DOUG DUGGINS

I think this is great from a 6 year old. I am bias though.

Here's a look at the outside of the new East Worship Center. I think the stucco work looks great. I am so excited and can not wait to get into the bigger area for adults and kids. The space is going to be awesome. Watching God fill it up will be even more awesome.

What my boys learned today:

I was watching an interesting show on Discovery Health the other day that I just can’t get out of my head. It was about a woman who weighed 637 pounds and was getting gastric bypass surgery. Most doctors wouldn’t do this because of the complications, but a doctor at Duke did anyway. Afterwards there were many complications. During one of the interviews with her doctor, he said that she was malnourished. This lady weighed over 500 pounds at the time yet she was malnourished. This is not something we would typically associate with someone that size. But check out the definition of malnourished:

“Affected by improper nutrition or an insufficient diet”

There were so many complications after surgery she just couldn’t eat enough food to stay nourished and healthy. Sure she was loosing weight but it was also killing her. She ended up on a feeding tube to force feed her the nutrition she needed. After months of recovery she was able to come home for good and was well on her way to many more years of a more fulfilling life.

Anyway, this made me think that so many of us who call ourselves Christ followers are also malnourished. Our daily time in prayer and our personal study of God’s Word is improper and insufficient. I am talking about myself as much as I am talking to others. Check out this survey, I read on tonymorganlive.com, of Christian business owners and leaders:

· 31% were dissatisfied with their relationship with God.
· 30% were dissatisfied with their prayer and devotional time.
· 68% indicated they’ve been very or moderately stressed in the past 6 months.

Wow I know exactly how they feel. When I am dissatisfied with my relationship with God, my prayer time and my personal study time I feel stress in all areas of my life. Many of those who work and serve at the church are guilty of this type of improper nutrition. We act like we have it all together but we’re really just as stressed out as most other people and it is killing us. Check out what Paul says to Timothy about this:

If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed. 1 Timothy 4:6

If we are to be good, worthy leaders in our church, in our home, in our workplace, within our network of friends and in our communities we have to be nourished by God. We have to find ways to reduce the stress in our life and increase the amount of proper nutrition from God. I think for many of us we have to make the decision to put the feeding tube in and force ourselves to spend the proper time in prayer and a sufficient time studying God’s word. We need to turn the TV off, turn the DVR off, turn the computer off, turn the Xbox, PS3 or whatever off, turn the phone(s) off, turn the kids off, turn the spouse off, turn the job off, and just focus on our relationship with our Creator. Because if that relationship fails then the all of our relationships and everything else fails.

For me I need to do many of these things including TV, DVR, computer, get up way before the kids, go to bed way earlier, just to start. Believe me this will be a force feeding. However, I know that my life will be more fulfilling as a result.

What do you need to turn off so you will not be a malnourished Christ follower?

Tonight I was letting the boys have some computer time. They beg for computer time. It blows my mind that they are not even 5 years old and use the computer without any help from me. All I do in open the internet and go to pbskids.org (a great site for small kids). Then I set the timer and leave the room. They point and click and play whatever games they want to. Did I mention they’re only 4 and a half?

That makes me think back to my first time using a computer on my own. I was a freshman in college and needed to write a paper for English 101. So I was 18 my first time. I am sure many of you kids reading this were much younger than I was your first time using a computer. At the same time some of the more mature readers may have been a little older.

This may not seem fair because the younger generation has had more opportunities at a younger age to use a computer. But that will not be an issue for much longer. After all Apple has been around for 25 years now.

Maybe you are a computer whiz. I would like to take a survey and hear your story. When was your first time using a computer by yourself? Leave a comment or send me and email and I’ll post it for all to see.

I know coming from one of the pastors you would expect to hear that but I really do. Even if I didn’t work for High Rock I would attend here.

Last night we had a Baptism and Lord’s Supper service in Kannapolis. This was an amazing night. We baptized 6 people, took communion together and then had a time of sharing.

If you have never been to a communion service at High Rock then dang, you don’t know what you’re missing. No one can explain to you how God’s Spirit fills you during this time. Then we also had 6 people announce to the world their acceptance of God’s gift of salvation and commitment to follow Jesus. That kind of stuff never gets old. The time if sharing makes my heart melt because of the kind words that are expressed and the evidence of changed lives standing and thanking God for this group of believers we call High Rock. Also, that never gets old.

Do what you have to for our next Lord’s Supper and Baptism, at any campus, just don’t miss it. I promise you will not regret it.

Or at least that’s how I felt I looked earlier today. The kids (3 under 5) and I ran a few errands this morning. One of the places we went was Auto Zone. We needed some wiper blades for the mini Van (the most practical vehicle for families with small kids). So when we walk in the associate asked me if he could help me find anything. I had noticed some wiper blades already but wasn’t sure what size because the owners manual didn’t give a replacement part number (I hate that), so I said sure. Gave him the info and choose a part. He was feeling a ton of pity on me so he even went and got the replacement blades for me. While I was keeping the kids rounded up he was ringing me out and as I paid him, he asked me this question “Do you need any help putting these on?” I felt like I must have looked like an idiot. Maybe I was for taking three kids into Auto Zone by my self. But here I am with a 4 year Mechanical Engineering degree, years of experience working with mechanical systems, and love changing the cars oil myself. This guy doesn’t know me so he couldn’t have known.

It made me think that all too often we think of God as an idiot. I know no one would ever say it out loud. But every time we choose not to include God and allow God to lead every area of our life that is exactly what we are saying. Even though God has all the answers, the experience and the perfect plan we often choose not to allow him to do what only he can do, fill our lives with joy and peace. Maybe we think that we got ourselves into this mess and we need to get ourselves out. Or we can just handle it on our own, or it’s too small for God to worry about. Or maybe we just don’t like what God has planned for us.

If we really knew God then we would never think this way. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 God promises us that he has a plan for us and it will be perfect, when we talk to Him and ask for help he will listen. However, we must seek God with ALL OUR HEART.

What do you need to wholeheartedly seek God with today?

Well it happened last night. My oldest son (by 36 min) asked me one of the hardest questions a kid could ever ask their parent (besides WHY? about 300 times in a row). He asked this question:

“Daddy, why does Santa go out on Christmas and give presents to everybody?”

DANG!

That was the first thought that popped into my head as it was spinning. I mean come on, how can I be truthful with him, honor Christ with my answer, and not kill every bit of fun that he has with Christmas?

DANG! “Why didn’t you ask your mom that?”

I thought do you tell him there is no Santa. NOPE, not a chance. Do I act ordinary (like and idiot) (from the message this weekend apparently I don’t have to act I already am)? I can’t do that because I always explain things to my kids even if they may not be able to understand. This is what I do and I believe they expect it.

“God, please give me an answer for this question.”

He did. This is what I told Timothy: “Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday and what do we give people at their birthday party? “Presents” Timothy said. “That’s right son.”

Now I know this didn’t specifically answer the question about “why Santa” but it got me off the hook for now.

Feel free to give me your answer to the hardest question ever.

www.createyourcountdown.com

Have you ever been in a heated “discussion” with someone and you had to walk away because you were afraid of what you might say? You were afraid to continue talking because you might say something that you would regret or want to take back but couldn’t. Maybe you wanted to talk to someone about some issue going on but didn’t want to risk confrontation because certain things might be said and feelings might get hurt.

Over the past couple of weeks I have had these situations come up in my life. I have had conversations that I didn’t want to have because of the issues. I was afraid that the other people had a bone to pick and were ready to give me a piece of their mind. I didn’t want to confront them about what was happening, but I did.

Don’t you know after each of these conversations there was a stronger sense of peace and unity between me and the other folks. I think it is amazing that often the conversations we fear the most are the most rewarding in the end. I think this is true for a couple of reasons:

1. God desires for believers to live in harmony.

In Acts 2 the people of the church did everything together and had everything in common. They lived in harmony. It’s a model for us to live by.

2. Resolving conflict is obedient to Christ.

Jesus commands us in Matthew 18 to work out our issues with other believers, not to let them linger. He even gives an eternal promise that if we learn to agree, then what we ask for will be given by God.

Satan would want nothing more than for believers to have bitterness towards one another because that would destroy the love between us and hinder our efforts to reach others for Christ. God’s love for us is our example of how to love others because “God is love” 1 John 4:8. God’s love drives out fear. Christ has faced the ultimate fear of eternal life separated from God in a very real place called Hell. He defeated it, not for himself but for us. If we believe this, then there is nothing in life that we should be so afraid of that it causes us to disobey what God desires for us to do.

So who do you have an issue with today? I encourage you to go to them, with love in your heart, and talk to them about the problem. Work it out. Don’t let Satan win the battle between love and bitterness.

Have you ever asked this question? Have you ever asked God to “just be with me.” There were two believers in the Bible (Luke 24:13-34) who thought this same kind of thing. After Jesus rose from being dead, the two men were walking down the road when Jesus himself came to walk with them. However, these two men didn’t know it was Jesus because God kept them from recognizing him. The men were complaining about their leader, Jesus, not being around anymore to help them with their problems, share good stories with them that might have something to do with life if you think about it in the right way, and to attract big crowds of people to preach to. These men were so discouraged they even began to question if Jesus was the Messiah.

I know that many believers have wondered where God was at certain points in their life. They have asked the question “God where are you?” The funny thing about this question, even ironic, is that if someone really thought the God had left them, they wouldn’t call out for him at all. If your wife goes shopping, do you start talking to her like she is standing right their? Do you talk to your husband, like he’s in the room, about his day after he has already left for work? While your kids are at school do you talk to them about their homework? Most likely not. Why? Because they are gone and you know it. What’s the purpose in calling out for someone who is not there?

We believe that God is still here but we are sometimes just too focused on what’s going on around us, our own problems, and our own disappointments to notice Him in our lives. What is keeping you from recognizing God working in your life?

Remember when you feel like you are completely alone, God is closer than you realize. After the men realized who was with them and Jesus left, they talked about the burning (Esh’) that they were feeling as Jesus talked to them. Ask the Holy Spirit today to burn away clouds that cover up the presence of God in your life.

about pumping gas at the Gas Buy Down was awesome today. We were completely slammed from 10 until 12. We pumped gas, washed windows and meet a lot of cool people. The feeling you get from serving others without expecting anything in return is truly priceless. That’s what Agape love for others looks like. I can’t even imagine how God feels after he shows Agape love to everyone in the world. Wow, God is good. Thank you to everyone who served their community today and showed the love of Jesus to others. That is how we want our church to be defined, by how we help others in need.

Check out the photos by clicking here

This week I saw one of the craziest things ever. Dana and the kids went out of town for the day. I talked to her on her way home and when after she got home. She called me after the kids went to bed and asked me to pick up some medicine on my way home. As I pulled onto the driveway, at about 10:00pm, I notice the passenger side rear tire looked funny. I thought, “What could Dana have run over that stuck to the tire?” It was dark so I just rub my had across the weird looking spot, being careful because I thought it was something nasty, and it had a sound like a dry leaf. So I tried to grab it and pull it off. When I did that is when I realized something was really wrong. My finger got stuck and began bleeding. Leaves can’t do that. I just happened to have my flashlight in my pocket, as good Boy Scouts always do, and shined a light on the tire. That’s when I saw there was a huge chuck of the tire missing. The rubber was gone all the way down to the wire cords that keep the tire together and some of them were busted. Immediately I was thankful that Dana and the kids were safe at home. I began thanking God right then as I was rushing inside. Dana was lying on the couch and I gave here a big hug and told her I was so thankful that she and the kids were alive. She was confused and asked why I would just say that. I told her what I saw on the tire. She sat up and said “I knew something happened to the tire on the way home tonight. I stopped to look at what could have happened. I didn’t see any thing and I even kicked the tire and it had air. So I drove home.” Dana drove home on the interstate at 70 mph on this tire:

This is going to be a blast. You don't want to miss it. The reaction we will get from people is priceless. See you Saturday.

Last weekend was one of the most awesome weekends of my life. I got home on Friday night at about 11:15pm or so and I wasn’t even the least bit tired. I was so pumped up because of what had happened that night and was going to be happening throughout the weekend I couldn’t go to sleep. Just ask Dana who was trying to go to sleep but I couldn’t stop talking.

Let me explain for those of you who don’t know. On Friday, Halloween, the Salisbury campus had the Hallelujah Festival (the safe alternative to Halloween). We had Trunk or Treat, tons of games for kids, free hot dogs and pop corn, costume contest, and much more. The coolest part is the Bible Woods Hay Ride. For this we have my students, at different spots, in the woods, not to scare people, but to teach them about a person from the Bible like Moses, David, Mary, etc. As the hay ride goes around it stops at each character and the student explains a little about that person's life. The last stop of the ride is “Peter” and at this stop the gospel is presented and the plan of salvation is offered, for everyone, but mostly the kids. This year I was Peter and I prayed with 10 kids who offered their live to Christ. WOW. I was so excited. I had prayed for all the hay rides that just one person would be ready to accept Christ and dang-it if 10 didn’t pray with me. As the night went on I just kept getting more and more excited. I just couldn’t believe it. A really great part of this is I don’t think 10 kids would have accepted Christ if it wasn’t for the work that the students had done before the hay ride got to me. Their parts were crucial and very good. They practiced for at least 3 weeks on their parts and it paid off. GREAT JOB IGNITE AND 180.

So when I got home I started processing what had happened and I couldn’t stop thanking God for all that had happened that night. Then I started thinking about what was going to happen over the rest of the weekend and I just got more excited. I just kept praying and thanking God. So much so that I only got about 2 hours sleep. Here are some of the other things that happened over the weekend:

Salisbury Gas Buy Down – we pumped over 1300 gallons of fuel into 111 cars. We washed their windows and best of all we showed them the love of Christ when they weren’t expecting it.

Heating Vouchers giveaway in Kannapolis – Brian gave away $50 vouchers to our people to give to someone they know who needs help paying their heating bill.

Brian Preaching – It is great to finally have Brian in Kannapolis full time. I think everyone was excited to have him their also. I think he did a great job.

OCTOPLY - Brian made a new word. I am not sure if that has to do with math or toilet paper but I am sure going to have a great time joking him about it. LOL

The Church being the Church – I believe that the efforts we are making during our “Whatever It Takes” campaign is what the church is supposed to be “doing.” I feel like we are giving folks the tools they need to minister to those who have needs. There is a different feeling in the air right now at each campus. It’s like people sense we are not just going to sit back and be happy where we are. We are going to use what God has gave us for his glory and to reach those who don’t know Him.

We’re not stopping – This in not going to stop. As a church we are committed to continue reaching outside the wall of the church building to those who are not here. Everybody needs Jesus and it is each believers responsibility to GO and DO for others to show his love.

I love our church.

Leanne - While watching me brush my teeth she said this...

“When I grow up I am going to brush mommy’s teeth.”

Timothy - This came from nowhere as we were eating dinner on the deck...

“Daddy were you nervous when mommy drove to work in the snow?”

Parker - We were building a castle and we had to have a drawbridge... duh

“Let me count how long my drawbridge is... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and a half. My drawbridge is 6 and a half long.”

My kids are awesome.

Over the past couple of weeks people have been doing things for me out of the blue. I have received cards and gifts it seemed like for no reason at all. These nice gestures made me feel so appreciated and loved. Really, I have never felt so appreciated in all my years as a pastor. I just couldn’t understand why people were doing these nice things for me. Then Dana told me someone had offered to keep our kids for half a day while we do whatever we want. I asked her what for, that is so weird. Then she told me it was Pastor appreciation month. Then the light bulb flash on and it all made sense.

Thank you to everyone who has said something, done something, or sent something to show your appreciation for me. You have lifted my spirit more than you could ever imagine. All of you are awesome and I love being one of your pastors.

It really was in Kannapolis. These are just a few of the reasons why I think things were so great:

· We had first time guest. This is so cool because people are looking for a place to attend church that is not the same as what they have been going to. Also, people are inviting others. To me there is no better way for someone to visit our church.

· I got to speak on something that is one of my biggest passions in life – marriage. If you read just a couple of my blogs you will realize this. God has showed up in a major way in my marriage and I want to tell everyone about it.

· We have Kannapolis people volunteering in areas that I would otherwise do or someone who is on loan from the Salisbury campus. Our goal is to have Kannapolis people taking up all the volunteering spots. We haven’t set a date for this but we need to so that we will push ourselves to raise up leaders and encourage members that live near Kannapolis to serve.

· We had a 3 piece band but it felt very full to me. The guys did an excellent job. Rick does an awesome job with the sound. Thanks Rick. The songs were great and the invitation time was very moving.

· In the span of a week we had two Kannapolis faithfuls in the hospital with not good news. Then we began to pray for them. One person came to church and played the bass a couple of days after having a heart cath. and the other came to church yesterday (that was Anita). Anita was told she would loose her job if she didn’t go back to work on Saturday and her doctor said she couldn’t go back to work until next year at least. Like I said not good news. After we prayed for her she saw a specialist and was told going back to work was fine as long as she didn’t over work. She went back to work Friday. Praise God. I gave her a big hug on Sunday when I saw her and she looked fabulous. I am so stoked that she is feeling better. BTW – she was diagnosed with MS a while back and needs your prayers regularly for her health and her family (husband, 2 beautiful little girls).
Let’s do it again next week.