A Passion For?

How does one define passion? As intense, driving feeling or conviction? Yeah, that’s part of it…but it seems there must be more. Does not the object of our passion need something to legitimize the passion? Can one be passionate about anything? I don’t think so, but I am sure some would argue with me. Regardless, Mike Rayson, a man who I consider a friend, provided the music for a recent worship service I attended and he exuded passion. It wasn’t his vocal or musical gifts, though they were certainly present, it was his passion for sharing the Gospel with others that was evident to all…evident to the point of a tearful congregation and a standing ovation. I believe Mike could master any style of music, if he chose to do so, but I suspect his performance would lack passion. Music is his gift, but sharing the Gospel is his passion, By the way, the Holy Spirit was present that evening and its anointing was on Mike as well as the preacher, but it was Mike’s passion that conveyed that anointing to everyone in attendance. So what about you? What is it you have passion for? How does God use you and your gifts to relate to others passionately? Or is it possible to journey thru life without passion?

The Purpose of the Gospel

Wow, what a day Thursday was! It was filled with dynamic worship, powerful prayer meetings, and I just came from a worship celebration with Maxie Dunham preaching. Maxie is an author and former president of Asbury Theological Seminary, and one of the most respected voices of the confessing movement within the United Methodist Church. In what can only be called a powerful presentation, Dunham reminded us that the purpose of the Gospel was not only to get us into the Kingdom, but to also get the Kingdom into us. That is to say, once we encounter the risen Christ and place our faith in Jesus (salvation), we will be transformed (sanctification). We will be different people. It may not happen immediately, but it could. We will most likely look the same, but we'll appear different to others. We will think differently; we will act differently. God longs for us to be saved, but once we’re saved, God longs for us to be made holy. And once on the road to perfection we become bold witnesses of the Risen Lord. Why? Because the Spirit of the Living God now lives in us, and with the help of the Spirit our purpose is not to survive, but to thrive as witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Practice Makes Really Good!

The theme at this year’s Congress on Evangelism is the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.” I spent yesterday in dynamic worship celebrations, attending workshops and lectures which focused on the first two of the five practices: Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship. In each of these workshops, the main points were nearly identical…the church must strive for excellence (Makes sense, Christ gave his all for us, should we give any less for him?) if we are to succeed and we must practice if we are to succeed. Bishop Schnase even pointed out rationale for our practice. His illustration was that little league ball players practice the basics constantly: throwing, hitting, running, catching fly balls…then he referenced professional major league ball players who are at the top of their game and make millions of dollars, they practice constantly by throwing, hitting, running, catching fly balls. Some things we never get so good at that we don’t need to refine our methods. It’s the same for churches and the practices of hospitality, worship, faith development, mission and generosity. We may be good at one, or even a few, but we should never think we’re good enough that we don’t need to hone our talents. After all, as John Wesley proclaimed, we are on the road to perfection; we have not yet arrived.

The Brave Hearted

Yesterday as I drove from the cold and snow in Springfield, IL thru fog and rain to Nashville, TN (quite a drive for an out of practice ex-truck driver) I was blessed. With all that windshield time, I was able to listen to several sermons and radio stations. One program I listened to sparked my thoughts…it was a radio program interviewing the author of a book titled “The Brave-Hearted Gospel.” I know nothing about the book and I missed the interview, but I recalled from the movie “Brave Heart” (with Mel Gibson), that the brave-hearted person is one who believes in something so strongly they would give their life for the cause. So, what is it you believe in so much that you would give your life for the cause: anything? For your children or your grandchildren? What about for your faith? Some would be inclined to say they would give their life for their faith, never believing it would come to that. I say that because if you would truly give your life for your faith, it seems to me you would jump at the chance to share your faith with others. Almost daily I see people bragging...on their kids, favorite teams, favorite stores, even favorite barber/hairdresser…but too many fall silent when the opportunity to brag on their Savior presents itself. What about you? God is still looking for those with brave hearts.

Got Abundant Life?

“We always ask for less than we should and often think God is not willing to give us what we ask for. We don’t ask right away. We don’t understand that what we pray about is more important than we can understand. We think small, but the Lord is great and powerful. He expects us to ask for great things. He wants to give them to us to demonstrate his almighty power.” That quote is brutally accurate. While it is impossible for us to think exactly as God thinks (although we can get a good idea from his word), we are forever selling God short…looking for just enough God to make our circumstances bearable. Why is it we settle for tolerable instead of seeking excellence? God wants us to have the very best (John 10:10) and James tells us the reason we don’t have it is because we don’t ask (4:2b). To complicate matters, our inability to attain the abundant life in turn causes our ministry to suffer. It’s the snowball effect…we live powerless lives and our witness is powerless; it’s a vicious circle. Oh, by the way, that quote above is attributed to Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, who lived from 1483 to 1546…it would seem the old saying is true: some things never change.

A Solution for Tough Times

Everyone says the outlook is bleak: the economy, the job market, the stock market, all are in the worst shape they have been in decades. Yet, God tells us (this is my paraphrase), “Pray because I have all kinds of things for you; and when you ask, you will receive. I have all this grace, but you choose to live with scarcity. Come to me all of you who labor. Why are you so rushed and panicked? Who are you trusting now? Smile, everything you need, I have” (Matthew 7:7-8, James 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). If the times are indeed as bad as they say they are…if the darkness in our world is growing heavier by the moment…if we are facing spiritual battles right in our own homes and churches…then we are foolish not to turn to the One who supplies unlimited grace and power. In fact, we are nothing short of crazy to ignore him…yet we do. Too many believers (not heathens; believers) are wrestling with struggles they need not face. Too many Christians are living powerless lives, placing their hope in their jobs, the cash in their pockets, and mere men. Why? Thru Christ God has invited us to live a life of abundance; thru the Holy Spirit he equips and empowers us. All that is left is for us to respond. If you’re not living it, what’s holding you back?

New Year's Resolutions

Okay, 2009 is here. It’s now time to get serious about those New Year’s resolutions that have flowed so freely from our lips the past weeks. It is unfortunate that so many resolutions last barely longer than the first week of the New Year. Most people have good intentions, they really do. Most of us are in need improvement of some sort and many people are aware of the need. Why then are the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions left unrealized? This truly illustrates the difficulty involved with change. Change of any sort, but especially with drastic change; the more drastic the change, the harder it is to achieve (and let’s face it, most of our resolutions involve drastic change!). Even when we know it’s for our own good, it is hard to change…it is work. I think that’s why so many people have trouble with Jesus Christ. He brought radical change to the world. He calls each of us to change; whether you’re a drug addict, a businessman, a homemaker, or a pastor, he calls us to change. In Matthew 18:3-9 Jesus tells us of the change required to enter the Kingdom. The prophet Malachi tells us of the one thing that doesn’t change (3:6). So, here we are…it’s January 2, and that resolution is staring you down…waiting for you to flinch. Now what? I want to suggest that you tackle it by claiming that in His power you can do anything! (Romans 8:28, 37), and believing that Christ gives us life to the fullest (John 10:10). If you can do that, there will soon be a new you, to the glory of God!