i think backwards. Rather than set a course and take the steps A-B-C, i like to work backward in a plan from C-B-A. When you see one of the great pyramids or a mountain, your eye is drawn upward to the pinnacle or peak. You instinctively want to reach the top and see the world from that point of view. But to reach the top, you have to start at the base – it’s bigger, less glamorous, not much of view—it’s where the structure meets the dirt. But without that base, there’s no peak.
So it is with Micah 6:8 (He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.)– many want to lead the life of great testimonies of acting justly. But that’s at the peak of a life that begins with walking humbly with your God.
In our modern language for the Christian experience, we think that we might be the originators of the idea of our relationship with God being likened to a walk. Truth is, we’re not the originators of much at all (as Solomon said, “there’s nothing new under the sun”). God is the originator of the term – He is the one who came to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8). Genesis 17:1 says, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.” Moses consistently used the term speaking to the Israelites in the Pentateuch, especially in Deuteronomy (such as 10:12-13, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”) The prophet Micah is simply borrowing language that was well understood for the Jewish people.
Walking humbly with your God is not real glamorous – it’s not supposed to be. It’s the relationship in the secret place that Jesus taught in Matthew 6:1-18. This humble walk can lead you to great things for the Kingdom, but unless you’re walking on that road, the great things won’t magically appear.
We use the word “pray” to summarize this humble walk. i believe that if our relationship with God is likened to a walk, then prayer is the road. Paul encouraged one young church to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If you think of prayer as simply the amount of time on your knees, then this is troublesome. Prayer is not just our monologue to God, but a dialogue with the Divine – more than just praises and requests, but times of listening and waiting. Through prayer, we communicate with our Heavenly Father—and He communicates with us. In prayer, we learn to recognize His voice – then we can follow-up on promptings in what may be divine appointments. Prayer enables a life of day to day obedience to His commands, and moment to moment faithfulness to His prompting.
According to this word-picture then, a life with God is humbly walked along a path of prayer. But without prayer, you may be sitting on the park bench. Meanwhile, God is there – down the path -- beckoning you to join Him. Get off the bench, and take a step toward him in prayer. He’ll race to meet you and lead you to see what’s just beyond the horizon.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Floundering Under Sails
“serve, love, pray” are the summary words for what i feel to be the ministry strategy God has given for our church. Much has been written regarding purpose and vision, and those things have caught on well in churches and individual lives. Many of our churches in America have well thought and prepared purpose (mission) statements hung by their doors or on their newsletters, along with catchy vision statements that almost help give a particular church their identifying brand in our communities. You may know your purpose statement and vision statement – but either through friends, signs, or mailings, you know the vision statements of other churches as well.
i think that all of this emphasis is a good – most statement have helped leadership in churches wrestle with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and have, if only in principle, re-focused churches off of a member-serving motives onto evangelistic motives. Purpose statements help us define the reality we’d like to create – Vision statements help us keep the purpose in our minds. But what gets it done?
For example, “Touching the World for Christ,” was a vision statement the church i pastor adopted years ago. There doesn’t seem to be an accompanying purpose/mission statement so we’ve simply said that our purpose is “to Glorify God.” God is glorified through changed lives – that happens when we touch the world for Christ. But how do we do that? What constitutes a touch from Christ?
That’s where your strategy comes in – without a strategy (and accompanying goals) visions and purpose statements are good intentions. I use the simile of a church as a crew of a boat (any of the vehicles through which the crew seeks to rescue the lost and perishing such as worship services, door-to-door evangelism, etc.). Thus the boat is a rescue boat, not a cruise ship. The purpose/mission of the crew is to arrive at our destination with as many souls as possible. The boat is powered and directed through the wind (spirit’s leading) to navigate the current (society—not an original comparison, but one that works). The vision is the sail that we lift up to catch the Spirit’s leading (that’s why vision statements should be flexible). But without a strong mast (ministry strategy) to hold up the sail, most crews find them selves floundering under large sails imploring the wind to propel them.
i’m no sailor (i don’t even really like the water that much) in fact, it would be interesting to know what a real sailor thinks of that simile. But doesn’t that seem to describe the state of most churches? We’ve got big dreams and big visions (and well we should because we serve a even bigger God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” according to Ephesians 3:20). But it seems like the results or even the activity fails to measure up to our good intentions.
Masts are fairly simple – they kind of look like a cross when you think of it. As a result, I think that your ministry strategies should also be simple, and should resemble the life that Jesus lived and gave up for us. A good strategy will distribute His power throughout the whole “boat”.
The strategy we adopted is found in the scripture that i felt impressed upon me from the time that i first received the call from the church i pastor, found in Micah 6:8. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We’ve summarized the end of that verse with the words, “serve, love, pray.” They’re simple statements – they reflect the life of Christ – and everyone can apply them to their daily lives.
i believe that if the church will live out the strategy, the visions will become a reality, and fulfill the purposes God has laid on our hearts. In our case, if we will serve, love, and pray (our strategy)--we will indeed “touch the world for Christ” (our vision) and “God will be glorified” through every changed life (our purpose).
i think that all of this emphasis is a good – most statement have helped leadership in churches wrestle with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and have, if only in principle, re-focused churches off of a member-serving motives onto evangelistic motives. Purpose statements help us define the reality we’d like to create – Vision statements help us keep the purpose in our minds. But what gets it done?
For example, “Touching the World for Christ,” was a vision statement the church i pastor adopted years ago. There doesn’t seem to be an accompanying purpose/mission statement so we’ve simply said that our purpose is “to Glorify God.” God is glorified through changed lives – that happens when we touch the world for Christ. But how do we do that? What constitutes a touch from Christ?
That’s where your strategy comes in – without a strategy (and accompanying goals) visions and purpose statements are good intentions. I use the simile of a church as a crew of a boat (any of the vehicles through which the crew seeks to rescue the lost and perishing such as worship services, door-to-door evangelism, etc.). Thus the boat is a rescue boat, not a cruise ship. The purpose/mission of the crew is to arrive at our destination with as many souls as possible. The boat is powered and directed through the wind (spirit’s leading) to navigate the current (society—not an original comparison, but one that works). The vision is the sail that we lift up to catch the Spirit’s leading (that’s why vision statements should be flexible). But without a strong mast (ministry strategy) to hold up the sail, most crews find them selves floundering under large sails imploring the wind to propel them.
i’m no sailor (i don’t even really like the water that much) in fact, it would be interesting to know what a real sailor thinks of that simile. But doesn’t that seem to describe the state of most churches? We’ve got big dreams and big visions (and well we should because we serve a even bigger God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” according to Ephesians 3:20). But it seems like the results or even the activity fails to measure up to our good intentions.
Masts are fairly simple – they kind of look like a cross when you think of it. As a result, I think that your ministry strategies should also be simple, and should resemble the life that Jesus lived and gave up for us. A good strategy will distribute His power throughout the whole “boat”.
The strategy we adopted is found in the scripture that i felt impressed upon me from the time that i first received the call from the church i pastor, found in Micah 6:8. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We’ve summarized the end of that verse with the words, “serve, love, pray.” They’re simple statements – they reflect the life of Christ – and everyone can apply them to their daily lives.
i believe that if the church will live out the strategy, the visions will become a reality, and fulfill the purposes God has laid on our hearts. In our case, if we will serve, love, and pray (our strategy)--we will indeed “touch the world for Christ” (our vision) and “God will be glorified” through every changed life (our purpose).
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
safe may not be safe
i minister in a church surrounded by safe churches. i recounted Steve’s story on 1/25 – and as some of our church has followed up their concern for him, i heard, “you shouldn’t have him in your house because you have small children.” (Again, this is not a habit of mine, but a prompting of the Lord that my wife and i both felt led to pursue). But the larger issue is we don’t want our children growing up with this safe, stain-glassed, sheltered illusion. While we enjoy the blessings of God, and we are blessed, there’s a world in pain, addiction, confusion, and bitterness. i want our children confronted by the hurting in the midst of their happiness that they also may learn first hand what it means to reach out a hand, share, and sacrifice for those with less.
i have become convinced by the lives and ministries of those in my cloud and in my own journey that this safe church stuff was not in the divine plan.
In psalm 23 the shepherd is leading (he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul) and then all of a sudden, you (the sheep) find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death -- how'd you get there? He's leading (I will fear no evil for YOU ARE WITH ME, your rod and your staff comfort me). You find yourselves in the presence of your enemies – why? – because that's where He's gonna feed us.
In Matthew 10:38-39, one of many instances in the Gospels, Jesus teaches the disciples/apostles, “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Have you seen the Passion of the Christ? Even if that were exaggerated by 99% (and I don’t think it is), carrying a cross doesn’t look safe.
In Romans 8:15-17 Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” How is it that we skip that last part, or are blinded to it – the part that says, “if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”? Later, Paul writes in v.31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” comforting, right? But read v.32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Wait a minute, didn’t v.15 and v.17 just say that we’re now sons? Could it be that we’re now available to be of such service to see others come to faith? Obviously, not in the saving of sins, for only Christ can do that, but in the service of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
It seems Paul suffered as such, as did the other Apostles, and the early church. Then there’s us…we, um…well, we, uh…
Will we stammer at the throne? Will we have an answer when the King looks for the result of the talents entrusted to us? Will we be among the first or second group to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” (see Matthew 25:31-46).
i wrestle with these questions every day,
with every person i meet,
every message i prepare,
in every prayer i say for or with my wife and kids.
We need to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25) – how, who, what has inspired you to live out faith in an unsafe world?
i have become convinced by the lives and ministries of those in my cloud and in my own journey that this safe church stuff was not in the divine plan.
In psalm 23 the shepherd is leading (he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul) and then all of a sudden, you (the sheep) find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death -- how'd you get there? He's leading (I will fear no evil for YOU ARE WITH ME, your rod and your staff comfort me). You find yourselves in the presence of your enemies – why? – because that's where He's gonna feed us.
In Matthew 10:38-39, one of many instances in the Gospels, Jesus teaches the disciples/apostles, “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Have you seen the Passion of the Christ? Even if that were exaggerated by 99% (and I don’t think it is), carrying a cross doesn’t look safe.
In Romans 8:15-17 Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” How is it that we skip that last part, or are blinded to it – the part that says, “if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”? Later, Paul writes in v.31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” comforting, right? But read v.32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Wait a minute, didn’t v.15 and v.17 just say that we’re now sons? Could it be that we’re now available to be of such service to see others come to faith? Obviously, not in the saving of sins, for only Christ can do that, but in the service of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
It seems Paul suffered as such, as did the other Apostles, and the early church. Then there’s us…we, um…well, we, uh…
Will we stammer at the throne? Will we have an answer when the King looks for the result of the talents entrusted to us? Will we be among the first or second group to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” (see Matthew 25:31-46).
i wrestle with these questions every day,
with every person i meet,
every message i prepare,
in every prayer i say for or with my wife and kids.
We need to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25) – how, who, what has inspired you to live out faith in an unsafe world?
a few of my clouds
i grew up in the church, but i’m often dismayed when i compare the church of the New Testament with the church in America.
As i mentioned in my introduction blog (1/25), i not only grew up in the church, but am a part of generations of pastors. My grandparents, Ed and Meriam, were missionaries to Guyana, South America during troubling times of that country’s history. Their faith and the influence of others like them have shaped a set of values and a passion inside of me that seems contrary to the church in America.
After my dad’s rededication to the Lord, he was mentored and discipled back into his calling by my youth pastor at the time, Kurt Salierno. Kurt, who has spent most of his life on the streets ministering to the homeless, is currently founder and pastor of Church on the Street in Atlanta, GA – www.churchonthestreet.com). Likewise, my father discipled me and Kurt mentored me in ministry. His testimonies and life of sacrifice for the least of these are large part of my own faith foundation.
My father, William, once he rededicated his life to the Lord and following a call to ministry he originally received in his teens, followed the Lord’s prompting to Belize, Central America. He did not know anyone there, he just felt the Spirit telling him to go and he bought a ticket and went. He came back with information gathered and at our church movement’s next annual convention, presented the vision for starting a mission there. All he had was information – but another man heard the vision and took dad out to dinner. While at the dinner, the man asked questions and then told the story of following the Lord’s prompting to Belize himself. While he was in Belize, the Lord prompted him to buy 200 acres – he had no reason to buy it, just buy it. Well he did, and when he heard the vision from my dad, he said he felt the Lord prompting him to turn over the land for the mission. While dad was seeing and living this amazing faith story, I heard his parishioners at the time telling him, “the problem with your ministry are all these new people.”
My faith found depth under the creative preaching and vision casting of my pastor in college (Jim Lyon, who’s now also the speaker for our movements international radio program, viewpoint: www.cbhviewpoint.org). He refused to lead the church according to the norms of church ministry, but into newer and costlier ideas such as the seeker models (just developing at the time), developing a shelter for battered women and children, and more. His patience and wisdom in informal appointments were as valuable to me as my formal training in classes.
In recent years, the messages and writings of Erwin Raphael McManus have re-stoked these fires of risk, sacrifice, faith, and vision. I highly recommend all three of his books and their church’s website, www.mosaic.org
The church in America seems contrary to these leaders that have been a part of my cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). These taught me to be proactive, seeking and saving the Lost. I’ve been challenging our church lately with the question, “Christ came to seek and save the lost—who are you seeking?” It seems the church in America has shrunk back behind its walls and we've been giving the world away to the enemy --like passengers on a cruise ship shaking their heads at souls dying in the sea while saying, "Can't they see how much better life would be if they would just get on board?"
As i mentioned in my introduction blog (1/25), i not only grew up in the church, but am a part of generations of pastors. My grandparents, Ed and Meriam, were missionaries to Guyana, South America during troubling times of that country’s history. Their faith and the influence of others like them have shaped a set of values and a passion inside of me that seems contrary to the church in America.
After my dad’s rededication to the Lord, he was mentored and discipled back into his calling by my youth pastor at the time, Kurt Salierno. Kurt, who has spent most of his life on the streets ministering to the homeless, is currently founder and pastor of Church on the Street in Atlanta, GA – www.churchonthestreet.com). Likewise, my father discipled me and Kurt mentored me in ministry. His testimonies and life of sacrifice for the least of these are large part of my own faith foundation.
My father, William, once he rededicated his life to the Lord and following a call to ministry he originally received in his teens, followed the Lord’s prompting to Belize, Central America. He did not know anyone there, he just felt the Spirit telling him to go and he bought a ticket and went. He came back with information gathered and at our church movement’s next annual convention, presented the vision for starting a mission there. All he had was information – but another man heard the vision and took dad out to dinner. While at the dinner, the man asked questions and then told the story of following the Lord’s prompting to Belize himself. While he was in Belize, the Lord prompted him to buy 200 acres – he had no reason to buy it, just buy it. Well he did, and when he heard the vision from my dad, he said he felt the Lord prompting him to turn over the land for the mission. While dad was seeing and living this amazing faith story, I heard his parishioners at the time telling him, “the problem with your ministry are all these new people.”
My faith found depth under the creative preaching and vision casting of my pastor in college (Jim Lyon, who’s now also the speaker for our movements international radio program, viewpoint: www.cbhviewpoint.org). He refused to lead the church according to the norms of church ministry, but into newer and costlier ideas such as the seeker models (just developing at the time), developing a shelter for battered women and children, and more. His patience and wisdom in informal appointments were as valuable to me as my formal training in classes.
In recent years, the messages and writings of Erwin Raphael McManus have re-stoked these fires of risk, sacrifice, faith, and vision. I highly recommend all three of his books and their church’s website, www.mosaic.org
The church in America seems contrary to these leaders that have been a part of my cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). These taught me to be proactive, seeking and saving the Lost. I’ve been challenging our church lately with the question, “Christ came to seek and save the lost—who are you seeking?” It seems the church in America has shrunk back behind its walls and we've been giving the world away to the enemy --like passengers on a cruise ship shaking their heads at souls dying in the sea while saying, "Can't they see how much better life would be if they would just get on board?"
Monday, January 24, 2005
a guy named steve...
Steve came to our church two weeks ago tomorrow night looking for help. Steve is new to the streets having left a neighboring town in search for a job here. He came while i was struggling with board members (a story I told last week) so our Treasurer encouraged him to come and talk with me the next morning. Steve came in and had a cup of coffee where he shared the same struggles as others before -- no address, no help. He had filled out a job application that morning but couldn't leave a contact address or phone number and was just going to keep calling in. i told him to feel free to use our church's address and phone number and my name as a contact for the applications. Then he could call in during the morning or evenings and find out whether or not there were any messages. And he did that. We helped him as much as we could to get a nights sleep somewhere and get cleaned up so he could keep job hunting. The job hunting continues, and he continues to check in.
In the last week, we've had our coldest weather of the year (lows in the teens to 20's and highs only in the 30s). At first he asked for a blanket, and we gave him one, but also offered our home (we haven't done that before) but have been confident in our growing relationship with him. So he's stayed for a few nights with us and shared a few meals. We've gotten to know him a little better and learned that he's been having some physical problems in the last year. With no stable employment or insurance, he's not been able to find out a lot of what's going wrong with him. With no permanent address, the free clinic won't help him. He's been coming to church, reading a little Gospel of John i gave him, participating in prayer meetings, and having conversations with me in my office. Yesterday, during our first worship service, he lets out this strange yawn from the back of the sanctuary after I begin the message. i was a little surprised because Steve had been nothing but respectful during our times together, but since i'm a little used to weird things in our services, i just kept going on. Until a few people moved toward him, and Keli comes up to me and says, "Steve's having a seizure". i pray, the congregation starts praying out loud, and then as they continue to pray, i'm back there on the floor with him and a few others trying to help him as he comes to. Medics and Rescue teams arrive as he's beginning to come to and are able to get enough information from us to take him to the hospital. (After church, we picked up Steve to come home with us where he slept all day, woke up and went to prayer meeting, and then came home and slept hard all night--this morning, he's out looking for a job to help pay for his prescriptions--we'll help with what he doesn't come up with)
The message yesterday, in a nutshell, was supposed to be from Mark 4:35- where Jesus calms the storm and says to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you have any faith?" We had a unison Scripture reading with selah and spontaneous testimonies during the worship service from Psalm 46. After Steve was carried away and we had sung a spirit-inspired song, i re-read that Psalm and asked for new comments and feeling in light of what we had just witnessed with Steve. One of our young men shared some thoughts and that "fear was an illusion" that we had to overcome to arrive at a place of peace. i corrected the young man that fear was not an illusion, but very real -- we were all still shaking a little bit from the fear we had just experienced. i talked some more and linked it briefly to the message originally planned (I guess God thought my illustrations were a little weak) -- the disciples experienced a very real fear (drowning) and the disciples expressed faith in going to Jesus to help them in the storm. But their fear of drowning was greater and restricting their faith -- what Jesus did in calming the storm terrified them, or caused them to fear a greater fear, that is the fear of the Lord. When infused by the power of the Holy Spirit, the fear of the Lord releases and reinforces faith -- it was a fear of the Lord that enabled the church to grow in number and boldly share the Good News as Acts 9:31 records, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord."
Fear is natural, fear of the Lord is supernatural. Fear of the Lord desires not to be caught in His presence empty-hearted or empty-handed--this works with our faith to release the believer and the church to forcefully advance His Kingdom. Remember Paul's words to Timothy were, "we have not received a spirit that makes a slave again to fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline" (2 Tim 1:7). The disciples in Mark 4:41received this new perspective when they considered, "Who is this?" Likewise, the writer of Hebrews encourages the church in the midst of persecution with these words, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (12:2-3)
In the last week, we've had our coldest weather of the year (lows in the teens to 20's and highs only in the 30s). At first he asked for a blanket, and we gave him one, but also offered our home (we haven't done that before) but have been confident in our growing relationship with him. So he's stayed for a few nights with us and shared a few meals. We've gotten to know him a little better and learned that he's been having some physical problems in the last year. With no stable employment or insurance, he's not been able to find out a lot of what's going wrong with him. With no permanent address, the free clinic won't help him. He's been coming to church, reading a little Gospel of John i gave him, participating in prayer meetings, and having conversations with me in my office. Yesterday, during our first worship service, he lets out this strange yawn from the back of the sanctuary after I begin the message. i was a little surprised because Steve had been nothing but respectful during our times together, but since i'm a little used to weird things in our services, i just kept going on. Until a few people moved toward him, and Keli comes up to me and says, "Steve's having a seizure". i pray, the congregation starts praying out loud, and then as they continue to pray, i'm back there on the floor with him and a few others trying to help him as he comes to. Medics and Rescue teams arrive as he's beginning to come to and are able to get enough information from us to take him to the hospital. (After church, we picked up Steve to come home with us where he slept all day, woke up and went to prayer meeting, and then came home and slept hard all night--this morning, he's out looking for a job to help pay for his prescriptions--we'll help with what he doesn't come up with)
The message yesterday, in a nutshell, was supposed to be from Mark 4:35- where Jesus calms the storm and says to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you have any faith?" We had a unison Scripture reading with selah and spontaneous testimonies during the worship service from Psalm 46. After Steve was carried away and we had sung a spirit-inspired song, i re-read that Psalm and asked for new comments and feeling in light of what we had just witnessed with Steve. One of our young men shared some thoughts and that "fear was an illusion" that we had to overcome to arrive at a place of peace. i corrected the young man that fear was not an illusion, but very real -- we were all still shaking a little bit from the fear we had just experienced. i talked some more and linked it briefly to the message originally planned (I guess God thought my illustrations were a little weak) -- the disciples experienced a very real fear (drowning) and the disciples expressed faith in going to Jesus to help them in the storm. But their fear of drowning was greater and restricting their faith -- what Jesus did in calming the storm terrified them, or caused them to fear a greater fear, that is the fear of the Lord. When infused by the power of the Holy Spirit, the fear of the Lord releases and reinforces faith -- it was a fear of the Lord that enabled the church to grow in number and boldly share the Good News as Acts 9:31 records, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord."
Fear is natural, fear of the Lord is supernatural. Fear of the Lord desires not to be caught in His presence empty-hearted or empty-handed--this works with our faith to release the believer and the church to forcefully advance His Kingdom. Remember Paul's words to Timothy were, "we have not received a spirit that makes a slave again to fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline" (2 Tim 1:7). The disciples in Mark 4:41received this new perspective when they considered, "Who is this?" Likewise, the writer of Hebrews encourages the church in the midst of persecution with these words, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (12:2-3)
an introduction
i'm sure that most of those who read this site are here because you know me and have been reading my e-mails or hearing my testimonies of my faith journey in local churches.
If any of you stumble on to this site and are compelled to stay, you will be confused as to who i am, what i'm talking about, and why--so here's a brief introduction. My name is Ken, and i'm a 30 something pastor of a church that was built in a small, Alabama (U.S.) town in 1918. i've been the pastor here for a year and half, and have served in ministries since i was 17. My family has served on faith, faithfully throughout the US and on the mission field for generations--i'm a third/fourth generation pastor (not sure if my great-grandfather was actually an ordained pastor or just served in ministry).
My wife grew up in Detroit in a pastors family who were passionate about servig the needs of the city. i grew up on a farm in Indiana but also have been called to serve those on the streets and with less, but i am specifically called and led to lead the church out of being the sterile, separated, societal institution into being the passionate, sacrificial, joyful mission it was founded to be. Changing decades of societal and religious norms is not for the thin-skinned or faint of heart. Please don't think me arrogant, for i am undeserving of association with the heroes of faith, but i liken it to the prophetic callings that led Biblical prophets to be less than popular in the physical realm, but favorites among our spiritual heroes. When the Lord called Isaiah (6:9), the Lord said, "Go and tell this people: `Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving'"; and the Lord's call to Ezekiel (2:3-8) is recorded as, "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
So, you're invited to eavesdrop into my journey--i may write a prayer, a testimony, a frustration, a scripture, someone's biography, questions, or even a recent sermon. Your own thoughts, questions, testimonies, wisdom, correction, or rebukes are welcome.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him by serving others.
If any of you stumble on to this site and are compelled to stay, you will be confused as to who i am, what i'm talking about, and why--so here's a brief introduction. My name is Ken, and i'm a 30 something pastor of a church that was built in a small, Alabama (U.S.) town in 1918. i've been the pastor here for a year and half, and have served in ministries since i was 17. My family has served on faith, faithfully throughout the US and on the mission field for generations--i'm a third/fourth generation pastor (not sure if my great-grandfather was actually an ordained pastor or just served in ministry).
My wife grew up in Detroit in a pastors family who were passionate about servig the needs of the city. i grew up on a farm in Indiana but also have been called to serve those on the streets and with less, but i am specifically called and led to lead the church out of being the sterile, separated, societal institution into being the passionate, sacrificial, joyful mission it was founded to be. Changing decades of societal and religious norms is not for the thin-skinned or faint of heart. Please don't think me arrogant, for i am undeserving of association with the heroes of faith, but i liken it to the prophetic callings that led Biblical prophets to be less than popular in the physical realm, but favorites among our spiritual heroes. When the Lord called Isaiah (6:9), the Lord said, "Go and tell this people: `Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving'"; and the Lord's call to Ezekiel (2:3-8) is recorded as, "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
So, you're invited to eavesdrop into my journey--i may write a prayer, a testimony, a frustration, a scripture, someone's biography, questions, or even a recent sermon. Your own thoughts, questions, testimonies, wisdom, correction, or rebukes are welcome.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him by serving others.
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