The Redemption Blog

Lot's O' Links...

It's been awhile.  Enjoy!

• The good news is I have lots of the cool factors of an emergent without the lousy theology here...

• A complete list of C.J. Mahaney's interviews here...

• Good article on Christians as "Good Soldiers" here...

• A list of John Piper's complete works here...

• Top 3 Characteristics of an Acts 29 church planter here...

• Steve McCoy missional summer living in the suburban context here...

• A good word to potential church planters here...

• James MacDonald on kingdom mindedness in ministry here...

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

It's official...

I wanted to take a break from the Servant Leadership series and share some INCREDIBLY EXCITING news!  After months of prayer and patiently waiting to hear something concrete, my job transfer to Chicago HAS BEEN GRANTED!  It's official!  I will be relocating to the Palatine area in early September, have a couple of weeks of vacation through our launch and start back at work.  I still have to go through the final steps but God is also providing for a SWEET condo only minutes away from Cutting Hall, the train station, and all the action.

It is always amazing to me of how God seems to come through just in time--in His time. 

He knows the plans He has for me.

Until next week.

Posted by Tyler Drewitz
Ministry Development

Remember To Be Quiet

I forget how much noise enters my ears on average day. From my car radio to meetings to podcasts to conversations, most of my day is consumed with noise.

Not all of this noise is bad, in fact, a lot of it is good. But I forget how much I need silence and solitude.

I was reminded of the good it does the soul to not always be consuming, but to take time with God to listen and pray. This is especially needed when we are facing trails and tests of our faith.

We see Jesus taking time away from people for solitude and prayer on the Mount of Olives right before he is to be handed over to be crucified (Luke 22:41).

I encourage you to take time each week to be silent and spend time with God. It will not only comfort your soul, but it will increase your affections for Jesus and strengthen your faith in our Sovereign God.

Posted By Scott Holthaus
Director Of Worship Arts

300 Words or Less...

Have you ever read a book review that was so long you might as well have just read the book yourself?

This is not that review. 

What follows is the first in a new series of book reviews I’m hoping do in 300 words or less.  The goal is to help you sort through which books you should read right away, which one’s you should shelve until a later date, and which ones you shouldn’t waste your time with.  Here we go...

Title: “Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions”
Author: Mark Driscoll
Publisher: Re:lit/Crossway
 

The Big Idea:
After 343,203 online votes on the Mars Hill Church website, nine questions for Pastor Mark Driscoll emerged as the ones most urgently calling for answers.

Inspired by 1 Corinthians, in which Paul answers a series of questions posed by the people in the Corinthian church, Pastor Mark Driscoll set out to determine the most controversial questions among visitors to the Mars Hill Church website. In the end, 893 questions were asked and 343,203 votes were cast. The top nine questions are now each answered in a chapter of Religion Saves.

The nine topics that made the cut range from birth control to humor and from predestination to sexual sin and dating. 

What I like about the book:

• People will appreciate the ability to jump from chapter to chapter based on what interests them personally.

• Driscoll tackles subjects we hear very little about in much of today’s Christian literature.  His honest and direct answers are soaked in Scripture shedding light on this important subject matter.

• Driscoll’s does a masterful job of maintaining the tension between insanely funny and intensely serious where appropriate.

• In dealing with some of the more controversial subjects like the emergent church and predestination, Driscoll does not demonize his opponents and paints them fairly.

What I disliked:

• Some of the material was more powerfully communicated through his preaching.  While I deeply appreciate Driscoll as an author, different topics like predestination, lose some of their power when you cannot hear and see him communicating.

• Certain topics, like the regulative principle, will probably not be of interest to the vast majority of people.  On the flip side, hopefully this book can open people’s eyes to the importance of these issues.

My Recommendation:

Go buy this book!  You will deeply enjoy it and be served well by a pastor who loves God’s people. 

Buy Religion Saves HERE

More about Mark Driscoll HERE

Listen and/or read an excerpt HERE

List of more in depth reviews HERE

Some More Of What I'm Listening To

I've been enjoying Derek Webb's latest offering Stockholm Syndrome. Here is "Jena and Jimmy" from the documentary "Paradise Is A Parking Lot".

And here is Kings of Leon doing "Use Somebody" from their latest album Only By The Night.

Posted By Scott Holthaus
Director Of Worship Arts

An experience in Servant Leadership...

While I am going to keep to the topic this week, I am going to deviate from our next way of being.  I want to share with you a recent opportunity I had to be the benefactor of a Servant Leader and the impact that someone being a servant leader had on me.

We had a wild weekend!  Again as you can imagine, a long time dream come true.   Our first service in our actual facility.  We were all completely amped up and for good reason. As Ryan shared, we had 51 people in attendance.  As with most things that are anticipated, the energy was high and adrenaline was flowing.  Service ended, we loaded out, had a quick lunch at Potbelly's, and time for the Sunday afternoon nap & unplug...right?

After spending so much time in prayer and preparation for the weekend, and delivering an awesome message, I can imagine Ryan was BEAT!  Mentally & physically in need of a nice afternoon of rest.  I am certain that nothing would have been sweeter for him than being able to leave lunch, go home with his family, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon.

That's not what Ryan did however.  You see, it has been hard for me to have an active life in 2 places.  I have been in this state of transition since March and I am over it.  Between that and an intense workload at my job, I will be honest; I am stressed!  I am ready to move!  I am weary!  And I needed to sit with my pastor & process. 

I couldn't have blamed Ryan for asking for a raincheck on the conversation.  I couldn't have blamed him needing rest & heading home.  But like I said, that's not what he did.  I didn't even have to ask.  I think he could tell it was needed.  We sat, enjoyed a beverage, and I got to soak in and be reminded of the benefits someone being a Servant Leader.  Authentic, Vulnerable, Accepting, Useful, & Present--yep all present and accounted for.   It felt good and was exactly what I needed.

When was the last time you were a servant leader to someone in need?

Until next week.

Posted by Tyler Drewitz
Ministry Development

It's Time To Jump

This post is coming in a little late due to a busy day and lack of time...

Earlier today someone from our realtors office came by to take pictures of our house and put a lock box on for showings. Just a few minutes ago I got off the phone with our mortgage lady.

In one of the worst markets in recent history, we find ourselves in full house selling mode.

Needless to say we are hopeful for the sale of our home and the purchase of a new home in the city we are planting in so that we can have much more of a missional presence. However, there is still an anxiousness that wonders if and when that will happen.

What I have known for a while, and am now experiencing, is that planting a church and being on mission with Jesus requires faith. Sometimes huge amounts of faith.

When we come to these chasms we must do a few things and make certain of one thing.

First, You also have to determine if Jesus has called you. If he has not called you to leap, don't!

Next, you have to examine everything you can see to gain as much wisdom as possible. We have done this with our home by meeting with people, running scenarios, numbers, and options so that we know all the possibilities.

Finally, you have to make certain to actually jump!

It brings the soul great joy to know that the outcome is totally in a sovereign Gods hands and that he has promised in Matthew 6:31-33 to give us what we need and to take care of us.

Be ready, for when he calls, we must leap.

Posted By Scott Holthaus
Director Of Worship Arts

Reflection...

We have so much to be thankful for as a church family.  I wanted to share a couple things I'm celebrating after our first vision gathering at Cutting Hall yesterday.

1.  The Gospel
The gospel is the central factor in all else I'm thankful for.  I'm thankful to see the gospel at work in my life, in your lives, in our community, in our preaching, and in our music.  I'm thankful that we serve a King who gave His life in our place and for our sin, so that we could be restored, set free, healed, redeemed, and commissioned.

2.  Our Team
I'm constantly humbled by the people God has surrounded me with.  We have the most amazing group and I'm in awe of how hard everyone works and how much everyone desires to grow and glorify God. God has greatly gifted our team and I can't wait to see what He has planned.

3.  The Invites
I had been praying all week that we would have 50 people gather with us yesterday and we had 51!!  So many people brought friends and I'm thankful to you for that.

4.  Answer to Prayer
I had friends that gathered with us yesterday that I have been praying for and I continue to be in awe of how God truly answers prayer.  He can turn the hardest heart and use the most broken of vessels.

5.  Our Guests
I love the fact that we had lots of people yesterday that don't really know what they believe about God.  We had lost people that gathered with us and clearly heard about sin, grace, redemption, and Jesus vision for their lives and ours.

6. Our Venue
I love Cutting Hall!  God has so blessed us with not only a functional space, but a sweet space!  Plus, it's called Cutting Hall and how tough does that sound?  It sounds like we should hold cage matches there after our services.  Maybe we should think about that...

God has great things for Redemption and I am thankful to be along for the ride!

What are you thankful for?

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

Answered Prayer

Thanks for all your prayer concerning our gathering space needs. God has provided for us yet again and opened up a great door at the Palatine community center!

There are four great things about this space:

1. The Location
The community center is in the heart of Palatine and shares a parking lot with Cutting Hall.

2. The Space
We will have 2 rooms. One will be for the adults and we will have one for kids. The Kids room is also used for day camps so it has huge pads they lay on the floor and slides and games for kids to go nuts!

3. The Size
We will all be able to meet on Sunday mornings at 9:45 and still have room to grow! We won't have to split our group into the two locations which will be better for everyone.

4. The Cost
It was $225 to rent the space for the five Sundays. You can't beat that!

Continue to know God answers prayer and always provides for His people. Continue to trust and know that God is committed to His glory and our good! Continue to invite friends to our Cutting Hall vision gathering thus Sunday at 9:45!!

Attitude

Spending a week away from my wife with a bunch of Jr High kids did not sound very appealing to me. In fact, I was not looking forward to it. But God showed me again how he is soverign and how he can change anyones heart. I spent this past week in Michigan leading worship and being a councelor at a Jr High summer camp. I started the week with a poor attitude and a desire for the week to end quickly. Thankfully, in spite of me, God changed my heart and my attitude. I was able to encourage and teach a group of boys to make Jesus their cheif affection and to endure their whole lives despite the suffering they will encounter. What I thought would be a painful week with smelly Jr Highers turned out to be an encouraging lesson in always playing your role well, even if your role us not glamorous. I'm continued to be graciously humbled by God and shown how much I need him!