Bible Study Returns

Due to an overwhelming demand, our Wed night Bible Study started up again last night on the West Shore.  A good mix of old members and new, came together to study the letter of Peter and the Holy Spirit was present in force!  I love teaching the Bible, but, even more, I love seeing new people fall in love with the Scriptures and the God who wrote them!!

If you have not yet joined us for a study, come on out!

Warnings and Observations - Part II (b)

Providence:

While reading online today, I came across this post in a comment section on 'mega church' and contemporary Christianity.  I believe it is not only insightful, but TRUE.

Speaking to a particular Mega Church:  'Churches like this may be good for introducing people to Jesus. But living in Christ means using our minds renewed by God to know and grow closer to Him each day, not prioritizing temporary emotional pulses of good vibrations and stimulating human senses (emphasis added).

[Most observers] didn't get very deep into [Pastor's Name] shaky theology and doctrine, but my biggest complaint here is when about halfway through the video the hipster [Pastor's Name] equates his crowds to the throngs that followed Jesus. The main motivation of the crowds that followed Jesus was getting healed physically, and getting freed from Roman rule; that is, what Jesus could do for them and their earthly lives. The crowds following Jesus were not interested in His message of their helpless fallen spiritual condition and dependence on Him for their reconciliation with God. Well, maybe [Pastor's Name]' flock is similar? But then Jesus' crowds turned against Him, and called to the Romans for His torture and crucifixion. That part is no comparison, is it [Pastor's Name]?'

Observations and Warnings - Part II

While speaking to a pastor of a MEGA church the other day, he called his church's growth the product of God's new and ongoing 'Revival.'  They have over 10k people attending each week, they baptized 300 people last year, and they gave almost a million dollars to charity.  Impressive numbers by any stretch of the imagination, but does this qualify as a revival?

Consider the following:If 'revival' is only happening at one house of worship, then it is probably not God who is achieving the results but, rather, the church leadership and methodology.  As is evidenced by some of the success of recent non-profit 'challenges' and the rise of religious fanaticism, getting people to respond in droves to self-less causes is not always as difficult as we would imagine - you just have to make it interesting (self-rewarding) enough.

I believe in Revival and pray it happens, but when it does it will not be experienced by a single church, it will not lead to self-boasting, and it certainly will not be achieved through human effort.  Revival happens when humanity is brought low by the Spirit of God and His power and presence alone (through human vessels) is the means of achievement (miracles and super-natural demonstrations).

I'm not trying to knock the 'good' out of growing churches, but I do want us all to consider WHY we may be experiencing these results.  There are no shortcuts to the Kingdom or its salvation.

Observations & Warnings - Part I

This week, I had the opportunity to participate in several conferences for pastors.  I try not to attend too many of these kinds of events because, too often, they become a trap and means for avoiding the real business of the Kingdom: reaching the Lost and training the Found.  It is so easy to enjoy the 'safety' and appearance of relevance by hanging out in the confines of fellow ministers, presuming that the purpose is new insights and renewal, but what really happens is that most ministers put too much emphasis on 'self-care' (ignoring the priority of others) or become accustomed to believing their own press and assumptions about ministry and church models.  If you really want to find personal renewal & zeal and want to know what the Lost are thinking and doing, then GO OUT AND BE WITH THE LOST!!  Hanging out with other professional ministers who also live in secluded churches or ministry contexts different than your own, is not going to be an adequate means of benefit.

What I loved most about pastoring and being a minister is spending time with the LOST and those who are Saved and still interacting with the LOST.  I guess that is another reasons why pastor conference and meetings are such a personal nightmare for me...it's so disconnected from my passions and personal practices.

Pastors - GO out and be a pastor and minister in your community and world.  Not your style or cup of tea?; then, please, reconsider your profession.  If you love working in the church and for the church, then consider being the Admin Pastor or take up Church Board ministry.  The church is supposed to be a place when the Holiness of Heaven meets the Brokenness of the World.  In order for this to happen, the leadership of the church, namely its mouthpiece and representative, needs to be interacting and ministering within their local and Lost world.  Hiding out at a 'relevance' conference doesn't count and will only frustrate everyone.

Loved as Family

Since becoming full-time missionaries in 2005, it has been amazing to see how deeply we have been adopted by God's people.  We can never adequtely thank our supporters for how they have loved us, encouraged us, and miraculously been the hands, feet, and even, the voice of God, over the years.

I know it is almost cliche to refer to the church as the 'family of God,' but when you experience it as we have over the years, it is supernatural.

To all of you who have loved us as your own: Thank you!  We're just as committed and empowered as ever.

Weekend with a Marine

This past weekend, I was able to travel halfway across the country to bless a fellow Brother and a Marine.  He and I went to Bible College together and, ironically, both felt a calling to serve the Marines during our college years.  He, however, went off to USMC officer school after graduating, while I went off to the domestic mission field.  Nevertheless, God has kept us secure in His calling and provision and has allowed us both to accomplish incredible ministry in our respective fields.

My buddy's new assignment involved a cross-country move and I was glad to help.  Having not seen each other since 2001, it was great to reconnect, meet his beautiful family, and spend some amazing time reflecting on ministry and building each other up in the Lord.

As was the case in those early college years, He continues to call us to serve within the military field and is using us, His church, to prepare and execute that mission.

Added Bonus: Eating at The Cracker Barrel!

Good Leaders

Today, I had the opportunity to show appreciation for a great leader.  No, he and I rarely see eye-to-eye on theology and ministry, but the man is a great leader who loves Jesus and seeks to serve His church through the strengths He has given him; and that makes all the difference!

What makes this pastor great is that he leads from his strengths and allows his weakness to always take a backseat to his planning and response.  Again, he and I are rarely on the same page, but he has never punished me, limited me, or spoke evil of me.  On the contrary, he has embraced me and placed me in positions to succeed.  He's not naive or some evil sneak who is waiting for a chance to get me down the road.  No, he is simply a great leader who knows who he is and operates from the security of his God-given strengths.  How rare!

Most leaders are aware of their strengths and use them to accomplish their objectives, but they also know their weaknesses and consistently live in fear of having those exposed or taken advantage of.  Therefore, they limit others and spend significant time promoting their particulars while knocking the traits of others.  What a waste...

I love this local pastor and I have learned so much from him.  May I respond to God's calling and giftings the way this man has.  Doing so will not only lead to my happiness, but also the expansion of God's Kingdom and Church.

Challenging Theology

Once again, I was blessed to lead chapel for a local Christian middle school.  I prayed hard about what to speak on and the LORD just would not allow the word 'existential' to leave me mind.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the term, the short explanation is that it describes a philosophy of personal meaning and experience, and perhaps the best writer on the matter is the Dane, Kierkegaard.  His declared that while the empirical truth claims of Christianity are all well and good, they had very little significance for his personal life and worldview.  What did it matter is God made the heaven and existed in a state of Love if Kierkegaard could not experience and be moved by the God and His love.

While not a perfect worldview or philosophy, Kierkegaard is certainly on to something and I believe that there are many in our local context and culture who can relate to his longing and frustrations. Evangelical Christianity is all about declaring truth claims and defenses but it often fails to communicate the personal and relational aspects of God with His creation.  As I contemplated existentialism and the local Christian school, I knew that these kids would be receiving healthy doses of empirical evidence of God and His Word, but mere facts can never influence a heart.

Reading from Colossians 1:15-23, I attempted to draw the correlation between an empirical and relational God through the person of Christ.  "All things were created by Him and for Him (v.16)...reconciling the world through His cross (v.20)."  Yes, God has done magnificent things within creation and for us, but it is Him alone who is to be worshipped, sought after, experienced, and glorified.  He is great; He care for us; but, He alone is to be object of our satisfaction.

I challenged the kids to leave every Bible study, church service, chapel or church event pondering the question, "So what? How does that which was said and taught have any meaning to me and to growing closer in worship to God?"  If a message is merely about us, then it has failed and diverted into heretical ideas.  Simultaneously, if the message only speaks of God's transcendence, then it, too, has failed, because it has neglected the power of His salvation to transform individuals.

This is big stuff, I know, but I believe that theology must be challenging and not merely affirming.

Bike Ministry

I do more ministry outside the walls of the church then I could ever hope to do inside of it.

Blessed to have time today to ride with my dad and a brother in the faith.  He has lots of challenges before him and no church family to embrace and strengthen him.  While only home for a few days, being able to spend a few hours riding our bikes together and talking afterwards has opened up many doors and avenues for God's Spirit to minister.

I love being a Christian minister.  Where I go, He goes.