battle cry. But, I often wonder if the person that coined that phrase ever had to convince a new visitor that his church was a real church and not just a group of people hanging out until they find a real church.

The truth is, the temporary facility churches you read about in the magazines are the exceptions to the rule. For every church that thrives in a "portable" environment, there are dozens that fail. When it is all said and done, people like to be able to point to a building and say, "That's my church!", rather than point and say, "When that building is not being used for other things, that's my church."

Having an actual church facility will give Four Hills the appearance of a stable community member, rather than a church plant that may or may not be there in 6 months.

2. Ownership

When I was a kid, we formed a club in our neighborhood. To this day, I cannot remember the name or reason for having a club, but I do remember one thing. We had a great clubhouse (it was actually a tree with a vine stretching over a creek...gotta use the imagination).

A clubhouse, headquarters, or meeting place reflects the values and purpose of the group that is meeting there. At Camp Crestwood, there is nothing identifiable about our church that we do not put up and break down each week. At this new facility, we look forward to seeing our personality and values shape the very building in which we meet.

3. Ministry

Contrary to popular opinion, churches can do more than meet on Sunday mornings. Of course, at Four Hills, this has been approached through smaller group Bible studies (and continues to be approached in that way). But, see if you can get a picture of all of the ministry that can be done throughout the week in a facility that we have complete use of.

With our kitchen, we can serve meals after service, rather than try to negotiate the treacherous restaurant crowd. If we want to hang out, we can do so in our very own place.

Imagine an addiction recovery group having a place to meet where the church loves them and the Spirit of God envelopes them

How about allowing students who would like to learn music the chance to come to Four Hills during the week for a group lesson on a weekly basis?

A church with an office becomes a great place for family counseling and professional development. If you need assistance, there will now be an office that is not in the pastor's basement.

We currently help families in need of food assistance on a monthly basis. But, with a facility to call our own, we can now store items for distribution at an instant.

Youth group, anyone?

By the way, the property we are moving to has 6 acres. Imagine how cool that Outdoor Movie Night will be. How much of that land can be cultivated for a community garden? How many of our kids will ruin their clothes with grass stains by rolling down the hill in front of the church?

4. Visibility

You cannot imagine the advantage that having an actual church sign will bring. I am not a fan of the cheesy church sign sayings, but I am a fan of having a sign that informs the community that there are great things happening at Four Hills.

The new location is not directly on the main highway, but it is not far from it. Not only that, but we have a sign on the corner of US-53...so, people will know that Four Hills Church exists when they drive by. No amount of door hangings or direct mail can compete with an actual sign and an actual building.

5. Community

Try as we might, Four Hills Church has not been a valued member of its community. Camp Crestwood is and always will be a recognizable place and part of the community. But, Four Hills is simply a group of people that meet there.

With this move, we get the second bite at the apple that so many organizations dream of. Knowing what we know now, what would we do differently? Well, you are about to see what it looks like when a church uses the experience of the past to launch in a new community.

With a much larger core group and a seasoned outreach approach, we anticipate that the community of Lagrange will be a place that Four Hills Church will become a part of...a valued member.

So, there you have it. These are 5 solid reasons for our decision to move. Sure, there are a few others, but these are the main ones. Please pray for us during this transition. Please encourage us whenever you get the chance. And...

If you happen to live in the Oldham County area, give us a chance. We open our doors in Lagrange on April 3rd at 11:00 AM. It should be amazing!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/07/holy http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/07/holy Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:09:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/07/holy There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. - 1 Samuel 2:2

As we at Four Hills enter into an effort for "Better Worship", it comes to mind that a matter of definitions is in order. How can we "worship", if we do not know what "worship" [...]]]> There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. - 1 Samuel 2:2

As we at Four Hills enter into an effort for "Better Worship", it comes to mind that a matter of definitions is in order. How can we "worship", if we do not know what "worship" is?

worship (noun) - reverent honor and homage paid to god or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred

honor (noun) - high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank

homage (noun) - respect or reverence paid or rendered

reverence (noun) - a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration

venerate (verb) - to honour in recognition of qualities of holiness, excellence, wisdom, etc

respect (verb) - to hold in esteem or honor

esteem (verb) - to set a value on; appraise

appraise (verb) - to estimate the nature, quality, importance

quality (noun) - a personality or character trait

personality (noun) - a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities

embody (verb) - to collect or unite in a comprehensive whole

whole (adjective) - not broken, damaged, or impaired; unblemished

unblemished (adjective) - without defect or flaw

flaw (noun) - a feature that mars the perfection of something; fault

perfect (adjective) - excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement; sacred

sacred (adjective) - entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy

holy (adjective) - entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred

worship (noun) - reverent honor and homage paid to god or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred

So, there you have it. We worship Him because He is holy. We do not worship God because of what He has done for us or because of what we hope that He will do. We do not worship God because He has given us an eternal fire insurance policy.

By definition, we worship Him because He is holy.

Holy.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/04/the-cost-of-repair http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/04/the-cost-of-repair Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:17:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/02/04/the-cost-of-repair Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our stove broke. Well, actually the stove is fine. The oven is, too. The control panel that sits on top of them both is what is broken. A little faulty wiring has caused us to have a repairman come to [...]]]> Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our stove broke. Well, actually the stove is fine. The oven is, too. The control panel that sits on top of them both is what is broken. A little faulty wiring has caused us to have a repairman come to visit us.

He wasn't cheap, either.

As I am typing this, a discussion has been going on in our home. The repairman charges for his time and also for the parts that are required. His estimate for the cost of a replacement control panel is almost $500, not including his labor for the repair. With a smile, he says that we have a perfectly good stove and oven. Of course, without a way to control them...

With the aid of the internet, I discover that I can purchase a brand new range and oven (similar, but not exactly the same) for about the same price, which would include a warranty, so I wouldn't have to go through this again. It pains me to pitch something that looks so pretty and seems to have very little wrong with it, but that little bit matters. It matters a lot.

As a pastor, I deal with a lot of broken people. Often, people will have an addiction or a heartache that seems rather minor, but it has dominated their life. They have a great desire to "change" whatever the behavior or attitude. But, they can't seem to make it happen.

Changing a little thing can have a very big price tag.

Jesus offers a different solution for most of us. Rather than "change" our behavior or help us "deal" with our insufficiencies, He has offered us a chance that doesn't come around every day. It is a chance to begin again. He wants us to start all over.

Rather than fix the old one (life), He thinks we should start a new one.

Unfortunately, most of us look at our lives like the range. It is a perfectly good appliance (with just one small problem). I am a perfectly good person (with one or two issues). But, just as with the range, that one little problem causes the whole thing not to work properly. The cost of repair for the range was just as high as replacement. In our lives, Jesus offers no repair. He is in the replacement business.

Do you battle with something in your life that you can't seem to conquer?

Stop trying to fix it. Start over. That old life isn't worth having compared to the new life Jesus has to offer. Begin with Him and watch the new creation come alive.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/31/better-worship-the-problem-with-lying http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/31/better-worship-the-problem-with-lying Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:56:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/31/better-worship-the-problem-with-lying "Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” - Acts 5:4

There was this couple in the Bible named Ananias and Sapphira. They sold their land and gave [...]]]> "Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” - Acts 5:4

There was this couple in the Bible named Ananias and Sapphira. They sold their land and gave part of the money to the church. But, they told the disciples that they gave all of the money. Because of this lie, they died.

I often wondered why God punished them. Think of how many people out there didn't bother to give at all. Those individuals weren't punished (that we can read of), but this couple that gave some was killed. I am sure the lying had a lot to do with it. God hates lying, you know. Of course, people lie all the time and aren't punished for it.

As a pastor, listening to people lie is part of my job. Please understand that I am not big on calling out liars, but unfortunately, the pastor is just one of those people you lie to. People lie about their families, their prayer life, and their jobs. They lie about their schedule and their preparation. My superiors lie about promises and my subordinates lie about promises. Yes, they even lie about their money like old Ananias and Sapphira.

I have stopped taking it personally. It's just part of my life.

When I read about Peter calling out this couple, it seems that he took it kind of personally. I wish that I could talk to Peter and tell him that it isn't worth getting stressed out over. People are people and you can't change that. I would even tell him that most of the time, they don't know they are lying. Things may have changed since they spoke those words, so the lack of truth in them isn't really their fault.

I would tell him not to be upset with them, because then he would be upset with me.

You see, I don't take lies personally because I hope that people will not take my lies personally. I try to be an honest person, but I fail miserably at it. I embellish a story to make it sound better. I hide facts to make a situation more favorable to my opinion. I offer phony excuses when I do not want to do something I promised I would do.

God seems to have taken it personally, though.

In Acts 5, Ananias is not killed because he lied to the preacher. He lied to God.

You see, I am right to not be offended when you lie to me. My own lying tongue disqualifies me from feeling personally attacked. But the Lord...well...He doesn't lie. His very nature is one of truth. So, when you lie to Him, He does take it personally. When you feed Him your bullcrap, He can taste it for what it is. And He doesn't like it.

He died so that we could be together. His resurrection allowed us to commune with Him. Yet, we approach Him with the same garbage we feed each other. That didn't cut it for Ananias and Sapphira. It doesn't cut it for us.

It is time for me to be honest with the Lord about everything. It's not like He can't see right through my lies.

This month at Four Hills Church, we will be in a series called "Better Worship". We will be evaluating our service to the Lord with honest eyes and striving to improve our worship of Him. It will have to begin with honesty. Will you join me in becoming honest to God? I hope so.

(Disclaimer: Someone reading this may think, "What happened? Who lied to Pastor Matt to cause such a post?". The answer is far less controversial. I was reading in Acts while preparing for our next series and this passage about Ananias and Sapphira simply stood out. I thought it might be worth writing about.)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/24/my-best-imitation http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/24/my-best-imitation Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:15:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/24/my-best-imitation Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul writes some pretty bold words when he asks people to follow his example. In fact, another translation of this passage goes kind of like this. "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ."

Whew...I guess mimicry truly is the sincerest form [...]]]> Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul writes some pretty bold words when he asks people to follow his example. In fact, another translation of this passage goes kind of like this. "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ."

Whew...I guess mimicry truly is the sincerest form of flattery.

When I look around me, I see people trying their hardest to live good lives. I even see people trying to do good in every situation. But, one thing I seldom see is people trying to imitate Jesus in their actions and decisions.

I seldom see that when I look in the mirror.

You would think that "trying your best" would be good enough, right? I cannot even count the times that I have heard a person say, "God knows I am trying", or "He knows I am not perfect". I have said it many times myself. It seems like a valid way of looking at things.

But, when I read the Scripture, I do not read about a God that is "alright" with our best shot. I have yet to come across a God that smiles and says, "Don't worry. You tried your best." In the Bible, when people decided to do what was right in their own eyes (another way of saying they tried their best), God viewed it as evil and sent judgement upon them (read the book of Judges if you think I am kidding).

The problem with doing the best we can in our own eyes is...we are blind. In John 9, Jesus says that He has come into this world to heal our blindness. Those of us that refuse to admit we are blind (who try to do our best on our own) will remain in our guilt.

You see, God's plan is not for us to wander around trying to make the best decisions we can. His plan was not even for us to help each other with making the best decisions we can (blind leading the blind). His plan is for us to look at Jesus, who can heal our blindness, and then follow His example. Imitate Him.

We don't like to imitate Jesus. He died young. He lived persecuted. He had very few of the luxuries that we have today. Seriously, Jesus wasn't even American, so that means you are supposed to imitate a foreigner.

He had few friends and the ones he had deserted Him (after one betrayed Him to His death). He was not married and had no children. He was in a constant state of prayer (something the average American Christian does less than 10 minutes per day).

But...He knew His Father. He did what His Father did (John 5). He imitated His Father. Hmm...that sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Let's put aside our best efforts in favor of our best imitation. Let's put away our excuses and simply do what we see Him do.

Let's follow Jesus.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/20/my-issue-with-the-coach http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/20/my-issue-with-the-coach Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:04:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/20/my-issue-with-the-coach Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23

I have made some enemies this week (not real ones, but fictional FB ones).

One of my favorite things to do in the evenings happened on Tuesday night. I love to sit in front of my television with a college basketball game on. [...]]]> Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23

I have made some enemies this week (not real ones, but fictional FB ones).

One of my favorite things to do in the evenings happened on Tuesday night. I love to sit in front of my television with a college basketball game on. More specifically, I am a Kentucky Wildcats fan, as was taught to me by my father growing up. If they win, I am elated. If they lose, the day just feels a little blah.

This week, they lost. But, my day turned sour for a different reason.

During the game, coach John Calipari unleashed a juvenile tirade at one of his players. There was significant profanity involved, along with a general look of disgust and displeasure. Sitting in front of my television with my wife, I was not offended. However, I did find myself wondering how I could cheer for a person whose bad behavior is so evident and lauded by others.

I posted my thoughts on Facebook (in the form of a status). I received comments such as "the kid was okay with it" and "every other coach does the same thing", which led me to think...

Why should I subject myself to such "entertainment"?

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. It is obvious what is in the man's heart. If the kid is okay with it, then it is apparent what is in his heart. If every other coach does it, then all of their hearts must be similar.

Do I want my heart to become like that?

Matt, it's just a game. People get emotional. You can't really think that watching basketball will have that big of an effect on your heart. You are being silly and irrational. You see worse every day. Just look around.

I do see worse every day. I am prepared for that. I have my guard up. But, when I am relaxing in my home, ready to watch a sporting event of a team that I have loved since childhood, my guard is down. And, I do not really think that I should have to put it back up.

So, I will not go out of my way to watch Kentucky basketball this year. I will not "boycott" it, but I am surely not going to race home to watch. The same goes for other sporting events.

It's only a game...and my heart is far more important than that...

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/17/brothers-keeper http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/17/brothers-keeper Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:42:44 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/17/brothers-keeper “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous [...]]]> “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” - Ezekiel 3:20-21

Two brothers are hanging out. They decide to worship God. God likes one's worship, but not the others. The other gets jealous and kills his brother.

...not the best way to get back into God's graces...

God comes looking for this man (his name is Cain) and asks about his brother (Abel). Cain replies with a phrase that many of us recognize today.

"Am I my brother's keeper?"

Um...yes...

Fast forward with me to the present day. We have evolved as a society. We now know that right and wrong are really just a matter of opinion. When someone makes a decision, it really isn't any of my business what that decision is.

After all, am I my brother's keeper?

Women have the right to an abortion...none of my business. People can sleep with whomever they want...none of my business. If someone is begging on the street because of poor decisions they have made...none of my business. Sin runs rampant because it really isn't sin anymore...none of my business.

Does anyone really buy this "tolerance" crap?

If I am walking down the street with a blindfold on and a truck is getting ready to flatten me, I realize it might not be your business, but I beg of you to stop me. My non-flattened body will not care that you invaded my privacy or offended my sense of independence by stopping me from doing something stupid. If I am getting ready to be dishonest about something that you observe, I realize that it will be quite uncomfortable for you to call me out, but think about how uncomfortable I will be in Hell if you don't call me out.

We started this church recently for "imperfect people", but my imperfection does not waive the consequences of my sinful act. So, if I am imperfect, please point out to me when I am getting ready to heap those consequences upon myself with my actions. Don't shrug your shoulders and say, "Well, he is imperfect, after all."

According to Ezekiel 3, I am responsible for you and you are responsible for me. If you "tolerate" my sinful actions, you will be held accountable before God. The same thing happens if I "tolerate" yours.

So, let's make a deal. Since neither of us want to go to Hell, let's agree to call each other out on our garbage. Let's be honest to the point of uncomfortable.

Let's be our brother's keeper.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/10/family-worship http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/10/family-worship Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:23:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/10/family-worship Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

I have been a pastor for many years. Most of those years were spent as a youth pastor, dealing with teenagers and pre-teens. During that time, my views on youth ministry changed drastically (as can be evidence in a [...]]]> Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

I have been a pastor for many years. Most of those years were spent as a youth pastor, dealing with teenagers and pre-teens. During that time, my views on youth ministry changed drastically (as can be evidence in a previous post). I became very discontent with allowing teens to learn to worship seperate from their parents.

That discontent has now continued downward.

As I read the Bible, I find no reference to Children's ministry. Please understand, I appreciate kids ministers greatly. The volunteers that sing songs with our young ones and teach them the basic Bible stories are going to have an amazing reward in heaven. I do believe that. But, to a certain extent, I wonder if the church does not abdicate its parental responsibilities with the formation of these kids' programs.

Let's look at the basics of training a child to go to the "potty". I will use my oldest son as an example, since he is 14 and will love me telling the world about his potty-training.

Caleb wore diapers from birth (he did not come out potty-trained). One day, I invited Caleb to watch me use the restroom. This may seem odd, but it is a vital part of the potty experience. He thought it was weird. He asked a lot of questions. He continued to wear diapers during this time.

After a few times watching, we decided that we would use the potty together. This was somewhat difficult, since the mechanics of a toilet are primarily for solo use. But, again, it is an important part of the process. During this time, we started wearing some "big boy pants", but continued to use the diapers, as well.

Then, the magical day came when he informed us that he needed to go potty (even though daddy wasn't going). His first solo flight was a day of great celebration. The time had come for him to abandon the diaper in favor of the "big boy pants". My baby was growing up. Today, he uses the potty regularly without even informing me of his intent to do so. He doesn't need me for that. It is between him and the potty.

What if we took the same approach to worship?

When they are babies, we let the nursery be the answer for their childcare needs. But, as they grow older, we allow Kids Church to fill that need. Now, rather than leaving them in Kids Church and Youth Group until they become adults, we invite them in to worship with us on occasion. The excitement of worshipping with mom and dad should be great, if we choose to make it so.

This doesn't eliminate Kids Church (my kid still wore diapers, remember?), but it does begin to teach them to worship with us. Imagine that magical day when they announce to us that they are ready to worship God with their whole hearts, when it isn't just about worshipping with mom and dad. That should be a time of celebration, right?

Now, imagine that when your kids are older, they worship God without your prodding or the prodding of a program designed to their age group. They will thank you and love you for introducing you to Jesus, but they won't need you to get to Him anymore. They will have their own relationship with Him. It will be between them and Jesus.

Does that sound like a good plan to you? I sure hope so, because it is our plan as of January 30th. Our kids will be joining us in worship on that day and we can't wait to see what God will do. Pray for our first Family Worship Service. It should be a good one.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/07/a-life-without-stress http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/07/a-life-without-stress Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:18:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/07/a-life-without-stress Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:27

At Four Hills, we are in the midst of a series of teachings called "New Way To Be Human". The idea behind the series is to cast off our old selves and start from the beginning with becoming the people that God would want us to [...]]]> Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:27

At Four Hills, we are in the midst of a series of teachings called "New Way To Be Human". The idea behind the series is to cast off our old selves and start from the beginning with becoming the people that God would want us to be. It is a lofty ideal, but one that I think we should aspire to.

This week, we want to lose our stress. Oh yeah.

It is funny to me that we should be talking about that, since my last post was a result of frustration and stress in my own life. I never claim to be perfect, but I do believe that God is working on me. In fact, most of us, when examining our lives, find them filled with stress, confusion, and frustration.

We are so busy, after all.

What if all of this is not what Jesus had in mind to begin with? What if our striving at work, running kids to every activity imagineable, and finding some spare time to slip a prayer in was not even remotely close to what God has for us?

This Sunday, I will preach the best sermon I have ever preached...for the second time. I preached it once before, in New Jersey, to a group of teenagers. Some messages are worth revisiting. When I preached it the first time, it was called "Unplug". I have changed the name.

"A Life Without Stress"

Sounds like just what I need.

BTW, we post our messages on our Vimeo page. So, if you are interested to find out if the message lives up to the hype, just check it out.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/06/my-non-devotional-rant http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/06/my-non-devotional-rant Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:47:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/06/my-non-devotional-rant
This is not one of those posts.

For some reason, I am not feeling so chipper [...]]]>
This is not one of those posts.

For some reason, I am not feeling so chipper today. It may be the weather. It might even be the insomnia that I have been constantly suffering from since my bump on the head (concussion). Whatever the reason, I am finding myself more and more irritated by the people that God has commanded me to love.

I am frustrated with the girl that came looking for Jesus because she has been in a series of bad relationships, but for some reason, she has decided to find another one and abandon the Lord that she so desperately needed a few months ago.

I am frustrated with the family that disappeared from radar and refuses to return a phone call.

I am frustrated with the boy whom I spent hours in jail with, only for him to leave his rehab program before the first night was over.

I am frustrated with the people that say that they love God with their mouths, but everything about their lives screams something different. I recognize that I am in no place to cast judgement, which is why I sit at this computer now and feel exceptionally guilty for my feelings of frustration. But, out of the same mouth cannot come blessings and curses (I believe that would be the Bible I am quoting), which is God's way of calling the bluff of the pseudo-follower.

I am frustrated with my own preoccupation during this difficult winter season. Rather than trying to reach the lost with God's Word, I have been worried about moving into my new house. With all offense intended, I must proclaim that my house concerns are quite selfish in light of the thousands of people living a life without Christ in the Greater Louisville area.

I do not intend to link to this post on Facebook. It is actually my hope that not many people read this one or see this side of me. But, for those faithful readers, I do not fear being transparent before you. I am a human being and not every thought is heavenly-minded.

Lord, how I wish my thoughts were always set upon You. You tell me not to look to the left or the right, but to keep my eyes fixed on You. Right now, they haven't been.

But I'm working on it.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/04/poor-little-goats http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/04/poor-little-goats Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:07:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2011/01/04/poor-little-goats Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering - Leviticus 16:9

This week at Four Hills, we learned about wine and wineskins. It was a pretty cool little message (one that we are uploading here shortly), but it did start to make me think about something strange. You [...]]]> Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering - Leviticus 16:9

This week at Four Hills, we learned about wine and wineskins. It was a pretty cool little message (one that we are uploading here shortly), but it did start to make me think about something strange. You see, wineskins were made from the skin of a goat. These goats did not willingly give up their skins, so...dead goat equals good wineskin. Throughout the Bible, there are mentions of goat sacrifice and the use of goat "parts" for very holy rituals.

So...I guess it stinks to be a goat.

I am not naive that we live in a society of carnivores, so pigs, cows, and other livestock are constantly slaughtered for the sake of eating. But, Biblically speaking, it was pretty much goats, sheep, and rams that took the brunt of the sacrifices (with some birds thrown in for good measure). In fact, one of the main sacrifices of the year was performed with a couple of goats.

Poor little goats.

Each year, the high priest of Israel would take two goats and cast lots (flip a coin) for them. One of the goats would be taken for a sacrifice to the Lord. The other would be released into the wilderness. Upon this second goat would be placed all of the sins of the nation to be carried away. This goat was called the "scapegoat".

You might think the "scapegoat" won the lottery. He gets to run away. But in Jewish culture, the lucky goat was the one presented to the Lord as an offering. You see, the goat that was set free could walk the earth as he pleased, but he carried the burden of sin with him wherever he went. The one that was sacrificed to the Lord was considered the prize (or the choice) goat. That goat would be celebrated while the "scapegoat" would be shunned.

This week, we will be talking about living without stress at Four Hills. It will be an interesting journey, but let us take Lesson #1 today from a pair of goats:

It is better to be a sacrifice to the Lord than to carry the burden of sin into false freedom.

We may have to discuss this one a little further, but for now...thank you, Lord, for poor little goats.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/27/the-day-after http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/27/the-day-after Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:09:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/27/the-day-after But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. - Exodus 9:16

I preached a sermon on Sunday called "The Day After Christmas". It turns out that I am not that original, as several thousand people have preached a sermon with [...]]]> But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. - Exodus 9:16

I preached a sermon on Sunday called "The Day After Christmas". It turns out that I am not that original, as several thousand people have preached a sermon with the same title over the years. It's okay, though. I never claimed to be original.

I have been thinking a lot about this "Christmas" thing and why God would manifest Himself to earth in such a way. He certainly could have come in human form without having to actually be a human, right? He could have set things right in the world with a simple wave of the hand (or whatever He chose to wave). What was His reasoning for this particular approach to earthly visitation?

Well, as it turns out, He became an actual human to defeat that which has defeated us...SIN. You see, we all know that sin is quite the troublesome thing, but none of us really seem to recognize it as the true master that it has become in our lives. Most of us know that there is a penalty for sin, but many of us fail to recognize what that penalty is, beyond basic reaping and sowing.

So, on this day after the day after Christmas, let me break it down into simple terms.

Jesus came to earth as a human so that He could conquer sin. He chose to conquer sin because He loves us and does not want to see us suffer eternal torment in Hell (the penalty for sin). Christmas isn't about magic or miracles. It is about Hell and God's desire to save us from it.

If Christ came simply to teach us a better way to live, then there was no need for an elaborate virgin birth or a tragic death on a cross. If God wanted to forgive us without consequence, then there was no payment required by Jesus as a substitution for us.

Christ came to earth because He believes in Hell, contrary to the vast majority of Christians who believe Hell is a state of being or a symbol of something else. Oh, He believes in Hell and wants to save us from it.

That salvation begins with Christmas.

Now what is our place in all of this? Are we just the recipients of this great salvation or do we have a part to play?

You know the answer to this. It is obvious, isn't it? On the day after Christmas, Christ began His mission to save the world from Hell. On this day after, we must begin our mission to tell the world about this great salvation.

Think about your Christmas this year. How many people did you interact with at family or friend gatherings that do not know if this great salvation? Are you okay with them spending an eternity in Hell? Jesus wasn't okay with it. We shouldn't be, either.

This particular post seems far more preachy than my other ones, but I got to spend time with far too many future Hell citizens this weekend. I am ready to start yanking them out.

Let's get to work.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/21/return-of-the-blogger http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/21/return-of-the-blogger Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:57:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/12/21/return-of-the-blogger
Let me explain.

Stacy and I have never owned our own home. Over the years, we [...]]]>
Let me explain.

Stacy and I have never owned our own home. Over the years, we have either rented or lived in a parsonage provided by whatever church we were serving at the time. This was convenient, but did not satisfy our desire to be actual homeowners. This summer, we took our first steps toward that goal.

Unfortunately, closing on a home is more difficult than it appeared to be. We were purchasing a home that had some strings attached to it and, on December 7th, our time at our rental ran out, while the closing on the new home was still "in process".

For the past two weeks, we have lived in a dormitory graciously provided by the Kentucky District AG, while our computers remained packed away in storage. This still does not explain my blogging absence, since I am the owner of both a laptop and an iPad. But, the truth is, I did not feel like posting what I have been feeling.

You would not have wanted to read what I was feeling.

I do not pretend to understand why things were not working out the way it seemed that they should have. I tried to put on a smile, while I was secretly questioning (and sometimes cursing) God. I realize that a pastor should not have those types of feelings toward the One that He serves. So, I took a break from it.

On Thursday of last week, we closed on the house. I was at the new house picking up the keys, when I slipped on a patch of ice (thanks to this wonderful ice storm) and bounced my head off of the ground. Later in the day, I was diagnosed with a concussion and told to get rest. Of course, I had to move the next day and a full weekend of church activities planned.

By Monday, the weekend was over, but the house was still a mess with boxes. That is when my head decided that it was through with how I was taking care of it. I have now awakened from almost 2 full days of sleeping.

Everything is a mess.

Christmas is coming and everything is a mess. My house is a mess because my wife has had to try to get it all done without me. My head is a mess because I didn't take proper care when I was first injured. Add that to my constant struggle of figuring how to get a newborn church off the ground and my only solution seems to be shaking my fist at the Lord.

But...

Jesus was born and laid in a manger. A nice couple was stranded in a town far from their home. Shepherds ditched their flocks to go see a King in a stable. Kings from the East consulted with our Savior's gravest enemy about His whereabouts. Anyone looking at this story has got to laugh at what a mess it all was.

It wasn't a mess, though. We thought it was a mess, but it was actually a plan.

God is sovereign and He works in mysterious ways. It is my turn to seem Him be mysterious. It is my turn to allow Him to wreck my life. It looks like a mess, but I trust that it is a plan.

I trust that it is His plan. He is not a tame lion.

Merry Christmas!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/30/learning-experience http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/30/learning-experience Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:09:10 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/30/learning-experience Is This A Sin? dot com. I have to be honest, when I first came up with the idea, it was pretty much just a joke. I always get asked if stuff is a sin because I am a pastor. So, I thought I [...]]]> Is This A Sin? dot com. I have to be honest, when I first came up with the idea, it was pretty much just a joke. I always get asked if stuff is a sin because I am a pastor. So, I thought I would let everyone vote on what goes on the sin list and what does not.

But I am learning things from it.

For example, I am finding that I get WHOLE LOT of page views, but very little actual votes get cast. I could take that to mean that people get to the site by accident and immediately click away. But, I notice that the Avg. Time Spent on site is still pretty high. In other words, people read the stuff, then choose not to cast a vote.

Another thing, in polls I have placed on the site where there is a "maybe" or "other" option (rather than "yes, this is a sin" or "no, this is not a sin"), those options are chosen over half of the time. When "other" is chosen, it gives people the chance to leave a comment. Most of the comments are very wishy-washy or non-committal.

It leads me to some early conclusions.

1. People do not think about sin much. I get a lot of responses from people saying that I should just mind my own business (although I am not pointing any fingers). It is easy to say that I love God, but to take time to evaluate where there might be sin in my life...well...that is just too much to ask.

2. People do not like to define sin with absolutes. I can't say that I blame them on this one. Life isn't very absolute, is it? There are tons of shades of gray. But, so far, the shades of gray always seem to win. My next poll is going to be a topic that is so blatantly sinful that it shouldn't even be discussed...but...my bet is that people will opt for the "other" button.

3. People get defensive of anything resembling judgement. Even if it is not directed at them, it seems that the defenses arise. Thus far, there has only been one solid issue discussed on the site, but you should have seen the defenses go up on that one. Wow!

So, I will continue this learning experience. We will see where it heads. I do not claim to be doing anything great for humanity with this one. But, I am learning a lot. I will report back what I find.

:)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/29/a-christmas-act-of-worship http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/29/a-christmas-act-of-worship Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:14:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/29/a-christmas-act-of-worship “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty - Malachi 3:1

Most of the world is getting ready for Christmas! It is an exciting time of year, [...]]]> “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty - Malachi 3:1

Most of the world is getting ready for Christmas! It is an exciting time of year, for sure. When it comes to preparation, there is much to do. I have to shop for my two kids and my wife. I have to help my wife decorate the house (that will come later...since we are moving this week). Just...so...much...to...do.

When I get my wife's Christmas present, I have a huge problem. I don't wrap. At least, I don't wrap well. For this reason, I try not to wrap her present if I don't have to. Any time I can get something that is obscure or oddly shaped, it helps me to bypass the part that I despise the most...the wrapping.

The problem is, if I don't wrap the present, she doesn't want it. It turns out that one of her favorite parts about receiving a gift from me is that I take the time to wrap her present, no matter how badly it is done. The effort lets her know that I really care about her.

Anyone can buy a present. You have to love someone to do a crappy job of wrapping it.

When I think about Christmas, I think that we prepare in the wrong way most of the time. Kind of like my wife, I believe God would have us give a little more effort when it comes to our celebration of His coming to earth. I don't mean that He wants bigger lights or more food on the table.

I think He wants Christmas to be an act of worship.

Think about it. Heaven came to earth on that day thousands of years ago. Not only was there a virgin birth, but the product of that birth was God Incarnate, all the omnipotence packed into a tiny, vulnerable infant.

God thought so much of His Son that He sent someone ahead of Him, specifically to prepare the way for Him. Jesus' cousin John, born mere months before Him, would be the spotlight shining on Jesus, for the world to see. To God, it was important to be prepared for such an occasion.

We should prepare ourselves, as well.

One way our family will be preparing ourselves this year is with family devotions throughout Advent. In fact, we have chosen to use the Buckner 2010 Advent Devotional Guide for just that reason. Every day, we will do a devotion together to focus on the coming of the Christ.

I invite you to do the same. Call it a Christmas Act of Worship.

Download the 2010 Advent Devotional Guide here. (right-click 'Save Target As')
(you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/25/an-interesting-2010 http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/25/an-interesting-2010 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:25:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/25/an-interesting-2010
Anyways, the past year has been an interesting one and I thought I would make some notes about the highlights. Call it a [...]]]>
Anyways, the past year has been an interesting one and I thought I would make some notes about the highlights. Call it a "Four Hills Year in Review":

• In December of 2009, Four Hills became an official church plant in the Assemblies of God. We had a meeting where 13 people were the founding members. I remember wondering if we would even have 13 on that day. Looking back, it seems so far away.


• In January, the Four Hills group began the remodeling of the room that would soon become our sanctuary. Thanks goes out to Jon Howe for leading the expedition and all the rest for their hard work during those couple of months.


• February began our monthly preview services at the church. Suffice it to say, they were interesting. Tops on my list goes to Kristen's grandmother, who loved the part of the service where I threw candy to the crowd.


• March was the month prior to our first big outreach event, the Easter Egg Hunt. In a strange circumstance, some area ministers became upset over our pagan celebration on Easter Sunday. Emails and phone calls and more became the order of the day for a short while. When it was all said and done, we had a great event and those ministers had to move on. Thanks to God and Joe Girdler for supporting us through a trying time.


• April and May was filled with walking neighborhoods and meeting people. We had a Movie Night and tried to meet as many people in the community as we could. In all honesty, once we got to these months, things were just steamrolling ahead, so I don't remember too much.


• June was the Launch of our brand new church. We launched with a small number of people, which got even smaller in the following weeks (lots came to support us on that first Sunday). Over the next few months, we would grow slowly and steadily. Four Hills Church had begun.


• July and August brought new faces and in August, we held our first Baptism service. It felt good to think we were making a difference in some people's lives. Thanks to Hailey, Joe, Laura, and Ann for letting me dunk them!


• By September, it became apparent that we needed to adjust ourselves to become a more "normal" church. We began to look into a time change, as well as creating some Bible studies for people to be involved with away from church. Adjustments and tweaks always seem to be a part of ministry.


• October and November have been great months at Four Hills. In addition to a few new faces, we have started to become a more community-driven church. For the first time, there are more families from Oldham County than there are from Jefferson County (love our Jeff, folks, though). With a community Trick-or-Treat (amazingly, not protested like Easter was) and a Thanksgiving Dinner, we are beginning to see the makings of a true church family. I am thankful to be able to say that.

I am sure that more will happen in December, but that will have to go in next year's post.

Thank you, Jesus, for bringing us this far. We trust you with this church. It was Your's from the start.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/22/a-crock-pot-church http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/22/a-crock-pot-church Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:18:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/22/a-crock-pot-church They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - Acts 2:42

Yesterday at Four Hills, we had Thanksgiving Dinner. People from across our [...]]]> They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - Acts 2:42

Yesterday at Four Hills, we had Thanksgiving Dinner. People from across our congregation brought food to share with one another and we stuffed our faces, talked, and had a great time. We opened with a couple of songs and I shared a brief devotion about Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful worship service.

Wait, did I say worship service?

That's right. At 11:00 AM, rather than finding your seat and being a passive participant in a theater production, we worshipped through the intimacy of eating food and getting to know one another. The question of what defines a worship service is likely to be asked, but rather than ask it, we just had a great time of fellowship, with God's presence all around.

There was teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. You might say that this worship service was closer to what the early followers of Jesus did than what you normally see on a Sunday morning (although I love our regular worship services, as well). As I sat at the table with some of my newer friends at the church, I uttered the words that no pastor ever wants to say.

"This is why we grow slowly."

When we were at BootCamp (that's right, they do BootCamp for church planters), we were told that we should start things off with a bang. We should create an environment that tells people right away what a large church this is going to be. It is a great formula for rapid growth and I have watched as friends from BootCamp and elsewhere have followed the church planter's formula for growth to perfection.

One of the things not included in the formula is regular church meals that force people to experience intimate moments with one another. It makes people uncomfortable that just want to show up and not get involved. Speaking from experience, more than half of our churches are filled with people that do not want to get involved. Most of our church worship services cater to the ones that want to hide (seats facing forward, dim lighting except for the stage, music loud enough so you can sing and not be heard, etc).

But, if you sit across from the table from someone, they are hard to ignore. This approach is the reason Four Hills Church grows at a snail's pace. If we treat our church as more of a family than just an association of people, we have to be alright with the fact that families take time.

My mentor in ministry once compared church ministry to cooking. Some people like to cook "short-order" style, getting as much food out in as short a time possible. Some people like to cook "buffet" style, orchestrating mass quantities of food that are somewhat bland in order to appeal to everyone. Some people like their "gourmet" cooking, taking extended amounts of time and the best of ingredients to make a single dish worth talking about.

In my world, there are only two styles. There is the "microwave" for bad food in minutes. And there is the "crock-pot", which takes all day, but knocks me over with flavor when it is finished.

Four Hills is a crock-pot kind of church. We don't have the gourment ingredients and we aren't produced for the masses. With what God has given us, we do really well with a crock-pot.

You should have been at our Thanksgiving Dinner. There were crock-pots everywhere.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/19/weekend-of-thanks http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/19/weekend-of-thanks Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:43:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/19/weekend-of-thanks We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. - Psalm 75:1

The holiday doesn't come until later next week, but I thought I would take this chance to offer my thanks to God. This weekend will be filled with helping people, celebrating with our church family at Four [...]]]> We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. - Psalm 75:1

The holiday doesn't come until later next week, but I thought I would take this chance to offer my thanks to God. This weekend will be filled with helping people, celebrating with our church family at Four Hills, and helping people. Sometimes, life gets busy and I don't want to miss this chance to say thanks to a God that has been so good to me.

I am so thankful for:

(Church Planting)

• A family that was willing to pack their bags and move again because God called us to plant a church in Crestwood, KY (of all places)
• A church in New Jersey that sent us with money in our pockets at a time when we needed it most
• A district in Kentucky that offered us a rent-free building to start our little church in
• A group of families that sacrificed their own needs for the needs of others when they decided to help us start a new church
• An extended family that has been understanding as we have followed the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout the years
• A denomination that believes in what we are doing in Crestwood so much that they actually put their money where their mouth is

(Financial)

• A bank account that is full more than it is empty
• A rent payment that has never been late
• A mortgage payment that will be the first we have ever had
• An opportunity to serve God and the church on a full-time basis (something most church plants do not see happen until their second or third year)

(Familly)

• A son that is more giving of himself than even he knows
• A son that is compassionate to the needs of others
• A wife that has more wisdom in her little finger than I have in my entire body
• A mom that taught me to be fearless
• A dad that taught me to care for my family
• A brother that challenges me to be better than I am
• A set of sister-in-laws that serve as sisters I never had
• A niece that is honest...and hilarious...
• A bunch of nephews that keep me on my toes
• A family that stopped bringing their guitars to family functions years ago

(Personal)

• A God that sees me for who I am
• A God that will not let me be content with who I am
• A God that puts dreams in my head that are unachievable without Him
• A God that reminds me to look back at what He has already done
• A God that has a plan
• A God that bought me with the highest price, so that I could be part of that plan

Sure, there is a lot to be thankful for (more than is even on this list), but this is a good start. During my weekend of thanks, I am likely to add to it. I invite you to do the same. It is one thing to say you are thankful and another to think about what you are thankful for. Join me in making your own list.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/18/is-this-a-sin http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/18/is-this-a-sin Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:26:47 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/18/is-this-a-sin If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. - James 4:17

So, I have been a little more creative than usual lately. In fact, I spawned another blog-site. It is called IsThisASin.com and it is exactly what it sounds [...]]]> If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. - James 4:17

So, I have been a little more creative than usual lately. In fact, I spawned another blog-site. It is called IsThisASin.com and it is exactly what it sounds like.

Each week, I will take a different subject for discussion and determine if it is a sin. We will weigh out the pros and cons. There will be Scripture and other research involved. There will be an opportunity for some public opinion. And then...

...it all ends with a poll to decide if something is sinful or not...as if God worked democratically.

Have you ever thought about how silly all of our opinions must sound to Him? My son, Cameron, is a real talker. When we are riding in the car, he will talk my ear off about some of the craziest stuff. If I had to be completely honest with you, most of the stuff he talks about makes little difference to my daily life. After all, I am the dad, so his opinion doesn't weigh as much as mine.

I often wonder if God hears our babbling and discussion and gets the same kind of chuckles that I get when I listen to my kids. When they get to arguing in the backseat, I just keep my mouth shut and listen. Their logic is sometimes so flawed, but it is entertaining, nonetheless.

But, then...there are days when I am driving in my car by myself and I miss hearing their chirping an squawking in the back. For all of their lack of logic and silly discussion, I love them and I love hearing them talk. They are mine, created in my image (a great disservice to them, some might say), and I love to hear their voices.

That is the way that I am viewing our little sin discussions. Our logic is probably flawed and our holiness is definitely in question. God does not care what we vote in our little poll, because when it is all said and done, He deals with us on an individual basis. But...

...but, I think that He loves us and probably enjoys hearing us talk.

Much like me, it probably hurts Him when His kids are fighting. But, to hear their thoughts and discussions has got to be entertaining to Him.

So, let's entertain our maker with our discussions about Him.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/this-should-be-a-sin-music-edition http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/this-should-be-a-sin-music-edition Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:05:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/this-should-be-a-sin-music-edition In an effort to be funny and find a suitable source to vent my frustrations about certain things, I have decided to offer up some things that I think should be a sin. Since I am not God, these things do not really matter, but I think that somewhere, God must have a suggestion box that I can place these possibilities into. The "sin list" [...]]]> In an effort to be funny and find a suitable source to vent my frustrations about certain things, I have decided to offer up some things that I think should be a sin. Since I am not God, these things do not really matter, but I think that somewhere, God must have a suggestion box that I can place these possibilities into. The "sin list" should be expanded and I know what things I want to see make it there.

Top 5 Things That Should Be A Sin (music-related):

5. Auto-Tune

Invented in the late 90's for use in the song "Believe" by Cher, Auto-Tune is now the most prominent vocal feature in music today. For those not in the know, it is a processor/modulator that causes the voice to sound "digital" by adjusting the pitch of any given sound to another pitch, chosen by the user.

It makes bad singers and good singers sound like robot singers.

Think about it. If Auto-Tune can make this idiot sound respectable, how do you know what Rihanna actually sounds like?

For those of you out there that are keeping score, Auto-Tune is cheating. It is like baseball players taking steroids or taking a quiz that you have the answer sheet to.

It should be a sin.

4. Remakes of Already Awesome Songs

I had a teen come up to me one day to tell me that I should hear the new Mariah Carey song, "Open Arms". What? Do not tell me that the Journey classic was redone by anyone, let alone Mariah Carey. It turns out that this legendary song was also redone by Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), Boyz II Men, Clay Aiken, and country music singer Collin Raye (yes, a country "Open Arms" has been made).

In the realm of Christian music, this trend is far more aggressive. Do you like the song "Our God" by Chris Tomlin? Don't worry! Soon you will be able to hear it done by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Starfield, Jeremy Camp, Kutless, Shane and Shane, Third Day, and Antoine Dodsen (using auto-tune, no doubt).

It's not that I think covers are a bad thing. I just think that if a song is great, let's let it be great. It is pretty vain for an artist to think, "What a great song! It would be so much better if I did it."

It should be a sin.

3. Songs Written by Pre-Adolescent Kids

Justin Bieber...Willow...Taylor Swift...Miley Cyrus Montana

I get sick of hearing songs about love and loss from people that should be riding bikes. Of course, this is not a new trend. For as long as there has been music, there have been teen and pre-teen songwriters.

I imagine that a really young David probably wrote some pretty terrible psalms to go along with the ones we know and love today. But, you don't see the bad psalms in the Bible, so we shouldn't have to hear this nonsense on the radio.

MMMBOP...need I say more?

It should be a sin.

2. Music Without Instruments

I guess this one can go with the Auto-Tune one, but I see them quite differently. Let me start by saying, "I respect keyboards and synthesizers." I don't want you to think that I have an issue with the sounds that computers can make.

However, I have found an extraordinary amount of music on the radio today does not require the use of a single musical instrument. You have a drum loop, a fuzzy sound of some sort, and an electronic bass line thrown in with a couple samples and scratch noises...VOILA! You just wrote a song. We will get someone to make up some lyrics later, but for now, let's mess with our Ableton Live and write a few more songs before firing up tonight's WoW meet-up.

I learned to play an instrument that can now be done via computer. Everytime an electronic bell rings, an angel sets down his instrument and cries.

It should be a sin.

1. Calling Songs from my Youth "Classics" or "Oldies"

Umm...Bon Jovi is not classic rock. Ray Parker, Jr. and Huey Lewis and the News should not be on the oldies station.

I am young. Really...I am.

It should be a sin.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/valuable http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/valuable Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:29:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/15/valuable For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

I post a lot of Scripture verses in these devotional journals [...]]]> For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

I post a lot of Scripture verses in these devotional journals of mine. If you only remember one, please make it this one.

Pawn Stars is one of the coolest shows on television. If you have never seen it, brace yourselves for the History Channel's offering to the reality market, where people bring their stuff into a pawn shop in Las Vegas, attempting to sell it for what I can only assume is more money to gamble away at the slots. I do not recommend this show for its moral value or its high educational appeal. Instead, I offer it as a glimpse into the "one man's junk, another man's treasure" universe.

And it's pretty funny, too.

As people attempt to pawn or sell their items, they inevitably thing their junk is far more valuable than it is. Sometimes, they find out that it is more valuable than they even thought it was. But, at the end of all the appraising, the negotiations begin for the purchase of the item. This is when it gets fun.

You see, the pawn shop isn't going to pay the people what the appraiser says its worth. The reality check hits each customer like a ton of bricks, as they realize that their item is really only as valuable as what someone is willing to pay for it.

What's that you have? Is it a rare Revolutionary coin worth $10,000? I will give you $2,000 for it.

In the end, nobody ever says, "No deal". Those slots are calling, after all. But, as I compare this revelation from Pawn Stars with Scripture, I find out something that I never really knew about myself. It rings especially true with a Scripture like the one I have posted above, and I encourage you to memorize this one because it is worth it.

I was not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. That could make me feel really guilty...maybe even appreciated. But today, in light of my new-found Pawn Stars knowledge, it makes me feel something completely different.

I feel valuable.

That's right. If Christ thought I was worth dying for, then who is anyone else to say otherwise. I don't know about you. But, there have been times in my life when I have felt pretty worthless...sometimes, deservedly so. I have been a screw-up and a thief and a hypocrite and every other word you could possibly imagine to throw at me.

When the appraisal on my life was done, I wasn't valued too awfully high. But, there was one thing that I didn't take into consideration. I had a buyer in the wings.

We used to do these bake auctions when I was a youth pastor. Kids would bake items for bidding to the local congregation. These items could easily be purchased at the local grocery store for a few dollars, but the people would bid extravagant amounts of money in an effort to help the kids raise funds for whatever trip they were going on or whatever cause they were supporting. That Upside-Down Cake wasn't worth a lot, but it became valuable because of the buyers that cared enough about those kids to make it so.

We may not be worth much on our own, but our Purchaser...our Redeemer...poured out every drop of blood to make us valuable. That's enough to raise the head of the lowliest beggar and the messiest sinner. That's enough to humble the proudest priest and the most beautiful of people. It's not about our assessment, but it is about the price that He paid.

The next time someone tries to make you feel worthless, remember 1 Peter 1:18-19. Remember that you were bought with a higher price than you could ever imagine. Remember that one man's junk is the Son of Man's treasure. You are His trophy bride.

You are valuable.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/13/about-debauchery http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/13/about-debauchery Sat, 13 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/13/about-debauchery Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. - Ephesians 5:17-19

One of the joys of being a pastor is when people ask you [...]]]> Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. - Ephesians 5:17-19

One of the joys of being a pastor is when people ask you questions. Some of the top questions you will hear today:

• If there is a God, why is there so many bad things that happen in the world?
• Is it a sin to get a tattoo?
• So, do you basically get paid to just pray and read the Bible?
• Do you think it is a sin to drink alcohol?

Yep, you heard me correctly. The "is it a sin" question appeared twice...mainly because, that is the question I hear most often. I guess people want to know what things are sins, so they can avoid them. On second thought, I think people want to know my opinion on sin so that they can argue with me. That's usually what ends up happening.

I am not a hard-nosed "sin" preacher. I believe God expects us to use our own judgment in many cases. Of course, there are some specifics that are pretty easy to nail down.

Take the alcohol question. The Bible makes no mention of abstaining from alcohol entirely. Many denominations (including the AG) have taken a position of abstinence from alcohol, mainly because of the excesses that people go to when given freedom. I, personally, do not drink alcohol, which is pretty good since I am an AG minister. But, I also do not condemn the ones that choose to drink alcohol.

However, the Bible is very specific in Ephesians that "getting drunk" is sin. The excess of alcohol leads to debauchery (definition: excess of sensual indulgence), according to the Scriptures. Anyone that has seen someone drunk can attest to that.

In fact, as you journey through the Scriptures, you will find that this "excess" thing is what God has a problem with most of all. Eating excessively is a sin (gluttony). Wanting an excessive amount of money is also (greed). In fact, as you go through the Bible, you will find that God does not have a problem with most of the things we do...in moderation.

Why should God care if we are excessive in our behaviors, as long as they don't hurt anyone?

In every instance where the Bible calls out excessive behavior (such as getting drunk), it immediately follows with a behavior that would please God more (be filled with the Spirit). You see, God wants us to be excessive in our love and worship of Him. When we are excessive in other behaviors, it usually indicates that our worship life isn't all the way there.

Debauchery is wrong because it leaves us indulging in our flesh, rather than indulging in His Spirit. The next time you are thinking about doing some excessive partying, reach for your Bible and a favorite worship CD first. After spending time in excess with the Lord, then go ahead with your plans and see if they are the same.

Let us excess in Him, not in the world.

Sermon over.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/11/competitive-church http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/11/competitive-church Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:21:10 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/11/competitive-church Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. - [...]]]> Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. - Galatians 6:2-5

When I was a youth pastor, we played lots of games. We would play volleyball and basketball. We would play games where there were winners and losers. My favorite games were the ones that you just kinda played with no clear winner ever defined. It is probably because I am not ultra-competitive (I may have been when I was younger, but that has faded now).

In fact, when the kids would pick teams for these games, they would never pick Pastor Matt. It wasn't because I wasn't any good (I have a jumper, you know). It was because I didn't care who won. I just wanted to have fun and make sure that everyone that was on the court got a chance to play. That does not lend itself to much winning, so my teams would always lose.

I have the same problem in church, too.

You see, what no one will ever tell you about church, I will tell you freely. When it is all said and done, churches are competing with one another for the same people. Don't get me wrong, we all want to reach lost people for Jesus...wait...I can't even say that with a straight face...

Truth: Churches want big numbers of people to come to their services and they don't care where they come from.

Let someone tell you different. They are lying (probably to themselves). The reason small churches hate the big churches is not because of their difference in style. It's because the big church won and the small church lost. Both sides see it that way, even if they refuse to admit it.

Truth: Churches want big amounts of money in their offering plates and they don't care where it comes from.

I had someone ask me something like this. Would you knowingly accept an offering that was given with money that was criminally obtained (prostitution, drugs, etc.)? Um...yes. The real question should be, "Will I ever ask where the money came from for fear that I might be faced with a moral dilemma?". Um...no.

I went to a Church Finance and Administration seminar this week and was given a template for dividing up church funds. It goes something like 50% salaries, 25% mortgage and debt, and 25% operational expenses. That's right! You have been giving to your church thinking it was charitable, but the church just pays its bills. Hmm.

Truth: Churches love to inform others of just how generous they are.

Have you ever met someone that tells you how awesome they are? If you have, I am sure that you felt the same way I did. If you were that awesome, you probably wouldn't have to tell me, right?

But, we (churches) do exactly that all the time. We put together promo videos for our generous activities, then piece together recaps to tell you just how generous we were. We say we are going to be selfless, then call the news outlets to invite them to bring their cameras to record just how selfless we are.

Truth: The reason churches do all of this is to attract people to their church from other churches.

You know I speak the truth. Why do churches advertise on Christian radio (go ahead and tell me how many non-churchgoers listen...I have heard that one before)? Why do churches always want you to know why they are different from other churches?

It's because we don't view the world as our competition. We compete with each other...for people, for the people's money, and, ultimately, for what the people can do for us.

So, in light of all of that, let me tell you some truths about Four Hills Church (you are on our website):

Truth #1: We do not have that many people.

Would you believe that I don't even report our numbers to the denomination because it stinks to be compared to other churches with more people.

Truth #2: We are gradually headed for bankruptcy.

What if I told you we were trying to go bankrupt. Sure, I'm the pastor and I get a salary. But, we don't do a whole lot of talking about money. We don't even pass the offering plate. We just hope people want to give and then we try our best to spend all the money we can on helping people.

Truth #3: We are terrible at promoting ourselves.

We have tried to put together marketing materials and campaigns. We are just not that good at it. It is probably because we are not that competitive. We just want to have fun and make sure everyone gets a chance to play.

Truth #4: We trust Jesus to bring us the people that we need and the people that He wants us to minister to.

Thus far, trusting Him has worked out. Every person in our congregation can tell a story of how they ended up here and usually, there is a major "God" piece involved. If we cannot trust Him to grow our church, then we should start over until we can.

So, there you have it. I will stop talking now. This became a rant, but throughout this week, I have gotten to experience more than a few instances of churches being competitive and I just needed a place to vent it. Consider it vented.

Welcome to Four Hills Church, the least competitive church you will ever see! (crap...that was like promotion, wasn't it?)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/10/it-gets-better http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/10/it-gets-better Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:50:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/10/it-gets-better By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. - Hebrews 8:13

I need to clarify. This is not that "It Gets Better" talk.

I have been reading posts and talking to people recently that seem to be reminiscing about the [...]]]> By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. - Hebrews 8:13

I need to clarify. This is not that "It Gets Better" talk.

I have been reading posts and talking to people recently that seem to be reminiscing about the "good old days". I am sure you have looked back fondly at some time of your life before. I have definitely done that. The "good old days" are a reminder of who we were and what we had planned before LIFE interfered.

Lots of people pine for yesterday.

There is nothing wrong with remembering. There is nothing wrong with sharing a happy thought and a laugh with a friend about something that happened years ago. I am certainly not talking about that. What I am referring to is those people that have difficulty letting go of a time that is done and gone...a time that was good, but is now used up.

Lots of people are not satisfied with their life.

I think that is the ultimate issue. Whatever life became for many of us is definitely not what we thought it was going to be. So, we look to a time before reality set in and think, "If I could just get back there, I would make different choices and life would be different." We hope for things that cannot be hoped for. This leads to depression and worse.

Lots of people are depressed today.

Should I quote pharmaceutical statistics to prove this to you? Do I need to point out that not only are diagnoses of depression on the rise, but suicide and instances of violent crime are, as well? If we look out our front window, we can see someone battling depression. If we look into our mirrors, we can see someone that needs hope beyond what they are currently feeling. The hope of a future that is better than the past is really what the world needs right now.

Lots of people need hope.

I once spoke with a girl that had decided to party herself to death in high school. When I challenged her that it was not a good plan, she told me that her mother had informed her that these were the best days of her life. She needed to live it up. I told her that if she thought these were the best days of her life, then she should end her life after high school. She was pretty speechless at that point.

These are not the best days of our lives. Better days are ahead. The Bible is filled with references to better days, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Hebrews speaks about God's ability to make "new" covenant with His people. This was a big deal to a group that had lived their life following rules that were 4,000 years old. All of Israel was living in a past experience with God and had no idea that there were better days ahead.

When Jesus came, He made a new promise to Israel...a new covenant. But, Hebrews says that for the new to come into affect, the old must become obsolete...and disappear. In order to experience the new promise that God has, you must be willing to let go of the old experience that you thought was amazing. Today, many Jewish people still cling to their old faith and miss the new convenant that Jesus has for them. It is sad.

Lots of people need to let go of the past.

This is my hope for today. If we let go of the past, however great is might have been, we can begin to work toward the future that God has waiting. It is better than what we remember. I can promise you that.

It gets better. :)

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/08/the-messiest-me http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/08/the-messiest-me Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:03:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/08/the-messiest-me Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.” So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of [...]]]> Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.” So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. - Hosea 3:1-2

Our "Messy Me" series is coming to an end this week. The concept behind it was pretty simple. We examined ourselves to find out that we are all a mess, but God has chosen us anyway. This past week, we looked at the life of Moses, a pretty messy guy, and found that God chose him to lead His people despite his messiness. In fact, God helped Moses realize that his own ability wasn't the issue, but that God's presence was what he truly needed.

Good stuff, right?

This week is the toughest for me, though. We will be looking at the life of Gomer, the example God gives us of the messy forgiveness He offers. The idea is pretty simple.

Week 1 - We are messy, but God loves us.
Week 2 - We are messy, but God uses us.
Week 3 - We are messy, but God forgives us.

You may think I have 2 and 3 backwards. I know, I did. But, in God's kingdom, forgiveness is not an event that takes place before He uses us. It is this ongoing process of absolving us from guilt...even after we know better...even after we have been used by Him...

In order to illustrate this, God uses a cheating wife. Umm...you got to work with me on this one. The truth is, I am a big-time forgiveness person. But, when you get into the realm of adultery...well, I don't know if I have the stomach for it. I love my wife beyond what you could ever know. That makes the idea of her sharing intimacy with someone besides myself a thought that is so disconcerting, it leaves me nauseous.

I can deal with a lot of messes, but this is the messiest.

I had a dream once that my wife told me she had been cheating on me. I literally woke from that dream and talked with my wife about it. It felt like a blow to the stomach...and it was just a dream! How could God want me to forgive someone that would cause that much pain? I just can't see it. Maybe He can forgive them, but I sure couldn't.

Then, I read the Scripture and find that this example is not one of me being the forgiver...

I am the adulterer. I am the messiest.

He views my actions against Him as a husband being cheating on by a wife. Imagine how that makes Him feel. When I turn to other things or offer my attentions to other places, does He feel the pain that I felt when I awoke from a simple dream of infidelity by my wife? In Hosea, He actually says that I have been "whoring around with the world".

I knew I was a mess, but this is the messiest me I could imagine.

So...with those thoughts in mind, I tackle a week of study and preparation. Somehow, by Sunday, I must reconcile a God that is holy with the "whore" that is Me. I get the feeling that, by the time I work this one out, I might have a different outlook on my own forgiveness standards.

Messy Me. Messier me. Messiest Me.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/05/youth-ministry http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/05/youth-ministry Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:56:01 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/05/youth-ministry Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

I was a youth pastor for years. Did I ever tell you that?

The truth is, being a youth pastor was an integral part of developing who I am today. When you work with over 1400 kids (over the [...]]]> Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

I was a youth pastor for years. Did I ever tell you that?

The truth is, being a youth pastor was an integral part of developing who I am today. When you work with over 1400 kids (over the course of a decade), you get a pretty unique perspective on things. Youth Ministry was very good for my development as a pastor. It was also something that was very good for the churches that I was involved in. They got a chance to be "younger" and expand their idea of what church was and could be.

Unfortunately, I don't know how good it was for the youth.

I began my youth ministry days at the age of 22. I was an idiot. I was reckless and inconsiderate. I was arrogant and brash. Many of these traits still exist in me, but I try to keep them to a minimum. The average age of most youth ministers today is...22. That's right, we get out of college and become youth pastors because we are young.

Why not learn ministry by trial and error on a bunch of teens that don't know any better?

The average tenure of a youth pastor today is 14 months. This is down from 18 months just 5 years ago. The primary reason many youth pastors leave their positions today is forced termination. That's right...they are fired. Whether this is for reckless behavior, incompetence, budgetary or authority reasons, or simple lack of performance, they are dismissed all the same.

All this begs the question, "If most youth pastors have little to no experience, stay for the equivalent of a year, and ultimately leave in a mess of their own making, is this really the place that I want my children to learn about Jesus?"

Of the 1400 kids that I ministered to in my youth ministry days, approximately 35% still serve the Lord today. This is not good. But, it is a higher percentage than the majority of youth ministries today. In a USA Today article from 2007, 7 out of 10 young adults are gone from the church by the age of 23. This has caused an uproar in the church communities about our disconnect with young adults, but I think the problem starts earlier.

Youth Ministry has crippled our children's ability to connect in the greater church community.

I was having coffee with a father this week and he said one of the most amazing things to me (regarding youth ministry). He told me that he understood that a person has to learn to minister somewhere, but he doesn't want them learning at his children's expense. As a parent, it makes sense to me.

I don't want a doctor performing surgery on me that has never done it before. I don't want a pastor mentoring my kids that has never done it before. So, I have some ideas for youth ministry (instead of just canning the whole idea):

• Actual training in the area of youth ministry is a great place to start. Several colleges have "youth ministry" majors, plus other schools of ministry offer great youth ministry tracts.


• Churches often offer combo positions (youth/music, youth/outreach). I think this is a great idea. How about youth/senior adults? That would help our younger ministers learn the importance of intergenerational fellowship and mentoring.


• Eliminate the "youth" service. The nature of the "youth" service is to be an alternative to the main worship service. This creates confusion in a young mind about the nature of worship and who is the one that is supposed to be pleased by it. Instead, involve young people in every aspect of the main worship service.


• Involve parents as much as possible in ministry to their children. Many youth ministries are led by young adults with a "no parents allowed" approach. Once again, an "us versus them" mentality is being formed that leads to problems when the college years approach.


• Finally, get rid of the Young Adult Pastor. That doesn't mean that younger adults can't be grouped in a small group or hang out at a function geared toward their age group. But, the idea of Young Adult Ministry is spawned from the failures of Youth Ministry to integrate young people into the greater church body. Don't compound the mistake...fix it!

So, that's about it. It is important to note that Scripture never references ministry specific to young people. It talks a whole lot about discipline, though. You wouldn't believe how many "rod of correction" verses there are. The church could just invest in some of those rods and see how it goes. Honestly, it might be a little more effective than what we see today.

God loves teenagers. We do, too. Let's try to up our game a little for them.

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/04/purpose http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/04/purpose Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:17:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/04/purpose For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13

A friend [...]]]> For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13

A friend of mine from college has a great Twitter account (mine is somewhat less significant than his). His name is Orlando and I love reading his comments on Christian Leadership. The other day, he posted something that I have been thinking about for a little while now.

Define your purpose. Define who you are. What drives you? What motivates you? Who motivates you? Why do you exist. and what is your purpose in life? Share your thoughts, ideas and passion!!!

Hmm. I have often felt that I was a man of purpose, but to actually define what that purpose is...well, that's a different story. I have many hats that I wear. I am a pastor, father, church planter, husband, teacher, aspiring author, videographer, dreamer, and hobbyist. But, none of those things define my purpose. They are simply things that I do.

Throughout history, man has defined himself by what he does. Even Batman, when given his big moment in front of the camera, says, "It is not who I am inside, but what I do that defines me." Well, if what I do defines me, then I am a hypocrite, thief, liar, and a sarcastic jerk. If I take it a step further to my motives and desires, then I am a murdering, lustful, tyrant.

No...I don't want to be defined by what I do or by what I think. So, where can I find this purpose? The question of why I exist has crossed my mind on many occasions, but now I am haunted by it. To exist simply for the existence's sake is not truly living. The question of purpose must be answered and I find that if I look deep enough, the answer lies underneath all of the doing and dreaming and thinking.

You see, I am on an a quest.

Ever since I first read the adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, I have been captivated by the idea of a quest. My appetite would move on to other quest-bound books such as the Chronicles of Prydain and The Lord of the Rings. The story was all about the journey, but the journey must lead somewhere. There was always a search for something or a foe to be vanquished.

I am searching for my Maker.

That may seem odd to you. Most of us either don't search for Him or we have completed our search for Him. I have been a pastor for well over a decade and have experienced numerous people that have told me all about my Maker. They found Him and they know all about Him.

But, I discover new things about Him every day. With each new person I encounter, I get to know a little bit more of Him. With each new challenge I embrace, I aspire to seek more of His heart and His kingdom. He said that I am part of His body, so when I look a little deeper at myself, I continue to discover who He is.

I am a pastor and a leader, but I do not know all the answers and I do not have a map with an X on it to tell me where He is. He left me clues in His Word and He shows me through His Spirit where to look next. I am on a quest to find my Maker and He has promised me that He can be found if I look for Him with my whole heart.

Shall we search together? You see, my quest is not only to find Him, but to point the way for others to find Him also. To the hopeless and destitute, He can be found. To the rich and the fortunate, He can be found. To the blind, hungry, bruised, and broken, He can be found.

He will not be found by the person who doesn't look.

Shall we search together?

]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/01/spiritual-conversation http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/01/spiritual-conversation Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:46:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/11/01/spiritual-conversation
A sampling of today's status updates for your approval:

• Being forced to use PC right now! Not a good way to start the [...]]]>
  A sampling of today's status updates for your approval:
  
  
  • Being forced to use PC right now! Not a good way to start the morning!
  
  
  • Instead of waiting for the thunderstorm to pass, why not learn to play in the rain.
  
  
  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad!!! :)
  
  
  • Girls at school, off tomorrow, then off again next Monday, who thinks of these schedules? Well I am off to bed.
  
  
  • Oh, yeah, wine tasting for 4! Hmmmm), who's it gonna be going with me :)
  
  
  • Rand Paul once kissed another man's wife...on their wedding day.
  
  
  I intentionally left out the inappropriate or risque statuses, because this post isn't really about that. Instead of trying to judge whether our speech is "good" or "bad", I just want the opportunity to have some conversation that is a little more meaningful.
  
  Last week, following our Sunday service at Four Hills, a message was sent out that had some wonderful, spiritual conversation. It was so cool. I felt a rush of value and meaning, as people shared from their hearts and their experiences about things God-related. I want more of that. I don't mind the small, fun discussions about whether pirates or ninjas would win in a battle (thank you, Terry!), but I think a pretty neat balance would be to discuss some things of significance, as well.
  
  So...I am trying something which will probably end in utter failure (it will not be the first failure, I am sure). I have attached a discussion forum to our Four Hills facebook group. My intent is to post a topic each week (sometimes related to the sermon series...sometimes not) for discussion. I am not looking for the second coming of Meet The Press or anything. I would just like the chance to hear what people have to say about spiritual matters.
  
  I think it would be neat (not to mention Biblical...but, I left the scripture reference off of this one so that it wouldn't sound preachy). If you would like to join the discussion, even for a little bit, you can do so by clicking the link below.
  
  Four Hills Discussion Forum
  
  On a side note, if this fails miserably, I could be sad for days.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/28/short-story http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/28/short-story Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:05:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/28/short-story
  One of the early ideas I had for my novel involved a man opening an odd fortune cookie. I really couldn't get my head around that idea for 50,000 words, but I did manage to punch out almost 3,000 words in the form of a short story. It took me about two hours and was simply an idea that I had to get out of my head and onto my word processor.
  
  It has not been proofread and was written between the hours of 1 AM and 3 AM, so I make not promises. But, if you would like to give it a read, here is is for your downloading pleasure.
  
  Fortune Cookie
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/26/adddrop http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/26/adddrop Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:45:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/26/adddrop Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  
  This past week at Four Hills, we discussed the crucifixion of Jesus in great detail. We actually [...]]]> Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  
  This past week at Four Hills, we discussed the crucifixion of Jesus in great detail. We actually went through 15 different prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during the last 24 hours of His life and what their significance was. It would have been really cool, if not for the absolute remorse that came over me when I realized that I was the cause of this suffering. I do not believe that Jesus' intention was for me to feel guilt about His death, but I believe that He wants us all to recognize it for what it is and live our life accordingly.
  
  After all, if He purchased my life with His death, what kind of life was He purchasing? Did He really want me to continue in my ways or was His intent for me to live a better way?
  
  In college, when you were in the middle of a semester and you realized that a class was not what you needed, you could drop that class in exchange for something else. Amazingly enough, they called this process "add/drop". Most students would drop classes that they were doing poorly in and exchange them for easier classes. But the mature students would drop a class that was not helping them achieve their goals for a class that was more befitting their major.
  
  Looking at my daily itinerary, I must ask an honest question. Did Christ die so that I might do this? I need to do some add/drop on my life.
  
  Drop
  I need to drop staying up late at night. The truth is, there is no reason for it. I watch television and cause myself to be less productive the following morning. My wife goes to bed without me and it leaves a lot of time for me to deal with temptation all by my lonesome (other guys know what I am talking about). Nothing good happens after midnight, so I should not stay up into the wee hours of the morning with no purpose.
  
  Add
  It is time that I begin to really exercise again. I was once a far more fit person than I am now. The only reason that I do not exercise is because it is so hard to do when you are as overweight as I am. That is a really lousy excuse. Christ died for me and purchased my body with His. It is time for me to honor God with my body.
  
  Drop
  I have an addiction to all things electronic. When I go into a store and see a new gadget, I try to figure out how I can get it. Lately, I have been eyeballing an iPad, but the truth is, I have absolutely no need for one. I tell myself that I could do amazing sermon presentations by using it, but the truth is, it looks neat and I want it. I need to drop this addiction that is controlling me.
  
  Add
  What I need most in my life is a more productive time of prayer and study with the Lord. I spend time in study and I prepare for my sermons in detail. I even use this blog as a way to be reflective about the things of God. But, I am feeling that these are not enough anymore. I have this fear that says that I must be doing something in order to be called a pastor, but what God is requiring of me is to do less and to spend more time with Him.
  
  I am sure that there will be more add/drop as the days go by. This small list is a beginning and not an end. I imagine that we all have some things that we need to add/drop. It would be nice to think that there was someone out there that already had their schedule perfect.
  
  But, that's not me. This is my attempt to get there.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/25/adjusting-the-schedule http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/25/adjusting-the-schedule Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:46:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/25/adjusting-the-schedule
  When we started our church (a few months ago), we did so with the intention of meeting on [...]]]>
  When we started our church (a few months ago), we did so with the intention of meeting on Sunday evenings. Our thought process made sense. It seemed to us that the majority of people that do not attend church already are probably accustomed to sleeping on Sunday mornings. In our minds, an evening service was more likely to be attended by those that do not currently attend, because it would be more friendly to their current schedule.
  
  What we did not anticipate was the odd looks that people would give us when we told them that we met at 5 PM in the evening. I can tell you of numerous occasions when I would be filling someone in about our church, only to have them shy away when they heard about our meeting time. The truth is, our society is geared toward a Sunday morning church experience, so when we mentioned the evenings, people put up their guard (I don't know if they thought we were a cult or what).
  
  I wrestled with the initial decision to change and even brought it before other leaders in our church who also wrestled with it. It came down to a simple truth. We started this church to reach people with the love of Jesus for imperfect people. If we can be more effective in doing that by changing the time we "do church", then let's change the time. In football, it is referred to as "callling an audible", and we should never be afraid to do that in ministry.
  
  So, let me invite you to join us this Sunday at 11 AM for our first Morning Worship Service. We will begin a sermon series entitled "Messy Me" and it is sure to be an exciting time. I cannot promise you a perfect experience, but I can promise you this. We are all just as messed up as you are, but we love Jesus. You can be a part as we strive to become more like Him.
  
  It should be fun. It most certainly will not be boring. See you this Sunday!
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/21/when-the-world-changes http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/21/when-the-world-changes Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:54:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/21/when-the-world-changes "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door." - Mark 13:28-29
  
  I do not care to think of myself as old. Unfortunately, time does not seem to [...]]]> "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door." - Mark 13:28-29
  
  I do not care to think of myself as old. Unfortunately, time does not seem to agree with my thinking. I remember listening to my elders as a teenager while they moaned about how bad things have gotten. I would think to myself that the world that I knew was just fine...and they were just old. As the days grow late, I look around and wonder what happened to the world that I used to know.
  
  I remember when playing a game with a friend involved something other than a video screen or television. We used to play Battleship, UNO, or simply take our toy guns into the backyard and shoot our invisible bullets at one another.
  
  I remember when the highest ambition of my sixth-grade life was to hold a girl's hand. In fact, it was a pretty big deal when the teacher sent home the slip of paper for my parent's to sign giving their permission for me to learn about human reproduction. I giggled at every word, because it was a mystery to me, something I would not experience until I was married.
  
  I remember getting into fights at school with no fear that a gun would ever enter the equation. We simply pushed, punched, kicked, and sometimes pulled hair until one of us gave up and we both walked home. The next day, we may have even fought again, just in case that first time was a fluke.
  
  I remember when the Beastie Boys were banned from appearing in Kentucky because of their vulgar lyrics and lewd conduct.
  
  I remember pep rallies held at our high school during the Gulf War (the first one). No football game or basketball tournament. We were there to show our national spirit, instead of our school spirit. Chants of U-S-A were heard and it wasn't even cheesy.
  
  I remember my mother telling me that, with things being as bad as they were, it was a sure sign that Jesus would return in 1988, just like the best-seller was telling us. I was scared to death that He would show up right when I was cursing or something. Then I would be left behind to receive the mark of the Beast or lose my head.
  
  I do not recall the world changing into the place that it is today (much the way my elders did not recognize the world I grew up in). I do not know how we entered this age of distrust and disgust. I do not always care for the way that the world is, but this I know.
  
  God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, so that whoever decided to believe in Him would live forever rather than end their existence on this sad little planet.
  
  The world may change, but He does not. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/18/a-good-question-from-judas http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/18/a-good-question-from-judas Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:30:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/18/a-good-question-from-judas Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" - John 14:22
  
  So, I was studying for my message this past week in John 14. It is a wonderful chapter in the midst of several amazing chapters. The documentation of Jesus' last night with His disciples in [...]]]> Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" - John 14:22
  
  So, I was studying for my message this past week in John 14. It is a wonderful chapter in the midst of several amazing chapters. The documentation of Jesus' last night with His disciples in the book of John is, by far, my favorite part of the Bible.
  
  In the middle of Jesus washing the disciples feet, talking about heaven, teaching about the vine and the branches, and praying for His current and future disciples, there is this question raised by Judas (the other Judas).
  
  So, why exactly are you telling all of us this? Why not just go public with the whole thing?
  
  My thoughts exactly.
  
  I have been a pastor for a dozen years and a minister for even longer. Ever since I was a teenager, I have done what I could to convince the world around me that God is calling them to repent and follow Him. Some have believed. Some have waffled. Some have ignored. Some have even argued. All of this begs the question...
  
  Did Jesus really have a good marketing plan?
  
  His disciples did not think so. They wanted Him to ascend to His rightful place on the throne of David. The crowds did not think so. He had to leave on several occasions because they wanted to "make Him king by force". It is obvious that the religious leaders of the day did not care for His campaign (btw, viral marketing is nothing new), because they set out to kill Him and every person healed by Him. Even Judas (whom many scholars believed to be his half-brother), in the middle of this wonderful evening, had to question why Jesus would reveal Himself to them in such a powerful way, but leave the rest of the world in their hands.
  
  You might not like Jesus' answer.
  
  He says that those that love Him will obey His teachings. If they do not obey His teachings, they do not love Him. In essence, Jesus is pointing out that revealing Himself as God Incarnate would not really make the world love Him, because they would still find fault with His teachings (much like the Pharisees).
  
  I guess I always thought that if people believed God were real, then they would serve Him. Jesus did not seem to think that was the case. The angels knew God on a personal and intimate basis, yet one-third of their population was cast down to earth because of their open rebellion. Throughout the Bible, there are countless instances where Israel, immediately after being delivered in a miraculous fashion, would rebel against God, so they could be like the other nations. Seeing might be believing, but it does not mean following...or loving.
  
  And there it is. Jesus does not want our belief. Don't get me wrong...it all begins with belief. But believing in God is not the same as serving God...or loving God. But, if I hear His teachings and decide to follow them, then I will love the God that created me, even before meeting Him face to face.
  
  He does not desire our belief. He desires our affections.
  
  So, I will stop trying to convince people of the existence of God. Christ Himself did not seem to want that. Instead, I will try to convince them that Jesus presented a Way that was more fulfilling than our way. If they follow the Way, they will follow Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
  
  And He knows what He is doing.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/13/anointed-bears http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/13/anointed-bears Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:51:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/13/anointed-bears He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD. - 1 Samuel 24:6
  
  I am an avid blog reader. I know some people post regularly, while others go through seasons of writing more and less. I read them [...]]]> He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD. - 1 Samuel 24:6
  
  I am an avid blog reader. I know some people post regularly, while others go through seasons of writing more and less. I read them all. I love to know what is going on in the minds of other people. It is probably why I post so regularly to this one. I think it is a good way for people to get to know the pastor of Four Hills Church.
  
  Recently, I found myself following someone that continually bashes the churches and ministers of the area. My brain tells me that I should stop reading, but it is like driving past a car accident. I simply must know what is going on. I used to watch a television program that was absolutely ridiculous, but I could not stop watching because I wanted to know what the next week would hold. It is the same concept, but instead of a bad tv show, I am reading the ramblings of someone that likes to knock other preachers.
  
  I actually started reading because our church was the target of one of his rants. Now I am hooked. I shouldn't be hooked. I really do not want to see the end result, after all.
  
  You see, in the Bible, if someone was anointed by God to preach or lead, you simply did not mess with them. A bunch of kids made fun of a prophet's bald head and they were eaten by a bear (yes, I said "eaten by a bear"). Balaam set out to curse the chosen of the Lord and God sent an angel with a flaming sword to cut him down (Balaam now loves his donkey...it you don't know the story, you should read it). You see, it is playing with fire when you wage war on God and the people that He has chosen.
  
  It was for that reason that David, even though he was being hunted for his life by Saul, chose not to harm him when given the chance. David had been anointed king over Israel in Saul's stead, but he still had enough fear of the Lord inside of him that he would not take his chances by attacking Saul. Even though he knew he was right and justified, he stayed his hand from harming someone that was once chosen of God.
  
  It teaches me to not knock the way others do ministry. Even when someone reaches out to harm me, I need to remember that God is the judge and the jury...not me. When someone decides to take up that mantle in His place, or even in His name, it is a sure sign that bears are coming.
  
  I really should stop reading the posts. It's like watching American Idol for the bad singing.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/11/the-cost-of-facial-hair http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/11/the-cost-of-facial-hair Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:33:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/11/the-cost-of-facial-hair
  I have decided to try to grow the infamous beard that has always eluded me. Throughout my life, I have always been clean-shaven, even though that requires a daily (and sometimes twice a day) visit to the razor. I began the growth process a few days ago and already [...]]]>
  I have decided to try to grow the infamous beard that has always eluded me. Throughout my life, I have always been clean-shaven, even though that requires a daily (and sometimes twice a day) visit to the razor. I began the growth process a few days ago and already I am thinking of bailing.
  
  You see, my wife doesn't like it. I do not know what I look like with a beard or gotee, because she will never let me grow it long enough for it to lay down and behave itself. In the in-between time, I am always faced with a difficult decision. I must either shave the facial hair or be content with a...(ahem)..."just friends" relationship with my wife.
  
  As you can imagine, when she uses her female powers of persuasion, I run to the bathroom and begin removing all hair from my face in short form. I want to see what I look like with a beard, but not that much. As Christ says, before any man builds a tower, he first counts the cost.
  
  Well, the cost of a life with facial hair happens to be loneliness (in my case).
  
  So, I write this post with a sad heart, knowing that my willpower will soon crumble and my beard will once again be lost before it has been given a chance. My wife's primary objections are:
  
  
  • It hurts when you kiss me.
  
  
  • You look like Juan Valdez (the coffee bean guy).
  
  
  • It makes you look dirty.
  
  
  • You know you can see a lot of silver in that thing.
  
  I am fighting a losing battle, but I am determined. No, I am resolute that this time will be different. I will press toward the mark of a beard that I can run a comb through. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I lived 19 years of loneliness before I got married. I can do this.
  
  Oh...and maybe you could tell my wife to lighten up on me. Tell her it's just a phase and I will end up shaving it soon enough. Tell her something.
  
  Please.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/08/this-place http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/08/this-place Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:46:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/08/this-place Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. - 1 Peter 2:11-12
  
  My wife is my [...]]]> Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. - 1 Peter 2:11-12
  
  My wife is my window to the outside world. I do not watch the news and I do not really do a lot of internet exploring. I am perfectly content to live my life oblivious to what is happening, for the most part. Stacy, on the other hand, is very observant and wants to make sure that I do not look like an idiot by not knowing something I should know about. She will sit with her laptop open and tell me the day's news while I watch a ballgame of some sort.
  
  I was not aware there was an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico for almost a month.
  
  Recently, the news does not even seem like news anymore. Between updates on the Kardashians and how bad the dysfunction is on TLC this week, I seem to be hearing less of actual events and more about just how messed up our society is getting. Last night, Stacy informed me that law enforcement was considering charges against a group of polygamists featured on a television program called "Sister Wives".
  
  Welcome to our world. I am about ready to go home.
  
  I do not wish to complain. The truth is, it has to get this way. The Bible speaks of a time when the very elect will fall. Every time that I shake my head, I remember that we are simply one step closer to meeting the object of our worship. He has prepared a place for us and I can't wait to see it. Every Snookie moment, alcohol-related car accident, and vulgar Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is an indicator that our time on earth is almost up.
  
  Still, I long to go home.
  
  When I was a teenager, I clung to this world with both hands. My pastor (mentor and hero of the faith) would talk about heaven and the second coming of Christ in a way that made me hopeful. But, I remember thinking that I wanted to grow up first. I wanted to see how my life would turn out, including getting married (I am sure that my sexual desires had something to do with that), having kids, and starting my career. It is funny that this world would be something I would cling to, because it has lost all of its appeal to me.
  
  I was not made for this place. I was made to be in the presence of God. Every second that I am here is another opportunity for me to forget that purpose. That is why I dive into ministry and church with such fervor. When I am around others who serve my God, I get to experience a little of what my home will be like...
  
  There will be no more sorrow.
  
  Pain will be a distant memory.
  
  Searching my heart for the right thing to do won't be a problem anymore.
  
  I won't argue with my wife or disappoint my kids.
  
  People will be satisfied by the presence of God, so there will be no more sin.
  
  If I need direction from God, I will simply walk up to Him and ask.
  
  My weight battle will be over and done with.
  
  The pressure of trying to convince a dying world that they need Jesus will be gone.
  
  I can sit at the feet of Jesus and let Him be the teacher.
  
  The old people of the church always wanted to sing about heaven. They wanted to hear sermons about "Beulah-land". I always thought they were out of touch with the real world. It turns out, I was the one that was out of touch, thinking this was the real world.
  
  I want to go home.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/06/someone-i-am-not http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/06/someone-i-am-not Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:47:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/06/someone-i-am-not But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
  
  There are many things that I am not good at. I am a pretty bad cook (unless you [...]]]> But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
  
  There are many things that I am not good at. I am a pretty bad cook (unless you like raw chicken off the grill). I cannot dance to save my life. I have never been particularly fast. In fact, looking at my life, the things I am not good at probably outweigh the places where I excel.
  
  I am not a mechanic.
  
  I have been told that many people do not have the mechanic's gift. But, when my father asked me to look at the radiator, I had to do a Google search to find out what it looked like. Most men that I know have a little knowledge of their car, but I have none. I even posted an article last week about my adventures with changing the brakes on my car. Those adventures consisted of me asking someone to do it for me.
  
  On Saturday, my car overheated. A guy in the parking lot of the gas station I was at told me that my water pump had gone bad. I called my dad (who lives several hours away) for help. My wife called her dad. I would have called my friend that helped with the brakes, but I didn't want to push it. When it was all said and done, I was faced with a choice. I could either pay to have my car towed to a mechanic and then pay for that mechanic to fix it...or I could do this myself.
  
  I am not a mechanic.
  
  I went online to find information on changing a water pump. I went to Autozone to get a water pump (and a couple of tools, of which I had none). I opened the hood of my car and started taking things out. I was careful to take note of where things went (as well as the order I took them out in). I finally found a broken belt and a piece that looked damaged (that was not the water pump). I started doing some investigating and found the piece in question. After a little while, my car was back on the road and no longer overheating. I had done it.
  
  I am not a mechanic. But...my need was great, so I became someone I am not.
  
  Samuel, the prophet of old, was looking in the house of Jesse for a king. He didn't find one. Even when David was standing before him and God was ringing the magic buzzer in his head, it was obvious that David was not kingly in any way, shape, or form. But, Israel's need was great, and God had seen things inside of David's heart that even David didn't know about. David became someone he was not, and all of Israel declared his greatness for thousands of years.
  
  I talk to people all the time about the work God has called us to. As a pastor, I am supposed to inspire people to do great things in His name. I am supposed to empower the workers of the harvest. I am supposed to help people become something that they are not.
  
  I am not good at sharing Jesus with people.
  
  I am just not the type of person that prays for people in public.
  
  It's hard for me to invite someone to church. It's just not me.
  
  The list goes on. I wish I could actually single out all of the things that people have shared with me about who they are and who they aren't. What I find is that, given the right circumstances, we can all be pretty much whoever we need to be.
  
  If my son was dying, I would administer every life-saving skill I knew, despite the fact that I am not a doctor, nurse, or paramedic.
  
  If my brother was starving, I would sell everything I owned to buy him a piece of bread. I may not be wealthy, but I would find a way.
  
  If my niece were lonely, I would drop whatever I was doing to spend time with her. I am not the best with little kids, however I don't have to be.
  
  And if someone were living a life without Christ, destined for drama and destruction, I would tell them about Him. Even if I wasn't a preacher or a good speaker, I would let them know that there is a better way to live.
  
  It's not about talents or ability. It's about need. If the need is great enough, I must become someone I am not to meet that need.
  
  I am not a mechanic.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/04/about-arguments http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/04/about-arguments Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:10:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/04/about-arguments He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" - John 9:25
  
  One of the more joyous parts of being a pastor is watching God move in the lives of the people that I encounter. Often times, when God does something amazing, I get a phone call or pulled to the side [...]]]> He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" - John 9:25
  
  One of the more joyous parts of being a pastor is watching God move in the lives of the people that I encounter. Often times, when God does something amazing, I get a phone call or pulled to the side at church, so that the story can be shared. I have seen tears flow and smiles get bigger and bigger whenever God acts like Himself.
  
  On the other hand, I also get to hear a lot of logic, theology, and criticism about God, the Bible, and how our church functions. Most of the time, this comes from people on the outside looking in, but it's still part of the job. It's probably my least favorite part of the job.
  
  There will always be skeptics and critics, I guess.
  
  When Jesus healed the man born blind in the ninth chapter of John, we got to witness these two sides of the coin. On the one side, there is a man that is thrilled that he can see after a lifetime of blindness. On the other, there are people who doubt his sincerity (maybe he wasn't blind to begin with) and others that feel that Jesus was a sinner because His method of healing was inappropriate (even pagan, but definitely not biblical). The man takes a good deal of heat from others about his healing. Even his parents are brought into the mix.
  
  The one person notably absent during all of the debate and controversy is Jesus.
  
  I have been wondering about this for the past week and it has kind of bothered me. When the man that Jesus healed was being attacked and interrogated, Jesus stayed away. He allowed it all to happen. Ultimately, the man was thrown out of the synagogue (a big time disgrace) before Jesus appeared back on the scene.
  
  Why would the God that healed him leave him to fend for himself when faced by these accusers? The answer may be simpler than you think.
  
  Jesus came into the man's life on that day to heal blindness (both physical and spiritual). He did not come to explain His actions or be micro-managed by people that wanted things done their way. He offered physical healing without explanation, then left the choice to all involved of whether they wanted their spiritual blindness to be healed, as well. The argument was unimportant to Him. Healing was the matter at hand.
  
  And when the dust settled, only the man who was thrown out enjoyed the spiritual healing.
  
  Because of what Jesus had done in his life, he chose to give the rest of that life to Him. He didn't wrestle with theology or debate the merits of healing on the Sabbath. He did not argue Calvinism versus Arminianism. He did not debunk the theory of evolution with the doctrine of Creation. He simply followed because he was blind, but now he could see.
  
  That seemed like a good enough reason to him. It seems good enough to me, too.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/01/a-lyric-that-moves-me http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/01/a-lyric-that-moves-me Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:39:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/10/01/a-lyric-that-moves-me
  The truth is, most of us are more likely to remember a song lyric than a Bible verse. This is especially true of the song that moves you. Of course, it also makes it vitally important to choose [...]]]>
  The truth is, most of us are more likely to remember a song lyric than a Bible verse. This is especially true of the song that moves you. Of course, it also makes it vitally important to choose the lyrics that you fill your mind with. A quality song lyric should draw me closer to the God that I serve. A lyric that moves me away from Him (or that I feel I should hide from Him) is probably something that I don't want in my ears (lyrics move from the ears to the brain to the heart to the mouth, you know).
  
  The past month has led me to two songs that have really moved me. I am not an avid radio listener, but both of these songs were heard on 105.9 Way FM.
  
  The first song, "To Bring You Back", is a new tune by Paul Alan. He was in a band called Nouveaux in the 90s, but his solo stuff is far better. He caught my attention a few years back with a song called "She's The Reason", but this new one is different. It hits me in the heart.
  
  I left the ninety-nine to find the one and you're the one
  I walked a thousand mile in the desert sun, only to bring you back
  
  The thought that Jesus Christ, the God of all holiness and might, would spend any amount of time to consider me, in all of my filth and imperfection...well, it just moves me. To think that He would leave His home in heaven for the sake of mankind...not just mankind, but the kind of man that I am...is enough to humble the proudest of saints and give hope to the lowest of sinners.
  
  He is Jesus.
  
  Another song that has lit me up is by a band called Abandon. The title of the song is "Hero" and it is, by far, the best thing they have ever come up with. I have heard several of their songs and, unfortunately, most of it is that bland stuff that you are used to hearing on CCM radio today. But, this song is different. It speaks of this man that searched the world to find me. It's amazing.
  
  There He goes, a hero, a savior to the world
  Here He stands with scars in His hands
  With love He gave His life so we could be free
  The Savior of the world
  
  I know. It's nothing new, right? I've known for years that Jesus died for the world. How many different ways can a song talk about the scars in His hands? It's really not that original.
  
  But, driving down the street, flipping between stations, I have a choice of hearing about someone that wants to be a billionaire...or that wants to set the bed on fire...or wants my love to be their drug...or countless other auto-tune lyrics by less-than-talented artists that are having trouble finding something worth singing about...
  
  Or, I could hear a song about His love and sacrifice for me. A lyric that moves me is better than a catchy beat, a face-melting guitar riff, or a cheesy hook about a girl that will forget about me when the next guy comes along. I will take the former and leave the latter to others.
  
  Give me a lyric that moves me.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/30/the-brakes http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/30/the-brakes Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:01:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/30/the-brakes
  It happened like this.
  
  I decided to purchase a second vehicle when it became apparent that one was no longer sufficient. I spent [...]]]>
  It happened like this.
  
  I decided to purchase a second vehicle when it became apparent that one was no longer sufficient. I spent a paltry amount of money on a 1998 Ford Contour SVT. It was quite the blessing. The engine seemed to be in good condition. The interior was somewhat rough, but I figured, with a little bit of TLC (tender loving care...not a television network that airs programming about large families and little people), this vehicle would work out fine.
  
  I first began to hear the metallic noise about a month ago. When I would press the pedal that makes my car stop, it would get louder. I knew I had to get my brake pads replaced, which would probably include new rotors, but I decided to wait a while to build up the money to do so. I also had some secret hope that a fairy might come and magically cause the sound to go away, so that I would not have to do anything to my car. This did not happen.
  
  Over time, I became accustomed to the sound of a jet plane flying over my car every time that I would press the brake pedal. My solution to this was to simply turn my music up louder. If someone rode in the car with me, they would simply have to learn to like loud rap music (rap covered the sound of the brakes the best). It didn't matter. I was going to get things fixed. I just couldn't right now. It would happen eventually.
  
  Last Sunday, I put my car in reverse in the church parking lot, only to be denied by my brake pads. They had finally had enough. No matter how hard I pressed the accelerator, my car would not budge. I had to find a way to constantly drive forward and eventually parked my car in the garage, knowing that I could not place it in reverse to get it back out.
  
  I thought I might try to roll my car into the creek behind my house and report it stolen, but I only carry liability insurance, so that wouldn't work. I considered putting the car in reverse and hitting the gas so hard that the brakes would...um...break, but of course, then I would have no brakes. Finally, I decided that it was time to do what must be done.
  
  I would learn how to do a brake job on YouTube.
  
  I got the first step right away (drive to AutoZone and purchase pads and rotors). The second step started talking about torque wrenches or something. My toolbox consists of a screwdriver with different magnetic heads and an allen wrench that fits all of my IKEA furniture. I gave up. The brakes had defeated me. I would simply have to burn my car and find another.
  
  Then, I remembered that there was a mechanic at our church. He was not a 1998 Ford Contour SVT mechanic, but he did work on BMWs. Surely, they were similar enough to one another. Maybe he could help me to tame the beast that had stolen my car away from me.
  
  I asked if he would help me (offering pizza...an old youth pastor mind trick) and he agreed. Together, we would conquer the brakes. United, there was nothing that could stop us.
  
  The brakes put up a fight. As it turns out, no matter how many tools a person brings with them (and he brought many), you are always missing the correct one. We made a trip to Autozone to purchase the correct item, eating pizza all the way and discussing our battle strategy. Upon resuming our efforts, the culprit quickly made himself known.
  
  A completely worn out brake pad had frozen itself to the rotor. My first instinct was to command swift justice on this inconvenient pad. But my hand was stayed when I realized that it had given its life in an effort to prevent me from driving on faulty brakes. I was playing games with God's most precious gift and my brake pad decided the game was over.
  
  The victory has been won. The brakes have been repaired. My friend and I partnered to make history tonight. He worked swiftly with his tools...
  
  ...while I held the flashlight.
  
  Hail the conquering hero!
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/28/my-foul-mouth http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/28/my-foul-mouth Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:40:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/28/my-foul-mouth I would open this devotion with a Scripture, but it might prevent you from reading further. Therefore, I am holding my verse until the end of the post.
  
  I have a filthy tongue.
  
  I have this tendency to filter myself when I am in public. When I am at home, my language is one way. When I am with friends, it is another way. [...]]]> I would open this devotion with a Scripture, but it might prevent you from reading further. Therefore, I am holding my verse until the end of the post.
  
  I have a filthy tongue.
  
  I have this tendency to filter myself when I am in public. When I am at home, my language is one way. When I am with friends, it is another way. I speak differently when I am speaking to church-goers. My vocabulary takes a cleanly "flying leap" when I am ministering God's Word at church. I am a multi-lingual person.
  
  And I bet you are, too.
  
  I have searched the Scriptures to find what God's standard for vocabulary is. Is there some list of words that I may say and other words that I must avoid? If my friend drops the F-bomb while performing CPR on a person, does the good deed cancel out the untasteful vernacular? Is a curse word in English weighed the same when it is spoken in another language, or is it all dependent on what the original Greek/Hebrew definition is for that word?
  
  This sounds kind of silly, doesn't it?
  
  However, it is not silly. This Sunday, while preaching, I spoke words that I wish that I had not spoken. Rest assured that my congregation is very forgiving, as is my Lord, so I am not in jeopardy of losing my pulpit. But, as I think back upon my words, I feel that, at the least, they did not glorify God, and, at the worst, they may have hindered the very message that God had given me to convey.
  
  So, I have reached a conclusion about my language (re: crude speech, vulgarity, etc.).
  
  I should speak no words that Jesus would not speak. I should speak with the same words no matter what my audience. My actions and utterances should be as measured and humble as if my Lord were standing right next to me.
  
  He is, you know.
  
  In the Bible, it says that I must give an account for every careless word. By my words will I be justified or condemned. As insignificant as we deem the words we speak, God views them as far more. I cannot imagine trying to explain the reason for every word I have ever said, but I know that I will start with an apology. In fact, I will begin now.
  
  I am sorry that I have been inconsiderate and crass with my speech. I will do better.
  
  "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12:36-37
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/22/the-road-of-discipleship http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/22/the-road-of-discipleship Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:01:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/22/the-road-of-discipleship "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:13-14
  
  Preparing for this week's installment of the "This Man" series has led me to some [...]]]> "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:13-14
  
  Preparing for this week's installment of the "This Man" series has led me to some truly challenging places in my faith walk. As I said in my last post, this week's message is based in John 6, where Jesus gains a great following and loses that same following as soon as He taught something that they didn't understand. I am truly hoping not to lose all the weight of the message by posting about it here, but I cannot really hold it in at this time.
  
  I grew up in a household that didn't go to church. When we started going, we went to a Pentecostal church and I thought they were all weird. One of the things they did during the message was to shout back to the guy that was preaching. They would say things like "Amen!", "Ain't that the truth?", and "Preach it!". Maybe you have been in this kind of church before. To me, it was a real shocker.
  
  When I began preaching myself at the ripe, old age of 23, I coveted those particular words of encouragement from the audience. I would say something and pause, waiting for the inevitable "That's good preaching!" to come from one of the corners of the room. I would leave the platform feeling encouraged, exhuberant, and proud, because it was obvious I had preached the truth (after all, they wouldn't have agreed if it weren't true).
  
  Jesus got very few amens when He preached.
  
  In fact, I am learning more and more that when Jesus taught the crowds, more often than not, He turned their world upside-down to the extent that many no longer wanted to follow Him. Had I been there when He told me to eat of His flesh in order to gain eternal life, I doubt I would have shouted my approval. I may have even been one of the ones that turned away.
  
  Face it. We think the preaching is good when it confirms what we already believe.
  
  As the crowd was leaving Jesus, He turned to His closest followers and asked if they were going to leave Him. Peter answered (a Peter moment, if ever there was one), "Where would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life." They ceased being mere followers and became true disciples of Jesus. You are not a disciple by simply following Christ. You become a disciple when you follow Him somewhere you do not want to go.
  
  Choose the narrow road. Follow Him when everyone else turns away. Become a disciple.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/20/about-to-get-difficult http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/20/about-to-get-difficult Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:36:38 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/20/about-to-get-difficult John 4, where Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan Woman about Living Water, shame, and her freedom from it. I get so excited when I speak about God's love and mercy that I actually had a church member raise his hand and comment that I had [...]]]> John 4, where Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan Woman about Living Water, shame, and her freedom from it. I get so excited when I speak about God's love and mercy that I actually had a church member raise his hand and comment that I had goosebumps that were visible to all.
  
  Preaching is fun when it is about Jesus' love and mercy.
  
  Next week, we will be learning from John 6. Jesus feeds thousands of people in a miraculous fashion, then proceeds to tell them that they must have the "Bread of Life", which is His flesh. Long story short, everybody leaves Jesus (except his disciples). It is a sad ending to a difficult chapter of the Bible.
  
  And it is my greatest fear.
  
  Most pastors have a fear of hard teachings. Talk to an evangelist or revivalist and they relish in hard teachings. But pastors...well...we have a lot more to lose. That probably goes double for church planters.
  
  When preaching about love and mercy, we watch our congregation grow (ever so slowly) with people that need to hear about grace. People approach after service with tears in their eyes, thankful to have heard this teaching on being freed from their shame. It is a wonderful feeling to hear people say nice things about what was just preached. I like goosebumps.
  
  But, the life of Jesus was a balanced life. There was grace, but also accountability. There was mercy for sinners, while there was great rebuke for people that thought they had it all together. For every well with a Samaritan woman, there was a temple full of corrupt businessmen, and Jesus gets pretty violent when He sees evil in His temple. For every sermon on Living Water, there must be a sermon on the Bread of Life. Even Jesus couldn't keep a crowd when the teaching got hard.
  
  In John 6, He turns to His disciples and says, "Are you going to leave me, too?". Even the Son of God did not wish to be left alone. His words of life had brought Him to a place of loneliness.
  
  Jesus was God, but was also man. He did not want to be alone.
  
  When I served as a youth pastor, I graded myself on how large or small my youth group was. In Shively (a neighborhood in Louisville, KY), I found myself growing a very large group of teens from very humble beginnings. I would love on these kids and teach them what I could about the grace of God. They would smoke their cigarettes outside the door of our building and curse at one another...but they were coming. They would cut school to visit me at church. They would participate in all sorts of destructive activity, but I was just happy that I could see their faces on Sundays. I was afraid that if I confronted them with a hard teaching, they would leave. So, I never did. I left it alone. I left them alone.
  
  That's not good enough anymore.
  
  God has called us to teach the entire Gospel, even the parts that turn people away. This Sunday, I get the privilege of teaching one of these parts. I am worried, but determined.
  
  Pray that I don't chicken out.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/17/the-mystery-of-christ http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/17/the-mystery-of-christ Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:43:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/17/the-mystery-of-christ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. - Colossians 4:3
  
  My wife, Stacy, came home last night after her first Women's Bible Study. She told me about her study (from the book of Ruth) and the [...]]]> And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. - Colossians 4:3
  
  My wife, Stacy, came home last night after her first Women's Bible Study. She told me about her study (from the book of Ruth) and the discussions that took place amongst the women in the group. There were questions raised, with some answered and some left unanswered. She asked me questions and together we searched for answers. It was very cool.
  
  It occurs to me that one of the amazing things about reading the Bible is that it is not a book that is straight forward or simple to understand. Bear with me now. I realize that, as a pastor, I am supposed to convince everyone that reading the Bible is "fun" and "easy"...but, we all know that is simply not true. The Bible is a complex book, with themes that run far deeper than any other book throughout the history of man.
  
  I once heard the Bible described as "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (cute, right?). I wonder if the person that coined this acronym had ever opened the book in question. It is many things, but "basic" would not be one of them. It is advanced theology (a collegiate 400 class) and it was written by a variety of people (doctors, fishermen, teachers, tax collectors, prophets, priests...the list goes on) in multiple languages (Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew). Some of the books in this Book cannot even be dated with certainty (Job, Genesis). Basic? I think not.
  
  But, what if it is supposed to be difficult?
  
  I read a book once called "The Great Divorce" written by C.S. Lewis. It was a confusing little book, full of allegories and symbolism. The people from Hell were on a "day trip" to Heaven, riding in an old bus. They encounter various people along the way (whom I will not tell you about...you must read the book) and it can get quite confusing.
  
  But, about 3/4 of the way through the book, it all comes clear. The confusion is cleared and this magnificent point is made. It is one of those awe-inspiring revelation moments, which I can remember quite vividly. In fact, it is because of this moment that I now call it one of the greatest books of all time.
  
  Remember when you found out who Bruce Willis really was in The Sixth Sense? It's the same kind of thing.
  
  The joy of revelation that comes from discovering a new truth in the Bible is better than any surprising twist at the end of a movie (even one as cool as Inception). The apostle Paul called God's Word the "great mystery" for a reason. It is something that must be unraveled through study, prayer, and experience.
  
  And, like all good mysteries, we are often kept guessing until the very end (of whatever circumstance that we may be facing).
  
  So, do you have questions that are still unanswered? Let the search for truth begin. And remember to relish that moment when God opens your eyes to a new truth. It is truly worth living for. You can keep the Basic Instructions... (blah, blah, blah)
  
  Give me The Mystery.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/16/towers-and-talking http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/16/towers-and-talking Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:34:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/16/towers-and-talking The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. - Genesis 11:6
  
  So, Four Hills Students began last night. It was remarkably similar to our first Bible Study as a church over a year ago (small attendance and big dreams). [...]]]> The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. - Genesis 11:6
  
  So, Four Hills Students began last night. It was remarkably similar to our first Bible Study as a church over a year ago (small attendance and big dreams). We played a domino-stacking game. We got some ideas together for youth nights. Overall, it was a fun night.
  
  We also studied the Bible. We looked at Genesis 11, specifically. To sum it all up, God had been angry with the world and sent a flood to destroy everyone. The world was slowly being repopulated when all the people decided to build a city with a huge tower in the center. Their idea was to be famous and gather all the people together around the tower (one whose top reached the heavens) in unity. The historian, Josephus, clarifies that their purpose in building this tower was to show God that they did not need Him in order to accomplish greatness.
  
  It was a tower of hubris.
  
  As the story goes, the people worked on this tower for 43 years before God decided to confuse their language, so that they could no longer be unified in this effort. You see, when the Lord saw what they were doing, He believed that they could accomplish the impossible because of their unity. He had to divide them to prevent their plans from succeeding.
  
  We could go on and on about the Tower, because there are so many interesting things of note. But, I would rather look at verse 6 again. The Lord Himself said, "nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." Wow, wouldn't it be great if we could have that kind of unity again, joined with the favor and blessing of God?
  
  Fast-forward to Acts chapter 2. The most amazing thing happens as 120 disciples are gathered in an attic in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit camed down upon them and they began to speak in unknown tongues. Some spoke in actual languages that others could recognize, while others spoke in mere utterances. The Pentecostal church views this as a manifestation of God's power that is still available today, while others in the Protestant community see this as an event that revealed God's glory and is now passed away. They get pretty caught up in the "tongues" part.
  
  As for me, I can't stop thinking about that Tower.
  
  Think abou it. A God that divided His people through language at a Tower so many years ago has now united His people through language at an attic in Jerusalem. Once again, we have been given the power of unity (this time through the Holy Spirit) and nothing that we plan to do will be impossible for us. What great things can be accomplished with all of our combined efforts?
  
  The question is...will we build a Tower to our own glory or a Kingdom of His Glory?
  
  We have decided to start with a church (we are building it for His Glory and He is the master architect). At the present time, there are no plans to put a tower in the center of it.
  
  :)
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/13/a-sunday-recap-with-cameron http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/13/a-sunday-recap-with-cameron Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:31:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/13/a-sunday-recap-with-cameron
  Cameron is now in the 6th grade, which means many [...]]]>
  Cameron is now in the 6th grade, which means many things, but for the purposes of this post means that he no longer goes to Kid's Church. That's right, while Stacy is teaching Kid's Church and I am preaching to the adult congregation, Cameron sits in the crowd, dedicated to behaving himself and participating as much as he can in the service.
  
  And yesterday, he definitely participated.
  
  Understand that Cameron is one of the brightest people that I know. Much of the insight that I offer to others comes from his thoughts and perspectives. He has a unusual take on life. Most of the time, Stacy and I just laugh our heads off at his comments, while others beg us to tell them more of what he has said. He is that funny.
  
  Yesterday, I was preaching on the 3rd chapter of John. Jesus is meeting with Nicodemus and tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus, the intellectual smart-alec, remarks, "Can a man enter his mother's womb a second time?" In the message I was presenting, this was an optimal time to talk about our rational minds versus the spiritual mind of Christ.
  
  To illustrate the point Nicodemus was trying to make, I asked how many mothers were in the crowd. A slew of hands were raised, so I followed by asking how many of those mothers would appreciate their children re-entering their womb for any reason. After many groans and comments, I felt that I had achieved exactly what I was going for...that is, until Cameron decided to contribute.
  
  I looked to the back of the room, where Cameron had stood with hand arm raised like a military general leading his troops. And, very near the top of his lungs, he cries out...
  
  "I'm goin' in!"
  
  It took a while to get everyone back from that one. People were rolling in the floors laughing, while I was trying to figure out where in my notes I was. I had been thrown for a loop by Cameron once again. A history of his "waffle-fry" shadow puppets and remarks about anatomically correct mugs had still not prepared me for having Cameron in service.
  
  But, I loved it. I love him. He could interrupt a thousand sermons and that would not make me love him less. When he does things of this nature, I say with a smile on my face, "That's my boy! I made him from my own flesh and he is mine."
  
  I wonder if that is what God says when He watches me shout out my crazy statements on the Internet. Or when I make a mess of things that He has given me charge of. I wonder if He looks at me during my moment of humiliation and says, "That's My boy! I made him in My own image and he is Mine." I like to think so.
  
  By the way, after things calmed down, Cameron leaned over to the person next to him and asked calmly, "What's a womb?"
  
  That's my boy.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/10/light-and-darkness http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/10/light-and-darkness Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:22:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/10/light-and-darkness This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has [...]]]> This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. - John 3:19-21
  
  At Four Hills Church, we have begun a series on the life and teachings of Jesus. This might seem kind of odd to most of you. Shouldn't the church always be studying the life and teachings of Jesus? But the truth is, that is not always the case. We have decided to make it so.
  
  We are doing our study through the book of John and highlighting some very important passages along the way. In studying for this weekend's message, "A Meeting at Midnight", I came across this fantastic diatribe on light and darkness. It is not the first time in the Gospel of John that the contrast between light and darkness is made, but it is the first words of Jesus on the subject.
  
  It hits pretty close to home, doesn't it?
  
  We are made to memorize verses in third chapter of John. Verse 16 says that God loved the world and sent His Son to save the world. Verse 17 says that the Son was not a condemner, but a life-giver. Such wonderful sentiments might make you think that Jesus wants me "just as I am". But, the remainder of His words paint a different picture, one of a Savior that loves me enough not to leave me "just as I am".
  
  Pastoring in this new world (it is definitely not the one I remember from childhood) is filled with challenges, not the least of which is a world full of Christians that are unwilling to grow or change. I can remember a time of constant repentance in my life because I needed God to change my darkness to light, but that has been replaced by believers that want Jesus to join them in their places of darkness. To change would mean leaving the darkness, and that will not do.
  
  Jesus says that men loved darkness because their deeds were evil.
  
  Think about it, if I know that my deeds are evil, I want them to remain hidden. I do not want anyone talking about the evil or pointing out the evil. Just pretend like it isn't there. That's what darkness does. It allows things to remain hidden that need to be dealt with in my life.
  
  Jesus says that men will not come into the light for fear their deeds will be exposed.
  
  That's right, if you can see me, then you can see all of me. You can see the ugly parts and the evil parts. You might even want me to change or get rid of the evil parts, so I choose to stay in the darkness. When I am in the darkness, I can quote verses 16 and 17 about God loving me and coming to this world to save me. But, I will have to ignore the rest. I do not want to lose my evil deeds.
  
  Jesus said that men who live by truth come into the light.
  
  What it all comes down to is quite simple. It's like the show "Dating in the Dark" (a quality piece of television, I am sure...though I have never watched it). Until dragged out into the light, you simply do not know who or what you are really dealing with. How can you possibly expect to grow if you can't even tell where you are spiritually...because it is hidden in darkness?
  
  The solution always begins with light.
  
  Are you struggling with some bondage in your life? Expose it, then it can be dealt with.
  
  Do you want to draw closer to God, but do not know what is stopping you? Step into the light. Examine your life in a place where everything can be seen.
  
  When other Christians try to help you grow, do you get upset that they are "judging you"? I know, that is a tough one. Maybe they are, or maybe you are trying to remain hidden and they just want you to step into the light.
  
  One last story (I know this is a long post)...when I was a teenager, I had a real problem with lying to my parents, one that followed me on into my marriage. When I was a kid, my mom would simply go into the other room and pray that if I was lying, that the truth would come out and I would be exposed as a liar. The truth always came out. I was always exposed.
  
  Later on in life, my wife took up that same approach. Once again, the truth always came out. I became quite accustomed to being exposed by the light of God's truth. In fact, I finally decided to change. It wasn't worth lying if I knew that my evil would be exposed.
  
  The solution always begins with light.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/08/voice-of-god http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/08/voice-of-god Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:21:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/08/voice-of-god After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - 1 Kings 19:12
  
  One of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me was the day that I heard the Voice of God.
  
  I know...you are thinking that I have gone off of the deep end and become one of [...]]]> After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - 1 Kings 19:12
  
  One of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me was the day that I heard the Voice of God.
  
  I know...you are thinking that I have gone off of the deep end and become one of those "weirdos". Trust me when I tell you that I am not the "God told me"-type. As a Pentecostal preacher, I believe in the leading of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit, but I have never been much into the hocus-pocus part of it all.
  
  That said, I can still remember being 17 years old and at Camp Meeting (a weeklong statewide revival) in Lexington, KY. I had gone to the altar area to pray and was walking back to my seat when I met a woman I knew named Paula Farmer. I was so glad to see her, since she was a good friend of my mother's and she was glad to see me. We hugged and then....something odd happened.
  
  She began to speak to me, but it was not her words.
  
  She told a story of how I had been marked of God to do something (of a personal nature that I will not disclose here). She began to outline the coming months of my life (in astonishing detail, including a fire that I would be involved in at Lee College...came true) and then she smacked me on the forehead with such force that I hit the ground and began to experience a vision.
  
  In that vision, I could sense God speaking to me about my life. It was amazing and beautiful. And it was the last time I heard the Voice of God.
  
  Since that day almost 18 years ago, I have prayed with fervor for God to speak to me as clearly as He did that day. For the next few months, I knew exactly what my plans were, because they were laid out by Him. It was amazing. But, God did not choose to speak to me in such a way. Instead, I have relied on instinct, knowledge, and the leading of His Spirit through decisions made with His Word as my guide.
  
  All that changed this Monday night.
  
  I was praying...talking to God...about situations and direction. I was pleading with Him about the vision of our church and the way that it should be accomplished. My mind was on overdrive and I could feel it running a million different directions. I could feel distractions hitting me like crazy in that very quiet room.
  
  This still, small voice kept interrupting me when I was trying to talk to God. Then I realized that I was talking over Him. All of this time, He had been speaking to me, but I had not the ears to hear. I shut up and listened. It was mindblowing.
  
  Today, I have that same sense of direction that I had 18 years ago. I know what must be done, at least for the next little bit. And I also know the best way to hear the Voice of God in the future.
  
  I must be silent when He speaks.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/03/an-updated-list http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/03/an-updated-list Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:43:12 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/03/an-updated-list mattmonyhan.wordpress.com
  and it is still floating around out there.
  
  I was perusing it recently when I came [...]]]> mattmonyhan.wordpress.com
  and it is still floating around out there.
  
  I was perusing it recently when I came across a post entitled With Difficulty. This particular post was interesting to me because on it, I listed 10 things that I would like to accomplish in my life. I think it is important to have goals, however unreachable they may be. I was actually encouraged when viewing this post, because I have begun work on a few of them. I thought I would include my "updated" list here:
  
  1. Plant a church (growing and thriving)
  
  While I am not entirely sure what "growing and thriving" means, I am pretty certain that I have chased this one pretty strong. Four Hills Church is now almost 3 months old, and while it may not yet allow me to check this one off of my list, I am confident that we will get this one accomplished.
  
  2. Write a book (been working on one for 3 years now)
  
  At the time, I had worked on a Youth Ministry book and a auto-biography of sorts. Neither seemed to be something that interested me all that much, which may make you wonder why it would interest someone else. I have since abandoned those books and begun work on a book entitled "Dangerous" subtitled "That Sinking Feeling You Get When You Step Out Of The Boat". It chronicles my life as a church planter in comparison to the apostle Peter's trip out to see Jesus. I have high hopes for it.
  
  3. Have a song that I have written make it somewhere besides my own CD player
  (Mission Accomplished)
  
  At the time I wrote this, I believed this to be one of the more difficult tasks. However, the song "Over Now" has become quite the little tune. After reaching over 10,000 plays on MySpace (I know, who uses that anymore), it has gone on to be a fairly popular soundtrack for use in several drama presentations that I have seen. So, while it didn't happen like I had expected (on the radio), I have a song that is fairly well known among some circles. I could maybe check this one off of my list.
  
  By the way, if you are interested, here is the song in a vid format:
  
  
  
  4. Publish a short story or article in a magazine
  
  This one is still very much a dream. Although, an opportunity has arisen for me to write an article for Church Multiplication Network's monthly magazine. It's a start, I guess.
  
  5. Produce a video that hits the SermonSpice Top 100 downloads
  (Abandoned)
  
  I have to scratch this one off of my list. Don't get me wrong, I have strong video production aspirations. But, my relationship with SermonSpice has soured recently (royalty issues), so I do not produce for them anymore. But...I still produce high-quality videos, but I am not selling them for downloads on SermonSpice. In fact, I give them away on Vimeo, where there is no Top 100 downloads list.
  
  6. Speak to an audience of over 1000 people
  
  This one is not completely up to me. Thus far, our church congregation is less than 50 and I have no intentions of building a megachurch, so...I guess I have to get invited to speak somewhere. Wait a minute. I did speak at Christ's Chapel in Erlanger, KY, but I think they only had about 400 there for that service. Oh well, it's bound to happen some day.
  
  7. Get a college degree
  
  I am sad to say that this is one of the easiest ones to accomplish, but it is also the one that I have given the least amount of effort to. The reason? This college thing costs money...lots of it. I have many credits already accumulated. In fact, I had an advisor tell me that it would only take about a year of actual classes to finish my Bachelor's degree. Problem is, it costs bucks to get those credits all under the same roof, not to mention tuition for the classes. It needs to be higher on my list. I might just be the oldest person to ever walk a graduation line.
  
  8. Give $1000 to a charitable organization that is not a church
  
  This one is pretty challenging. But, I can honestly say that I am doing better about giving to places other than my own church. It is still my intention to give $1000 to Rotary International for their Water Project, but it takes time. I am currently at less than $100. I can't wait to be able to check this one!
  
  9. Become a well-known face in my community (for something not notorious)
  
  This is the one that takes time. The truth is, I have started down this road in different communities, only to move to another church opportunity and have to start over. It is fun to go back to those communities and see people that I know in the store or something. That being said, my family has set down some roots in Oldham County. This should be accomplished in the next 10 years or so.
  
  10. Baptize my children
  (Mission Accomplished)
  
  At the time I wrote this, I had baptized my oldest son. Last weekend, I baptized my youngest. I am so thrilled that they have made decisions to follow Christ despite what they have seen in my life. I have not always honored Him the way I should, but they saw through that and see who He truly is. I can check this one off of my list with a tear and a proud, "dad" smile.
  
  So, there it is. My list has been updated with 2 checked off and 1 scratched off. I can't wait to see what I get to check off next. It is important to have some goals.
  
  I think it would be cool to hear of anyone else's goals that they might have. Comment me some of your goals that have been reached and that you are still striving for.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/01/the-pursuit-of-happiness http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/01/the-pursuit-of-happiness Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:53:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/09/01/the-pursuit-of-happiness "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:11-12
  
  Have you ever had a tough week? I find that some of [...]]]> "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:11-12
  
  Have you ever had a tough week? I find that some of the most difficult times for me follow some of the biggest celebrations. This weekend, we baptized 4 individuals that have chosen to follow Christ in some new area of their life (one of them was my son). All of this joy has been followed by a week in which difficult situations have presented themselves, hardship has reared its ugly head, and sickness has kept me up throughout the nights. Fun week.
  
  Sometimes, when I am having one of these weeks, I get this idea in my head that things would be easier if I had a career like everyone else. Maybe it would be better to just focus on myself and my family. This whole "God called us" thing can take a hike.
  
  Of course, none of this has anything to do with my week, but tough times can make us think silly thoughts.
  
  Try this one out...
  
  Why is it that, after 12 years of pastoring, I still don't own my own home or have any considerable savings toward my retirement?
  
  This one's pretty good...
  
  If God chose us to plant a church in Kentucky, why didn't He let us go to a neighborhood where we already know a bunch of people? Wouldn't that be an easier place to start? It's pretty hard to introduce yourself and ask someone to visit your church in the same breath.
  
  Better still...
  
  What is the guarantee that everything is going to work out? Will this story have a happy ending?
  
  Like I said, they are silly thoughts. But, I bet they are similar to thoughts we have all had at one time or another. I think that last question is the one that I wonder about most. When my life is over and done with, will people tell my story with a happy ending...or just an ending?
  
  This is one of hardest parts about living in the United States. The American Dream meets the Great Commission and they don't exactly get along. The pursuit of happiness is not a Godly pursuit, while the pursuit of righteousness is not always a pleasant one. The road we travel is not always a pleasure ride, but the destination is an eternity with the Living God.
  
  So, on days like today, I remind myself that my life doesn't always have to be roses. I tell myself that my purpose is that of a higher calling. And I recall my own words, which I have uttered a hundred times before, when faced with the ups and downs of life.
  
  "I may be a lot of things, but I will never be boring."
  
  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/29/when-blessings-attack-part-ii http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/29/when-blessings-attack-part-ii Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:59:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/29/when-blessings-attack-part-ii As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. - 1 Samuel 12:23
  
  This post is a sequel. I do not know that I have ever done a sequel. Hopefully, it will be a sequel like The Empire Strikes Back, instead of like [...]]]> As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. - 1 Samuel 12:23
  
  This post is a sequel. I do not know that I have ever done a sequel. Hopefully, it will be a sequel like The Empire Strikes Back, instead of like The Matrix Reloaded.
  
  In my post, When Blessings Attack!, I pointed out that Israel wanted a king. Despite God's disagreement, He answered their prayer and that led to their ultimate demise as a nation. The moral of the story was...worship the Blesser, not the blessing (or something like that).
  
  But, today I want to look closer at this request of the Israelites and the fallout of His answer. You see, when Israel asked for a king, God told Samuel (the judge at the time) not to feel rejected, because they were not rejecting him (Samuel), but they were rejecting God Himself. But I began to wonder about this judge named Samuel, who would go on to anoint Saul and David both to be king of Israel. How could he not feel rejected?
  
  As a pastor, I feel rejected every time someone makes a bad decision.
  
  Seriously, when someone I have been teaching does something stupid, it makes me feel like a failure as a teacher. When a friend tells me that they have difficulty sharing their faith with others, my heart breaks for them and with them. I see all the pits I have fallen into and I want to help others avoid them...often to no avail. When this happens, I can't help but feel rejected.
  
  Being a shepherd would be easy if I weren't a sheep.
  
  Samuel is going through some pretty tough feelings of rejection as the shepherd of Israel in chapter 12. In fact, he is making his "farewell speech" in this passage, even though he would continue to do ministry for many years. He is telling the people what a lousy decision they made. He is asking them if he had ever wronged them during his time as their judge. It almost sounds like a boyfriend that has been jilted pleading for his girl to give him a reason.
  
  Then, in verse 23, the true heart of this shepherd comes out. Despite everything, he cannot help but pray for these people. He will not allow them to fall prey to their bad choices, if he can help it. He will continue to teach them what is good and right, even though they have not asked him to. He will be the shepherd they need, even if it is not the sheperd they want.
  
  It comforts me to read this verse, because I know how Samuel feels. We all probably have experienced some rejection like Samuel's. The true test is whether we will cling to our hurt or continue to honor God by doing what is good and right.
  
  If you are a leader, then continue to lead them when they choose not to follow. If you are a friend, continue to love them when they choose not to accept it. If you are a spouse, treat your partner well when they don't deserve it and when they do.
  
  And pray for them. Pray like your life (and theirs) depends on it.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/28/when-blessings-attack http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/28/when-blessings-attack Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:23:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/28/when-blessings-attack The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." - 1 Samuel 8:22
  
  One of my favorite things in the world is a good, old-fashioned answer to prayer. When you cry out to God and He responds in exactly the way you were hoping He would, there is no better feeling in the world. In my 12+ years of ministry, I have [...]]]> The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." - 1 Samuel 8:22
  
  One of my favorite things in the world is a good, old-fashioned answer to prayer. When you cry out to God and He responds in exactly the way you were hoping He would, there is no better feeling in the world. In my 12+ years of ministry, I have witnessed more than a few answers to prayer and I will never ceased to be amazed.
  
  What also amazes me is the frequency with which the very answers of our prayers draw us away from the God that did the answering. Let me see if I can paint you a picture.
  
  Kid wants to make the baseball team. Kid feels that it is beyond his ability to do. Kid asks for prayer from his church. Church prays earnestly for kid to make the team. Kid makes the team. Practices are every Wednesday night and games are all day on Sunday. Church never hears from kid again.
  
  Or...
  
  Student has narrowed choices of colleges down to three schools. Student really hopes to get their first choice. Parents begin to pray that student gets to go to school of choice. Letter comes, student is in. Student leaves for school with great hopes. Parents only hear from student when money is needed to bail student out of jail after another late night frat party.
  
  Or...
  
  Job is lost. Job is found. Person is lost.
  
  Or...
  
  Money is tight. Bills can't get paid. God provides money. Offering can't get paid.
  
  Or...the list goes on...It is a sad story that most pastors know by heart.
  
  Most of the time, we are closer to God when our prayers aren't getting answered. I know you think that is heresy or sacrilege, but it is the truth. When our need is the greatest, our desperation for God is at a maximum, but when our need dimishes or is met, there is no desperation. There is no need for God.
  
  The people of Israel were in a pretty good position in 1 Samuel. They were a nation without a king. That might sound frightening to you (it was to the Israelites), but it was actually pretty amazing. You see, God Himself was there king. He ruled them by speaking through a prophet or judge.
  
  They, however, didn't see it that way. Their need for a king was viewed as a weakness, so they begged God for a king. They wanted a king so they could be like everyone else, but God did not call them to be like others. He called them to belong to Him. He felt hurt and rejected by the Israelites, but He gave them their desire. He gave them a king and the line of kings led to the destruction of the nation of Israel.
  
  He answered their prayers and their blessing became their downfall.
  
  So, do we not pray for blessings? Is that the moral of this story? Not so. The moral is this...when praying for blessings, let us not forget the Blesser. He is who we worship. It is upon Him we will lean and in Him we will trust.
  
  When blessings attack, the Blesser remains firm, the Solid Rock. Don't forget Him.
  
  On a side note, I was exceptionally blessed today when a gentleman that had recently been blessed by God chose to honor God through service to others, even though he had work to be done related to his blessing. His words to me, "If God is going to bless us, then I better start blessing back"...or something like that. I can't remember. I was overwhelmed with emotion. :)
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/25/innate-goodness http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/25/innate-goodness Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:38:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/25/innate-goodness Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. - Isaiah 5:20
  
  I watched a show on ABC called "What Would You Do?". In this broadcast, people were put in compromising situations without their knowledge in order to see what [...]]]> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. - Isaiah 5:20
  
  I watched a show on ABC called "What Would You Do?". In this broadcast, people were put in compromising situations without their knowledge in order to see what they would do when confronted with a moral dilemma. One woman saw a friend's boyfriend with another woman (Would she tell her friend?). Another group of people witnessed people stealing at an Open House (Would they attempt to stop them?)
  
  Ultimately, in all of these situations, people acted in a fairly appropriate manner. When asked about these responses, a leading psychologist said that people responded in this way because of the innate goodness of man. This was the second time in two days that I had heard this term. On Monday, Alanis Morisette boasted her spirituality on national television, claiming that she had discovered the common thread amongst all the world's religions and that it was the innate goodness of man.
  
  Could these people really be talking about the same race of creatures that I think of when I say the word "man" or "mankind"?
  
  I am not a negative person. I seek out the good in all things. But there are a few things in life that I am certain of. One of those things is that man, at his core, is pretty selfish. Not only is man selfish, but man is self-centered and depraved. Left to our own devices, we can all be pretty messed up.
  
  That is why I know that I need a Savior.
  
  I know...religion has led to some of the greatest depravity that our society has ever seen. But, I am not talking about a human attempt to reconcile with God. Every human attempt of anything has ultimately led to destruction of some sort, not just the religious ones.
  
  I am talking about a Savior that was a real, bona fide, God-in-the-flesh man. If you want to see innate goodness, look to the Son of Man that laid down His life for sins that weren't His.
  
  As I sat and watched the show last night, I found it humorous just what the definition of "good" even was. For instance, the man who was seen with another woman...he was living with his girlfriend even though they were not married. But, for some reason his dining in a restaurant with another woman was seen as far more vile than the relationship in which he was sexing up a woman that he was not married to (by the way, the Bible calls that fornication...an old term, but still applicable).
  
  Should I cast judgment on these people? I should not because I am not God. But...He will. And when He does, I get the distinct feeling that His concern will not be whether or not they would stop someone that they saw shoplifting. His concern will fall on that Savior I was talking about.
  
  When the innate goodness of the Son of Man comes face to face with our own depravity, that is when salvation happens. May we all experience that in our lifetime.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/21/the-trouble-of-sin http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/21/the-trouble-of-sin Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:58:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/21/the-trouble-of-sin Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
  nor his ear too dull to hear.
  But your iniquities have separated
  you from your God;
  your sins have hidden his face from you,
  so that he will not hear.
  [...]]]> Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
  nor his ear too dull to hear.
  But your iniquities have separated
  you from your God;
  your sins have hidden his face from you,
  so that he will not hear.
  Isaiah 59:1-2
  
  I have a struggle to share with you. This is not a new struggle, but it is one that is being brought evermore into the light. That can only be a good thing, right?
  
  I have always been a proponent of love. I preach the Good News that God loves people. I try to respond to people with love in all things. Even when I am not at my best, I still try to act as an agent of God's love to the world.
  
  But, I am struggling with reconciling God's love with His holiness...His justice. As I look around me, I see people that are consumed with the justice of God and they seem very angry to me. I also see people that are obsessed with the love of God and they are not angry...but, they aren't always holy, either. How do I reconcile these two opposing forces to find the truth about this God that I serve?
  
  For instance, I have a friend that is rough around the edges. Okay, I have lots of friends that are rough around the edges. Many of the people I know have struggled with God ever loving them, mainly because they are so "rough". I convince them that God does love them. He created them. While they were yet sinners, Christ died for them.
  
  Fast forward...everyone is happy. God loves them. Life is good. But when no change occurs, I begin to feel hollow inside. Something is wrong with this picture.
  
  Look at the passage in Isaiah that I listed at the top of this post. God's arm is not too short to save. His love is enough to reach down and save.
  
  But...sin has separated us from Him. Our iniquities have hidden us from Him so that He will not hear us. His love is only one side of this coin. At some point in time, we have to come out of hiding. There comes a place where God's sovereignty meets our depravity and something has to give. So, let me start with something really simple.
  
  Sin is bad. It isn't funny...and it's not something to be accepted. It is wrong and it keeps us from being with this loving God that has done so much to reconcile us to Him.
  
  Good deeds and righteous living do not save us, but the opposite can certainly doom us.
  
  With God's help, I intend to stop sinning.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/19/a-broken-toilet http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/19/a-broken-toilet Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:59:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/19/a-broken-toilet
  The toilet in the "main bathroom" is broken.
  
  There is a seal that is messed up or some other thing. I am not really [...]]]>
  The toilet in the "main bathroom" is broken.
  
  There is a seal that is messed up or some other thing. I am not really sure, but that is the joy of renting. When something is broken, I call the landlord and let them come and fix it. I am sure that more manly people than me will take an "I'll fix it myself" approach, but I guess I am not that manly. Today, I am waiting for the landlord to arrive with a new seal and a magic wand that will make the toilet work again.
  
  Cameron, my youngest son, asked me last night when the toilet would be fixed. His exact words were, "...because I really have to go." This struck me odd. After all, we do have three bathrooms in the house. Surely one of them was available for his needs.
  
  "Well, I don't want to go in your bathroom (that's the one off of the master bedroom) because it gives me the jibblies and by the time I walk down to the one in the basement I don't have to go anymore."
  
  I am not sure why my bathroom gives him the jibblies. And apparently, it is a quarter-mile hike down the stairs to the bathroom there. So, his solution has been to hold it.
  
  I searched through this entire story to see if there was some spiritual significance that I could pull out of it, but I have been unable to get past the absolute weirdness of it to find something. The truth is, my kid is an oddball...but I love him. I love him just as much for these oddball things as for the fact that he is mine.
  
  Maybe that's the significance. Think of how odd our thinking must be in the eyes of God. I wonder if He smiles when he hears me like I smile when I listen to my son. Probably.
  
  On a side note, this morning, I heard the distinct sounds of Cameron using the restroom off the master bedroom as I awoke from sleep. He actually sighed with great relief at one point.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/17/when-god-picks-the-b-team http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/17/when-god-picks-the-b-team Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:03:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/17/when-god-picks-the-b-team
  I am more than a little nervous about it.
  
  You see, we have taken this approach to church planting a little bit differently than it was presented to us. We attended the Boot Camp, read the books, received coaching from established pastors, and [...]]]>
  I am more than a little nervous about it.
  
  You see, we have taken this approach to church planting a little bit differently than it was presented to us. We attended the Boot Camp, read the books, received coaching from established pastors, and learned the optimal (best) way to approach planting a church. It revolved around two basic fundamentals. Get to know the community and pick the right team to get started. Of course, this team would need to be A-list material if we want to succeed.
  
  One problem, I am not A-list material.
  
  My whole life and ministry has consisted of me being relegated to the B-list in everything, from school to sports to...you guessed it...ministry. I was notorious as a youth pastor for having the largest group of rejects the city could offer. So, when we decided to plant a church, we figured we needed to plant a B-list church...a perfect church for imperfect people.
  
  The issue with the B-Team (as opposed to the A-Team) is not related to ability or even desire. It is related to confidence. The A-Team busts in the door and wins the battle because they are the A-Team and that's what they do. The B-Team knocks on the door to see if it is okay to win the battle and then walks away because they know they are not the A-Team, so this result is kind of expected of them. I have watched as members of my church have talked themselves out of doing ministry with phrases like "They wouldn't want to come anyway", "That's just not my personality", and "I don't want to scare them off"...classic B-Team confidence killers.
  
  But, the funny thing about all of this is, God chose us to do this work. It's finally sinking in that if God wanted an A-Team to do this work, He could have found an A-Team, but He chose us. If God picks the B-Team, then that means He thinks we can get the job done. Not only that, He knows that when the job is done, He will get the glory. When God picks the B-Team, confidence should no longer be an issue. Heck, Jesus picked a slew of B-Teamers to start His church. Why should we be scared because He chose us?
  
  There is far more to this concept than I am going to put here. When I preach the message on Sunday, I will definitely get a lot deeper on the subject (it will be awesome, too). But, I thought I would start with this. So follow me in this last paragraph.
  
  God picked me to make a difference. He picked me to influence the ones around me. He picked me to add to His kingdom here on Earth. He has no back-up plan for me. If I don't do my part, it simply will not get done. He picked me for a reason. I may be on the B-Team, but if God picks me, that means He is on the B-Team with me. I will fear no evil. I will make a difference.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/12/smartphone-troubles http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/12/smartphone-troubles Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:43:46 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/12/smartphone-troubles
  They do not want to give me one.
  
  The company continues to try to "solve" my problem, but I have arrived at the place where I do not want my problem "solved". I want my money back.
  
  Are you ready to hear my real dilemma?
  
  I have had some heated exchanges with the managers and specialists at the company, but none of them were "over the top" enough to warrant a refund. I have now been told by friends that I must show a new side of me, so that they will give me what I want. I have seen this done on several occasions. I even had a guy storm through an insurance claims office looking for his money with a serious intention of hurting someone if they didn't give it to him.
  
  However, I do not want to become something that I am not simply to receive a refund on a smartphone. I am a rather pleasant person (though somewhat odd) to be around and do not have an easily accessed "rage" button. On the few occasions that I have pressed that button, I have felt great regret afterward, because I do not want to be that person.
  
  Is $400 worth becoming an absolute tool, however briefly that might be?
  
  As I look in the Bible, I see Jesus in a fit of rage. He turns over tables and chases people with a whip He fashioned before entering the temple. He goes absolutely ballistic over their greed and deceit that is taking place within the temple courts.
  
  "My house shall be called a house of prayer!", He declares. I do not get as upset as He about greed and deceit within the walls of the church. It would be a shame if I got more angry about a cell phone than that.
  
  So, I will continue to let them try to "solve" my problem. I will focus on getting upset about things that matter a little more than a phone.
  
  And I will attempt to make His house a house of prayer. It seems to be what is important to Him.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/09/boyz-2-men http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/09/boyz-2-men Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:48:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/09/boyz-2-men Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. - 1 Corinthians 14:20
  
  We are beginning a new series at Four Hills this Sunday called "Grown Ups". It seemed appropriate since we just completed our big weekend dedicated to kids. Why not have a teaching series [...]]]> Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. - 1 Corinthians 14:20
  
  We are beginning a new series at Four Hills this Sunday called "Grown Ups". It seemed appropriate since we just completed our big weekend dedicated to kids. Why not have a teaching series devoted to becoming mature in our faith.
  
  Maturity is a word that we don't really hear a lot of at an "imperfect" church. It seems that when a church such as ours adopts a strong opinion about "grace", the assumption is that "maturity" is thrown out the window. But, when we look at the writings of the apostle Paul, we find that he was pretty consumed with both "grace" and "maturity". How can this be?
  
  Well, it goes a little something like this.
  
  God covers our weakness and wants us to come to Him as little children. Jesus even specified that, unless we become as little children, we will not even enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When it comes to our approach to faith, we must have a childlike faith. And when it comes to the world, we should have a naive approach to sin (when sin matures, we call it addiction, strongholds, and other words of the sort).
  
  BUT...when it comes to our thinking, we should "grow up" a little. We shouldn't have to be told how to live by others, because maturity in our thinking will tell us when we are being Christ-like and when we are not. When we are mature in our thinking, we take on the fruits of the Spirit as personality traits. Mature thinking will cause us to value the important and not worry about the unimportant.
  
  It is an interesting journey I am now on, figuring out where Jesus wants me to remain child-like and where He wants me to grow up. But, it all begins with mature thinking.
  
  I got my work cut out for me.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/06/a-church-about-kids http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/06/a-church-about-kids Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:32:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/06/a-church-about-kids
  I have two of my own that are growing up so fast, so I was talking to Stacy the other day about having another baby. Okay, I have talked to her a lot about having another baby. She tells me that she loves babies, but she is done birthing them. So, I have to enjoy being around other people's [...]]]>
  I have two of my own that are growing up so fast, so I was talking to Stacy the other day about having another baby. Okay, I have talked to her a lot about having another baby. She tells me that she loves babies, but she is done birthing them. So, I have to enjoy being around other people's kids, since I won't be making any more of my own.
  
  I always envisioned having a church that loves children. I know that a lot of churches say they love children, but you can always tell where there real passion lies when you see where they spend their money and where they spend their time. We are trying to make Four Hills into a church that raises children's ministry to the place where we feel that it truly belongs (on the top), but it is difficult.
  
  You see, not everyone is cut out for kids' ministry. I talk to lots of people that tell me that they love their own children, but don't really care to be around other children. This seems to be a common theme today. I can't say that I get it, but I can respect that everyone has different gifts for ministry. As a church, Four Hills wants the best children's ministry it can possibly have, but as individuals, we are all still waiting for that right person to come along that is genuinely called to minister to children.
  
  Of course, while we pray and wait for that person or persons to come along, we recognize that we are a church of families (we have almost 20 kids in our little church already) and that our kids deserve the best of us. That is why we are devoting an entire weekend to them!
  
  This weekend, Four Hills is hosting a Movie Night (featuring "The Incredibles) and a "Be A Hero" Night, both geared toward ministering to kids. Our workers will become children's workers for a weekend, as we endeavour to make our kids feel special and show them that Jesus thinks they are special, too. I think it is absolutely amazing that a church can decide to forego their "adult" service in favor of their kids and the kids of the community.
  
  So, if you are looking for something to do with your family this Saturday night, feel free to drop in on our Movie Night (starts at 9 PM...gotta wait for it to get dark). If your kids want to learn to be a real hero, come on by on Sunday at 5 PM (we have inflatable obstacle courses, costume making, and a great Bible lesson on "being a hero").
  
  You might like our church. We are a church about kids.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/04/everybody-must-get-stoned http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/04/everybody-must-get-stoned Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:06:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/04/everybody-must-get-stoned They'll stone you when you're at the breakfast table
  They'll stone you when you are young and able
  They'll stone you when you're trying to make a buck
  They'll stone you and then they'll say good luck
  But I would not feel so all alone
  Everybody must get stoned
  
  So, I was driving [...]]]> They'll stone you when you're at the breakfast table
  They'll stone you when you are young and able
  They'll stone you when you're trying to make a buck
  They'll stone you and then they'll say good luck
  But I would not feel so all alone
  Everybody must get stoned
  
  So, I was driving home today listening to the radio. I typically turn between 105.9 Way FM (if I am feeling spiritual) and 100.5 GenX Radio (if I am feeling nostalgic). Other than those, it is always talk radio. Today, however, was different.
  
  My AM dial didn't work (antenna problems) and I didn't feel like listening to the usual. So, I am hitting the seek button and hear Bob Dylan telling me that "Everybody Must Get Stoned". It's a goofy song, one that certainly enjoys the play on words during the acid-laced era in which it was written. But, today I listened to the lyrics a little deeper, just for fun.
  
  It seems that old Mister Dylan felt somewhat persecuted. He seemed to think everyone was out to get him, but he didn't mind, as long as everybody else was getting stoned with him. Poor guy.
  
  Of course, I think we all have a little of Bob Dylan in us. It is hard to get persecuted, whether for beliefs or behaviors, but we all seem to do better knowing that we have company. I wonder if that is because God created us to be around other people. Maybe that is why being involved in church is so important to us. It's not necessarily about the teaching or the music. I can read my Bible at home and my iPod can give me all the great worship music I need.
  
  But people...I need people. Most of us do.
  
  So, thank you, Bob, for making me see something that I had hidden away for a while. As a follower of Christ, we must have the fortitude to go to Calvary alone, but the compassion to bring as many as we can along for the ride.
  
  Hope to get my antenna fixed soon.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/02/it-is-about-me http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/02/it-is-about-me Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:15:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/08/02/it-is-about-me
  You see, I have been learning more and more in the Bible about this thing called "personal responsibility", and it is a doozy! The real heart of unselfish love lies in a person's willingness to accept their responsibility to action, even if that action is not pleasant, inconvenient, or even painful to endure. Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is a prime example of this.
  
  His prayer (a single passage is given to us from the book of Luke) reads like this:
  
  "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
  
  As I was reading through this passage this week, the thought occured to me (for the first time actually) that Jesus did not want to die for my sins. For some reason, I had grown up spiritually with this idea that Jesus was chomping at the bit to be fastened to a cross so that He could save poor pitiful me. The truth is far from that chipper and pleasant.
  
  Not only did Jesus not want to do it, He asked for permission not to.
  
  There are so many things in this world that I do not want to do, even pastoral things. I do not enjoy visiting people in the hospital (I put it off when I should do it right away). I do not enjoy being the "strong one" at funeral homes. I am actually a pretty reserved person around strangers (you wouldn't know this because I put on a good show). I hate confrontation, even with people that deserve to be confronted.
  
  Of course, Jesus followed up His request with an answer of His own. "Not my will, but yours be done." He recognized that if He didn't go to the cross, no one else was going to go there for Him. No one else could, even if they wanted to. It was His destiny and His decision to do something He didn't want to do for the sake of others.
  
  Hebrews says, "For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame and is set at the right hand of the Father." He despised the cross that would soon become the symbol of His sacrifice. But, He did it anyways...because He is good. Good people do the right thing. They take personal responsibility to do right and good.
  
  So, what is it that God has placed in your life to be accomplished? He has gifted us all and presented each of us with opportunities. Are you seizing your opportunities, especially the ones that you don't want to?
  
  I had a lady at church that loves to cook (she says it all the time). We look for opportunities for her to serve in the area of food (one of our Four Hills). One night, an opportunity arose for her to serve in the nursery, not cooking but watching toddlers and babies. She was not happy about this, because it was not her thing (it isn't everyone's thing, you know). BUT, she served. It had to be done and she did it. To this day, I am so proud of her for doing that.
  
  It is about YOU. It is about ME. It is about us taking responsibility to see good done.
  
  
  Do something.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/30/sunday-night-church http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/30/sunday-night-church Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:48:45 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/30/sunday-night-church Why don't you/we have church on Sunday mornings like everyone else?
  
  I get this question a lot. I have answered it a lot, usually to no one's satisfaction. I thought that a blog post on the subject would be fun and cause me even more headaches, so here I go.
  
  Have you ever wondered why most churches meet on Sunday [...]]]> Why don't you/we have church on Sunday mornings like everyone else?
  
  I get this question a lot. I have answered it a lot, usually to no one's satisfaction. I thought that a blog post on the subject would be fun and cause me even more headaches, so here I go.
  
  Have you ever wondered why most churches meet on Sunday mornings? I am sure that most people assume that the Bible has something to say on the subject. Many might quote Scriptures about keeping the Sabbath holy. Some might mention the fact that Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning. Still others will say that if Grandmother went to church on Sunday morning, then it must be God's will.
  
  I have done some fairly extensive research (beyond just searching Google) on the subject over the years, so I thought I could give you a little history lesson on the subject:
  
  First things first, Sunday is not the Sabbath. It never was and truly never will be. In the Jewish tradition, the seventh day of the week was considered a day of rest. That day was (trumpets blaring) Saturday, and is still observed by Jews today.
  
  Secondly, the 1st Century church was a church built and led by, you guessed it, a group of Jewish fisherman. They continued to honor the Sabbath in their Jewish tradition, but conducted their house meetings on a daily basis. The first day of the week was set aside for special traditions such as bringing in offerings for the poor and the Lord's supper, but every day was considered a day of worship.
  
  Finally, the history of church on Sunday actually begins in the 18th Century, during a period of time commonly known as the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the industrialization of the world, farmers and tradesmen would work every day (with no rest or weekends). The church within a given region would hold a mass (Catholic) or prayer service (Protestant) twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening), in order to present ample opportunity for each community member to participate.
  
  With the rise of industry, people everywhere found themselves bound to factories for 6 days a week, with Sunday presenting the only opportunity for rest (or worship). The churches of that era began to adjust their schedules accordingly, with services being held on Sunday mornings and evenings and preachers travelling circuits throughout the remainder of the week to minister at the factory centers and unchurched townships.
  
  As the years went by, the success of the Sunday morning service became apparent. People preferred to fulfill their Sunday obligation early, so that the remainder of their day could be uninterrupted by spiritual things. With the revivalists of the early 1900's, a twice-a-day obligation became the norm, leading to a mass exodus of many from the mainstream Protestant denominations of the Lutherans and Methodists, and a great influx to the less regimented Baptist church.
  
  Today, many churches have abandoned their evening services and strive to keep their morning services limited to a single hour each Sunday morning. Many church midweek activities have become ghost towns of the church that is trying to help people fulfill their Sunday obligation with as little cost to them as possible.
  
  I don't know how you feel about it, but that doesn't seem like a good policy on why church should take place on Sunday mornings. It seems to me that churches adapted to the fancy of people that didn't want to be there, so that they could keep their numbers up. Sunday morning church is about large attendance, lifeless sermons, and getting out in time to watch the football games. That is simply something I don't care about.
  
  But, what if people came to church because they wanted to? What if service on Sunday was not an attempt to help people "get it over with" so they could move on with the rest of their day? That would be a church worth going to. That would be a sermon worth listening to.
  
  I realize we could get a lot more people in a shorter amount of time by doing things the way everyone else does them. Unfortunately, I really like the transformation that I am seeing in the people that we have already connected with. I don't think I want to give that up for the purpose of holding service at a more convenient time for the less interested. Maybe one day, I will see things differently, but today is not that day.
  
  Do you want to have a life-changing experience with an awe-inspiring God? We meet at 5 PM on Sundays. I would love to introduce you to Him.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/29/an-altruistic-act-aaa http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/29/an-altruistic-act-aaa Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:00:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/29/an-altruistic-act-aaa might be on WordPress), I spoke if how seldom I do things that are altruistic in nature. It seems that every good deed has a secret motive or some other form of reward or gratification. At Four Hills, we are trying to find ways to give to others without some agenda (hidden or otherwise) that benefits us. It [...]]]> might be on WordPress), I spoke if how seldom I do things that are altruistic in nature. It seems that every good deed has a secret motive or some other form of reward or gratification. At Four Hills, we are trying to find ways to give to others without some agenda (hidden or otherwise) that benefits us. It has been something we have been praying about.
  
  So, I would like to introduce you to the Sandstrom family! This week, I spoke on the telephone with Jeff Sandstrom
  about a church plant they have envisioned for Berkeley, California (for those of you that are unaware, Berkeley is a major center of much anti-God thinking). Their church will be called 360 Church, and I encourage you to learn more about it.
  
  As I listened to Jeff speaking on the phone about what God had called him and his wife (Ericka) to do in California, I began to feel the tug of the Holy Spirit. Was this our opportunity to do something just because it is the right thing to do? We had monies already set aside for a purpose such as this. Had God brought someone to our attention that would benefit from one church being unselfish enough to simply give them the chance?
  
  Jeff asked if we could support his church and their missionary approach. You could tell that he had prepared for the inevitable "we'll pray about it" or "send me some materials". As a missionary to the West Coast, I am sure he has become accustomed to defending his call.
  
  I told him, "Jeff, we have money put aside that we were waiting for someone to ask for. It's yours. And there will be more to follow."
  
  Will God reward us for helping 360 Church become a reality? It doesn't matter. It is the right thing to do. So, we will do it.
  
  Join me in praying for Jeff and Ericka Sandstrom and the 360 Church in Berkeley. Call their names daily and pray that God will have His will be done on the West Coast.
  
  I will keep you updated.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/26/adoption http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/26/adoption Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:14:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/26/adoption For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. - Romans 8:15
  
  I will never cease to be amazed by the fact that God loves me. I have been reflecting on that fact for the past week. It has once again made me free. I am truly [...]]]> For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. - Romans 8:15
  
  I will never cease to be amazed by the fact that God loves me. I have been reflecting on that fact for the past week. It has once again made me free. I am truly astounded.
  
  You see, when I was growing up in the church, the love of God was not a central doctrine. In fact, I remember being a young man that was repeatedly questioned about the validity of his salvation by God. In message after message and countless conversations, the same question was always asked.
  
  "If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would spend eternity?"
  
  To this day, I struggle with the answer. Certainty is not a luxury that I am blessed with.
  
  But, the question itself is one that bothers me. You see, the question is a question that is built around fear. In my Biblical studies, there are two things I am certain about. One is that God despises my sinful nature. The other is that God hates fear.
  
  God hates fear.
  
  He spends the majority of His time with us telling us not to be afraid. Then, we turn around and try to scare people into a relationship with Him. It is highly offensive to prey on the fears of people in an effort to bring them into a relationship with a God that wants them not to fear Him.
  
  But Romans gives me a solid reason for my hope. The author uses a word that truly sings to those of us that are tired of being afraid. He uses the word "adoption".
  
  Adoption is a willful act in which one person chooses to call another person their child. I love my kids, but the truth is, they were coming, whether I liked it or not. One look at my oldest child and their is no denying that he is mine. I couldn't get away from it if I wanted to. But adoption says, "I choose you". Adoption means that I had a choice of whether or not to take you on and I chose to do so.
  
  Adoption means that I do not have to fear Him anymore, but instead I can call Him Abba (Daddy). People need to hear this good news. They don't have to be afraid anymore.
  
  Let's tell them.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/22/unselfish-love http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/22/unselfish-love Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:01:43 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/22/unselfish-love
  I guess it really goes back to your definition of [...]]]>
  I guess it really goes back to your definition of "unselfish". According to Dictionary.com, unselfish is placing the needs of others ahead of your own needs. By that definition, I can say that I have been unselfish at times. But, think about a little bit different word and definition and tell me what you think.
  
  Altruism. Altruism is acting for the welfare of other, seeking nothing in return.
  
  Hmm...I can't find a time when I have done that. When I love my wife (by doing the dishes or giving her a compliment) it may be a semi-unselfish act, but I cannot say that I am seeking nothing in return. On the contrary, as her husband, I seek lots in return.
  
  The same can often be said of my love for my children, friends, family, etc. There is rarely a time when I am not, at least a little bit, seeking a return on my love investment. Heck, I even keep score sometimes.
  
  So, while I continue to study and prepare, I am also going to pray that God gives me the opportunity to do something purely altruistic in nature. I would like to be like Him at every opportunity, but this is one opportunity that I have not yet seized.
  
  Lord, give me the chance to do something to benefit others, seeking nothing in return.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/21/a-time-to-begin-again http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/21/a-time-to-begin-again Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:51:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/21/a-time-to-begin-again
  I know it sounds odd to try to find some great meaning in something as trivial as changing blog venues, but let me give it [...]]]>
  I know it sounds odd to try to find some great meaning in something as trivial as changing blog venues, but let me give it a whirl.
  
  The truth is, I had not taken the time to evaluate my blogging needs in quite a while. I was satisfied...sort of. More than that, I was comfortable, which is a good deal different than satisfied, now that I think of it. You see, being comfortable can be a very dangerous thing.
  
  I think it is great to have a comfortable chair, but that chair will contribute to my weight gain over time (considerably). It is wonderful to have a comfortable pair of shoes, but the more comfortable they are, the more you wear them. Then they fall apart from overuse. I have even met people who were comfortable in other areas of their lives, with dire results:
  
  
  • There was the man who was comfortable flirting with women other than his wife. That didn't work out for him.
  • There was the woman comfortable with her son's wild behavior, so long as he kept his grades up. It turns out that grades don't really help a person with a criminal record.
  • There was kid that was comfortable with living two lives, one at church and one at school. It was a pretty good lie he had going on, until the two barged in on one another, which they always do.
  Then, there was the young pastor, who was comfortable with being a youth pastor. He had done it for over a decade and considered himself good at it. But, he found himself slowly eroding as a person and a minister. He needed adventure. He needed to be less comfortable.
  
  So, he decided to start a church.
  
  Still don't know how that one is going to turn out, but it sure ain't comfortable. Welcome to my new blog site!
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/07/what-they-did-after-declaring-their-independence http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/07/what-they-did-after-declaring-their-independence Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:58:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/07/07/what-they-did-after-declaring-their-independence
  Last Sunday, we celebrated Independence Day. At Four Hills, we grilled some burgers and dogs, played lawn games that make little to no sense at all, and watched the kids run around like crazy people. We also sang some tunes and...oh yeah...we declared our [...]]]>
  Last Sunday, we celebrated Independence Day. At Four Hills, we grilled some burgers and dogs, played lawn games that make little to no sense at all, and watched the kids run around like crazy people. We also sang some tunes and...oh yeah...we declared our independence.
  
  Huh?
  
  Yep, we declared our independence from the sin that has enslaved us throughout our lives. In my case, I declared my independence from my food addiction. Others declared their independence from things such as procrastination, bitterness, substance use, rudeness, and more. It was quite a moving display. We prayed and celebrated our new freedom. After all, whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
  
  Then we went home. I wonder how the founding fathers felt after the big hoopla of declaring their independence from tyranny. I wonder if it was just as exhilerating the next morning as it was on the day they did it. You have to think that the party was over and the real risk had begun. After all, by signing that piece of paper, they placed a target squarely on their backs.
  
  It is the same for me this week. As I have continued in my struggle against food (and calories), it has become apparent to me that it is easier to declare your independence than it is to actually be free. I ate at a restaurant on Monday and ordered water for the first time in ages. I wish I could say that I have only had water to drink since Sunday, but that would be a lie. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought.
  
  Paul says that we must "crucify the flesh" daily. He is referring to the selfish desires that hinder us and keep us slaves to sin. In my little analogy, it turns out that each morning, I must declare my independence anew. Each day must be approached with a strong desire to be free because the flesh is calling. Mountain Dew is calling. Last night, a Swiss Cake Roll called my name.
  
  So today, I will renew my declaration. I will be free from this sin of overeating. I will limit my caloric intake to less than 1,800 calories for the day. I will go to bed at a decent time, so that I am not tempted in the night when I am weaker.
  
  And I will do it again tomorrow. One day at a time.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/21/all-about-money http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/21/all-about-money Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:37:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/21/all-about-money Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. - 2 Corinthians 8:11-12
  
  Yesterday, I preached my first sermon on [...]]]> Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. - 2 Corinthians 8:11-12
  
  Yesterday, I preached my first sermon on money. Notice I did not say first sermon at Four Hills on money. It was actually the first time that I have ever preached about money in my entire life. I have always been a staff pastor, and money is pretty much a subject reserved for the top guy. So, now that I am the top guy, I preached on money.
  
  I taught people not to “tithe”.
  
  This is probably a huge mistake, especially in a church that is now in its third week of existence. Every church I have ever been at has taught me that tithing is 1) how you make sure the lights stay on; 2) how you keep God from cursing you in the book of Malachi; and 3) simply another form of worship through obedience to God.
  
  But, when preparing for my first sermon on money, I found out some things about tithing.
  
  First, I discovered that tithing in the Old Testament was far more in depth than simply giving 10% of your income. There were different types of tithing for different seasons. There were different tithes depending on which year of the 7-year tithing cycle. All things considered, people in the OT would give anywhere between 30% and 50% of their increase. Of course, this is only interesting when arguing with hardcore tithers that write out their checks to the last penny. It kind of throws them for a loop to find out that they aren’t doing it quite right.
  
  Second, the early church of Peter and Paul and the others didn’t receive tithes. They took of a collection to feed the widows and the poor. They even took up collections to pay for the missionary travels of their preachers. All of this (are you ready?) was in addition to any tithes that they were still giving to the priesthood, because they were Jews, after all. Of course, as Paul traveled through Gentile nations, he taught them to give “according to what you have” and not “according to what you do not have”.
  
  You see, to Paul, it was more important to give as God instructs you to give according to your means…and to do so cheerfully. Maybe God instructs you to give 10%. That’s great! Give away. In my experience, I could usually give more than that, when I really thought about it. The point is, it is all God’s money anyways and if you really trust Him for your provision, then it won’t bother you to give it away. As in the old Doritos add, “Don’t worry, we’ll make more!”.
  
  Lastly, it turns out that tithing was reinstated by the Catholic Church in the early Middle Ages. They were growing in political power and needed the tithe in order to fund their political and military movements (including the Crusades and Inquisition). You will have to forgive me. I do not want the basis of my generosity and financial worship of the Lord to be based in a tradition that was newly sparked because of religious genocide.
  
  So, each one will give according to their means. By each one, we mean full participation. Someone once told me that if only 10% of church members would really tithe, the church of today would never be in want financially. I like to think that if 100% of church members would give according to what they have, God will take care of the rest.
  
  So far, it’s working.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/10/the-untouchables http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/10/the-untouchables Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:01:18 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/10/the-untouchables But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
  
  I had an interesting question posed to me this week. We had some visitors to our church (woo hoo!) anda simple question was asked...
  
  Do you love people here...like...everyone?
  
  It [...]]]> But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
  
  I had an interesting question posed to me this week. We had some visitors to our church (woo hoo!) anda simple question was asked...
  
  Do you love people here...like...everyone?
  
  It seemed like a pretty straightforward answer to me. I quickly said yes. Of course, we are all about people. We love them very much. The question then took a turn.
  
  What about homosexuals?
  
  I stopped for a moment to ask myself what I was getting into here. To the typical fundamentalist, the answer is, "love the sinner, hate the sin", but I am not a typical fundamentalist. My personal response is, "love the sinner, let God worry about the sin", but I was unsure how that answer would be taken. So, I did what I always do. I told the truth.
  
  Of course, we love homosexuals. We love people and they qualify.
  
  I was quite relieved to find out that the person asking me shared my opinion in this case, because many in today's church world do not. In fact, there is some kind of fear in the church world that if you express love for people, then you are somehow condoning their actions. You almost have to issue a disclaimer to love people...kind of like, "I love you, but that in no way means that I support your behavior." This could make an interesting lifetime of conversations, since most people that we meet are involved in one form of sin or another. You would almost need a disclaimer for every conversation.
  
  But for some reason, we have certain "untouchables" in our church culture. The man who cheats on his wife is struggling with typical male weakness, but the homosexual is an "abomination"? A soccer mom that find herself addicted to painkillers needs our understanding and support, but an alcoholic needs to be removed from fellowship and seek out a treatment center. The worship leader on Sunday mornings can cheat on his taxes to the tune of far more money than the petty burglar, but we don't bat an eye.
  
  I have a news flash. We are all an "abomination" compared to God.
  
  This business of comparing ourselves to each other is a fool's game. If God can love one of us, He can love us all. If God can save one of us, He can save us all. The death of Christ on that cross covers my depravity as well as yours.
  
  I am trying to think of some artistic way to wrap this up, but I truly cannot come up with one. The truth is, I get tired of pointed fingers and picket lines. We are all created by God and need to be reconciled to God. Rarely does that reconciliation come as a by-product of hatred disguised as truth.
  
  Question: Do you love people...like...everyone?
  
  Answer: How could we not love everyone?
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/05/prepare-for-lift-off http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/05/prepare-for-lift-off Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:16:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/06/05/prepare-for-lift-off
  However, there are a few [...]]]>
  However, there are a few people that get to be part of something at the very beginning. Here at Four Hills, we are preparing for our Launch Service on Sunday, June 6th (5:00 PM). The people that have chosen to help us get going have been witness to countless things that they never considered before when attending church. For instance...
  
  
  • As we were passing out giving envelopes, it dawned on one team member that our logo was printed on the envelope, therefore someone had to design and print them.
  • Our first time holding communion was in paper cups with oyster crackers. It seems that we did not realize that a communion set was something to be purchased prior to communion itself.
  • The first time we looked at the bathrooms, we realized that we had no custodian...someone has to do it, right?
  • These are just a few out of the hundreds of things that have to be done at church that many people never consider. The amazing thing about them it, when we started doing them together, God started to move in our lives. It is almost like God smiled at our feeble efforts and said, "I am going to cut them a break. They are giving it their best shot."
  • I encourage everyone to be part of the beginning of a ministry at least once in their lives. It does not necessarily have to be planting a church (although that is a personal favorite), but you should definitely feel the thrill and fear that accompanies starting from scratch on something.
  • By the way, we haven't actually started, yet. Our first service is on Sunday, so I will let you know then if I still feel this way. :)
  
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/04/06/outcasts http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/04/06/outcasts Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:15:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/04/06/outcasts Four Hills, we have this tagline...or motto...or whatever you want to call it.
  
  A Perfect Church for Imperfect People
  
  It flows off the tongue, right?
  
  For the past few months, we have been recruiting workers, reaching out to neigborhoods, and doing everything we can to find these imperfect people [...]]]> Four Hills, we have this tagline...or motto...or whatever you want to call it.
  
  A Perfect Church for Imperfect People
  
  It flows off the tongue, right?
  
  For the past few months, we have been recruiting workers, reaching out to neigborhoods, and doing everything we can to find these imperfect people that we speak of...and they are starting to show up. They are not showing up in our worship service, because we don't actually have a weekly service, yet. But they are showing up in our lives as people with needs or skills that want to be used and belong.
  
  Most of them are outcasts.
  
  Stacy and I were discussing our apparent attraction to outcasts today at the dinner table. It seems that wherever we have been , we have always been able to draw out the misfits and people that don't seem to belong anywhere. Maybe it is because I have been an outcast throughout my life, so I get along well with others. Whatever the reason, God has seen fit to bring us those imperfect people.
  
  Caleb, our oldest son, loves to listen in on our conversations. Better yet, any time he can participate in them, he does. Most of the time, his insights are the typical, 13-year old responses involving bodily functions or video games. Today, he decided to insert his opinion into our discussion about outcasts.
  
  "So, God wants us to turn the outcasts into incasts."
  
  Hmm...
  
  Yeah, I guess He does.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/03/06/one-another http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/03/06/one-another Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:28:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/03/06/one-another One Another - pronoun Used to indicate a reciprocal relationship or reciprocal actions among the members of the set referred to by the antecedent
  
  In the New Testament, the phrase 'Love One Another' is used 12 times. Throughout the books, we are also given the admonitions to 'Serve One Another', 'Accept One [...]]]> One Another - pronoun Used to indicate a reciprocal relationship or reciprocal actions among the members of the set referred to by the antecedent
  
  In the New Testament, the phrase 'Love One Another' is used 12 times. Throughout the books, we are also given the admonitions to 'Serve One Another', 'Accept One Another', 'Honor One Another', and 50 other "one another" phrases. Apparently, our relationships with "one another" are important to Jesus.
  
  This month at Four Hills, we are emphasizing Outreach (becoming a part of the community we are in and inviting them to become a part of our community). The truth is, how we relate to "one another" is going to be one of the greatest influences on whether someone wants to become part of our community or not.
  
  Imagine being a person that has decided to attend church for the first time. Maybe you have been to other churches or maybe you have never even tried. Sure, you aren't perfect, but who is, right? Of course, when you come to church, you are made to feel very welcome because you are...um...fresh meat. Yep, that's the feeling you get. They are excited to see you because you are one more increase to their weekly numbers. But, you know to expect that. What you are really interested in is not how they treat you, but how they treat each other.
  
  Because as a first time guest, you should always be treated with honor, respect, and a warm greeting. But by watching how we treat "one another", you will know how we will treat you in a short time. It is kind of like watching a man with his mother and knowing that is how his wife will be treated one day. The one is a very good indicator of the other.
  
  Jesus says, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." He knew then what we should learn now...
  
  People are watching us.
  
  They are either looking for a way to become a part of the family or looking for a way to prove that this family, like all families, is dysfunctional. So we have to show them what our family is all about. We have to show them what our God is all about.
  
  Love one another. Honor one another. Greet one another. Serve one another.
  
  Outreach begins with inreach.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/28/what-is-outreach http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/28/what-is-outreach Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:45:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/28/what-is-outreach You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. - Matthew 5:14
  
  At Four Hills, the month of March is being dedicated to the concept of Outreach. This might sound silly, since every day should be devoted to such an endeavour. But the truth is, without a proper understanding of what Outreach is (or should [...]]]> You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. - Matthew 5:14
  
  At Four Hills, the month of March is being dedicated to the concept of Outreach. This might sound silly, since every day should be devoted to such an endeavour. But the truth is, without a proper understanding of what Outreach is (or should be), most of us will simply spin our wheels before we stop trying altogether.
  
  So...what is Outreach?
  
  Oddly enough, the word is never mentioned in the Bible (along with other words like Trinity and Rapture). Jesus mentions preaching and spreading the Good News, but His words in Matthew 5 seem to be some of the defining teaching on the subject.
  
  He mentions three major characteristics of His followers. He calls them the Light of the World, a City on a Hill, and the Salt of the Earth. Thousands of sermons have been preached on what each of these analogies may mean, with churches naming themselves and their ministries after light, salt, and even cities in an effort to be biblical in their approach to the elusive "outreach". But the major point that Jesus is attempting to make in this passage is often missed.
  
  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
  
  Did you get that? It does not say "should not" or "might not". It says "cannot". This wording is wonderful and terrifying at the same time because it eliminates the need for a choice or effort on the part of the Christian. According to Christ, outreach is not a strategy or a campaign. It is not a system of inviting people to church or a program designed to assimilate a first-time visitor. To Jesus, outreach is one of the characteristics of being like Him.
  
  I know that this takes us to a very scary place. You worry that I am abdicating our responsibility to try to reach the outside world. I assure that the opposite is true.
  
  I am saying that, if we truly are becoming like Jesus, reaching out to others with this "good news" will become the very nature of who we are. We will not be able to change it anymore than we can change the color of our hair or the shape of our head.
  
  Does this mean that we abandon strategy and systems? On the contrary, our strategy will simply become more easily definable because of what our nature has become. Rather than racking our brains trying to figure out what will give us the most return for the least effort, we will simply say, "Where do you want us to go?" or "How are we going to feed all of these people?" (both were questions often asked by Jesus' disciples).
  
  So, do you want to reach more people? Strive to be like Jesus. Become the best Christ impersonator that you can. You will reach people. I promise.
  
  As March wears on, I will continue to report back on how this principle is working in our lives here at Four Hills. So excited to see what God can do when our nature becomes like His.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/25/how-to-reach-a-community http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/25/how-to-reach-a-community Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:25:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/25/how-to-reach-a-community
  In a sales meeting this week, I was [...]]]>
  In a sales meeting this week, I was given information about the marketing budgets of several of our competitor’s, followed by our own budget. AT&T, with the deepest pockets of them all, spends millions on advertising, direct mail, commercials and retail stores. Other companies do the same. Insight’s entire budget consists of it’s Direct Sales Team and some literature (the on-air ads are obviously cheaper since they are a cable company). Long story short…we have been kicking the competition’s tail.
  
  This post is not about that.
  
  When deciding on how to best introduce our church (Four Hills Church) to the world, we have weighed out several options. Some churches have amazing websites and slick direct mail advertising. Some churches hold major events and hope that people come to them. The funniest churches I find are the ones that advertise on Christian radio stations, hoping to draw members from other churches.
  
  I have decided to knock on doors.
  
  There are two major religious groups that knock on doors (you know them). They are often the butt of many jokes, but they continue to knock on those doors. I wondered why until I joined the cable patrol. As it turns out, the sheer numbers are better. From a communication standpoint, the odds of someone responding a piece of direct mail, no matter how slick, are approximately 500:1. The numbers are even worse for television and radio advertising.
  
  Door knocking results in one positive response for every 40 doors knocked on, with typically 10 actual contacts (these are weekday numbers…imagine a Saturday). Sure, it is more time consuming and can cause a lot of nerves to run rampant in the person that is knocking, but…
  
  So, we will knock doors. We will knock them this month. And I will let you know how it turns out.
  
  P.S. I share all these numbers and logic because I simply am afraid to tell you that I believe God has inspired this course of action. I fully believe that the reason I got this job was to inspire me to lead our church this way…but, that is just between us. It is a purely logical decision to everyone on the outside.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/21/teachable http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/21/teachable Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:19:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/21/teachable When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. - Luke 18:23
  
  A pretty impressive young man came and talked with Jesus. He wanted to know how to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the law that Moses gave him and the young man, pretty amazingly, had obeyed them to the [...]]]> When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. - Luke 18:23
  
  A pretty impressive young man came and talked with Jesus. He wanted to know how to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the law that Moses gave him and the young man, pretty amazingly, had obeyed them to the letter.
  
  One more thing...
  
  Jesus told him that he had to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor.
  
  Ouch. That really wasn't fair, right? It was obvious from that statement that Jesus knew exactly what this guys issue was going to be and that is exactly where He went. You might even imagine that the whole thing about the law of Moses was just a big set up to lure the guy into the punch.
  
  Sell it all.
  
  The truth is, Jesus always knows what our issue is. He knows exactly what business we consider ours and what business we are willing to share with Him. He can peer right into the heart and see which doors are open and which are locked tight. When given the chance to teach, He always goes for the locked doors. He always gets in our business.
  
  Once Jesus challenged this young man, the real "teachability" of the kid came into focus. We never know how willing we are to learn until we are challenged with something we do not agree with. Or something we do not want to agree with. In the face of God speaking a truth about me that I do not want to hear, will I listen and grow or will I put my hands over my ears and hum.
  
  Will I be teachable?
  
  (paraphrased from February 21st message entitled Core Values - Teaching)
  
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/16/launching-a-website http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/16/launching-a-website Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:12:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2010/02/16/launching-a-website
  We have no idea what we are doing.
  
  I say "we" because I have been seeking out help from our launch team members and none of us are [...]]]>
  We have no idea what we are doing.
  
  I say "we" because I have been seeking out help from our launch team members and none of us are quite sure what it takes to make a good church website. Of course, there are plenty of design firms out there that are more than willing to take out money to create one. As a church plant, that just isn't in the cards. But...
  
  We are hoping that we can get help from out there in the netherworld of the internet. If you notice something that you like about our site, please let us know. If there is something that you are missing that you would like to see, leave a comment about that, too. Your feedback will help us make this the perfect website for imperfect people.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/11/the-art-of-decision http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/11/the-art-of-decision Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/11/the-art-of-decision Leading With a Limp” (by Dr. Dan Allender). The concept the author is trying to put across is that leaders often try to hard to conceal their weaknesses, leading to deception, manipulation, and, ultimately, failure. My parents sent it to me for my birthday, mainly because they know [...]]]> Leading With a Limp” (by Dr. Dan Allender). The concept the author is trying to put across is that leaders often try to hard to conceal their weaknesses, leading to deception, manipulation, and, ultimately, failure. My parents sent it to me for my birthday, mainly because they know we are planting a church for “imperfect” people, so I should really dig this book about imperfect leadership.
  
  I do.
  
  In fact, after reading only 4 chapters, I am finding so much that has been challenging my thinking. I will not plagiarize the book (I will let you read it yourself), but there is one thing that I would like to highlight. Dr. Allender points out in this book that the leader is not always the most talented, most powerful, or even most likeable…instead, the leader is simply the one who decides. This might seem like an enviable position, until you realize that the art of decision is truly the art of losing friends, losing freedom, and…well…sometimes just losing.
  
  The suffix of the word, -cide, is actually a Latin root meaning “killer”. When a leader makes a decision, they are actually killing all the other possibilities and opportunities. The leader is often given the task of making a decision that not only selects one path to follow, but closes the door to numerous other paths. This is the difficulty in decision-making…not selecting the best, but killing the “also good”.
  
  As a church planter, I am not only faced with decisions myself, but I am constantly putting my team in a position of having to make decisions for themselves. This is very hard on me and them, but will eventually bring us to a better place as leaders and strivers. However, in an effort to help make all of this decision-making and leadership even more difficult, God throws in another wrench.
  
  Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22
  
  According to the Bible, we are supposed to involve others in our decision-making process. Ouch! When faced with two roads to travel down, we are supposed to ask for counsel, which will probably present us with two more roads we didn’t even know were there. Instead of narrowing things down, counsel often widens the realm of possibility. It is the true test of leadership to be able to make a decision that is best for all involved without the decision being made for us.
  
  So, the Lord, in His glorious sense of humor, hands over the reigns to extremely imperfect people, presents multiple options that all seem good, then lets us choose with not a single guarantee to work with. His only real assurance comes in the form of a promise.
  
  God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5
  
  I guess that is really the only guarantee that we need.
  
  ]]> http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/06/from-our-friend-nehemiah http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/06/from-our-friend-nehemiah Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:53:00 +0000 Matt Monyhan http://fourhillschurch.com/blog/2009/12/06/from-our-friend-nehemiah
  In Nehemiah, the decision to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall is one of the first things mentioned. It went sort of like this:
  
  Nehemiah was hanging out with his brother, just back from a trip to the Holy Land. He was like, “So, how are things down there?” and his brother is like, “Ah, you know, same old. The neighborhood just isn’t the same, not with the wall being all busted like it is.” This breaks Nehemiah’s heart, because he thinks that the old neighborhood just needs some care and attention and it will glorify God again. He prays to God and says, “Lord, I know that things are the way they are because of us, maybe not me specifically, but my people. You said that if we would turn back to you, then you would bring us back together in the old neighborhood. So, I am standing in their place, repenting on their behalf. Now keep you promise. I am going to get that wall fixed.”
  
  Yeah, that is pretty much Chapter 1 in a nutshell. I love how Nehemiah didn’t wait for God to speak to him with a light shining from heaven to do something. He heard there was a problem, then told God he was going to do something about it. Sure, he asked God for favor, but there was never a question about whether this was the right thing to do or not. He knew it was because his heart was broken about it.
  
  The founder of World Vision, Bob Pierce, once said, “Let my heart be broken for the things that break the heart of God” (or something like that). I find it amazing that once he went that route, creating an organization like World Vision or Samaritan’s Purse was the logical next step. Anyone that has read a little about the life of Bob Pierce knows that he was far from an angel, but the work that he started is still reaching people today…because he saw a need and decided to fill it.
  
  I have sometimes questioned this call to Crestwood (usually when things look difficult), whether it was from God or not, but then I take the time to think about the people that need Jesus in Crestwood and…well, does it really matter where the call came from? God’s heart breaks for those people that do not know Him. Should my heart do anything less?
  
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