What Can the Church Be?

It is easy to see the negative. Ask some people how they view the church, and you will hear words like “hypocrites or unloving.” I choose to see the positive. When a church is operating at its best, it can be many things, such as:

A School – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” At its best a church is a wonderful place to learn about God and to have the Word of God explained. We grow in our knowledge of the King of Kings and out of that teaching, training, discipleship, and correction, we can move forward in sharing His love with others.

A Hospital – Mark 2:16-17 says, “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” At its best a church is a place of healing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is a place we can go for prayer when we are sick, for hope when we are emotionally overwhelmed, and to find the salvation that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

A Family – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” At is best a church is a perfect family. A family that loves one another, encourages, supports and prays for one another.

I have experienced the school, the hospital and the family.  This is the church at its best.

That Loving Feeling

Today in church, our guest speaker shared from Matthew 22:36-40.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is a passage I have come back to again and again over the last few years.  In fact, I share it quite frequently from the pulpit myself.  I have found this passage to be convicting and challenging on one hand yet very encouraging as well.

It is convicting because Jesus lists these 2 commandments as the ones that ALL the Law and Prophets hang on.  He could have listed anything in response to the question.  The first one makes sense to me.  Love the Lord with every part of your being!  I find that to be very convicting.  Do I love the Lord with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind?  I would love to say YES to that.  Sadly, it is not always true.  I know there are times I put other things before the Lord.  In that I am convicted.

It is challenging because the second commandment he lists is to love our neighbors...as we do ourselves!  Honestly, I am often challenged by that. I want to ask who my neighbor is but I already know the answer to that.  It is everyone I meet from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed!  It includes my family, my friends, my co-workers and my enemies.  I find loving my enemies to be the challenging part.  I remember one of our special needs volunteers putting it plainly to me once.  He said if God calls us to love our enemies, that means loving the terrorists as well.  God does not make distinctions when He calls us to love!

It is encouraging because as Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  I am guilty of not always loving others as I should. There are times I need to repent when I fail to apply Matthew 22:36-40 to my life.  God is faithful and forgiving, calling me to something more, something better.  

As the speaker this morning shared, as we love God more it becomes easier to love our neighbor and as we do so, it impacts those around us.  I would say our lives are changed as we embrace that loving feeling! 

Christians and Mental Health - How Should The Church Respond?

What should the church be?

The church should be a place where it’s OK to struggle with depression.

The church should be a place that’s home to the recovering and the relapsing addict.

The church should be a place where leaders can have faults and not be afraid to share them.

The church should be a place where we’re not afraid of pain.

The church should be a place where condemnation is replaced by redemption.

The church should be a place where love becomes an action verb.

The church should be a place where people with mental health issues feel loved and cared for.

In fact, the church should build up their knowledge on mental health issues. The church should understand the symptoms and make themselves aware of the resources available in their community.  

A few years back I took a 10 week course that dealt with various kinds of mental health issues and it was an eye-opening experience.  My whole view was shifted in so many ways.

What should the church be?

It should be a place where love prevails.  

I have seen that love in church after church around the world.  I have seen the love of God displayed over and over to those in need.  

Sadly, I have also seen the opposite.  

I find myself reflecting on how Jesus would respond to someone in pain.  Of course we have numerous pictures of how Jesus ACTUALLY did respond.

Jesus healed the sick.

Jesus called people to the Father.

Jesus spoke to the need and provided living water.

Jesus forgave.

Jesus loved.

Not only did Jesus love but He also told us to love one another. (John 13:34)  That is how the church should respond to people with mental health issues.

By loving one another.

Mission: Possible (Part 3)

From the Archives - Dec. 2008

This is it. The conclusion to Mission: Possible? If you have not read the first 2 parts please skip down two posts to Part 1. Join the discussion. Let's look at the final part of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5 was rough and chapter 6 was only slightly better (or worse depending on your perspective). Let's see where ch. 7 takes us.

"Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye.
(Matthew 7:1-5)

Ouch! Jesus pulls no punches here. Right out of the gate He hits the nail on the head of an issue plaguing our jobs, churches, etc. Who reading this has not been guilty of this one? I know I sure have.

The next few verses are like a whirlwind rush to the end. Asking, giving and receiving all are hit on here. Verse 12, also known as the GOLDEN RULE, talks about doing for others what we would have them do for us. Oh that we all truly lived that way. He even talks about knowing a believer by their fruit. Is the fruit the stuff He was talking about in chapters 5-7? What do you think?

Jesus tells us to avoid the wide road to destruction and to go into life through the narrow way but then says, "But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate." The way He TELLS US to go is full of trouble. Not easy! Uh Oh....

Then He throws this one at us: "Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock."

The chapter comes to a conclusion with this: "When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings."

Well yeah, I am as well. This was the longest discourse Jesus gave that we have on record. It is not a sermon to the unbelievers, to the world so to speak. It is a sermon to us, His children. Many say if we try to live this way we are "socialists, communists, hippies, etc. You can't live in peace with one another, you can't forgive EVERYONE who wrongs you. What about JUSTICE?"

The thing is, Jesus doesn't ask us for excuses. He doesn't say, "Hey try this and if it doesn't work for you no harm, no foul." He call us to obedience. It may be uncomfortable obedience but it is obedience He calls us to nevertheless.

Is it possible? Yes. Is it hard? Yes. What we need is Jesus living in us and through us to accomplish this possible mission. We also need faith! (Hebrews 11:6)

Do you long to see change in your life, church, etc? Let's all try to follow the example of Jesus and truly live our faith! I'll be honest and say I'm not there yet but I want to make the journey. Are you with me?

Mission: Possible (Part 2)

From the Archives - Dec. 2008

(If you have not read Part 1 I would suggest you skip to the post just prior to this.)

Let's continue examining the Sermon on the Mount and see if our mission truly is possible.

I will have to admit Chapter 5 of Matthew was really rough. Is Chapter 6 any better?

Verse 1 doesn't sound so bad. Not doing things for public praise isn't a bad idea. In the next verse it says, "So when you give to the poor, don't announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward."

Wait did that say "So when you give?" Why it sure does. Verses 3 and 4 talk about giving to the poor as well. Oh...this is something He actually wants us to do! Not announcing our actions is a key part of these 2 verses. That's not too impossible....is it?

Jesus then talks a bit about prayer and even gives us an example that we affectionately call the Lord's Prayer. It's a beautiful prayer. However there is that one potential stumbling block. That line that says: "Forgive us as we forgive others." How come God keeps throwing in all these things on forgiveness, helping the poor, etc? This is looking like Ch. 5 all over again.

Wait here's a piece on fasting. No problem there. Wait...what's that in verse 19-21....oh no....it says we shouldn't store up treasures on earth, that our heart is where our treasure is and it should not be here but in Heaven. (I will not look around my room, I will not look around my room....oh dang...where did all this stuff come from!)

The rest of chapter 6 talks about not worrying. Reminds me of the old Mad Magazine slogan, "What! Me worry?" I will admit I have been a worrier from time to time. It's been a hard one for me, yet Jesus clearly talks about not doing it.

Where will this all end? Things look even more impossible then before. What does Jesus want from us?

Come back for the 3rd and final part of Mission: Possible?

Mission: Possible (Part 1)

This is from the Archives...Dec. 2008

An examination of the Sermon on the Mount.

My family and I love watching old reruns of the American TV show, Mission Impossible, which ran from 1966-1973. Sure, most of the technology is cheesy now and the special effects are corny, but the show had a fantastic theme and a great premise. A team put together to accomplish the impossible missions.

Do you ever feel like God is calling you to the impossible? I do every time I read the Sermon on the Mount! If you read Matthew chapter 5 you'll find many things that might seem hard to swallow. Some will feel downright impossible.

Just look at how Jesus starts off in Matthew5:3-12. The Beatitudes...or as I like to think of them the way our attitude should be! Sure, some sound easy and nice, like v. 6 which says if we hunger and thirst for righteousness we will be filled. However when you look at v. 5 about being meek, v. 7 about being merciful and v. 9 about being a peacemaker....gulp...those are not easy. Try to encourage someone to be merciful when they are wronged and they are just as likely to turn on you! I know because I've done it...I've turned my anger to the person saying be merciful.

Matthew 5:13-16 doesn't sound that hard. Letting your light shine, being salt, can't be that difficult can it? (Unless you think about that meek, merciful peacemaker thing!)

Right after this, Jesus talks about the Law and how He came to fulfill it. Look what He points out though: In v. 21 He basically says, "Never Murder" and then in v. 22 He says, "But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire."

We've never done that right? We've never called another believer an insulting name, right? Or a fool?

Makes me want to not open my mouth period!

Jesus goes on to say adultery is looking at a woman with lust in your heart. Verse 39 is easy: "But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. " Oh wait.....

Well there is the whole love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you thing......well.....er....yeah........

This doesn't get easier does it? What do you think? Is Jesus trying to tell us another way to live? Yes. Is it comfortable? No!

Here's a question for you....do you want to live that way? The way of the Sermon on the mount? Is it even possible? Come back for Part 2 of Mission: Possible.

Don't be a Christian Butterfly - Just A Thought #37

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37)

Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned. I was raised by my Daddy that a man's word is his bond and a handshake is just as good. Even before I was a believer I heard that if you tell someone you'd be somewhere or do something you better follow through.

Sadly, I am not seeing that a lot today among some brothers and sisters in Christ. Too often, I see people being led "by the Spirit" in making their decisions. This would be okay if they stood by them. However one week someone will say they will be somewhere or do something, and the next they change their mind. If the Spirit is leading ,who changed their mind: you or the "Spirit"?

James 4:13-16, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.' But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

As believers we should be known for our integrity, not just before the world but amongst fellow believers as well. It is time for the flightiness and fidgeting among the body of Christ to cease and for people to commit where the Lord calls them. We should not be like butterflies, flitting from thing to thing (or experience to experience) looking for something more exciting. We should stay the course God has set us on unless He tells us to move.

If the Lord does call YOU to do something and you know it is your calling, then don't try to pass it off on someone else. Seek the wisdom of the Lord. Do what He tells you and follow through on your word!

Waking Up Is Hard To Do

Paul Wilkinson over on Thinking Out Loud asked me to be a guest blogger a few days ago. This is the piece I sent him. I am now putting it on my blog in case you missed it. I would encourage you to also check out Paul's blog if you haven't done so. He has some good stuff there.

I am not a morning person. Oh, once I'm awake I am good to go, but it takes me a bit to wake up. I would much rather pull the covers back over my head and sleep for another 30 minutes. When I do finally step out of bed I head right to the coffee pot. Only after I have a stiff cup of joe in my hand do I feel ready to tackle the day. Sometimes even then I want to go back to sleep.

It's kind of like how I use to be with church. I wanted to pull the cover back over my head. I wanted to sleep, fake an illness, anything to get out of attending the Sunday service. Sometimes I did this even when I was the Pastor!

I was becoming bored to death with the routine. There just seemed to be no life. I could close my eyes at most services and walk through the exact order. Opening prayer: check; worship: check; commercial break for the offering: check; message: check and done by lunch!

Where was the excitement? Did God mean for church to be boring? I believe He did not! Of course part of this goes to our concept of church. Sadly, too many today still feel like you have church when you attend a building with 4 walls and go through the motions of a service. I believe church is different. I believe we--the people--are the church. But somewhere we exchanged hillside walks with the Savior asking questions back and forth for sitting in pews and listening to someone else tell us how to do "religion".

I am not attacking the "traditional church". I pastor a congregation myself and we have our routines as well (admittedly few), but they are there. However, I truly believe Jesus came to give us life! I want a radical faith. I want relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship where we can express doubt, fear, concern and trust! A relationship where Jesus is our everything and our only thing. A relationship with highs and lows, good times and bad, where I know that through it all Jesus is still always there. Are you with me? Let's get radical for Christ. Let's toss aside our lethargic attempts at religion and embrace the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Let's get into the street and touch the sick, the needy and the downtrodden. Let's share a message and a life; ours and His!

Can we not love?

"Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in Moses' Teachings?" Jesus answered him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' All of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)

It's about relationship with Him and with each other.

So why do we mess it up so bad?

Why do say we love Him yet ignore someone from another denomination? How can we say we love Him yet insist if someone doesn't practice communion or baptism the same way we do they must not be part of the body? How can we say we love Him yet walk by the homeless man on the street with nary a glance? Or ignore our kids? Our spouse?

Jesus wasn't kidding here. He said we are to love. L-O-V-E. Yet ask most non-believers what they think of when they here the word Christian and love is the last thing they will say. You'll hear judgmental, hypocrite, protests, intolerant, etc. Hardly will you here the word love.

Sad.

Why is that? How come God can so love the world that He gave His Son yet we can't seem to love enough to share a coffee with someone from another church?

How come Jesus can love us enough to die for us yet we can't cross the street to help a neighbour in need?

Oh not everyone does that. Quite a few people I know love and love completely. Yet even in my own life I find it hard to love when I have just been cursed at by an inebriated man. I find it hard to love someone who insists on keeping the letter of the law while ignoring the heart.

Our neighbours are not just those in the world, it's those in the church too. We should love both the downtrodden and our fellow saints! Of course that might mean we need.....humility.

Our we judging others based on our own interpretations of Scripture? Our we ignoring the hurting around us, in our church, beside us on the pew?

What would Jesus say?

Don't go to church! - Just A Thought #35

I have to admit I have struggled with church. When I became a new born Christian I wanted to be in church all the time. I wanted to be there, EARLY, for every service. I wanted to participate in every activity. However the "newness" wore off after a season. I originally started going to church because I was trying to learn all I could about God. However after a bit I started looking around and wasn't really liking what I saw.

I think the word I am looking for is, oh yeah, hypocrisy. That would be the one. I noticed that some people did not live out what they said they believed. Later I saw even more stuff that frustrated and turned me off. Anger, bitterness, gossip...it was all there on display. Of course I became part of the problem as I let these same attributes come out in my own life.

We were burned quite a few times and the hurt came out as bitterness and gossip. I am saddened by this today.

I then took the opposite tack and started looking into the house church movement. I wanted to find an unchurchy church.

Of course I was looking in the wrong place. I was looking at the people and at the building, not at God. I wanted to find the "perfect" church... a place to worship and hang my hat. Yet as soon as I got there the church was no longer perfect. (I was the problem!) I was trying to "do" church.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The locale is not the problem. The focus is. I was not going to encourage others and to stir one another to love. I was going to be "fed" and to watch a show.

I want to encourage you: Don't just go to church, be the church. Don't just embrace the establishment, practicing religion, live your faith!

Our faith should be evident to all. Not some flashy ostentatious showmanship but something real, vibrant, alive! There is nothing wrong with attending a service in a traditional structure, or in a home or in a car for that matter. The problem is not the building...it's us. We need to get over ourselves and quit putting people on pedestals. We need to live our faith!

When someone sits across from you and tells you they are dying are you going to tell them to go to church or are you going to get down and dirty and talk to them about their faith? When someone needs a helping hand will you toss some money their way or get into the trenches and help them dig their way out? We need to be the "hands and feet" of Christ to a dying world. It's not up to the ministers...we are all ministers. (1 Peter 2:9) It's up to each of us to throw off our spiritual lethargy and to LOVE!

It's All (Church) Politics!

I used to love following politics as a child. To read about candidates, congressmen, senators and presidents use to thrill me. To follow the stories during an election period was a fun hobby! I even liked following the world political scene.

Not any more.

As I look around the last few years I have grown weary of broken promises, back-biting and scandals. I don't enjoy the political double-speak, gossip and innuendo. The behind the scenes shenanigans disgust me. It seems everyone is out for their own benefit and want to topple the guy or girl above them anyway possible.

Now read that last paragraph and you can say the same thing about church politics! Sin and selfishness run rampant in both.

If you are still reading this than you are probably like me, tired of it all.

I love seeing the body of Christ gathering together to worship. I love hearing the Word preached and to see people loving one another.

Yet it's the behind the scenes stuff that tears the church apart and makes us no different than the world around us. I remember being invited to speak at a church about missions and after the service my wife and I were invited to lunch at a parishioners house. They just had to have a quick, tidy vote on a new pastor. As we packed up our display table, you could hear the weeping and gnashing of teeth emanating from the back room. The door would open and someone would come running out sobbing and grabbing increasingly younger and younger kids to quickly enroll as members to sway the vote their way!

Granted, this is an extreme (I hope) case. Yet how many reading this have heard or participated in church gossip? Or as we try to sanctify it "prayer requests for brother so and so who did this, that and the other!"

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Love. Is the love of Christ emanating from your life today? Are you having issues in your church? Is the sin and selfishness coming from you?

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Let's leave the politics to the world. Let's operate our churches in love!

Give a Dress - Change a Life

Following on the Servolution book and the interview with Pastor Dino Rizzo, I wanted to share this story:

It was around 1991-2. The time is a little fuzzy to me. I was 21 or so. My Mom, sister and I were in the local Christian bookstore in my East Tennessee hometown. A lady was in who had recently given birth to a daughter with a cleft lip and some other issues. The lady was unmarried and a new Christian. She was discouraged and seemed somewhat sad. She lacked hope and was asking for prayer.

My Mom asked if she would be in the store for a few minutes. Racing home, my Mom dug into the closet and pulled out a brand new, frilly baby dress she had recently acquired from a friend. Hurrying back to the store she presented the dress to the lady. The lady thanked my Mom, maybe hugs were exchanged, I can't recall. We left. End of story.

Or so we thought!

3 years ago....14-15 years after this event, My mom was in the doctors office and was approached by this same lady. She remembered my Mom and all of our names. She reminded my Mom of the events stated above and in the words of Paul Harvey (an American radio host who recently passed) she began to tell us the rest of the story.

After receiving the dress from my Mom she realized God did care about her situation if He would prod a complete stranger to display a "random" act of kindness. She took baby pics with her daughter in the new dress. Hope being restored, she went back to school where she earned her degree. She found a nice man and got married. She had a couple more kids and got a good job. She told my Mom that this dress changed her whole life.

Matthew 7:12 says, "Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets."

1 Peter 3:8 says, "Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble."

Compassion, care and love do not always come easy. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is to go out of our way for a complete stranger. We were lucky enough, in this instance, to hear the results of a random (to us not God) act of kindness.

Every person you meet can be impacted for eternity by your actions, words and attitudes. That is both scary and awe inspiring.

Of course we have to have a basis for our actions. We can only truly love one another if we are firmly planted and rooted in Christ.

When that love is there, it is watered and we let it bloom.....it can change the world!

So Where Exactly Is My Backyard? - Just A Thought #33

I remember years ago, when Sarah and I first went to the mission field, a few people told me we should focus on people in our own backyard first instead of "taking off overseas". At the time I brushed the comments aside. Today I am paying attention.

You see I have heard these comments A LOT over the years. Not just to us, but when people talk about helping others period. Recently, I was discussing foreign aid with some people online and the comments I heard years ago came hurtling back.

It got me to thinking; where exactly is this backyard I keep hearing about?

In an ideal world, every believer would reach out with the love of Christ to their own neighbors. If you are one of those who are actively engaged in sharing Christ with others, than Praise God, keep it up!. What happens though, to those in towns, cities, villages, etc.. where there is no witness? Do we let them drift to hell while we sit on our hands talking about our own backyards?

What about our "backyard?" I have noticed that most who talk about this "backyard" actually use it as an excuse to do nothing at all. Worse, they may throw some money at a project or make half-hearted attempts to share with those in need before quickly retreating to the safety of their home church.

People are dying and going to hell. Are we getting out to where they are and sharing Him?

People are suffering! Over 2 million people live on less than $2 a day. How much did I spend on coffee this week? Personally, this week I spent over $10 on coffee. How many people would that have fed in the third world?

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying we can't enjoy life. I am asking how we can ignore suffering people around the world or in our own backyard? How many homeless people are there in your town? Where do the alcoholics hang out? The prostitutes? The young people? Where are those who have been sexually abused? Those with lifestyles that conflict with our interpretation of Scripture? Are we hanging with them? Are we loving them? Are we eating with them? Ministering to them?

If not I have one question: Why not? Jesus did!

"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
(Matthew 21:28-31)

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
(Matthew 18:12-14)

I don't want you to feel guilty. I want you to act. Put actions to our words of faith. Put hands and feet to the life we talk about in church. Go where Jesus is...to the world around us.

Mad Church Disease

If you can please go out and get a copy of Mad Church Disease. I have not suffered burn out personally but I have been awfully close at times. This book is a must for anyone in ministry, leadership or just living life day to day.

I am half way through the book now and it is challenging and has me re-evaluating how much is on my plate on a day to day basis.

Warning: The book is frank and not for the faint of heart. It's for those who need to have a heart challenge!

Read and be blessed!

The Sound of Silence

Can you imagine a day unplugged from the world?

I am going to attempt this very thing this coming Monday. No email, radio, tv or cell phone. No blogging, Facebook and no talking period.

I covet your prayers this week. I have been feeling the Lord nudge me on this for some time now and I have not acted on it. Now it is almost overwhelming.....I feel the Lord calling me to a day of complete silence (from my end), reflecting on Him, listening for Him...not in petition but just in contemplation and silence. Two verses I am thinking on right now are:

Psalm 143:5 I remember the days long ago. I reflect on all that you have done. I carefully consider what your hands have made.

Psalm 119:15 I want to reflect on your guiding principles and study your ways.

I realized this week I am always bustling about and when I pray it is times of request. I know that I need to take some time to listen. My family is on board and think I should give it a run ....so pray for me.......

I want to know Him more. I want to listen....truly listen....

Anyone else up for the challenge?

My God is So Big!

I chatted with a lady today who had some similar experiences to mine in her early Christian walk. We were chatting about the church and how it responds to adversity. I shared how soon after we became Christians my family hit a financial speed bump and over a period of time lost nearly everything. Being new Christians we were told by many in the church we had somehow sinned and God we punishing us. This lady expressed being told the same thing when adversity hit her life.

Sad isn't it?

I came across a question a while back which burned itself into my mind. What happens when God is bigger than your religion?

It seems to often when bad things happen Christians immediately think someone sinned. Our "religion" tells us all bad things are due to sin. However it just ain't so. I remember the Scripture where Jesus was confronted with a sick man and was asked who sinned, the man or his family? (John 9:2)

I also remember Job...whom God pointed out as righteous and told Satan he was allowed to mess with.

I look constantly in the Scriptures for those apostles who had a cushy, easy life. Still looking. Seems hardship was a given. Does this mean God can't rescue, restore, bless? Absolutely not. God can and does these things. It does mean though that sometimes our religion tells us God only blesses and only prospers and only heals....what happens when He doesn't? Does He stop being God? I believe we try to box God into our comfortable way of thinking about Him. However God is bigger than our religion. He does things the Baptists, Pentecostals, Anglicans, etc... can't justify or handle. He's God. When confronted with something our "religion" can't explain, we need to turn to the Word and look for God to answer it.

If we don't find the answers we are looking for right away, we will find within God's word, plenty of evidence about His character, to remind us that He is always good and that His thoughts are not ours. We will also find there words to challenge us: "Be joyful always..." "Do not be anxious about anything..." "Perfect love casts out fear...," and so many others.

Dig into the Word and let God blow your mind. He is awesome. He is big! He is Holy!

Relational Christianity Spotlight

What is relational Christianity - Another way of saying Christians meeting together in community and fellowship. Meeting each others needs spiritually and physically. To share Christ passionately!

If you read this blog then you have likely noticed the numerous posts on the Life that is found in Christ. I have spoken often about the need to get back to community style Christianity. To live Christ daily and to show it not only in word but deed as well.

In an effort to highlight some of the ministries and organizations that are displaying this style of Christianity I will be posting some occasional spotlights.

These links do not count as an endorsement on all that you may find on their websites but the heart of these ministries does reflect Jesus.

Lifestream I have linked to their page where they share their passion which to me is absolutely awesome.

Little Flowers Community This little community is a YWAM partnership ministry and I know one of the leaders. He has a passion for relational Christianity.

Crossbridge This church in Florida is very intentionally relational. They even meet at a coffee shop....you gotta love that! Another friend is pastor there.

Present Testimony Ministry Frank Viola's website where you can find a house church in your area: House Church Resource

The Simple Way Their mission: To Love God. To Love People. To Follow Jesus.

The Meeting House A church focused on relationship and not religion!

So there you have it. A very small list of ministries I have come across recently. If you know more please let me know.

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (Just A Thought #28)

I love the New Testament. I particularly love the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However when recently reading through the Gospels I noticed something quite disturbing.

I didn't recognize Jesus.

Jesus in the New Testament walked with sinners. He hung out with them at weddings and other celebrations. He ate with them. He even talked alone to a woman in what, for the times, would have been seen as scandalous because she was not a "good" woman or the right type! Jesus was not a conformist. He didn't hang out with the rich and powerful. He didn't embrace the wealthy and neglect the poor. He did not court the politicians.

Jesus did not chase after the latest fad. He acted in ways considered "Unbecoming" by the church of the day. He did things on the Sabbath....which was a Saturday by the way....He broke the rules. He stirred things up to the point that people sought His death.

After He rose from the dead, His disciples followed His lead. They went to the unloved, unwanted and uncared for. They stirred the pot. They spoke out, not so much against sin, but for Jesus Christ. They followed His example and pointed people to the Father. They focused on relationship.

Now lets look at we in the church, today. We have it easy. We sit in our pews and watch the world pass by out of our stained-glass windows. Oh, many will reach out to the hurting, but too many will not. Christianity has embraced politics and Christians try to legislate morality. We spend more time talking about what we are against than Who we are for. We seek the latest "Christian fad" rather than the heart of the Father. If we are honest, truly honest....we would rather sit and watch TV than sit among the dirty, the drunks, the sinners. I personally would rather be entertained than entertain someone when it would inconvenience me. We would rather protest outside of an event we disagree with morally than to go out for coffee with the "sinner".

Enough!

I want to see the Jesus of the Bible reflected in my life! I want to see the Living God living in me. I want to see we in the church get off our backside and into the streets, reflecting the heart of Jesus. It'll mean sacrifice. It'll mean we might be spit on, persecuted and ignored. However once the church does that to us, then whatever the world throws at us will be easy!

Let's take it to the streets. Let's truly follow Jesus.

Church

As you have probably noticed I have been thinking quite a bit about church lately. We just started a church plant in Smithers, BC called Main Street Christian Fellowship. It is a small non-denominational fellowship group.

The whole idea and concept of church has been rattling through my head. As we look at various traditions I find myself asking why? Why do we do this or that? What is the purpose? Is it filled with the Life of Christ or do we do it out of habit?

I am asking questions. Not only of others but of God. I can't say I have had any major breakthroughs but asking questions is good. It is stimulating. It is also eye-opening to see how others deal with these same questions.

(HFJ) Hop For Jesus! (Just A Thought #24)

Did you hear the story about the Christians who had a prayer meeting? It appears that they had this meeting and the next thing you know brother Joe started talking about this vision he had and how everyone in the vision was hopping on one foot and whooping for Jesus.

Well at first the people thought this was crazy but then Brother Joe sited an obscure Scripture in Leviticus 11, which talked about hopping. (Yes, it’s in the American Standard Version, but it refers to which insects you can eat.) No one bothered to check and see if this verse was in the Bible, or even if the Scripture was taken in context or not. Seems another sister confirmed this vision when she said she hopped on one foot and was healed. Two weeks later the whole church had a foot hopping service. Then stories started rolling in of how people were being blessed by hopping. One guy got a promotion. Another guy found $20. A few weeks later a lady started writing hopping music. The Christian media picked up on it and before long the bookstores began selling hopping music. (Hip Hopping Hallelujah and Hopping Hymns were 2 bestsellers) Then Brother Joe, who introduced the joy of hopping, wrote a book which spent 22 weeks on the best sellers list. The Purpose of Hopping was followed by Holy Hopping and Secrets to a Hopping Life. Then the fist coffee cup in the shape of a foot was sold, followed by bracelets with HFJ (Hop For Jesus) was made. All the youth groups had to have them. The journals and pens got lost in the shuffle, but the Hopping Bible was a big seller. Eventually, as the movement wound down, someone had a vision of a man yodeling… .

Philippians 1:9-11 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Why do Christians follow fads and trends? Good question. We are called to be in the world but not of it. Yet it appears that whatever marketing or business trend is happening in the world is eventually duplicated in the church. Not to mention the extra-biblical themes being introduced into the body of Christ without as much as an eyebrow being raised. The specific trends aren’t important right now and I am not saying God can’t use these things, but I notice many people start talking about the emotional extras more than they talk about God. It seems our focus has shifted from Him to us! How are we feeling? What are we enjoying? This is how I was blessed. You should do such and such and you’ll prosper. I, Me, You! Self-Centered Christianity is not what God has called us to. He has called us to an uncompromising faith in Him. Our soul can truly only prosper when we delight in Him and His law. (Psalms 1:3, Prov. 16:20)

I believe God is calling His church back to the Himself. Uncompromised! Focused! Refreshed in Him; not relying on man-made extras to make things exciting. We need to get away from “emotional” Christianity and back to LIFE in Jesus Christ! There is Joy in Him. We don’t need the window dressing. We need Him! We don’t need an emotional high to have relationship with Him. We just need Him. It’s not about feelings it’s about fact. Jesus Christ crucified, risen, victorious. Galatians 6:14 says, “But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Jesus Only Jesus!