I had a dream a few nights ago. I was standing in waist-deep water at the beach, with the waves crashing over me. They were much taller than I was, and they kept coming relentlessly, one after the other. I could barely catch my breath from one before the next crashed down on me.
I think a psychotherapist would have a hayday with that one. I don't claim to have the gift to interpret dreams, but I think anyone could interpret this one. The crashing waves represent the demands of my life right now, and in the recent past. I think there are very few persons who could understand the pressure of going to school full time to complete a Masters Degree, while trying to be a good husband and father and a pastor all at the same time.
In my last post I wrote, "when ministry gets difficult, it is often because I have neglected what I have been called to do for secondary activities." Hmmm; sounds like I need to sort out some priorities, doesn't it? I also wrote in a previous post about God's discipline. That's all part of this process, too. I'd appreciate your prayers as God and I get all this sorted out over the coming weeks. Actually I think God probably already has it sorted out.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Ouch
I am being disciplined by my loving heavenly Father. He really loves me, but the discipline still really hurts. I’ve been going through some things, and wondering why. I was reading God’s Word in preparation for this Sunday’s teaching, when I realized that maybe the main recipient of this lesson is me.
Here’s the thing: I’ve recognized this as God’s discipline, and that makes me feel a little better, because I know the reason God disciplines us is not to destroy us, but to make us better. But I’m also feeling more than just a little stiff-necked. I love that word combination employed in the wilderness experience texts to describe the stubbornness and unteachableness of the recently delivered Israelite people. But I don’t love it when it’s me. And here’s something I’m realizing; I know God is on my side and this is happening to me to make me more like Christ. It’s a wonderful thing to be loved by the kind of God who accepts me as I am, but loves me too much to just leave me this way. He loves me enough to hurt me so good.
Read Hebrews 12:4-11 and you’ll understand.
Here’s the thing: I’ve recognized this as God’s discipline, and that makes me feel a little better, because I know the reason God disciplines us is not to destroy us, but to make us better. But I’m also feeling more than just a little stiff-necked. I love that word combination employed in the wilderness experience texts to describe the stubbornness and unteachableness of the recently delivered Israelite people. But I don’t love it when it’s me. And here’s something I’m realizing; I know God is on my side and this is happening to me to make me more like Christ. It’s a wonderful thing to be loved by the kind of God who accepts me as I am, but loves me too much to just leave me this way. He loves me enough to hurt me so good.
Read Hebrews 12:4-11 and you’ll understand.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Jericho
Jericho was awesome tonight. I hate it that the season is almost over. It's hard to believe there have already been 20 episodes. My sons, Ben and Will, watch Jericho with me, and I gotta tell you that time spent together is becoming one of my favorite hours of the week.
It's amazing how a simple thing like nuclear holocaust can bring a father and sons together!
It's amazing how a simple thing like nuclear holocaust can bring a father and sons together!
Catching Up
I haven’t written for almost a week. There are lots of reasons for that, but the most important are these: 1) I’ve been sick as a dog (a dog with bronchitis); 2) I’ve been distracted (it’s amazing how easily we (I) can be distracted from what's really important—how did Jesus keep things in perspective? Read this from Perry Noble -- I'm going to re-read it myelf); and 3) I’ve been busy (for the life of me I don’t know how some bloggers write every day, sometimes more than once a day, and still have time for anything else in their lives!).
It’s like the old “red dot” illustration. A person holds up a piece of paper that looks like this:
The subject is asked to describe what he/she sees. The answer is invariably something like, “A red dot,” or “I see a red dot.”
The truth is the red dot in this illustration is approximately (I never claimed to be a mathematician) 3/100 of 1 per cent of the total field area. Why is it all we see is the red dot, rather than the white field?
That’s the way my life is right now. I’m seeing the red dot (the bad) and missing the white field (the good). I’ll be sending out a letter to my congregation later this week that talks about the good things happening at Connellsville Church of God. Maybe I’ll include a copy of that letter here.
Let me catch you up on some good things that have been going on around here in just the last few days:
This weekend was our “Plan B Marriage Seminar.” We could have called it “The Marriage Seminar Formerly Called Marriage Retreat.” Many of our people did not want to travel to our church’s state camp ground at Emlenton, PA, so we moved the location from Whitehall to our church’s fellowship hall, and changed the name from a retreat to a seminar, hoping to add a few more couples, which we did.
The seminar was better than any of us could have imagined. Thanks to our conference leaders Elaine and Galen Swanigan for a wonderful weekend and a job well done. If anyone would like to invite the Swanigans to lead a conference at their church, contact me and I’ll put you in touch.
While the conferees were enjoying the marriage seminar in the fellowship hall, Travis and Judy Deans were leading the rest of our congregation in worship and the Word. Thank you to Travis and Judy for a job well done; I’ve heard lots of positive comments. Before too long we’ll be inviting Judy back for a concert.
Anyway, it was a great weekend. If it weren’t for the rainy days, we’d never appreciate the sunshine; if it weren’t for our troubles, we’d never appreciate our blessings; if it weren’t for (insert your own cliché here).
God is good, and I’m anticipating many good days ahead.
It’s like the old “red dot” illustration. A person holds up a piece of paper that looks like this:
The subject is asked to describe what he/she sees. The answer is invariably something like, “A red dot,” or “I see a red dot.”The truth is the red dot in this illustration is approximately (I never claimed to be a mathematician) 3/100 of 1 per cent of the total field area. Why is it all we see is the red dot, rather than the white field?
That’s the way my life is right now. I’m seeing the red dot (the bad) and missing the white field (the good). I’ll be sending out a letter to my congregation later this week that talks about the good things happening at Connellsville Church of God. Maybe I’ll include a copy of that letter here.
Let me catch you up on some good things that have been going on around here in just the last few days:
This weekend was our “Plan B Marriage Seminar.” We could have called it “The Marriage Seminar Formerly Called Marriage Retreat.” Many of our people did not want to travel to our church’s state camp ground at Emlenton, PA, so we moved the location from Whitehall to our church’s fellowship hall, and changed the name from a retreat to a seminar, hoping to add a few more couples, which we did.
The seminar was better than any of us could have imagined. Thanks to our conference leaders Elaine and Galen Swanigan for a wonderful weekend and a job well done. If anyone would like to invite the Swanigans to lead a conference at their church, contact me and I’ll put you in touch.
While the conferees were enjoying the marriage seminar in the fellowship hall, Travis and Judy Deans were leading the rest of our congregation in worship and the Word. Thank you to Travis and Judy for a job well done; I’ve heard lots of positive comments. Before too long we’ll be inviting Judy back for a concert.
Anyway, it was a great weekend. If it weren’t for the rainy days, we’d never appreciate the sunshine; if it weren’t for our troubles, we’d never appreciate our blessings; if it weren’t for (insert your own cliché here).
God is good, and I’m anticipating many good days ahead.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
This Weekend
This is the weekend we've been waiting for! Our "Plan B Marriage Seminar" with Galen and Elaine Swanigan begins Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and runs through noon on Sunday. This will be a valuable time of spiritual and marital growth, not to mention the bonds that will be forged among seminar participants.
Don't worry; we haven't forgotten those who will not be participating in the seminar.
Travis and Judy Deans will be our guest leaders in our regular worship celebration this Sunday. Travis will be bringing God's word and Judy will be leading our congregation to the throne in worship. Travis is co-director of Teens for Christ in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. Read his thought-provoking April 2007 article at the National Network of Youth Ministries website here.
Don't look for a post from me on Friday. Friday is my day off, and I have decided I need to refrain from posting on Fridays for my spiritual and family health. When I can, I'll report on the Marriage Seminar. It's gonna be great!
Don't worry; we haven't forgotten those who will not be participating in the seminar.
Travis and Judy Deans will be our guest leaders in our regular worship celebration this Sunday. Travis will be bringing God's word and Judy will be leading our congregation to the throne in worship. Travis is co-director of Teens for Christ in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. Read his thought-provoking April 2007 article at the National Network of Youth Ministries website here.
Don't look for a post from me on Friday. Friday is my day off, and I have decided I need to refrain from posting on Fridays for my spiritual and family health. When I can, I'll report on the Marriage Seminar. It's gonna be great!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Law & Order (Part 2 of 2)
In the last part of this post, I mentioned my perception of an anti-Christian bias on the part of Law & Order’s writers and producers. I have to ask, is the general public’s perception of Christians as bad as their portrayal on TV? I can’t believe it is, but it brings up the question of the church’s function in the Kingdom of God.
The kingdom has an already but not yet nature, in that it is a present reality—alive in the hearts of Christ followers everywhere, and still it has not yet come in its fullness, and will not until its consummation at the return of Christ. What the kingdom is and will be, should be modeled by the church here and now.
Bertil Ekstrom, Executive Director of the World Evangelical Alliance, acknowledges the already but not yet nature of the kingdom and insists the kingdom could be more present if the church understood its power and behaved in a manner consistent with being its citizens. [1] When the church acts like the church, it draws souls into the kingdom. C. S. Lewis wrote: "When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world." [2] The church is a herald, a witness, a window to the kingdom.
In his book God’s Redeeming Story, Richard Willowby writes: “The only way in which the world can recognize itself to be the world and not the church is for the church’s witness to be faithful and healthy. When that witness lacks faithfulness, the body becomes unhealthy. When the body becomes unhealthy, it acts in ways that ultimately confuse the world. A confused world finds it easy to turn its eyes away from the Christ toward whom the body must ultimately point if it is to be faithful to him.” [3]
As chief witness it is the church’s task to point the world to the kingdom. The church is intended to be a living reality of what the kingdom will be like in eternity. When the church acts just like the world, bickering among its members rather than celebrating the unity we have been gifted with, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.” When the church withdraws into its protective stance to keep the outcast at arm’s length, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom like.” When the church endorses, at least by its silence, the exploitation and brutalization of oppressed peoples, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.” And when the church shows preference to the powerful and the beautiful, and represses the weak, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.”
What the world sees in the church is what the world understands to be the truth of the kingdom. Whether or not the world is drawn to desire the kingdom depends on the character and actions of the church. When the church acts as the church should act, it clearly points the world in the direction of the kingdom. When the church reaches out in love to the poor, the sick, the prisoner, and the outcast; when the church lives in obedience and stands for the truth and against injustice; when the church recognizes the equality of all Christians whether they are majority or minority, wealthy or poor, male or female, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.”
[1] Bertil Ekström, “The Kingdom of God and the Church Today,” Evangelical Review of Theology 27, no. 4 (2003), 295.
[2] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity rev. ed. (San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1952), 208.
[3] Merle D. Strege and Richard L. Willowby, God’s Redeeming Story (Anderson: Warner, 1996), 157.
The kingdom has an already but not yet nature, in that it is a present reality—alive in the hearts of Christ followers everywhere, and still it has not yet come in its fullness, and will not until its consummation at the return of Christ. What the kingdom is and will be, should be modeled by the church here and now.
Bertil Ekstrom, Executive Director of the World Evangelical Alliance, acknowledges the already but not yet nature of the kingdom and insists the kingdom could be more present if the church understood its power and behaved in a manner consistent with being its citizens. [1] When the church acts like the church, it draws souls into the kingdom. C. S. Lewis wrote: "When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world." [2] The church is a herald, a witness, a window to the kingdom.
In his book God’s Redeeming Story, Richard Willowby writes: “The only way in which the world can recognize itself to be the world and not the church is for the church’s witness to be faithful and healthy. When that witness lacks faithfulness, the body becomes unhealthy. When the body becomes unhealthy, it acts in ways that ultimately confuse the world. A confused world finds it easy to turn its eyes away from the Christ toward whom the body must ultimately point if it is to be faithful to him.” [3]
As chief witness it is the church’s task to point the world to the kingdom. The church is intended to be a living reality of what the kingdom will be like in eternity. When the church acts just like the world, bickering among its members rather than celebrating the unity we have been gifted with, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.” When the church withdraws into its protective stance to keep the outcast at arm’s length, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom like.” When the church endorses, at least by its silence, the exploitation and brutalization of oppressed peoples, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.” And when the church shows preference to the powerful and the beautiful, and represses the weak, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.”
What the world sees in the church is what the world understands to be the truth of the kingdom. Whether or not the world is drawn to desire the kingdom depends on the character and actions of the church. When the church acts as the church should act, it clearly points the world in the direction of the kingdom. When the church reaches out in love to the poor, the sick, the prisoner, and the outcast; when the church lives in obedience and stands for the truth and against injustice; when the church recognizes the equality of all Christians whether they are majority or minority, wealthy or poor, male or female, the world says, “Oh; that must be what the kingdom is like.”
[1] Bertil Ekström, “The Kingdom of God and the Church Today,” Evangelical Review of Theology 27, no. 4 (2003), 295.
[2] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity rev. ed. (San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1952), 208.
[3] Merle D. Strege and Richard L. Willowby, God’s Redeeming Story (Anderson: Warner, 1996), 157.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Virginia Tech
Our thoughts and prayers for God's peace and his presence go out to the survivors, families and friends of all involved in the Virginia Tech shootings.
Law & Order (Part 1 of 2)
DVR’s have changed the way I watch television. Janelle and I record our favorite shows throughout the week, and then watch them as we have time. One of our long-time favorites has been Law & Order. Since I’ve been battling bronchitis, I’ve been spending more time than usual in my recliner, and have taken the opportunity to clean out the DVR memory. At one time we would have watched Law & Order before anything else, but the series (and its spin-offs) must be sagging in our personal ratings because there were multiple Law & Order episodes dating back several weeks.
Anyone who has watched Law & Order over the years must have noticed its anti-Christian agenda… at least that’s the way the show comes off to me. Its stereotypical born again (they always emphasize “born again”) Christian is a gay-bashing abortion clinic protestor, who lusts for God’s judgment on fornicators, AIDS patients and anyone who believes in natural selection. Special derision is reserved for televangelists, pastors of mega-churches and those attending Christian schools.
My DVR memory included two episodes where gay-bashing preachers were engaged in on-going affairs with male prostitutes, and one where it wasn’t the pastor, but his adult son who just couldn’t repress his homosexuality any longer. In another episode, the defense centered on a father’s belief that God would somehow strike down his daughter if he didn’t kill her evolution-believing science teacher first (after all, the poor girl got an “F” on her intelligent design paper).
So my question is, do the writers of Law & Order perpetuate this false picture of Christianity because they want to tear down the church no matter what lies must be told in order to do it? Or are their perceptions of Christians genuinely that warped? Of course the scariest alternative is this, does Law & Order accurately reproduce the actions and attitudes of American Christianity? Say it ain’t so. I know those stereotypes don’t fit my Christian walk.
So I guess my question is this: Why would non-believers hold such inaccurate views of what Christianity is all about? Is it Hollywood’s fault? Or ours?
I appreciate what Perry Noble says. This is a vast oversimplification, but Perry asserts he doesn’t want the church known for its boycott of Disney, or for other things it's against, but to be known for loving and promoting Jesus. Let me add that the church must promote Jesus with their lives even more than with their words. Read this and this.
The church is a window to the kingdom. More on this in Part 2.
Anyone who has watched Law & Order over the years must have noticed its anti-Christian agenda… at least that’s the way the show comes off to me. Its stereotypical born again (they always emphasize “born again”) Christian is a gay-bashing abortion clinic protestor, who lusts for God’s judgment on fornicators, AIDS patients and anyone who believes in natural selection. Special derision is reserved for televangelists, pastors of mega-churches and those attending Christian schools.
My DVR memory included two episodes where gay-bashing preachers were engaged in on-going affairs with male prostitutes, and one where it wasn’t the pastor, but his adult son who just couldn’t repress his homosexuality any longer. In another episode, the defense centered on a father’s belief that God would somehow strike down his daughter if he didn’t kill her evolution-believing science teacher first (after all, the poor girl got an “F” on her intelligent design paper).
So my question is, do the writers of Law & Order perpetuate this false picture of Christianity because they want to tear down the church no matter what lies must be told in order to do it? Or are their perceptions of Christians genuinely that warped? Of course the scariest alternative is this, does Law & Order accurately reproduce the actions and attitudes of American Christianity? Say it ain’t so. I know those stereotypes don’t fit my Christian walk.
So I guess my question is this: Why would non-believers hold such inaccurate views of what Christianity is all about? Is it Hollywood’s fault? Or ours?
I appreciate what Perry Noble says. This is a vast oversimplification, but Perry asserts he doesn’t want the church known for its boycott of Disney, or for other things it's against, but to be known for loving and promoting Jesus. Let me add that the church must promote Jesus with their lives even more than with their words. Read this and this.
The church is a window to the kingdom. More on this in Part 2.
Monday, April 16, 2007
I Love this Guy!
My man Steven Furtick has done it again, and confirmed why he's my favorite blogger. Steven is only 27 and pastors a great church in Charlotte, NC called Elevation Church. Read this.
The Flim Phlegm Man
I wrote in my last post, “Our movement has a long history of preachers being empowered for service beyond their own abilities. I expect tomorrow to be no different for me.” Daniel Warner, the leader of a group of Christians who rejected denominationalism to be part of "God's church," was not physically strong, perhaps due to poor living conditions during his time serving in the Civil War. His diary reveals that in the hours before a preaching opportunity he was often on his knees asking for strength to meet the challenge, and God always came through.
I’ve got bronchitis. Since moving back to Pennsylvania in 2005 I’ve been having a little trouble managing my seasonal allergies. I just got used to the seasons in Georgia; now I’ve got to relearn Pennsylvania allergy seasons. If I control my allergies I don’t have to worry about bronchitis, but this spring I got caught. I spent Saturday night in my recliner because I was coughing so much. That’s two nights in a row I’ve gotten very little sleep. It took all the energy I had Sunday morning to get showered and ready for church. By 8:00 a.m. I was wishing I’d arranged for someone else to speak, but by then it was too late.
I made it through worship rehearsal (even though I couldn’t sing I could still play keyboard), then retired to my office until time for church. Worship went fine and before long it was time for me to preach. During that final solo before my teaching I felt the urge to cough. I grabbed a bottle of water and took the platform. While I was teaching I felt strong, never had the faintest urge to cough, and never even took the cap off the bottle.
Then in the afternoon, within 15 minutes of arriving home I was coughing my head off, like the floodgates of phlegm had been opened… now there’s a visual. Within an hour I’d coughed my way into a severe headache. I think I coughed so hard I gave myself a concussion!
There is no way I could have functioned yesterday morning without God’s intervention. I was absolutely miserable both before and after church. I give testimony that my God strengthened me and allowed me to teach (and feel pretty good while I did). Now that’s what I’m talking about!
After church a young lady approached me and said, "This morning you talked about how we really do need each other. Do you remember you told me that same thing over a year ago when I started worshiping here? I am so glad I started coming to church. This church is my family." When she told me she was glad I came to Connellsville she made my whole month!
I'm glad I didn't miss it.
I’ve got bronchitis. Since moving back to Pennsylvania in 2005 I’ve been having a little trouble managing my seasonal allergies. I just got used to the seasons in Georgia; now I’ve got to relearn Pennsylvania allergy seasons. If I control my allergies I don’t have to worry about bronchitis, but this spring I got caught. I spent Saturday night in my recliner because I was coughing so much. That’s two nights in a row I’ve gotten very little sleep. It took all the energy I had Sunday morning to get showered and ready for church. By 8:00 a.m. I was wishing I’d arranged for someone else to speak, but by then it was too late.
I made it through worship rehearsal (even though I couldn’t sing I could still play keyboard), then retired to my office until time for church. Worship went fine and before long it was time for me to preach. During that final solo before my teaching I felt the urge to cough. I grabbed a bottle of water and took the platform. While I was teaching I felt strong, never had the faintest urge to cough, and never even took the cap off the bottle.
Then in the afternoon, within 15 minutes of arriving home I was coughing my head off, like the floodgates of phlegm had been opened… now there’s a visual. Within an hour I’d coughed my way into a severe headache. I think I coughed so hard I gave myself a concussion!
There is no way I could have functioned yesterday morning without God’s intervention. I was absolutely miserable both before and after church. I give testimony that my God strengthened me and allowed me to teach (and feel pretty good while I did). Now that’s what I’m talking about!
After church a young lady approached me and said, "This morning you talked about how we really do need each other. Do you remember you told me that same thing over a year ago when I started worshiping here? I am so glad I started coming to church. This church is my family." When she told me she was glad I came to Connellsville she made my whole month!
I'm glad I didn't miss it.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Antibiotics and Robitussin
I had my first cough Thursday at a noontime pastors' prayer gathering and it's been all down hill from there. My allergies turned into bronchitis. I got to my doctor Friday afternoon and am working through a regimen of antibiotics and cough syrup, but I'm really just focusing on getting ready for Sunday.
I'm trusting God for the strength and the voice to be able to teach. Our movement has a long history of preachers being empowered for service beyond their own abilities. I expect tomorrow to be no different for me.
You can expect another post either tomorrow or Monday. How can you stand the anticipation?
I'm trusting God for the strength and the voice to be able to teach. Our movement has a long history of preachers being empowered for service beyond their own abilities. I expect tomorrow to be no different for me.
You can expect another post either tomorrow or Monday. How can you stand the anticipation?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
You Gotta Read This
I was perusing some new posts from some of the bloggers I read, and came across this one from Perry Noble that is a must read. I've been pastoring for over 20 years and I still sometimes find myself playing to the wrong audience. Thanks, Perry, for your ministry that stretches beyond your own church walls.
While I'm at it, props to one of my oldest and best friends, Brian Daniels, who was my very first introduction to blogging a couple years ago. He's been on hiatus for awhile, but he's back. Welcome back to the blogosphere, Brian. Remind me to tell you about the time I buttoneered Brian's sheets to his bed when we were in college.
While I'm at it, props to one of my oldest and best friends, Brian Daniels, who was my very first introduction to blogging a couple years ago. He's been on hiatus for awhile, but he's back. Welcome back to the blogosphere, Brian. Remind me to tell you about the time I buttoneered Brian's sheets to his bed when we were in college.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Sunday - The Amazing Race
This weekend I’ll be sharing from some of Paul’s writings that compare the Christian life to a race. Now when I was in school I always dreaded that season of the year when gym class focused on track and field events. When it came time for the 50 or 100-yard dash, I always felt like I was set on slow motion. In the 70s TV action show, “Six Million Dollar Man,” slow motion emphasized Steve Austin’s super speed; with me it just makes me look even slower, if that’s possible. It takes me two hours to watch 60 Minutes; I mean who are we kidding?
I only ever won one race in my life, and that was a drag race when I was 16. I honked at a friend of mine who was just ahead of me as we drove through our neighborhood. There was no other traffic so he backed up next to me to talk. After exchanging pleasantries, I challenged him to a friendly drag race for one reason and one reason only. I knew he was still in reverse. We hit the gas and we both sprayed gravel as we took off. The only problem was he went in the wrong direction, and I got my single race victory of all time. After that, me and my grandma's powder blue 1970 AMC Hornet were legendary.
The Christian life is one race in which I don’t mind taking part. Sunday, bring your Barracuda with its 4-barrel carburetor and Hurst shifter and we'll talk more. Oh yeah, don’t forget your pink slip!
I only ever won one race in my life, and that was a drag race when I was 16. I honked at a friend of mine who was just ahead of me as we drove through our neighborhood. There was no other traffic so he backed up next to me to talk. After exchanging pleasantries, I challenged him to a friendly drag race for one reason and one reason only. I knew he was still in reverse. We hit the gas and we both sprayed gravel as we took off. The only problem was he went in the wrong direction, and I got my single race victory of all time. After that, me and my grandma's powder blue 1970 AMC Hornet were legendary.
The Christian life is one race in which I don’t mind taking part. Sunday, bring your Barracuda with its 4-barrel carburetor and Hurst shifter and we'll talk more. Oh yeah, don’t forget your pink slip!
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