NEXT

My plane arrives at 8am. What do I do until check-in is open?

For those of you arriving early or staying a day late, here are a couple fun things to do. The list is not extensive, but they are all very close to the Convention Center.

• National Aquarium I hear that it’s pretty impressive!
• Water Taxi I saw one last year and I must admit, they look like a lot of fun.
• Maryland Science Center A must see for all of you science and space fans.
• Top Of The World “...a breathtaking view of Baltimore’s skyline, harbor and beyond”
• If you are arriving early, scope out the restaurants & make reservations for the conference.
• Be the first to register.
• Find all three Starbucks, so that you can walk there in your conference/I didn’t get enough sleep stupor.
• Have a leisurely lunch after the conference is over. It’s a great time for fellowship and application.
• Take time to pray for the conference and seek God. And if you’re staying over, take time to review the messages and ask the Lord what He would have you apply as you go home.
• Sign-up to be a Next greeter (more info to come).

It’s me again. And yes, it’s time to remind you of a couple of important details. I’d encourage you to take a moment to read the below and act on it now before (like me) you rush off to do something else!

REGISTRATION: Registration for this year’s conference closes on Sunday, May 16th. If you have not registered for the conference, you have eight short days to make it happen. Click HERE to register.

AFFINITY GROUPS: If you are planning on attending an affinity group, please take a moment to SIGN-UP for your group. Signing up before the conference serves the Next Staff as they plan.

TESTIMONIES: Don’t forget to E-MAIL your testimony to Next by May 10th!

SESSION PASSES: Session Passes are available. Click HERE for more details.

OPERATION HOPE TOTE: Don’t forget that extra tube of toothpaste! Have you forgotten what was on the list, click HERE.


20 days until NEXT!!!

Alright boys, it’s time for us to be men. When we go to the Next conference, let’s go with this mindset: serve the ladies. Not “serve the ladies so that they think I’m awesome and godly, kind of like a Christian Robin Hood”. No, serve the ladies because, “...whoever would be great among you must be your servant…” (Mark 10:43)

So how can we serve the ladies? Let me spell out a few ways.

_Protect

During the conference, seek to protect the ladies. Accompany them as they walk to and from the conference center. Step in when a panhandler starts asking for money. You get the picture. If I hear that any of you guys let girls walk alone, I will send Devon Kauflin and three courtesy ninjas after you.

_Lead

As men, let’s be the ones setting the example in leadership. When it comes time to choose a lunch destination, step up and lead the group to a good (not McD’s) restaurant. During the late-night hang-out sessions, be the one leading the discussion. Ask the ladies what God is teaching them during the conference. Ask them what message affected them them most. Take the lead men. Don’t hang back and wait for someone else to do it.

_Serve

Help the ladies carry their luggage to and from the hotel rooms. Everyone knows that girls can cram 400 pounds of luggage into a single suitcase. Don’t make them carry that beast around. Serve them. Carry it for them.

Do you guys get the picture? Serve the ladies during the Next conference. Not so you’ll look great in their eyes, but so you’ll be great in God’s eyes.

Ways to Bless Your Friends During the Conference

1. Pray for them. Pray for God to meet them. I wish I would have devoted more of my past conferences to praying for my friends. You could even ask them how you could be specifically praying for them during the conference.

2. Bless them with Starbucks. One idea is to take drink orders the night before (via texting works well) and wake up early and hit up Starbucks, then make the rounds to bless your friends with some java goodness before they even leave their hotel room.

3. Maximize the opportunities. Maximize those layovers or times in the airport or on the plane or while eating a meal at a restaurant to draw someone else out. Ask them what God is teaching them so far or what their favorite part of the conference has been. Make a purposeful effort to sit next to a friend you don’t know that well and just get to know them better.

4. Ask a friend to sit next to you during one of the sessions.You may know someone who doesn’t know as many people as you do, or isn’t as connected. If you already have a group of friends you are sitting with that session, bring this friend in. In this way you can be imitators of Christ! As Christ welcomed us in, you have an opportunity to welcome others! And even if you aren’t sitting with a group of friends, invite a friend to sit with you. It’s a great way to reach out.

So what’d I miss? What are ways you are planning to bless your friends this conference?

Yesterday, I posted about spending time with God during the conference.  Today I want to clarify that if you DON’T spend time with God during the conference, you’ll actually be sent home early.  (Just kidding.)  It’s not something you have to do, like paying your bill at a restaurant; it’s something you get to do, like eating a delicious treat offered by a friend.  Actually it’s better than that: “SWEETER also than honey” (Psalm 19:10).

I’d love to hear specific suggestions some of you have.  What are some ideas that might help others spend time with God during the conference?  Are there particular passages you’ve read at a conference in the past?  A particular plan for reviewing notes?  A particular strategy for prayer?  Or just a simple piece of advice you’ve benefited from?

Leave it as a comment below so others can benefit.

We at Next want to help transfer a love for local church communities from one generation to the next. But there can often be a big obstacle to this transfer, and it goes something like this.

• Step 1: One generation rediscovers the biblical foundations of commitment to the church passionately pursue involvement in a church in their community.
• Step 2: A rising generation sees this commitment the first generation had to local churches. This next generation imitates the involvement, but they don’t take the time to go back and see the Scriptural foundations for involvement in the local church.
• Step 3: The rising generation runs into challenges to local church commitment––maybe they don’t “get much out of church anymore,” or they encounter a leader who damages the church, or they don’t have close friends in the church anymore, or maybe they just get burned out doing the same thing over and over without a compelling reason. As a result, they leave the church behind.

Sadly, I’ve seen this pattern occur at times in Christians who’ve grown up in church. Here’s the point: If you don’t have biblical truth driving your church involvement, sooner or later the going will get tough and you’ll drop your involvement. It’s like joining your friends halfway through a building project without asking why and what they’re building to begin with––the work might be fun while your friends are there, but when they leave you in charge you’re sure not going to be pounding nails just for fun. 

This month we want to give you some Scripture-grounded reasons to keep pounding nails.

We’re featuring articles that aim to give you biblical reasons to keep building the church. We want to help put biblical convictions behind local church involvement. And good news: these articles are short enough to read while you’re waiting for your Pop-Tarts to toast.

Read the introduction to this month
Or
Jump straight into the articles

Take a few minutes to revisit the Scriptural blueprints of the church. It’s a small way to help transfer a love for the church from generation to generation.

Here’s one way to make the most of NEXT: set aside time to meet with God personally.

You’ll spend lots of time talking with friends, singing with thousands of others, and listening to preaching.  And you can expect God to meet you in powerful ways through those times.

But if you add into the mix a few minutes set aside to quietly think over Scripture and to personally pray, imagine what God might do.

Here’s a checklist for spending time with God:

Checkbox #1: PLAN TO DO IT. 

Make a goal for yourself before you leave for personal prayer. Consider if there are particular temptations at a conference that you might be wise to daily guard your heart against with God’s help.  Choose a couple of passages you may read.  And then listen during the conference to see if God is directing you to focus on something other than what you’d planned.

Make your plans as ambitious or as modest as seems wise.  I know some people who have read huge portions of Scripture in one short weekend.  I also know how meaningful even 5 minutes of personal prayer can be in the morning.  Making just about ANY plan for Scripture and prayer is better than making NO plan. 

Checkbox #2: ACTUALLY DO IT. 

Your best intentions will amount to very little if you don’t do anything with them.  So make your plans, and then meet with God.  There will be lots of time to sleep when you get home.

Day and Session Passes will be available at Next 2010!!!

Passes can be purchased onsite (cash or check):

• Session Pass: $35
• Saturday Day Pass (3 sessions): $100
• Sunday Day Pass (2 sessions): $65.

You’re at Next and it’s lunchtime. You want to sit down with your friends and have some serious fellowship. But, where do you eat? Everywhere is packed. You’re not familiar with the area. You’re wishing you would have planned ahead and known where all the restaurants in the “box” were.
I’ve been there. Every conference I wish I would have thought through and planned a little better. Why, oh why didn’t I make a reservation??? To help with this dilemma I decided to do a little research. Here is a list of restaurants that I have. I’m sure there are a lot more, but hopefully this will get you started.

California Tortilla (across from Convention Center) *

Subway (across from Convention Center)

Starbucks (there are 3 in walking distance!)

Masseys (They deliver to the Hilton & Marriott! Great place for that late night/early morning snack.) - (410) 962-1191 *

P.F. Changs *

Harborplace & The Gallery:

*These locations have allergen menus or they are willing to work with those who have food allergies.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I remember driving into Baltimore for the first time (Na ’99). As we drove through the freezing cold streets of Baltimore, I was surprised to see so many homeless people. I had lived in small Florida towns most of my life and the big city was a new experience. As we drove around (hopelessly lost in the maze of traffic), tears came to my eyes and fresh gratitude welled in my heart. I watched many people roaming the streets. All they owned they carried. In so many ways they were without hope and without God. I was very grateful for all God had blessed me with.

Eleven years later, I’m very excited to announce an outreach opportunity for 2010 “Nexters”. NEXT is teaming up with Helping UP Mission, a local Christian ministry, to give you the option to display God’s love to Downtown Baltimore. Please DO NOT feel any pressure to participate in this project. It is not a requirement of attendance! We simply want to give you the opportunity to tangibly serve the needy of Baltimore.

Since 1885, Helping Up Mission has been coming to the aid of the poor and homeless in the City of Baltimore and surrounding region. Next would like to help by participating in Hope Tote,  a simple way to help defray some of the Mission’s expenses as they serve the men of Baltimore. What can you do? Below is list of Men’s toiletry and clothing items. As you pack for the conference, throw a couple extras in your suitcase. When you arrive, look for the Hope Tote Tables. After the conference, Helping Up will come and take your donations to their facility.

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Comb
• Brush
• Hair gel
• Undershirt (white, large & extra large)
• Shower shoes (large, black, basic rubber flip flops)
• Socks
• Towel
• Wash Cloth

Please note: These items will be distributed to the MEN in Helping Up’s programs.

We want your testimonies. Testimonies on how the truth of God has brought about change in your life. What would this look like? Here are some ideas…

• How the truth of God affected and saved your soul
• How the truth of God changed your approach to a situation
• How the truth of God changed your view of an issue
• How the revelation of the truth of God changed your life

These testimonies can be Next-related, but they do not have to be. We want to hear how God’s truth has changed you!

Please e-mail your testimonies to Next[at]SovGraceMin[dot]org. Please e-mail them to us by May 10th.

We look forward to hearing how God’s truth has been affecting you!

I am not much of a sports fanatic. If it doesn’t have to do with football, you can take to the bank that I’m clueless to the ends and outs of said sport. Today I learned that the NCAA has Men’s Lacrosse teams and they even have championship games!

Right about now you’re probably wondering what the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships have to do with NEXT. There is a method to my random madness. The Men’s Lacrosse Championships will be held in Baltimore on Memorial Day weekend. Yes, you got it, NEXT and the NCAA will be sharing the same city.

If you have not reserved a hotel room, you will want to do it soon! Hotel rooms are going VERY quickly!

Click HERE for more hotel information.

If you are attending Next 2010, than then get ready to meet others in your job field. On Sunday afternoon we will be holding Affinity Groups to give you the opportunity to meet like-minded people.  People who not only love the Savior, but also have a similar vocation. We’re really excited about this and hope you are too! I know you’re wondering, so without further ado, here is the list of Affinity Groups:

• Actors
• Administration
• Architects
• Artists
• Business
• Culinary
• Dance
• Education (Teachers & Teacher Assistants)
• Engineering
• Fine Arts
• Graphic Design
• IT
• Journalism
• Law
• Media
• Medicine (Doctors & Nurses)
• Military
• Missions
• Music
• Physical Therapy
• Politics
• Photography
• Scientists
• Video/Film-making
• Writers

Here’s what we’d like you to do! If you think you may attend an Affinity Group please e-mail us (so we can gauge interest) at:

Next[at]SovGraceMin[dot]org

In your e-mail, please include the following information:

• Your First & Last Name
• Your E-mail Address
• City In Which You Live
• Church Name
• The Affinity Group You Would Like To Attend

31 days!!!

The countdown begins! Next 2010 is only 34 days away. Actually, as I’m writing this, it is exactly…

34 days, 18 hours, 34 minutes and 17 seconds

As we countdown the days, check back often. We will be giving you tips on what to pack, where to eat, and other helpful info. As you are preparing for the conference, don’t forget to prepare you heart! To help with that, our NEXT bloggers have been writing some incredible posts. Check them out!

So You Want to Waste Your Conference? I Can Help.

I Thank My God For You….(Praying For/Thanking The NEXT Team)

Don’t Waste Your Travel

Don’t Waste the Conference: Serving Others

Ways to Engage God During the Conference

Don’t Waste The Conference: Prep Your Heart

How To Bless Your Friends Before The Conference

So you’ve signed up for Next, and now you’re wondering, “How can I totally waste this conference?” I understand. It’s a common question. I’ve been there. And because I’ve been there, I know the secrets to effectively wasting a fantastic conference.

Today I’m going to give you those secrets. For free.

So in no particular order…how to waste your conference.

ASK FOR NOTHING

Whatever you do, don’t pray before the conference, because you might get what you ask for. God has this habit of giving good gifts to his children, and all they need to do is ask. So don’t ask God to meet you in a unique way. Don’t ask him to change your life. Don’t ask him for new glimpses of glory. Don’t ask him to do something radical in you. Because it might happen, and we certainly wouldn’t want that.

EXPECT NOTHING

It’s crucial that you bring low expectations to this conference. Try to keep your level of faith at an absolute minimum, because bad things happen when faith gets involved. God rewards those “enthusiastic” people who diligently seek him, which is exactly what you don’t want to happen. So don’t expect too much of God. Play hard to get with God. If he wants to reward you, great. But you’re not going to come begging.

GIVE NOTHING

Minimal participation is the key here. Don’t give yourself wholeheartedly to anything. Miss the small group meetings that happen before and after the main sessions. Don’t open up your life to those who came with you. If someone asks you what you’re learning about God, give a generic answer like, “Well, you know, all kinds of stuff.” There’s usually a correlation between how much you invest in a conference and how much you get out of a conference. Give as little as possible.

SLEEP NOTHING

Simple, yet beautiful. Getting two hours of sleep every night is a perfect way to waste the conference. By the third day you’ll be walking around in a fuzzy haze. You won’t able to think straight, and you certainly won’t be able to pay attention to any of the messages. If you want to blow a perfectly good conference, keep sleep to a bare minimum. Like maybe an hour or two tops.

If you follow these four simple steps, you’ll find that you can ruin any conference. So take these to heart. Better yet, take these to Next.