Too Old or Too Weak?

I am feeling old today. Not because I recently celebrated my birthday, but because of something I just read. The most common human being on the earth today is 28 years old…that makes me doubly common! Did you hear that? There are more 28 year-olds living in the world than any other age. Sound young? Even the medium age in the U.S. is 35 years-old. Now, aside from making me feel much too old, it also causes me to wonder how do we reach these 28 year-olds with the ancient and true message of eternal life? Think just a minute…these (young) folks grew up on television, came of age with computers, and today expect to know what is going on around the world in an instant. I am not sure doing church as we did in the 50’s…or 60’s or even 70’s will work...at all! Still, the power of the Holy Spirit transcends time…even our times. I think the biggest problem we face today is choosing to work in our power and not in the power of the Spirit. If Jesus Christ truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), which I understand to include our today, then He still has the power and desire to do the miraculous…including healing, feeding, teaching, and saving. So, what’s really the Church's problem? I am not sure we can blame the times in which we live as much as the power in which we (try to) operate.

Which Race Will You Run?

So the Olympics are going on in London and those who know me will know my reaction…big deal. However, the other day I happened to catch the gymnasts (I am not even sure which country they were from) as they ran and flipped and twisted and landed perfectly. And I must confess my reaction was, “I want to do that!” Not physically of course…that would be the end of me. But spiritually…I want to do that spiritually. I want to diligently train and discipline my life in order that I might repeatedly perform spiritually in a manner worthy of receiving a medal. That is what Paul was speaking of when he wrote to the Philippians in chapter 3. “¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” The race we run in this life, if run properly, is worth more than any medal…bronze, silver, or gold. But it's up to us. Will we run the race of life with earthly goals in mind, or will we fix our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith and the prize he holds for us?

Preposterous

Check it out...this is not your momma's Bible study!

Back Home!

Just returned from annual conference where we spent three days listening to some of the best preaching in the country! I tried to embed this video, but my mind is too fried to figure it out, so here's a link for the first session that Jorge Acevedo, lead pastor of Grace Church in Cape Coral, FL gave about building healthy teams. Watch the video and if you want more info go to their website at http://www.egracechurch.com/. I've also included a link to Bishop Palmer's presentation on risk taking missions with the poor. Enjoy!

Jorge Acevedo 1st presentation

Risk-Taking Missions: Poverty

Peoria or bust!

As I write today I am only half here…the other half is continually going thru a mental check list of what I need and what will be going on at Annual Conference later this week. We meet annually to conduct the business of the conference but more important, at least for me, is the opportunity to worship. There will be a memorial service, a service of ordination, a service for those retiring, and finally, a service of appointments. It is great to meet with several of my colleagues and friends that, because of geographical distances, I no longer see routinely…it is even better to meet God there! If you haven’t started yet, begin praying for the conference today…for the business meetings, for the services, for traveling mercies for all those attending. If you want you can follow the conference online at http://www.igrc.org/annualsession, where you can even watch a live stream of the business sessions and services. I am not sure exactly what my schedule will be for the rest of the week, but I will try to post some from Peoria between activities. If that doesn’t happen, know this: God is still on the throne!

Fear of What?!

The second chapter of Francis Chan’s book, “Forgotten God” asks believers what I think is the most relevant question before us concerning the Holy Spirit or God for that matter: “What are you afraid of?” It seems that fear drives may people in our day…both outside the church and inside. We’ve even got a scientific name for it…is anyone really surprised by that? Theophobia is the fear of religion or of God…this is not the healthy fear of the Lord that we read about in Scripture, which by the way is the beginning of understanding (Proverbs 1:7)…this is an irrational fear that grips us and refuses to let go. That’s what I think Chan is speaking of…fear that God might be right and I might be wrong. Fear that God wants to do something in my life and I am not sure I want to go there. Fear that I might be seen as a radical or a “religious” person, I mean, what would others think? Fears like these cripple disciples (I use the term loosely), causing their lives to be spent worrying and wondering what might have been, rendering their witness virtually useless for Kingdom purposes. It’s a sad day when satan can render someone useless because of what might be. The Holy Spirit offers us assurance, boldness, confidence and power. No fear here!

Being Fruitful

In John 15 Jesus talks about being the true vine and we are the branches…I am not sure many understand the gravity of this chapter. It is full of words like “you will” and “you can”…I don’t find any “if you want to’s” in the text. Jesus says we will bear fruit (not to be confused with being fruitful in Gen. 1:27!) if we are his branches. Actually, it says those branches who do not bear fruit will be pruned! And so many people believe they are bearing fruit for Christ by doing those nice little things that they enjoy doing for the Kingdom. However, a branch does not decide what fruit it will bear, the vine dictates that. The branches on a grapevine will not produce peaches. A branch on a cherry tree will not produce apples. The vine and/or tree decide that. If we are in Christ we will produce the fruit HE produced. Being religious or holding an attendance record at Sunday school is not Jesus’ idea of fruit. Jesus’ fruit is loving the unlovable, having compassion on the brokenhearted, and healing the hurting. Kind of makes that perfect attendance pin look like the cheap costume jewelry it really is! So rather than doing the things we want to do and claiming it as fruit, we are to “produce fruit that will last” (verse 16). Then Jesus goes on to broadly define exactly what fruit that will last is in verse 17, “So I command you to love each other.” Any questions?