Nomination Committees Beware!

As I lay awake earlier this evening in bed the Lord turned my thoughts to the first century church. What caused this tremendous movement to flourish under such adverse conditions for so many generations? If you think being a Christian is difficult in our world, you must read what the first, second, third century church endured And remember, that church did not merely survive, it thrived! Why is it we cannot seem to replicate that movement today…regardless of the good programs available? I believe God has shown me an answer to my question…an answer you may not like: unqualified lay leaders. Now, before you get out the tar and feathers and hunt me down, let me say this. I acknowledge the many failures of clergy. Both God and we know too many pastors who should have never been allowed in the pulpit and have crippled churches. Some are truly gifted people, but they are not pastors. However, having said that, Acts 6:3 gives us the qualifications of lay leaders in the church…as far as I can tell the only list of qualifications. As stated in the Contemporary English Version, they should “be respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit.” Forget the times we have sinned by putting someone in a position because we wanted a name to fill a slot, think of the people who truly lead the church…any church, any tribe. Can you say they are respected, wise, and filled with the Holy Spirit? Many are not. Seems to me too often we put people in positions because they want in those positions or because they have always done that! I also realize the terms "respected" and "wise" are subjective terms…but filled with the Holy Spirit seems both concrete and critical to me…what do you think?

True Confessions!

I have been terribly negligent when it comes to posting on my blog the past couple of weeks. The pending move has taken much of my time. Add to that Hannah’s graduation and the time we’ve spent preparing for her trip to Germany (she is going to visit Annett during the month of June) and her move to college this August…then there’s my duties for Junior High Church Camp; something had to go! I am going to be intentional about posting…but I confess that I also see some missed days in the near future. Until then, I will try harder…I promise. But for now some continue to struggle with my move. I am glad to hear some believe God is behind this move, but if you’re not there yet, you need to know that Jesus knows how you feel…he understands. We are precious to him…each of us. So precious that he became like us so that we could come to him. When we struggle, he listens. When we yearn, he responds. When we question, he hears.

I Choose to Follow Jesus!

As many of us wrestle with the changes that will arrive on July 1, I came across a wonderful reading by Rueben P. Job, a retired bishop of the United Methodist Church. It is from the devotional “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God.” The theme of the day is “taken where you do not want to go,” and who of us hasn’t been there before? Bishop Job’s words that I intend to commit to memory are, “We choose to follow Jesus and then Jesus chooses where we will go. It is that simple.” Those are profound words, not only for a United Methodist pastor (although they seem extremely relevant for me), but for every follower of Jesus Christ. We have all at some point in our walk found God leading us where we didn’t particularly want to go…and at times we intentionally made the decision not to go! Though I will confess that the times when I chose my preferences instead of God’s, the outcome was regrettable. So having said that, I am looking forward to what God has planned for me and my family in Sumner. I also believe God intends to do a mighty work here through your new pastor, Julie Smith. If you will only welcome her and her family as you welcomed me and my family five years ago, and follow her leading as you’ve followed mine, this church will continue to prosper as together you make disciples for Jesus Christ.

The Faith Walk

Faith enables us to see God on top of all our problems. If we see only the problems, we will get depressed and start making wrong decisions. When we have faith, we see God bigger than any mountain and we know He is going to take care of us. If God is for you, it doesn’t matter how many demons of hell try to oppose you. If God is for you, it doesn’t matter what your opponents whisper in the ears of people. Unbelief has a devious way of envisioning negative things. When you walk in faith, you get out of bed in the morning saying, “Surely goodness and love will follow me this day because I dwell in the house of the Lord” (Psalm 23:6). But if you walk in unbelief, you get out of bed saying, “Oh no! Is this the day I am going to lose it all?” Unbelief loves to paint the bleakest picture it can. It loves to get us to focus on the obstacles and how big they are. It causes us to see the shadow cast by the mountain we face and forget that there is a shadow because somewhere there is a light shining toward us. Those who walk in faith are still realists. They will admit that they don’t know exactly how everything is going to work out; but they insist God will supply regardless of the outlook.

Comfort in Anxious Days

Many are anxious these days. 1 John 4:4 gives us assurance: “God’s Spirit, who is in you is greater than the devil who is in the world.” Max Lucado writes in Grace for the Moment:

"Satan has no power except that which God gives him. To the first century church in Smyrna, Christ said, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you the devil will put some of you I prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). Analyze Jesus’ words for a moment. Christ informs the church of the persecution, the duration of the persecution (ten days), the reason for the persecution (to test you), and the outcome of the persecution (a crown of life). In other words, Jesus uses Satan to glorify his church… Even when Satan appears to win, he loses."

Our Lord knows all about our struggles and intends to use them for the glory of the Father. If that does not give you comfort in the midst of the storm, what will?

Changes

As many of you know, I have been distracted the past couple of days. Life is so filled with activity that we must constantly adjust, adapt, and accommodate ourselves to changing situations. Change is a constant in our world, even in the church…perhaps more so here! However, the Scriptures liken Jesus to a rock. A rock is stable. Rock will be there after the storm has passed. Rain doesn’t wash it away, lightning doesn’t move it. We should find comfort in that. This promise is from our Creator, “I am the Lord, I do not change,” (Malachi 3:6) tells us that day after day He is on the job. God never takes vacations, days off, or leaves of absence. Anytime, anywhere, under any circumstance, we can breathe His name and be assured of an instant audience. When we are uncertain of our future, what an encouragement to know the Lord who watches over his people neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121: 4).

Lord, Hear Our Prayers!

Revivals have never been dominated by eloquent or clever preaching. Much more time has been given to prayer, weeping, and repentance than to sermons. In the “Prayer Meeting Revival” of 1857-59, there was virtually no preaching at all. Yet, some say it produced the greatest harvest of any spiritual awakening in American history! How did this happen? A quiet businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier started a Wednesday noon prayer service in New York City, and six people showed up to pray. Soon more gathered; there were twenty, then forty, then they decided to have daily meetings, then it spread to other churches. Within months the scene was replicated in Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Washington, and the South. By the next spring 2,000 gathered daily in Chicago to pray, where a 21 year-old Dwight L Moody dedicated his life to Christian service. Do you really think that what we lack today is preachers, books, Bible translations, or doctrinal statements? No, what we really lack is the passion to pray…to call upon the name of the Lord until he opens the heavens and shows himself powerful. This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. Take the time to gather with others for a time of prayer…you never know just what God might do!