Phil 2:12-13 - "…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
I found the Amplified Bible very useful on this part of the above passage. It describes "fear and trembling" as "reverence and awe and trembling [self distrust, that is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ]."
In other words, the fear (meaning "reverence, respect, honor" in the Greek) is toward God, but the trembling is toward ourselves! The fear speaks of working out your salvation with a reverence and awe for God. It is working it out (living it out)while always being mindful that God is to remain in the driver's seat and the Holy Spirit is to be the GPS. It is knowing that you, the creation, are in desperate need of the Creator's strength for any of this to happen.
This is the same "fear" that the Bible says Jesus delighted in. (Isa 11:3). Jesus delighted in putting God first and allowing the Father’s will and strength to direct His actions and thoughts and be "worked out" for the world to see and experience. The trembling however, seems like more of a caution towards us. It means working out your salvation (letting Jesus out for the world to see) while at the same time having an attitude of self-distrust towards your ability to lead apart from God's Spirit. Unless you are following Jesus there is vulnerability toward temptation and actions that could discredit the name of Christ and/or thwart you in being conformed to His image.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Work out your Salvation - 3
"…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13)
The phrase I want to focus on today from the above text is "... your own salvation…" It would have been very easy for the Philippi Church to look at the Apostle Paul and think "wow, what a legend that guy is ... I can never be like him!" And they would be right, He was a seasoned veteran in the Way but they were not called to target the image of Paul. They were commissioned to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
As we examine this phrase "your own salvation" two thoughts come to mind. One, we should not measure ourselves by the life or standard of other people. Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, the book of Hebrews 12:2 says. So we must keep our eyes upon Jesus. He is the lighthouse that will guide us safely home, so to speak.
Two, even though we all have been given the same salvation through the atonement of Christ, the development of that salvation will be different for each one of us. Our journey will look different at times and in many ways. We need to be OK with that. And, we can be if we trust God for the end result in each other's life. God is creative, unique, and infinite. He will fashion a plan that is unique to each and everyone of us. The important part is following His lead and not to judging the progress of others.
We are commanded to be "perfect" in the Bible (Matt. 5:48; 2 Cor. 13:11, etc). The word means in the original language of the Bible "to be right where God wants you to be." How refreshing to know that God has YOU right where He wants you for today. I may not be where you are in my maturation process and most likely you are not where I am. But that's OK if we are both in relationship with Jesus and fully surrendered to His leading and daily work in our lives. So, are you perfect today?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
The phrase I want to focus on today from the above text is "... your own salvation…" It would have been very easy for the Philippi Church to look at the Apostle Paul and think "wow, what a legend that guy is ... I can never be like him!" And they would be right, He was a seasoned veteran in the Way but they were not called to target the image of Paul. They were commissioned to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
As we examine this phrase "your own salvation" two thoughts come to mind. One, we should not measure ourselves by the life or standard of other people. Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, the book of Hebrews 12:2 says. So we must keep our eyes upon Jesus. He is the lighthouse that will guide us safely home, so to speak.
Two, even though we all have been given the same salvation through the atonement of Christ, the development of that salvation will be different for each one of us. Our journey will look different at times and in many ways. We need to be OK with that. And, we can be if we trust God for the end result in each other's life. God is creative, unique, and infinite. He will fashion a plan that is unique to each and everyone of us. The important part is following His lead and not to judging the progress of others.
We are commanded to be "perfect" in the Bible (Matt. 5:48; 2 Cor. 13:11, etc). The word means in the original language of the Bible "to be right where God wants you to be." How refreshing to know that God has YOU right where He wants you for today. I may not be where you are in my maturation process and most likely you are not where I am. But that's OK if we are both in relationship with Jesus and fully surrendered to His leading and daily work in our lives. So, are you perfect today?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Work out your Salvation - 2
"… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)
This week we are considering various key words and phrases from the above passage. As we breakdown the text keep in mind that it is stated as a command. Now let me say this as clearly as I can … The Bible never calls us to "work for" our salvation, but to work it out! In other words, allow that which has happened within you to be manifested outwardly.
The Christian life is becoming (through your everyday existence) what you already are (through your position in Christ – such as righteous,holiness and the fruit of the Spirit). The Holy Spirit indwells every Spirit filled believer and imparts His nature and expresses Himself in love, joy, peace, faithfulness, forgiveness, etc. All the fruit and more are the characteristics of Him who lives within the person who has surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. So allow your life to openly manifest these things. Work out what He has worked in you!
This is especially important in our relationship with other people. We should treat them like God has treated us. One of the dictionaries I have gives the following definition for the term "work out." It means "to make its way out". Hopefully the grace, love, and acceptance the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts will make its way out for others to experience today!
If you struggle is working out the character of Christ in your relationship with others then simply consecrate your life to Him. The fullness and fruit of the Holy Spirit can only enter a willing vessel. Then, once His nature is imparted into your life simply "work it out!"
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
This week we are considering various key words and phrases from the above passage. As we breakdown the text keep in mind that it is stated as a command. Now let me say this as clearly as I can … The Bible never calls us to "work for" our salvation, but to work it out! In other words, allow that which has happened within you to be manifested outwardly.
The Christian life is becoming (through your everyday existence) what you already are (through your position in Christ – such as righteous,holiness and the fruit of the Spirit). The Holy Spirit indwells every Spirit filled believer and imparts His nature and expresses Himself in love, joy, peace, faithfulness, forgiveness, etc. All the fruit and more are the characteristics of Him who lives within the person who has surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. So allow your life to openly manifest these things. Work out what He has worked in you!
This is especially important in our relationship with other people. We should treat them like God has treated us. One of the dictionaries I have gives the following definition for the term "work out." It means "to make its way out". Hopefully the grace, love, and acceptance the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts will make its way out for others to experience today!
If you struggle is working out the character of Christ in your relationship with others then simply consecrate your life to Him. The fullness and fruit of the Holy Spirit can only enter a willing vessel. Then, once His nature is imparted into your life simply "work it out!"
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Work out your salvation
"…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13)
Sometimes it pays to take a little time to break down each section of a verse to obtain its full meaning. This scripture is a good one to do it on. The Amplified Bible, which does its best to bring out the true meaning of the text, translates this verse as:
"Work out – cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete – your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling [self distrust, that is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ]. [Not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you – energizing and creating in you the power and desire – both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight."
NICE! There is so much meaning in the words of this text. I would like to take a little time to examine each part of this verse over the next few days and gather your thoughts as well.
Today's word: Work
First the text says to "work out your own salvation…" What comes to mind when you think of the word work? What comes to my mind initially is effort, time, labor, energy, and spending resources. It doesn’t matter what the subject is, the word work implies putting time and energy into a task. You may "work on your tennis game", or "work at your marriage."
The thought implies spending time and effort to improve or perfect something. Well, in its context here, the object of our work is our salvation. It is speaking of putting time and energy into your relationship with Jesus Christ. Making the relationship a priority. For a married couple, "working at their marriage" involves spending time together, communicating effectively, being open, vulnerable and transparent. A healthy marriage should be measured by the couple's ability to share the "whole" of their lives with one another. So it is with our relationship with Jesus.
Today I encourage you to define "working out your salvation" as "rest." That's not an oxymoron. It actually takes work to rest. We must labor against the urge to contribute to Christ's completeness and to overcome the need to earn peace in our soul. We must rest in the atoning work of Jesus knowing full well that we cannot add to it through human effort.
Today I encourage you to rest in the peace and joy you have in your personal walk with the Savior. Rest in Christ's ability to lead you to His desired result in/for your life. Work at resting in Christ.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Sometimes it pays to take a little time to break down each section of a verse to obtain its full meaning. This scripture is a good one to do it on. The Amplified Bible, which does its best to bring out the true meaning of the text, translates this verse as:
"Work out – cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete – your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling [self distrust, that is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ]. [Not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you – energizing and creating in you the power and desire – both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight."
NICE! There is so much meaning in the words of this text. I would like to take a little time to examine each part of this verse over the next few days and gather your thoughts as well.
Today's word: Work
First the text says to "work out your own salvation…" What comes to mind when you think of the word work? What comes to my mind initially is effort, time, labor, energy, and spending resources. It doesn’t matter what the subject is, the word work implies putting time and energy into a task. You may "work on your tennis game", or "work at your marriage."
The thought implies spending time and effort to improve or perfect something. Well, in its context here, the object of our work is our salvation. It is speaking of putting time and energy into your relationship with Jesus Christ. Making the relationship a priority. For a married couple, "working at their marriage" involves spending time together, communicating effectively, being open, vulnerable and transparent. A healthy marriage should be measured by the couple's ability to share the "whole" of their lives with one another. So it is with our relationship with Jesus.
Today I encourage you to define "working out your salvation" as "rest." That's not an oxymoron. It actually takes work to rest. We must labor against the urge to contribute to Christ's completeness and to overcome the need to earn peace in our soul. We must rest in the atoning work of Jesus knowing full well that we cannot add to it through human effort.
Today I encourage you to rest in the peace and joy you have in your personal walk with the Savior. Rest in Christ's ability to lead you to His desired result in/for your life. Work at resting in Christ.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, April 27, 2009
FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not fear; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).
If my calculations are correct, this is the third and most emphatic time God told the Joshua generation "not to fear" in chapter one. It was imperative they did not repeat the pattern of the Moses generation who chose to disobey God basically out of fear. For them Proverbs 29:25 proved true, "the fear of man proves to be a snare."
Usually what stops us from following God's will is fear. Fear is often times invisible...a wall of uncomfortable feelings. Some of the foundation stones in the wall is anxiety, foolishness, doubt, exposed, weak and incompetent. If you have time today, read Numbers 13 and 14 and note how the wall of fear kept the Moses generations from entering the Promised Land.
Human nature is such that we like a padded nest. We spend so much time and resource building it that it becomes the familiar, our security. We wrap ourselves in the quilt of human relationship. Friends make us feel good but often they sequester us from following God lead however. They too have fear... the fear of loosing something... their comfort. They'll say, "It's not safe; It's impossible; That's not the way we do it; I won't let you!"
We pad our nest with routine to make us feel good and our lives seem consistent and normal. We feel secure behind the fence of acceptable behavior while peering through the glass in the front door of our success. We work to "get all we can, can all we get and sit on the can" out of fear of there not being enough or selfishness.
Fear. It will keep us from following God. It will sap our strengthen and courage. It leads to discouragement and the feeling that God is not with us. May fear not hold us back from entering our Promised Land. What's your thoughts on fear?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
If my calculations are correct, this is the third and most emphatic time God told the Joshua generation "not to fear" in chapter one. It was imperative they did not repeat the pattern of the Moses generation who chose to disobey God basically out of fear. For them Proverbs 29:25 proved true, "the fear of man proves to be a snare."
Usually what stops us from following God's will is fear. Fear is often times invisible...a wall of uncomfortable feelings. Some of the foundation stones in the wall is anxiety, foolishness, doubt, exposed, weak and incompetent. If you have time today, read Numbers 13 and 14 and note how the wall of fear kept the Moses generations from entering the Promised Land.
Human nature is such that we like a padded nest. We spend so much time and resource building it that it becomes the familiar, our security. We wrap ourselves in the quilt of human relationship. Friends make us feel good but often they sequester us from following God lead however. They too have fear... the fear of loosing something... their comfort. They'll say, "It's not safe; It's impossible; That's not the way we do it; I won't let you!"
We pad our nest with routine to make us feel good and our lives seem consistent and normal. We feel secure behind the fence of acceptable behavior while peering through the glass in the front door of our success. We work to "get all we can, can all we get and sit on the can" out of fear of there not being enough or selfishness.
Fear. It will keep us from following God. It will sap our strengthen and courage. It leads to discouragement and the feeling that God is not with us. May fear not hold us back from entering our Promised Land. What's your thoughts on fear?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Friday, April 24, 2009
In the Groove
I use to be a sports nut but over the past several years my interests has wained. Now I seldom watch a game of any kind. But my Lisa on the other hand follows the Cavs. She knows most of the players and will watch the televised games when time permits.
Clearly Lebron James has breathed new life into Cleveland sports and has put us on the map, so to speak. And I must confess, it is exciting to watch a game or two when "King James" is in his zone. Sometimes it seems no matter who is guarding Lebron he appears to be unstoppable and the ball and rim magnetized to each other. Now if we can just get the Indians and Browns "in the zone" we will be all set.
What about the church ... does she have "a zone, a groove or a sweet spot" per se? What would "in the zone" look like for Willoughby Hills Friends? I value your input.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Clearly Lebron James has breathed new life into Cleveland sports and has put us on the map, so to speak. And I must confess, it is exciting to watch a game or two when "King James" is in his zone. Sometimes it seems no matter who is guarding Lebron he appears to be unstoppable and the ball and rim magnetized to each other. Now if we can just get the Indians and Browns "in the zone" we will be all set.
What about the church ... does she have "a zone, a groove or a sweet spot" per se? What would "in the zone" look like for Willoughby Hills Friends? I value your input.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Anointing
"Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" (Zechariah 4:6)
One of the things that can get overlooked in the day to day rigors of a church our size is the anointing of God. How crazy does that sound? On hearing that one should ask "what could possibly be more important in the work of the church than securing God's anointing?" The right answer is "nothing." But reality is that many large churches place a lot of emphasis on organization at the expense of other things. And one of the first things to go is securing the anointing of God over the work of the church. That's what one definition of "institutionalism" is: "an emphasis on organization at the expense of other factors" (Don Cousins, Experiencing Leadershift. David C. Cook, 2008. Page 184).
Don't get me wrong, I feel we need sound organization, planning, programming and effort in the church today. But when a church becomes program driven and results focused (meaning that she is obsessed with counting nickles, notches and noses), and not so much with being Spirit fed/led then it has become institutionalized. When the primary focus is on doing the latest and the greatest to get people into seats to hear the talking head speak each week then the church has become institutionalized. When a church resorts to shaming or bribing people into service rather than out of a call of God and a passion for meeting the needs of others then she has become institutionalized.
The anointing of God ... It's God's felt presence and manifest power in ministry. It's when He shows up in and through a believer's life and bestows His blessings on others. God's anointing puts the believer in a place of faithful, fruitful and fulfilling ministry.
So the question is: How does a church body acquire God's anointing? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
One of the things that can get overlooked in the day to day rigors of a church our size is the anointing of God. How crazy does that sound? On hearing that one should ask "what could possibly be more important in the work of the church than securing God's anointing?" The right answer is "nothing." But reality is that many large churches place a lot of emphasis on organization at the expense of other things. And one of the first things to go is securing the anointing of God over the work of the church. That's what one definition of "institutionalism" is: "an emphasis on organization at the expense of other factors" (Don Cousins, Experiencing Leadershift. David C. Cook, 2008. Page 184).
Don't get me wrong, I feel we need sound organization, planning, programming and effort in the church today. But when a church becomes program driven and results focused (meaning that she is obsessed with counting nickles, notches and noses), and not so much with being Spirit fed/led then it has become institutionalized. When the primary focus is on doing the latest and the greatest to get people into seats to hear the talking head speak each week then the church has become institutionalized. When a church resorts to shaming or bribing people into service rather than out of a call of God and a passion for meeting the needs of others then she has become institutionalized.
The anointing of God ... It's God's felt presence and manifest power in ministry. It's when He shows up in and through a believer's life and bestows His blessings on others. God's anointing puts the believer in a place of faithful, fruitful and fulfilling ministry.
So the question is: How does a church body acquire God's anointing? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Change
You have probably seen research statistics such as the following from Strategic Renewal International that reveal startling and distrubing facts about the state of the church in America today:
> Church attendance has decreased 9.5% in the last 10 years, while the population has increased 11.4%
> Over the last 15 years $500 billion has been spent on ministry, with no appreciable growth in the impact of the church (Don Cousins, Experiencing Leadershift. David C. Cook, 2008. Page 151).
The church cannot continue with "business as usual" and expect to reach the world for Christ or even survive through another generation. We must change. We need to let go of everything that prevents God's people from experiencing the power of His anointing and we must embrace the timely words of Zechariah, "It's not by human might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" (4:6). It's all got to start on the inside. It will require a change of heart for the American church.
The church has been following an institutional model for ministry and it is time for her to return to a biblical perspective. The life changing power of God cannot be mass produced in church government or activity. It requires the infilling of God's Spirit which comes through surrendered lives to Jesus Christ and a dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
This will require several things. One, will be discontentment. Nothing drives change like emotional, mental, and spiritual dissatisfaction associated with ministering in the flesh and not by the Spirit. Are we tired yet?
Two, change will require vision. Discontentment should lead the church to give up dated practice and embrace a new biblical paradigm for who she is and what she does. Are we ready to embrace God's way yet?
Three, change will require prayer. The American church is for the most part, a prayer-less church. And what little bit she does engage is often superficial or programmed based. Are we ready to call upon God for help yet?
My hope is that our leaders will not follow an institutional line when establishing our strategic three year plan this year. Our old model has failed to produce the desired results and our new model must be forged from the fire of sacred literature and tempered by fervent prayer. How can we practically facilitate this plan? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
> Church attendance has decreased 9.5% in the last 10 years, while the population has increased 11.4%
> Over the last 15 years $500 billion has been spent on ministry, with no appreciable growth in the impact of the church (Don Cousins, Experiencing Leadershift. David C. Cook, 2008. Page 151).
The church cannot continue with "business as usual" and expect to reach the world for Christ or even survive through another generation. We must change. We need to let go of everything that prevents God's people from experiencing the power of His anointing and we must embrace the timely words of Zechariah, "It's not by human might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" (4:6). It's all got to start on the inside. It will require a change of heart for the American church.
The church has been following an institutional model for ministry and it is time for her to return to a biblical perspective. The life changing power of God cannot be mass produced in church government or activity. It requires the infilling of God's Spirit which comes through surrendered lives to Jesus Christ and a dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
This will require several things. One, will be discontentment. Nothing drives change like emotional, mental, and spiritual dissatisfaction associated with ministering in the flesh and not by the Spirit. Are we tired yet?
Two, change will require vision. Discontentment should lead the church to give up dated practice and embrace a new biblical paradigm for who she is and what she does. Are we ready to embrace God's way yet?
Three, change will require prayer. The American church is for the most part, a prayer-less church. And what little bit she does engage is often superficial or programmed based. Are we ready to call upon God for help yet?
My hope is that our leaders will not follow an institutional line when establishing our strategic three year plan this year. Our old model has failed to produce the desired results and our new model must be forged from the fire of sacred literature and tempered by fervent prayer. How can we practically facilitate this plan? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Attitude
The Entrepreneur Journal reports that 1 in 8 people will leave an organization because of incivility and not report it. Also their study reveals that 80% of those who experienced impoliteness lost work time worrying about the incident while nearly 50% deliberately decreased their work efforts. "People perform a lot worse when they experience incivility" (Chris Penttila, Employees, Leave your Attitude at the Door. April, 2009. Page 60).
The Apostle Paul writes, But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)
In these verses we catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart and attitude. In verse 12 he reminds the Philippians that what has happened to him has turned out for good. That his imprisonment was for the promotion and defense of the Gospel (17). That he will continue to rejoice in suffering for the cause of Christ Jesus (18).
"Continue to rejoice in suffering for the cause of Christ." Wow! We know in Paul’s life that he was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown in prison and much more, but he always seemed to remained true to his calling and never wavered in the face of difficulties. His positive attitude showed through in every circumstance. He never surrendered to the circumstances of his life and always stood fast as far as we know.
This is a reminder to us that we should never surrender our attitude to our circumstances. We need to be true to our calling and purpose in life knowing that Jesus Who began a good work in us will complete it. May we be reminded that our attitude is controlled by us and we get to choose whether we will or will not go forward with singleness of mind and purpose for the glory of God. Let's choose to cultivate and keep a great attitude today for the cause of Christ and the support of others!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
The Apostle Paul writes, But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)
In these verses we catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart and attitude. In verse 12 he reminds the Philippians that what has happened to him has turned out for good. That his imprisonment was for the promotion and defense of the Gospel (17). That he will continue to rejoice in suffering for the cause of Christ Jesus (18).
"Continue to rejoice in suffering for the cause of Christ." Wow! We know in Paul’s life that he was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown in prison and much more, but he always seemed to remained true to his calling and never wavered in the face of difficulties. His positive attitude showed through in every circumstance. He never surrendered to the circumstances of his life and always stood fast as far as we know.
This is a reminder to us that we should never surrender our attitude to our circumstances. We need to be true to our calling and purpose in life knowing that Jesus Who began a good work in us will complete it. May we be reminded that our attitude is controlled by us and we get to choose whether we will or will not go forward with singleness of mind and purpose for the glory of God. Let's choose to cultivate and keep a great attitude today for the cause of Christ and the support of others!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, April 20, 2009
Perspective
Lisa and I just returned from a four day trip to the Smokies. It was a last minute invitation to fill another couple's spot from the church in a mountain cabin deal and it was a blast! It was a new cabin with all of the amenities and creature comforts one needs, perched high in Foot Hill mountains of Tennessee with a beautiful view of the Smokie Mountain range from our private outdoor hot tub. We had warm sunny weather and enjoyed the company of the dear folks we traveled with. NICE!
I try to visit the Smokies at least once each year on my motorcycle. It is one of my favorite places to ride. However this trip I traveled in a comfortable SUV over the rocky mountain tops gazing at the beauty of God's creation holding Lisa's hand rather than the throttle grip of my Kawasaki. I did not feel disappointed in the least. Lisa is the second greatest wonder in my life and truly the love of my life. The only thing that captivates my heart more than Lisa is Jesus Christ.
I am a true cyclist at heart and even though I was not on two wheels this trip I enjoyed the memories of past experiences with good friends and family as we made our way down some of my favorite roads last weekend such as Highway 129, the Tail of the Dragon in Deal's Gap, the Foot Hills Parkway and Cherahola Skyway, just to mention a few. Roads that are beautiful in setting and challenging in nature for a biker. Most leave little to no margin for error and demand one to stay alert and focused all the time while riding.
One of the first things a motorcycle rider learns is this: you go where you look. And it is absolutely true. Focus on a pothole and you hit it; look at the median and you're in it; gaze to long at the mountain vista and you'll kiss a tree or ride over a cliff. That is one of the reasons a rider never looks at the ground while riding - its a bad place to end up! The focus must be on where you are going.
Hebrews reminds us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (12:2). As a cyclist I understand this concept well. "You go where you look." Allow Jesus to be the focal point of your life today. You will experience many things this week, some filled with danger other with beauty but do not loose focus with Jesus. Those other things are real and must be experienced but treat them more like a mountain overlook and not the GPS settings for your day.
Heavenly Father, as we begin this new week help us to center our attention on Jesus. The road we will travel will no doubt have twists and turns, danger and excitement, beauty and ashes. May we fully experience it all but maintain our perspective in Jesus. For the greatest wonder of all wonders is that You love us and want to live out our days with us. Both transforming and conforming us into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
I try to visit the Smokies at least once each year on my motorcycle. It is one of my favorite places to ride. However this trip I traveled in a comfortable SUV over the rocky mountain tops gazing at the beauty of God's creation holding Lisa's hand rather than the throttle grip of my Kawasaki. I did not feel disappointed in the least. Lisa is the second greatest wonder in my life and truly the love of my life. The only thing that captivates my heart more than Lisa is Jesus Christ.
I am a true cyclist at heart and even though I was not on two wheels this trip I enjoyed the memories of past experiences with good friends and family as we made our way down some of my favorite roads last weekend such as Highway 129, the Tail of the Dragon in Deal's Gap, the Foot Hills Parkway and Cherahola Skyway, just to mention a few. Roads that are beautiful in setting and challenging in nature for a biker. Most leave little to no margin for error and demand one to stay alert and focused all the time while riding.
One of the first things a motorcycle rider learns is this: you go where you look. And it is absolutely true. Focus on a pothole and you hit it; look at the median and you're in it; gaze to long at the mountain vista and you'll kiss a tree or ride over a cliff. That is one of the reasons a rider never looks at the ground while riding - its a bad place to end up! The focus must be on where you are going.
Hebrews reminds us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (12:2). As a cyclist I understand this concept well. "You go where you look." Allow Jesus to be the focal point of your life today. You will experience many things this week, some filled with danger other with beauty but do not loose focus with Jesus. Those other things are real and must be experienced but treat them more like a mountain overlook and not the GPS settings for your day.
Heavenly Father, as we begin this new week help us to center our attention on Jesus. The road we will travel will no doubt have twists and turns, danger and excitement, beauty and ashes. May we fully experience it all but maintain our perspective in Jesus. For the greatest wonder of all wonders is that You love us and want to live out our days with us. Both transforming and conforming us into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Friday, April 17, 2009
Forgivness - Part 5
Go to Hell?
Is that what Jesus is inferring when He said, "for if you forgive men of their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive yours?" (Matthew 6:14-15) Several thoughts come to mind when I read this passage. One, the immediate consequence of unforgiveness is that it breaks personal fellowship with God.
Two, I am reminded that if if I refuse to forgive another then a root of bitterness will spring up that can defile myself and others. That is what Hebrews 12:15 says, "watch carefully so that you do not fall short of the grace of God: allowing a root of bitterness to spring up and cause trouble and defile many people." If I choose not to forgive it can defile people I care about. This is one reason why the Lord attaches a sense of urgency to the command to forgive.
But let's take off the kid gloves and play some hard ball for a moment ... Is Jesus saying in Matthew 6 that if we choose not to forgive that we will not be permitted into heaven? Does unforgiveness really carry such eternal consequences? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Is that what Jesus is inferring when He said, "for if you forgive men of their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive yours?" (Matthew 6:14-15) Several thoughts come to mind when I read this passage. One, the immediate consequence of unforgiveness is that it breaks personal fellowship with God.
Two, I am reminded that if if I refuse to forgive another then a root of bitterness will spring up that can defile myself and others. That is what Hebrews 12:15 says, "watch carefully so that you do not fall short of the grace of God: allowing a root of bitterness to spring up and cause trouble and defile many people." If I choose not to forgive it can defile people I care about. This is one reason why the Lord attaches a sense of urgency to the command to forgive.
But let's take off the kid gloves and play some hard ball for a moment ... Is Jesus saying in Matthew 6 that if we choose not to forgive that we will not be permitted into heaven? Does unforgiveness really carry such eternal consequences? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Forgiveness - Part 4
Seventy times seven?
What in the world did Jesus mean by that statement?
Have you ever wrestled with this text from Matthew 18? Peter is obviously upset with one of his brothers and comes to Jesus in verse 21 and asks, "how many times should I forgive my brother ... up to seven times?" We can only assume what his motives were for asking such a question. Maybe Peter just wanted to vent his frustration or possibly he was trying to gain brownie points with the Lord in that Jewish law only required a person to forgive an offender four times and he was willing to go seven.
It really doesn't matter why Peter asked the question but the answer he received does. Is Jesus telling us in His response to Peter that we must practice "unconditional forgiveness?" What say you ... is forgiveness conditional or not?
I like this quote from Tim Grissom, editor of Familylife Publishing: "Forgiveness is a funny thing. It's like keeping your garden weeded. The rows can be clean today but when you come back in a few days, they're full of weeds again. It's a constant upkeep, because Satan would love to worm back in without you knowing it."
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
What in the world did Jesus mean by that statement?
Have you ever wrestled with this text from Matthew 18? Peter is obviously upset with one of his brothers and comes to Jesus in verse 21 and asks, "how many times should I forgive my brother ... up to seven times?" We can only assume what his motives were for asking such a question. Maybe Peter just wanted to vent his frustration or possibly he was trying to gain brownie points with the Lord in that Jewish law only required a person to forgive an offender four times and he was willing to go seven.
It really doesn't matter why Peter asked the question but the answer he received does. Is Jesus telling us in His response to Peter that we must practice "unconditional forgiveness?" What say you ... is forgiveness conditional or not?
I like this quote from Tim Grissom, editor of Familylife Publishing: "Forgiveness is a funny thing. It's like keeping your garden weeded. The rows can be clean today but when you come back in a few days, they're full of weeds again. It's a constant upkeep, because Satan would love to worm back in without you knowing it."
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Forgiveness - Part 3
Emotions play an important role in life and seems to impact every aspect of it. Yep, they are real no matter how many times we have tried to stuff or ignore them. They are there and will get expressed one way or another so we might as well take ownership of them.
Craig Boreth has sage advise for men regarding emotion. I believe it appears in the section of his book he calls "The Mothering Male." He has just shared how a Canadian study recently found that men's testosterone levels drop by as much as one third after their first baby is born and continues to decrease in similar increments with each additional child causing nasty side effects such as emotional imbalance, weakening of muscle, etc.(page 7).
Boreth continues with "men either you face up to your feelings and bring them out into the open, or they will fester inside you and be expressed physically. However, if you notice yourself experiencing symptom's that are very similar to your wife's, tell your brain that you know what's going on and you are not going to fall for it. I would recommend that you do not do this out loud, especially not in a public place with heavy security. If that doesn't work and you think you are becoming "too emotional" you may need to take more drastic measures ... quickly grab some Double stuffed Oreos or a bag of chips and a big honkin' piece of meat and watch TV until your feelings return to normal! (How to Feel Manly in a Minivan, pages 60-66)
Well, maybe that is not such sage advise after all but hopefully you got a chuckle out of reading it. Clearly, one of the reasons why people choose not to forgive is because they simply do not feel like it! They will state that their painful feelings are too intense.
However, forgiveness is an act of the will, not of the emotions. We will never be free from anger or depression unless we release the individual from their debt to us. It will take time but feelings of forgiveness and the ability to move on will come. Thank God, He did not wait until it felt good to forgive us!
Here is some real sage advise to take into your day. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)
Wait, it just dawned on me ... I have three children! Yikes, does that mean I have no testosterone left? Maybe that is why I bought a minivan! Hmmmm....interesting.
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Craig Boreth has sage advise for men regarding emotion. I believe it appears in the section of his book he calls "The Mothering Male." He has just shared how a Canadian study recently found that men's testosterone levels drop by as much as one third after their first baby is born and continues to decrease in similar increments with each additional child causing nasty side effects such as emotional imbalance, weakening of muscle, etc.(page 7).
Boreth continues with "men either you face up to your feelings and bring them out into the open, or they will fester inside you and be expressed physically. However, if you notice yourself experiencing symptom's that are very similar to your wife's, tell your brain that you know what's going on and you are not going to fall for it. I would recommend that you do not do this out loud, especially not in a public place with heavy security. If that doesn't work and you think you are becoming "too emotional" you may need to take more drastic measures ... quickly grab some Double stuffed Oreos or a bag of chips and a big honkin' piece of meat and watch TV until your feelings return to normal! (How to Feel Manly in a Minivan, pages 60-66)
Well, maybe that is not such sage advise after all but hopefully you got a chuckle out of reading it. Clearly, one of the reasons why people choose not to forgive is because they simply do not feel like it! They will state that their painful feelings are too intense.
However, forgiveness is an act of the will, not of the emotions. We will never be free from anger or depression unless we release the individual from their debt to us. It will take time but feelings of forgiveness and the ability to move on will come. Thank God, He did not wait until it felt good to forgive us!
Here is some real sage advise to take into your day. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)
Wait, it just dawned on me ... I have three children! Yikes, does that mean I have no testosterone left? Maybe that is why I bought a minivan! Hmmmm....interesting.
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Forgiveness - Part 2
The Power of Forgiveness
Ephesians 1 tells us that "the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in us..." Often when people talk about the power of Christ working in them they're thinking of the "walking on water" type of stuff. But the ability to forgive someone else is nothing short of a miracle and is a true demonstration of the power of Christ. Let me give you an example.
In the summer of 1994, over the course of 100 days more than one million Rwandan Tutsi were slaughtered by the Hutu militias. The brutality of such ethnic hatred shocked the world and left Rwanda in shambles. Many asked, would it even be possible to rebuild a society ravaged by genocide and steeped with such fear, hurt and hatred for one another?
Then the Christians stepped forward with a radical solution based upon the example of Jesus Christ. Instead of relying on the government to put things right the Rwandans were invited to tap into the healing power of forgiveness. The concept was called "restorative justice" and was implemented in village tribunals rather than in government buildings and courtrooms.
Through restorative justice victims and perpetrators would voluntarily assemble before the entire village and panel of elders. There the criminals would openly confess what they had done and cast themselves on the mercy of those whom they had grossly offended and abused. Giant billboards were erected along the roadsides with the words: "Tell us what you know. Admit what you have done. The Truth will heal the land." Slowly, forgiveness began to heal the land and the hearts of the Rwandan people. (this information was adapted from Revive, Vol. 40, Issue 1, Spring 2009, page 5)
What a wonderful picture of the power of God working through people. This is nothing less than the resurrection "miracle working" power of Jesus Christ manifesting in the lives of the Rwandan people. The question is: Do you have this same power working in you?
I want to encourage you to get alone with God sometime today. Ask Him if you are harboring any unforgiveness in your life. Consecrate your life to "walking on the waters of forgiveness" from this day forward. Make a covenant with God to seek restorative justice from this day forward with those who have/will hurt you ... for your good and God's glory.
What is God speaking to your heart today? I would like to hear from you ... Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Ephesians 1 tells us that "the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in us..." Often when people talk about the power of Christ working in them they're thinking of the "walking on water" type of stuff. But the ability to forgive someone else is nothing short of a miracle and is a true demonstration of the power of Christ. Let me give you an example.
In the summer of 1994, over the course of 100 days more than one million Rwandan Tutsi were slaughtered by the Hutu militias. The brutality of such ethnic hatred shocked the world and left Rwanda in shambles. Many asked, would it even be possible to rebuild a society ravaged by genocide and steeped with such fear, hurt and hatred for one another?
Then the Christians stepped forward with a radical solution based upon the example of Jesus Christ. Instead of relying on the government to put things right the Rwandans were invited to tap into the healing power of forgiveness. The concept was called "restorative justice" and was implemented in village tribunals rather than in government buildings and courtrooms.
Through restorative justice victims and perpetrators would voluntarily assemble before the entire village and panel of elders. There the criminals would openly confess what they had done and cast themselves on the mercy of those whom they had grossly offended and abused. Giant billboards were erected along the roadsides with the words: "Tell us what you know. Admit what you have done. The Truth will heal the land." Slowly, forgiveness began to heal the land and the hearts of the Rwandan people. (this information was adapted from Revive, Vol. 40, Issue 1, Spring 2009, page 5)
What a wonderful picture of the power of God working through people. This is nothing less than the resurrection "miracle working" power of Jesus Christ manifesting in the lives of the Rwandan people. The question is: Do you have this same power working in you?
I want to encourage you to get alone with God sometime today. Ask Him if you are harboring any unforgiveness in your life. Consecrate your life to "walking on the waters of forgiveness" from this day forward. Make a covenant with God to seek restorative justice from this day forward with those who have/will hurt you ... for your good and God's glory.
What is God speaking to your heart today? I would like to hear from you ... Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, April 13, 2009
Forgiveness
Schadenfreude!
"Schadenfreude is a word from German decent meaning to take pleasure in the suffering of another." In context Craig Boreth is writing to new fathers and says "there is no sweeter sound than someone else's kid screaming in a public place while yours silently sleeps on your lap. (How to Feel Manly in a Minivan, page 133)
Schadenfreude ... I have included this phrase this morning for a couple of reasons. One, even though my babies are 27, 25 and 21 years old I can still recall some of the awkward moments of having a screaming kid in a quiet church service. For some reason the boys never quite got it ... didn't they know that the preacher's kids are not suppose to act out during prayer times, sermons or altar calls?
Another reason I am including Boreth's quote is because it is a theme I see over and over again in counseling. People just simply enjoy schadenfreude for those who have harmed them in some way or another. As if suffering for the one who has hurt us is some how viewed as righteous justice from on High.
I suppose we all have a story. Some difficulty, tragedy, or sin that requires us to respond. Like someone trapped in a loveless marriage, where the hurts keep piling on with no end in sight. Or someone who has been falsely accused, slandered, humiliated, violated or cheated.
Perhaps we have chosen not to deal with it through forgiveness thinking that we are not harboring unforgiveness or bitterness and yet we keep talking about how deeply we have been hurt or sinned against by another. Implying that we are merely helpless victims. But are we destined to live damaged lives? Or is there real healing for life's hurts? I say there is ... through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 states "that by His stripes we are healed!" The Easter season serves as a reminder that Jesus Christ is all about forgiveness, relationship and restoration. We cannot truly experience it in our own heart, family or church until we learn to forgive those who have caused us pain. Until we are set free from the shackles of bitterness.
What say you ... What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Will it stop the power of Christ's resurrection from being fully manifest in a person's life?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
"Schadenfreude is a word from German decent meaning to take pleasure in the suffering of another." In context Craig Boreth is writing to new fathers and says "there is no sweeter sound than someone else's kid screaming in a public place while yours silently sleeps on your lap. (How to Feel Manly in a Minivan, page 133)
Schadenfreude ... I have included this phrase this morning for a couple of reasons. One, even though my babies are 27, 25 and 21 years old I can still recall some of the awkward moments of having a screaming kid in a quiet church service. For some reason the boys never quite got it ... didn't they know that the preacher's kids are not suppose to act out during prayer times, sermons or altar calls?
Another reason I am including Boreth's quote is because it is a theme I see over and over again in counseling. People just simply enjoy schadenfreude for those who have harmed them in some way or another. As if suffering for the one who has hurt us is some how viewed as righteous justice from on High.
I suppose we all have a story. Some difficulty, tragedy, or sin that requires us to respond. Like someone trapped in a loveless marriage, where the hurts keep piling on with no end in sight. Or someone who has been falsely accused, slandered, humiliated, violated or cheated.
Perhaps we have chosen not to deal with it through forgiveness thinking that we are not harboring unforgiveness or bitterness and yet we keep talking about how deeply we have been hurt or sinned against by another. Implying that we are merely helpless victims. But are we destined to live damaged lives? Or is there real healing for life's hurts? I say there is ... through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 states "that by His stripes we are healed!" The Easter season serves as a reminder that Jesus Christ is all about forgiveness, relationship and restoration. We cannot truly experience it in our own heart, family or church until we learn to forgive those who have caused us pain. Until we are set free from the shackles of bitterness.
What say you ... What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Will it stop the power of Christ's resurrection from being fully manifest in a person's life?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Friday, April 10, 2009
Manhood - Part 5
What lens are you looking through?
In 1896, Berkley psychologist George Stratton published the findings from a study in which he wore mirror glasses that inverted his view of the world. For three weeks his view of the world was literally turned upside-down. At first he would get nauseous whenever he would move his head, let alone when he tried (and failed) to walk. But after about a week, his eyes and brain adjusted so that he saw the world as normal again, and was able to function as he had without the glasses (Craig Boreth, How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van, page 4).
This quote reminds me of the need I have for God to define me as an individual and to reset my spiritual compass to true north. I need Jesus Christ. Without His atoning work in my life I would be separated from the redemptive and restorative power of God. I would be subject to the view of self and world that comes through the lens of sin that once sat upon my face. Talk about being upside down ... wow!
Isaiah 53 says so poetically that Jesus was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering... He took up our infirmities, and carried our sorrows, He was stricken, afflicted, smitten and pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
By His wounds I am healed. That is my story on this Good Friday. That God loves me, gave His life for me by coming to earth through the person of Jesus Christ, suffered death on a Roman cross some two thousands years ago, was buried and three days later arose from the dead. I believe this... I have centered my life in Jesus Christ and I have reconciled with my God. Now He is in the process of transforming me into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Jesus has placed new lens on my face.
This is my story. What is yours? I would like to hear it.
Have a blessed Easter and thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
In 1896, Berkley psychologist George Stratton published the findings from a study in which he wore mirror glasses that inverted his view of the world. For three weeks his view of the world was literally turned upside-down. At first he would get nauseous whenever he would move his head, let alone when he tried (and failed) to walk. But after about a week, his eyes and brain adjusted so that he saw the world as normal again, and was able to function as he had without the glasses (Craig Boreth, How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van, page 4).
This quote reminds me of the need I have for God to define me as an individual and to reset my spiritual compass to true north. I need Jesus Christ. Without His atoning work in my life I would be separated from the redemptive and restorative power of God. I would be subject to the view of self and world that comes through the lens of sin that once sat upon my face. Talk about being upside down ... wow!
Isaiah 53 says so poetically that Jesus was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering... He took up our infirmities, and carried our sorrows, He was stricken, afflicted, smitten and pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
By His wounds I am healed. That is my story on this Good Friday. That God loves me, gave His life for me by coming to earth through the person of Jesus Christ, suffered death on a Roman cross some two thousands years ago, was buried and three days later arose from the dead. I believe this... I have centered my life in Jesus Christ and I have reconciled with my God. Now He is in the process of transforming me into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Jesus has placed new lens on my face.
This is my story. What is yours? I would like to hear it.
Have a blessed Easter and thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Manhood - Part 4
"How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van"
I can be a sucker for a good deal. I actually found a book on Amazon.com for a penny (plus $2.00 for shipping of course) a few weeks ago with the above title and could not help myself. I had to buy it because the price was right. That's an unwritten law for men, you know. Besides, I thought it could be used as a ministry tool. Now mind you, "I" do not need such a book, but I am suspicious that some of my friends may. So I really bought it for them.
All kidding aside, society seeks to define men in ways that contradicts God's original design. Most men I know seem to want more in life and often demonstrate an unsettledness that either drives them forward in determination or deeper into despair. Would this be true to your experience or observations as well? What contrasts or contradictions do you see regarding where men are today compared to God's original design described in the Bible?
Also, what does it take to transform a man back to God's original design? Is it attainable, if so then what process is involved? Could the answer be a dog and mini van? Hummmmmm............. :-)
P.S. As a pastor I am sworn to secrecy. So men, if you want to read my book I won't tell anyone about your struggles. Remember, I bought it for you! :-)
I bet you are dieing to see a picture of a mini van tent, aren't you? Check this out!
NICE!
OK, one quote from my new book How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van for your enrichment. Author Craig Boreth writes, "I am reminded of a quote from the movie, The Man Who Wasn't There: When you are in the maze you go through it willy-nilly, turning where you think you have to turn, banging into the dead ends, one thing after another. But when you get some distance on it, and all of those twists and turns ... why, you find out they are the shape of your life."
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
I can be a sucker for a good deal. I actually found a book on Amazon.com for a penny (plus $2.00 for shipping of course) a few weeks ago with the above title and could not help myself. I had to buy it because the price was right. That's an unwritten law for men, you know. Besides, I thought it could be used as a ministry tool. Now mind you, "I" do not need such a book, but I am suspicious that some of my friends may. So I really bought it for them.
All kidding aside, society seeks to define men in ways that contradicts God's original design. Most men I know seem to want more in life and often demonstrate an unsettledness that either drives them forward in determination or deeper into despair. Would this be true to your experience or observations as well? What contrasts or contradictions do you see regarding where men are today compared to God's original design described in the Bible?
Also, what does it take to transform a man back to God's original design? Is it attainable, if so then what process is involved? Could the answer be a dog and mini van? Hummmmmm............. :-)
P.S. As a pastor I am sworn to secrecy. So men, if you want to read my book I won't tell anyone about your struggles. Remember, I bought it for you! :-)
I bet you are dieing to see a picture of a mini van tent, aren't you? Check this out!
NICE!
OK, one quote from my new book How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van for your enrichment. Author Craig Boreth writes, "I am reminded of a quote from the movie, The Man Who Wasn't There: When you are in the maze you go through it willy-nilly, turning where you think you have to turn, banging into the dead ends, one thing after another. But when you get some distance on it, and all of those twists and turns ... why, you find out they are the shape of your life."
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Manhood - Part 3
This experience started it all!
Yes indeed. The day after Lisa totaled my Jeep on I-480 I discovered that my "manly man" Jeep had a pink airbag! You talk about a blow to the masculinity! I waited 47 years for such a vehicle. It was Army Green in color and "trail rated." It was a "man's man" kind of vehicle. It came directly from the showroom with the smell of "testosterone." What more could a guy ask for? But a pink airbag... what's up with dat?
Well, the Jeep has been replaced and I have moved on. Now, I am proud to say that I drive a mini van and it feels good! Not only that, I found a great deal online for a "mini van tent." Yes, that's right. A mini van tent that attaches to the lift gate and transforms the average "run of the mill" people hauler into a state of the art "recreational vehicle." NICE! All feels right in my world once again.
Emotion ... feelings. Words that are not commonly associated with men. However, men are emotional beings. Yes a man's focus may be different in someways from a that of a woman when it comes to understanding and demonstrating emotion. But nonetheless, men have and value emotion too. How do you see emotion playing out in a man's life? How does God intent for it to be used?
Does anyone have a "Real men drive a mini van" sticker I could have?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Yes indeed. The day after Lisa totaled my Jeep on I-480 I discovered that my "manly man" Jeep had a pink airbag! You talk about a blow to the masculinity! I waited 47 years for such a vehicle. It was Army Green in color and "trail rated." It was a "man's man" kind of vehicle. It came directly from the showroom with the smell of "testosterone." What more could a guy ask for? But a pink airbag... what's up with dat?
Well, the Jeep has been replaced and I have moved on. Now, I am proud to say that I drive a mini van and it feels good! Not only that, I found a great deal online for a "mini van tent." Yes, that's right. A mini van tent that attaches to the lift gate and transforms the average "run of the mill" people hauler into a state of the art "recreational vehicle." NICE! All feels right in my world once again.
Emotion ... feelings. Words that are not commonly associated with men. However, men are emotional beings. Yes a man's focus may be different in someways from a that of a woman when it comes to understanding and demonstrating emotion. But nonetheless, men have and value emotion too. How do you see emotion playing out in a man's life? How does God intent for it to be used?
Does anyone have a "Real men drive a mini van" sticker I could have?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Blogging made easier - Email set up
If you look to the left of the blog page you will see under "Favorite Links" a line called: "Get "Fodder" comments by email." Click on it and you will be given instructions on how to receive an email each time comments are posted on the blog. It can make blogging a lot easier.
Manhood - Part 2
I wear the pants in my family ... because I is da Man! These pictures prove it ...
That's Buster and he is the latest edition to the Halverstadt family. He is a nine month old shepherd/beagle mix that Lisa and Tim brought home from the Lake County Dog Shelter last Saturday while I was at work. Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I got home to discover a dog had moved in to my castle!
So you are probably thinking "how does this prove that Adrian wears the pants in his family?" Well, it's like this, I decided 29 years ago that "I" would make all of the major decisions in our marriage and Lisa would handle the minor ones. And, getting Buster was a minor decision. So you see, "I" actually made the decision to get a dog even though I didn't know it at the time. ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? :-)
The only issue I have found with my decision making process is determining the difference between a major and minor decision. So far, all of the decisions in 29 years of marital bliss have been minor ones (or so Lisa tells me). But, I want you to know that "I" am ready, willing and capable of making a major decision when one comes along ... cause, I is da man!
All kidding aside, the scriptures teach that man is to be the "head of the wife" in Ephesians 5:23 and elsewhere. Some may think that is an antiquated notion in the 21st century. Is God's blueprint for familial organization dated and demeaning to women? How could a women ever reach her fullest potential if she is not independent of a man's authority? What does biblical male headship mean to you?
I would like to chat more but I have got to go... Lisa gave me a "honey-do" list that I need to finish up before I can go to the office. Another one of those minor decisions, don't you know?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
That's Buster and he is the latest edition to the Halverstadt family. He is a nine month old shepherd/beagle mix that Lisa and Tim brought home from the Lake County Dog Shelter last Saturday while I was at work. Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I got home to discover a dog had moved in to my castle!
So you are probably thinking "how does this prove that Adrian wears the pants in his family?" Well, it's like this, I decided 29 years ago that "I" would make all of the major decisions in our marriage and Lisa would handle the minor ones. And, getting Buster was a minor decision. So you see, "I" actually made the decision to get a dog even though I didn't know it at the time. ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? :-)
The only issue I have found with my decision making process is determining the difference between a major and minor decision. So far, all of the decisions in 29 years of marital bliss have been minor ones (or so Lisa tells me). But, I want you to know that "I" am ready, willing and capable of making a major decision when one comes along ... cause, I is da man!
All kidding aside, the scriptures teach that man is to be the "head of the wife" in Ephesians 5:23 and elsewhere. Some may think that is an antiquated notion in the 21st century. Is God's blueprint for familial organization dated and demeaning to women? How could a women ever reach her fullest potential if she is not independent of a man's authority? What does biblical male headship mean to you?
I would like to chat more but I have got to go... Lisa gave me a "honey-do" list that I need to finish up before I can go to the office. Another one of those minor decisions, don't you know?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Monday, April 6, 2009
Manhood
What is man that Thou art mindful of him? (Psalm 8:4)
That is a question asked by one of the Old Testament prophets in an attempt to understand God's perspective on man. Why would He love us so? What is it about man that God would give His life in ransom for man? That is a question each generation asks and the scriptures clearly answers in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ..." SWEET! That says it all, does it not?
But let's play off the first part of the above phrase for a moment. "What is man...?" Good question, huh? What is God's expection for a man today? What is a biblical definition for mansulinity? Sounds like good fodder for discussion to me!
What say you? Can you embellish this subject with me for a few days? As you contemplate the Christian male role today what topics/subjects come to mind for discussion? Who is man to be by oringinal design?
(Lady bloggers, I would really like your perspective on this subject. I understand if you feel compelled to post comments anonymously. But by all means, be sure to read the comments posted over the next few days. If nothing more you may get a chuckle from the men!)
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
That is a question asked by one of the Old Testament prophets in an attempt to understand God's perspective on man. Why would He love us so? What is it about man that God would give His life in ransom for man? That is a question each generation asks and the scriptures clearly answers in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ..." SWEET! That says it all, does it not?
But let's play off the first part of the above phrase for a moment. "What is man...?" Good question, huh? What is God's expection for a man today? What is a biblical definition for mansulinity? Sounds like good fodder for discussion to me!
What say you? Can you embellish this subject with me for a few days? As you contemplate the Christian male role today what topics/subjects come to mind for discussion? Who is man to be by oringinal design?
(Lady bloggers, I would really like your perspective on this subject. I understand if you feel compelled to post comments anonymously. But by all means, be sure to read the comments posted over the next few days. If nothing more you may get a chuckle from the men!)
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Membership - Conclusion
For me this has been a great week of dialogue on the subject of church membership. As I stated in my first posting for the week it is my desire for more participation among our attendees in the decision making process of the church. I hope over the next several months our Spiritual Life Commission, elders and staff will continue to discern what is in the best interest of our fellowship regarding this matter. We have certainly provided them a lot of fodder to chew on through the blog.
I would like to thank those of you who participated in this discussion. I value your opinion on matters such as this. The older I become the more I appreciate the truth that rings forth from the old Quaker saying that "Friends do not go where Friends do not go together." As a body we must move together on important decisions and constantly assessing our practices for relevance and effectiveness. Through discernment of the Holy Spirit, open dialogue, and consensus we can get to where God wants us to be and continually stay there.
I am excited for Willoughby Hills Friends Church. God is uniting us through His love and purpose. We have spirit filled leaders who believe that God still speaks to His people today and they are bent on hearing and obeying His voice. I am encouraged to hear from this week's discussion that you want to include and not exclude people in the body life our church while still maintaining doctrinal integrity and the heritage of our testimonies. SWEET!
Heavenly Father,
We your humble servants at WHFC want to glorify You in every way. We consecrate our lives and church to You. Lead us we pray. May our joy be found in serving our fellow man and through the kindred spirits with have with one another. Please give our leadership discernment regarding our membership procedure. And Lord, as in other matters, we will patiently, prayerful, humbly wait Your leading and direction.
In Jesus' name, Amen
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
I would like to thank those of you who participated in this discussion. I value your opinion on matters such as this. The older I become the more I appreciate the truth that rings forth from the old Quaker saying that "Friends do not go where Friends do not go together." As a body we must move together on important decisions and constantly assessing our practices for relevance and effectiveness. Through discernment of the Holy Spirit, open dialogue, and consensus we can get to where God wants us to be and continually stay there.
I am excited for Willoughby Hills Friends Church. God is uniting us through His love and purpose. We have spirit filled leaders who believe that God still speaks to His people today and they are bent on hearing and obeying His voice. I am encouraged to hear from this week's discussion that you want to include and not exclude people in the body life our church while still maintaining doctrinal integrity and the heritage of our testimonies. SWEET!
Heavenly Father,
We your humble servants at WHFC want to glorify You in every way. We consecrate our lives and church to You. Lead us we pray. May our joy be found in serving our fellow man and through the kindred spirits with have with one another. Please give our leadership discernment regarding our membership procedure. And Lord, as in other matters, we will patiently, prayerful, humbly wait Your leading and direction.
In Jesus' name, Amen
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Friday, April 3, 2009
Membership - Part 6
Organizational Structure
George Barna, Donald Cousins and other church guru of statistics report that the average church in America aligns with the following (or similar) organizational structure:
> Board Led
> Staff Run (or solo pastor)
> Congregation Served
> World Ignored
I believe a biblical organizational model for a church is:
> Board Protected
> Staff Led (paid/unpaid people who are commissioned by the church)
> Congregation Serving
> World Served
I believe the above biblical model is close to how we are organizationally structured at this time. We are still defining roles and very much in the process of providing our key lay leaders with more responsibility over the membership of the church (namely, elders and overseers). I assume a healthy change in the membership procedure at WHFC would require us to view the role of elders and overseers all the more in this way.
Instead of screening membership applicants for conformity to the doctrine and testimonies of Friends the overseers would focus more on searching out the relationship candidates have with Christ and their commitment to the vision, mission and objectives of WHFC. Then they would make recommendations for membership to Administrative Council assuring these two primary objectives have been met. They would also be empowered to spend more of their time and resources assessing the giftedness of members, discerning the calling of the Holy Spirit for ministry among members, making recommendations to the Nominating Committee for action, and assume greater responsibility to thoroughly disciple and develop those under their sphere of responsibility and care.
In addition, we would need for the elders to be able to spend less of their time and energy each month assessing and developing policy and procedure and function more in a biblical role of protecting the body of Christ. The scriptures make this matter of importance very clear. In Acts 20 Paul tells the elders in Miletus, "Be on guard for all the flock which the Holy Spirit has made you an overseers, to shepherd the church of God." Paul goes on to say to the elders that "savage wolves" would come and "speak perverse things that will draw people away." Paul's admonition to elders was to protect the flock from harm.
Peter tells elders in his first book "to shepherd the flock of God among you... with eagerness" (5:2). In Hebrews the church is told to submit to the elders "who are to keep watch over their souls and who will one day give account to God" (13:17). James states, the congregation should "call upon the elders when they are sick for anointing and prayer and to seek how help when struggling with sin" (5:13-15). Clearly scripture calls elders to pastor people as priority number one.
Specific to this discussion on membership is Acts 6:1-6. Here scripture presents the role of elders as given to the ministry of prayer and teaching the Bible and searching out needs in the body of Christ and the appointment of Spirit filled, qualified people to serve. Clearly elders are given the duty of delegation in the New Testament as priority number two.
I believe these objectives will require further consideration in order to change our membership practice from being "doctrinally driven" to "relationship based" and still maintain integrity in discipleship, discipline and screening for leadership. I guess it would be the Spiritual life elders responsibility to make all of this happen. What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
George Barna, Donald Cousins and other church guru of statistics report that the average church in America aligns with the following (or similar) organizational structure:
> Board Led
> Staff Run (or solo pastor)
> Congregation Served
> World Ignored
I believe a biblical organizational model for a church is:
> Board Protected
> Staff Led (paid/unpaid people who are commissioned by the church)
> Congregation Serving
> World Served
I believe the above biblical model is close to how we are organizationally structured at this time. We are still defining roles and very much in the process of providing our key lay leaders with more responsibility over the membership of the church (namely, elders and overseers). I assume a healthy change in the membership procedure at WHFC would require us to view the role of elders and overseers all the more in this way.
Instead of screening membership applicants for conformity to the doctrine and testimonies of Friends the overseers would focus more on searching out the relationship candidates have with Christ and their commitment to the vision, mission and objectives of WHFC. Then they would make recommendations for membership to Administrative Council assuring these two primary objectives have been met. They would also be empowered to spend more of their time and resources assessing the giftedness of members, discerning the calling of the Holy Spirit for ministry among members, making recommendations to the Nominating Committee for action, and assume greater responsibility to thoroughly disciple and develop those under their sphere of responsibility and care.
In addition, we would need for the elders to be able to spend less of their time and energy each month assessing and developing policy and procedure and function more in a biblical role of protecting the body of Christ. The scriptures make this matter of importance very clear. In Acts 20 Paul tells the elders in Miletus, "Be on guard for all the flock which the Holy Spirit has made you an overseers, to shepherd the church of God." Paul goes on to say to the elders that "savage wolves" would come and "speak perverse things that will draw people away." Paul's admonition to elders was to protect the flock from harm.
Peter tells elders in his first book "to shepherd the flock of God among you... with eagerness" (5:2). In Hebrews the church is told to submit to the elders "who are to keep watch over their souls and who will one day give account to God" (13:17). James states, the congregation should "call upon the elders when they are sick for anointing and prayer and to seek how help when struggling with sin" (5:13-15). Clearly scripture calls elders to pastor people as priority number one.
Specific to this discussion on membership is Acts 6:1-6. Here scripture presents the role of elders as given to the ministry of prayer and teaching the Bible and searching out needs in the body of Christ and the appointment of Spirit filled, qualified people to serve. Clearly elders are given the duty of delegation in the New Testament as priority number two.
I believe these objectives will require further consideration in order to change our membership practice from being "doctrinally driven" to "relationship based" and still maintain integrity in discipleship, discipline and screening for leadership. I guess it would be the Spiritual life elders responsibility to make all of this happen. What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Membership - Part 5
He who loves disciplines... Proverbs 13:24
"Spare the rod and spoil the child; The Lord disciplines those whom He loves," and "He who loves disciplines" are common citings used from the Bible to emphasis the need for discipline in the House of God. As we progress in our discussion about church membership I am wondering how you see church discipline fitting into the mix?
Up until this point our church membership has had a strong affinity with the doctrine and testimonies of Friends. There had to be some level of conformity pledged and demonstrated before membership was granted. It sounds to me like the majority of people want membership to be more relational in orientation. Members need to have relationship with Christ and affinity with the vision of the church but not necessarily be in compliance or have conformity with doctrine and testimonies of Friends. And yet, most of you see the value of doctrine and testimonies.
So where does church discipline fit into your membership scheme? What does church discipline look like in your model? Do we not need some level of conformity in the meetinghouse? If our vision is to love God and people unconditionally... and God equates loving with discipline... then how is it embraced and enforced if not in or through the membership process?
Thanks for your comments and for stopping by today!
-------
Adrian
"Spare the rod and spoil the child; The Lord disciplines those whom He loves," and "He who loves disciplines" are common citings used from the Bible to emphasis the need for discipline in the House of God. As we progress in our discussion about church membership I am wondering how you see church discipline fitting into the mix?
Up until this point our church membership has had a strong affinity with the doctrine and testimonies of Friends. There had to be some level of conformity pledged and demonstrated before membership was granted. It sounds to me like the majority of people want membership to be more relational in orientation. Members need to have relationship with Christ and affinity with the vision of the church but not necessarily be in compliance or have conformity with doctrine and testimonies of Friends. And yet, most of you see the value of doctrine and testimonies.
So where does church discipline fit into your membership scheme? What does church discipline look like in your model? Do we not need some level of conformity in the meetinghouse? If our vision is to love God and people unconditionally... and God equates loving with discipline... then how is it embraced and enforced if not in or through the membership process?
Thanks for your comments and for stopping by today!
-------
Adrian
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Membership - Part 4
What I hear you saying is ...
That was one of the phrases I remember from the late 70's that was said to enrich interpersonal communication. I still use it some in counseling sessions today. It helps communicate understanding and clarity in communication. So much of problem solving requires effective communication. The issues/problems must be surfaced, emotion expressed and validated, needs communicated, solutions found, etc.
So, if I hear you correctly on the subject of membership your sense of the Spirit is:
One, the threshold for membership is relationship with Christ and affinity with the vision, mission and objectives of the local church. Two, adhering to doctrine and testimonies should not be a stopper for membership but has value in the maturation of the Christian life and in the health of body life. Three, discernment of leadership qualities should come through relationship. That one should not serve in leadership positions unless testimony is given by others in the fellowship that includes: call, character, competence and commitment on the part of the candidate. Right?
Who then has the responsibility to oversee this discerning process? How would information flow and to whom would it be funneled? This seems like it would be quite a task in a church of 1200 don't you think?
By the way, I like this venue. When you get all of my professional needs addressed can you fix the rest of me too? "How does that make you feel?" (That's another one of those psycho-babble phrases from the 70's)
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
That was one of the phrases I remember from the late 70's that was said to enrich interpersonal communication. I still use it some in counseling sessions today. It helps communicate understanding and clarity in communication. So much of problem solving requires effective communication. The issues/problems must be surfaced, emotion expressed and validated, needs communicated, solutions found, etc.
So, if I hear you correctly on the subject of membership your sense of the Spirit is:
One, the threshold for membership is relationship with Christ and affinity with the vision, mission and objectives of the local church. Two, adhering to doctrine and testimonies should not be a stopper for membership but has value in the maturation of the Christian life and in the health of body life. Three, discernment of leadership qualities should come through relationship. That one should not serve in leadership positions unless testimony is given by others in the fellowship that includes: call, character, competence and commitment on the part of the candidate. Right?
Who then has the responsibility to oversee this discerning process? How would information flow and to whom would it be funneled? This seems like it would be quite a task in a church of 1200 don't you think?
By the way, I like this venue. When you get all of my professional needs addressed can you fix the rest of me too? "How does that make you feel?" (That's another one of those psycho-babble phrases from the 70's)
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Monday, March 30, 2009
Membership - Part 3
"Survey said..."
I like that phrase from the Family Feud television show. I appreciate all of the comments regarding church membership. Some have posted on the blog and others have sent email. I have enjoyed open discussion with our staff, elders, and Area Superintendent over this past week as well. The Survey Said: the majority opinion from each of the above groups is that something needs to change. For the good of the local church we need more people engaged in membership.
The consensus of those surveyed was that membership should be limited to Christ followers who share an affinity with the vision and mission of our local church. That adhering to doctrine and testimonies is important to the body life of the fellowship and for the personal discipleship of the attender but should not be a stopper for membership.
One person suggested we could view church membership similar to how we credential our pastors. As a denomination we "record" what God has ordained and issue a license to pastors for public ministry. Likewise, through membership we could simply acknowledge the redemptive work of God in an attender's life and welcome them into fellowship.
All of this leads me to another question for discussion, "How then do we discern acceptability for leadership in the local meetinghouse if we are not screening for it in the membership process?" Is there a practical, effective way to identify spiritual gifts, and the biblical standards and qualifications that are required to lead or teach in a local church?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
I like that phrase from the Family Feud television show. I appreciate all of the comments regarding church membership. Some have posted on the blog and others have sent email. I have enjoyed open discussion with our staff, elders, and Area Superintendent over this past week as well. The Survey Said: the majority opinion from each of the above groups is that something needs to change. For the good of the local church we need more people engaged in membership.
The consensus of those surveyed was that membership should be limited to Christ followers who share an affinity with the vision and mission of our local church. That adhering to doctrine and testimonies is important to the body life of the fellowship and for the personal discipleship of the attender but should not be a stopper for membership.
One person suggested we could view church membership similar to how we credential our pastors. As a denomination we "record" what God has ordained and issue a license to pastors for public ministry. Likewise, through membership we could simply acknowledge the redemptive work of God in an attender's life and welcome them into fellowship.
All of this leads me to another question for discussion, "How then do we discern acceptability for leadership in the local meetinghouse if we are not screening for it in the membership process?" Is there a practical, effective way to identify spiritual gifts, and the biblical standards and qualifications that are required to lead or teach in a local church?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Church Membership - Part 2
What Should be the Qualifications for Membership?
I think this question begs asking from yesterday's discussion thread. Should anything beyond a commitment and active participation in a local church be required for membership? What should the qualifications be?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
I think this question begs asking from yesterday's discussion thread. Should anything beyond a commitment and active participation in a local church be required for membership? What should the qualifications be?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Church Membership
Is Church membership biblically based?
I ask that question out of concern for the local church. As district superintendent I see the statistics and membership is down across the board in our denomination. Not weekly attendance per se, but membership. Some might say, "So what's the big deal if attendees do not want to join the church? They still attend, serve and give their money, etc.!"
The "big deal" for our denomination is this, we are a "congregationally lead" organization. Power and decision making resides with individual members. Our system of government needs spirit lead members for discern the will of God and make decisions accordingly. If they choose not to participate then the system is incomplete, "broken," if you will.
Without the church body as a whole participating in this process "factions" or "special interest" groups/agendas can greatly influence to direction of the church. All the Evangelical Friends Church needs as a movement for Satan to beset the local church is for Spirit-filled saints to not participate in the governance of the church. In reality, all that it would take to change policy and procedure of a local fellowship is a dominant personality who has "kissed the Blarney Stone" (referring to someone with a silver tongue and can wield influence over those with weaker personalities) to present a "cause" and rally the troops for a majority vote, and it is a "done deal" in the Friend's movement. It could happen in the local church or at annual conference. In some ways, our form of government is fragile in this way.
So, we begin this discussion by restating the question, "Is church membership as we practice it biblically based?" Is it broke because it is not the will of God in the first place? As we read Paul's words in I Corinthians 12,"For just as it the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For from one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (12-13)" is he saying that membership is universal through faith in Christ? Or is this an obscure passage that needs the support of the context of scripture for proper interpretation?
What say you on this subject? Is there a biblical basis for church membership? Maybe it does not really matter whether is is biblically based or not. Should it be?
Regardless, it seems like some change is needed in how we govern our affairs in the Friends' movement. Why do you think regular attenders are not joining the local church? How can we address the poor participation at called business meetings? I look forward to discussion on this topic.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
I ask that question out of concern for the local church. As district superintendent I see the statistics and membership is down across the board in our denomination. Not weekly attendance per se, but membership. Some might say, "So what's the big deal if attendees do not want to join the church? They still attend, serve and give their money, etc.!"
The "big deal" for our denomination is this, we are a "congregationally lead" organization. Power and decision making resides with individual members. Our system of government needs spirit lead members for discern the will of God and make decisions accordingly. If they choose not to participate then the system is incomplete, "broken," if you will.
Without the church body as a whole participating in this process "factions" or "special interest" groups/agendas can greatly influence to direction of the church. All the Evangelical Friends Church needs as a movement for Satan to beset the local church is for Spirit-filled saints to not participate in the governance of the church. In reality, all that it would take to change policy and procedure of a local fellowship is a dominant personality who has "kissed the Blarney Stone" (referring to someone with a silver tongue and can wield influence over those with weaker personalities) to present a "cause" and rally the troops for a majority vote, and it is a "done deal" in the Friend's movement. It could happen in the local church or at annual conference. In some ways, our form of government is fragile in this way.
So, we begin this discussion by restating the question, "Is church membership as we practice it biblically based?" Is it broke because it is not the will of God in the first place? As we read Paul's words in I Corinthians 12,"For just as it the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For from one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (12-13)" is he saying that membership is universal through faith in Christ? Or is this an obscure passage that needs the support of the context of scripture for proper interpretation?
What say you on this subject? Is there a biblical basis for church membership? Maybe it does not really matter whether is is biblically based or not. Should it be?
Regardless, it seems like some change is needed in how we govern our affairs in the Friends' movement. Why do you think regular attenders are not joining the local church? How can we address the poor participation at called business meetings? I look forward to discussion on this topic.
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Friday, March 27, 2009
Success - Part 5
"Do you ever wish we had a new word for “Christian?”
That quote is from an article called "Those who would be Christians," by John Fischer. Let me share it with you today and I look forward to your comments.
I bet there are a lot of people out there who would be Christians if they didn’t have to become a “Christian” to be one. If that sounds confusing, it’s because I’m not talking about true Christianity but about how the word “Christian” has been translated into contemporary American life and culture. “Christian” has now become commonplace. But what we think of when we use the “C” word is rarely what the rest of the world is thinking.
When they hear the word “Christian,” the average non-Christian doesn’t think of the church at large or of followers of Christ in all cultures, classes, denominations, races and nationalities. They are more likely to have in mind a kind of American cultural Christianity that is a composite of what has surfaced in the media in this country in the last 15-20 years—a stilted stereotype at best. Whether we like it or not, we have been branded, and the image is not a good one.
My wife is a marketing executive. She knows that selling products has to do with consciously branding them. For instance, LL Bean has come to represent Yankee honesty and value; Volvo has a worldwide reputation for building the safest cars; Disney is the undisputed expert at entertaining children (of all ages). These associations are no accident. They are designed by marketers to tie a personality or identity to a product or company aimed at a targeted market. Though the Christian brand may not have been the brainchild of a conscious marketing strategy, we are branded nonetheless by a stereotype that has little to do with truly following Christ. In short, Christians have been branded into an image that most non-Christians reject, even those who would be Christians. Truthfully, many Christians reject it, too, but few non-Christians know this unless they get close enough to our lives to see the difference.
The world hears “Christian” and sees a white, middle-class conservative on a political soapbox with an American flag in one hand and a Bible in the other. It doesn’t imagine a kid with dread locks and bones in his nose singing about Jesus. It doesn’t imagine an African-American pastor helping neighborhood kids get off drugs. It doesn’t imagine a body of Vietnamese Christians sharing a church with Hispanic believers in the middle of rural California. And, saddest of all, it doesn’t imagine non-judgmental people with compassion who are marked by their kindness to others and generous spirit of service and unconditional love. It is truly a tragedy that a merciful gospel that welcomes everyone is branded by an image that speaks for only a few.
I think as Christians, we have put too much into our media-based efforts to spread the gospel and not enough into our own lives and relationships. It has been these mass-market efforts that, to a large extent, are responsible for this branding of Christianity—one that is counter-productive to the gospel, driving away those who would be Christians because they can’t get past the brand.
As Christians, we are all bearers of Christ, and our lives become the proving ground of faith in the world. If the world rejects the Christian brand, it may not be such a bad thing, as long as real Christians give people something tangible to put in its place. That kind of witness can’t be found in a song or a TV show or a film series or even a seeker-sensitive church service. It comes over coffee or at the ball game, or while car pooling to work or working out at the gym. Personally, I think the world is full of people who would be Christians if they could just meet and get to know a real one in a natural, normal setting.
Christians need to be shaken from these stereotypes as much as the world needs to encounter the message free of them. To a certain extent we have cooperated with this branding effort because it has given us a false sense of power and influence, and it has enabled us to hide in a subculture, safe from a hostile world. Letting a brand dictate the gospel to the world seems potent, but, at the end of the day, no one is closer to the truth, ourselves included.
There is a place for a public representation of a Christian and the Christian point of view, but it will be in the relationships of our private lives where the reality of faith lives or dies. Those who would be Christians may not think they like Christians, but it’s only because they haven’t really met one yet. They’ve only seen and heard the brand. This is where you and I come in. (John Ficher, The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, ©2008)
What are your thoughts on John's article and how we can be more successful in the "courtroom" of public opinion?
Thanks for stopping by!
---------
Adrian
That quote is from an article called "Those who would be Christians," by John Fischer. Let me share it with you today and I look forward to your comments.
I bet there are a lot of people out there who would be Christians if they didn’t have to become a “Christian” to be one. If that sounds confusing, it’s because I’m not talking about true Christianity but about how the word “Christian” has been translated into contemporary American life and culture. “Christian” has now become commonplace. But what we think of when we use the “C” word is rarely what the rest of the world is thinking.
When they hear the word “Christian,” the average non-Christian doesn’t think of the church at large or of followers of Christ in all cultures, classes, denominations, races and nationalities. They are more likely to have in mind a kind of American cultural Christianity that is a composite of what has surfaced in the media in this country in the last 15-20 years—a stilted stereotype at best. Whether we like it or not, we have been branded, and the image is not a good one.
My wife is a marketing executive. She knows that selling products has to do with consciously branding them. For instance, LL Bean has come to represent Yankee honesty and value; Volvo has a worldwide reputation for building the safest cars; Disney is the undisputed expert at entertaining children (of all ages). These associations are no accident. They are designed by marketers to tie a personality or identity to a product or company aimed at a targeted market. Though the Christian brand may not have been the brainchild of a conscious marketing strategy, we are branded nonetheless by a stereotype that has little to do with truly following Christ. In short, Christians have been branded into an image that most non-Christians reject, even those who would be Christians. Truthfully, many Christians reject it, too, but few non-Christians know this unless they get close enough to our lives to see the difference.
The world hears “Christian” and sees a white, middle-class conservative on a political soapbox with an American flag in one hand and a Bible in the other. It doesn’t imagine a kid with dread locks and bones in his nose singing about Jesus. It doesn’t imagine an African-American pastor helping neighborhood kids get off drugs. It doesn’t imagine a body of Vietnamese Christians sharing a church with Hispanic believers in the middle of rural California. And, saddest of all, it doesn’t imagine non-judgmental people with compassion who are marked by their kindness to others and generous spirit of service and unconditional love. It is truly a tragedy that a merciful gospel that welcomes everyone is branded by an image that speaks for only a few.
I think as Christians, we have put too much into our media-based efforts to spread the gospel and not enough into our own lives and relationships. It has been these mass-market efforts that, to a large extent, are responsible for this branding of Christianity—one that is counter-productive to the gospel, driving away those who would be Christians because they can’t get past the brand.
As Christians, we are all bearers of Christ, and our lives become the proving ground of faith in the world. If the world rejects the Christian brand, it may not be such a bad thing, as long as real Christians give people something tangible to put in its place. That kind of witness can’t be found in a song or a TV show or a film series or even a seeker-sensitive church service. It comes over coffee or at the ball game, or while car pooling to work or working out at the gym. Personally, I think the world is full of people who would be Christians if they could just meet and get to know a real one in a natural, normal setting.
Christians need to be shaken from these stereotypes as much as the world needs to encounter the message free of them. To a certain extent we have cooperated with this branding effort because it has given us a false sense of power and influence, and it has enabled us to hide in a subculture, safe from a hostile world. Letting a brand dictate the gospel to the world seems potent, but, at the end of the day, no one is closer to the truth, ourselves included.
There is a place for a public representation of a Christian and the Christian point of view, but it will be in the relationships of our private lives where the reality of faith lives or dies. Those who would be Christians may not think they like Christians, but it’s only because they haven’t really met one yet. They’ve only seen and heard the brand. This is where you and I come in. (John Ficher, The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, ©2008)
What are your thoughts on John's article and how we can be more successful in the "courtroom" of public opinion?
Thanks for stopping by!
---------
Adrian
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Success - Part 4
"Love: Noun it ... Verb it!"
When measuring our success as a Christian I think we need to develop a matrix that is framed in love because Christianity is a relationship and not religion, per se. The goal of Christianity is defined by Jesus Christ as "Abiding in Christ ... Abiding in love" (John 15). This is how God defines success in Christian living. This is the divine target, "the yardstick," if you will, that we must use to measure our success as a Christian.
When considering a "rubric" for our Christianity I like what the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter. He says, "...do not pass judgement before its time...but wait for the Lord to bring things to light... He will disclose motives and heart... then each man's praise will come to him from God" (4:3-5) NICE! God is the one whom we will answer to, so why not let Him dispense whatever praise we receive? It should be on His terms, not ours.
What are God's expectations for our success ... our daily focus? Consider four questions to this end. One, Are you being faithful? In Matthew 25:14-23 Jesus is telling the story that we know today as the parable of the talents. He concludes this section of scripture with the words, "Well done good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things ... enter in to the joy of your master." What could the "few things" be? Well, Jesus mentions "rest" and "joy," just to name a few. Maybe He wants us to stop striving to make the relationship grow and simply rest in His love and presence. Are you being faithful in this way?
Two, Are you bearing fruit? Be a fruit inspector ... Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit present in your life? Invite God to be your "husbandman" and prune and groom you into greater fruitfulness for His glory and the growth in ytour relationship with Him (Galatians 5:22-23). Don't sweat it ... just trust His leadership and direction in this area.
Three, ask yourself, "Am I fulfilled? Full of what? Joy, of course. Matthew 25:23 says that "faithfulness" leads joy; In John 15:11 Jesus said, "I have spoken to you so that your joy may be full; In Luke 10:17 we read where the 70 returned from faithful service "full of joy!" Let joy serve as a barometer in helping to discern your success as a Christian.
Four, "Are you making God famous with your life?" Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "To let our light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." Whatever it is your sense God leading you to do in or with your life, let your motivation be to allow Jesus to shine through you! Shine Jesus shine. Fill this land with the Father's glory ... SWEET!
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
When measuring our success as a Christian I think we need to develop a matrix that is framed in love because Christianity is a relationship and not religion, per se. The goal of Christianity is defined by Jesus Christ as "Abiding in Christ ... Abiding in love" (John 15). This is how God defines success in Christian living. This is the divine target, "the yardstick," if you will, that we must use to measure our success as a Christian.
When considering a "rubric" for our Christianity I like what the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter. He says, "...do not pass judgement before its time...but wait for the Lord to bring things to light... He will disclose motives and heart... then each man's praise will come to him from God" (4:3-5) NICE! God is the one whom we will answer to, so why not let Him dispense whatever praise we receive? It should be on His terms, not ours.
What are God's expectations for our success ... our daily focus? Consider four questions to this end. One, Are you being faithful? In Matthew 25:14-23 Jesus is telling the story that we know today as the parable of the talents. He concludes this section of scripture with the words, "Well done good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things ... enter in to the joy of your master." What could the "few things" be? Well, Jesus mentions "rest" and "joy," just to name a few. Maybe He wants us to stop striving to make the relationship grow and simply rest in His love and presence. Are you being faithful in this way?
Two, Are you bearing fruit? Be a fruit inspector ... Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit present in your life? Invite God to be your "husbandman" and prune and groom you into greater fruitfulness for His glory and the growth in ytour relationship with Him (Galatians 5:22-23). Don't sweat it ... just trust His leadership and direction in this area.
Three, ask yourself, "Am I fulfilled? Full of what? Joy, of course. Matthew 25:23 says that "faithfulness" leads joy; In John 15:11 Jesus said, "I have spoken to you so that your joy may be full; In Luke 10:17 we read where the 70 returned from faithful service "full of joy!" Let joy serve as a barometer in helping to discern your success as a Christian.
Four, "Are you making God famous with your life?" Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "To let our light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." Whatever it is your sense God leading you to do in or with your life, let your motivation be to allow Jesus to shine through you! Shine Jesus shine. Fill this land with the Father's glory ... SWEET!
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Success - Part 3
"Success is getting what you want ... Happiness is wanting what you get"
A friend made that comment Saturday at the Men's Fight Club. It reminds me of another saying I heard growing up, "Be careful what you ask for ... you may actually get it!" Jesus said, "For what does it prosper a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul in the process." If nothing more, each of these statements remind us of the need to stay focused on what really matters in life. To not major in the minors!
Dr. Robert Hughes said in my Survey of the Old Testament class so many years ago, "Good becomes evil if it keeps you from God's best." I like that statement as well. In fact, I think all of the above proverbs ring true when considering how we measure our Christian life.
I would suggest that being success driven in this area of life can actually be injurious if not kept in proper focus. When "results" become more important to us than the object of original desire "Jesus," we have stepped on to a "slippery slope" spiritually speaking, for sure. The pursuit of serving Christ can quickly overshadow our relationship with Christ if it becomes the primary focus of measuring our success as a Christian.
Pride always besets Christian growth. It sets us back relationally with Jesus and others every time. The Apostle Paul echoed this when he told the Corinthians that "knowledge makes arrogant" in his first letter (8:1). One can easily see how success can create a pecking order from which to judge others by. Humans seems to be prone to comparison anyhow. We tend to compete for trophies (literally or figuratively) and place them on display for others to view.
Pride can also lead to spiritual presumption if we are "trophy focused" in measuring our spirituality. If the "achievements" tell us where we place in the contest of Christianity then one might naturally conclude that the one who has the most accolades on display must be more spiritual and has acquired favor/recognition from God. Could anything be further from the teaching of Jesus regarding position in His kingdom? Yet, so many embrace this mindset.
I think some others dangers of inappropriately measuring our Christianity would be discouragement and frustration as well. These are "biggies" in the church today. Naturally if the ego is inflated by performance- based success then deflation must occur when the results are not met. No doubt we have all witnessed Christians with a "morale problem" for this very reason.
Often this kind of "hamster-wheel spirituality" leads to "spiritual driven-ness" or "compromise" in order to cope with unrealistic spiritual expectations. How sad. Clearly this is not the abundant life that Jesus gave His life for and longs for His followers to experience.
"Success is getting what you want...happiness is wanting what you get" I want Jesus. A relationship with Christ that is richer, fuller, sweeter. One that is growing sweeter as the days go by! What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
A friend made that comment Saturday at the Men's Fight Club. It reminds me of another saying I heard growing up, "Be careful what you ask for ... you may actually get it!" Jesus said, "For what does it prosper a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul in the process." If nothing more, each of these statements remind us of the need to stay focused on what really matters in life. To not major in the minors!
Dr. Robert Hughes said in my Survey of the Old Testament class so many years ago, "Good becomes evil if it keeps you from God's best." I like that statement as well. In fact, I think all of the above proverbs ring true when considering how we measure our Christian life.
I would suggest that being success driven in this area of life can actually be injurious if not kept in proper focus. When "results" become more important to us than the object of original desire "Jesus," we have stepped on to a "slippery slope" spiritually speaking, for sure. The pursuit of serving Christ can quickly overshadow our relationship with Christ if it becomes the primary focus of measuring our success as a Christian.
Pride always besets Christian growth. It sets us back relationally with Jesus and others every time. The Apostle Paul echoed this when he told the Corinthians that "knowledge makes arrogant" in his first letter (8:1). One can easily see how success can create a pecking order from which to judge others by. Humans seems to be prone to comparison anyhow. We tend to compete for trophies (literally or figuratively) and place them on display for others to view.
Pride can also lead to spiritual presumption if we are "trophy focused" in measuring our spirituality. If the "achievements" tell us where we place in the contest of Christianity then one might naturally conclude that the one who has the most accolades on display must be more spiritual and has acquired favor/recognition from God. Could anything be further from the teaching of Jesus regarding position in His kingdom? Yet, so many embrace this mindset.
I think some others dangers of inappropriately measuring our Christianity would be discouragement and frustration as well. These are "biggies" in the church today. Naturally if the ego is inflated by performance- based success then deflation must occur when the results are not met. No doubt we have all witnessed Christians with a "morale problem" for this very reason.
Often this kind of "hamster-wheel spirituality" leads to "spiritual driven-ness" or "compromise" in order to cope with unrealistic spiritual expectations. How sad. Clearly this is not the abundant life that Jesus gave His life for and longs for His followers to experience.
"Success is getting what you want...happiness is wanting what you get" I want Jesus. A relationship with Christ that is richer, fuller, sweeter. One that is growing sweeter as the days go by! What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Success - Part 2
How do you measure success in your Christian life?
That was one of the questions I asked the Men's Fight Club last Saturday morning. I think that is a valid question, don't you? If our spiritual life is important to us, we should have a way to measure it, shouldn't we?
I think it is hard for the average person to measure success without thinking in terms of numbers. We can quickly default to performance based faith if we are not careful and begin measuring our Christianity based upon how often we attend church, pray, complete acts of service, tithe, etc. All of these are good in perspective but success in our Christian life must be more than counting nickels, noses, and notches don't you think?
Jesus said "that he came to earth so we could experience abundant life" in John 10:10. Abundant life ... a dynamic, personal, "in real time" life with Jesus! How is that measured? I would assume just like any other intimate relationship ... framed in love.
Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Do you love Me?" (John 21:17). In His choice of wording Jesus utilizes the highest form of love we have referenced in the Bible - "agape." It is both a noun and a verb. One is a covenant-the setting of our will. A commitment. A promise of sorts. The other refers to action. It involves doing.
Any intimate relationship involves both. If we love someone we "noun it" and "verb it," so to speak. Success in relationship occurs when two people are committed to one another and intentionally study, identify and service the needs of each other. Through such commitment and service we stir one another to emotion. Through communication we share how the dynamics of our relationship impacts us emotionally. In so doing we become intimate. I like to define intimacy as "in-to-me-see." To see into and understand the heart of another is love at its best! It is something to strive for in relationship with Christ ... it is a goal to be achieved.
As we seek to define success in our Christian life it must begin with intimacy with Christ. Ask God to deepen your understanding in this arena. Commit to becoming more emotionally vulnerable with Christ. Allow the Spirit of God to bear witness to your success and do not rely upon your own understanding or the definition/expectations of others to negatively persuade you in your relationship with Jesus. What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
That was one of the questions I asked the Men's Fight Club last Saturday morning. I think that is a valid question, don't you? If our spiritual life is important to us, we should have a way to measure it, shouldn't we?
I think it is hard for the average person to measure success without thinking in terms of numbers. We can quickly default to performance based faith if we are not careful and begin measuring our Christianity based upon how often we attend church, pray, complete acts of service, tithe, etc. All of these are good in perspective but success in our Christian life must be more than counting nickels, noses, and notches don't you think?
Jesus said "that he came to earth so we could experience abundant life" in John 10:10. Abundant life ... a dynamic, personal, "in real time" life with Jesus! How is that measured? I would assume just like any other intimate relationship ... framed in love.
Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Do you love Me?" (John 21:17). In His choice of wording Jesus utilizes the highest form of love we have referenced in the Bible - "agape." It is both a noun and a verb. One is a covenant-the setting of our will. A commitment. A promise of sorts. The other refers to action. It involves doing.
Any intimate relationship involves both. If we love someone we "noun it" and "verb it," so to speak. Success in relationship occurs when two people are committed to one another and intentionally study, identify and service the needs of each other. Through such commitment and service we stir one another to emotion. Through communication we share how the dynamics of our relationship impacts us emotionally. In so doing we become intimate. I like to define intimacy as "in-to-me-see." To see into and understand the heart of another is love at its best! It is something to strive for in relationship with Christ ... it is a goal to be achieved.
As we seek to define success in our Christian life it must begin with intimacy with Christ. Ask God to deepen your understanding in this arena. Commit to becoming more emotionally vulnerable with Christ. Allow the Spirit of God to bear witness to your success and do not rely upon your own understanding or the definition/expectations of others to negatively persuade you in your relationship with Jesus. What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, March 23, 2009
Success
It's 3:30 AM and I am writing this blog ... how crazy is that? Actually I get up early most mornings and study however this morning I felt like blogging. The topic on my mind is success.
The question I posed at the Men's Fight Club on Saturday was "How do you define success in your Christian life?" The men seemed to responded well to this question and we had lively conversation while eating ham and eggs and sipping hot coffee in the Church Cafe... NICE! I love the Fight Club!
I would like to expand conversation on the question presented to the men on Saturday through this venue over the next few days. However, today I would like for us to consider the topic of "success" in terms of the renewal services we held at church this weekend. Specifically, "Would God consider them to be successful?"
Does God count "nickels and noses" like many church leaders do? If more than average numbers of people show up and the evangelist receives a good offering is that success to God? Does He measure success by the number of people who respond to a public call from an evangelist to raise their hand or who step forward to an altar? Or could success in God's mind be the simple fact that we did it? That we set aside time out of the normal routine of life to focus on Him and to collectively, corporately seek a deepening of relationship with Him, manifestation of His power, and a visitation of His glory?
What are your thoughts? How do you think God measures the success of renewal services? More importantly, do you feel like the services were beneficial to/for you? Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
The question I posed at the Men's Fight Club on Saturday was "How do you define success in your Christian life?" The men seemed to responded well to this question and we had lively conversation while eating ham and eggs and sipping hot coffee in the Church Cafe... NICE! I love the Fight Club!
I would like to expand conversation on the question presented to the men on Saturday through this venue over the next few days. However, today I would like for us to consider the topic of "success" in terms of the renewal services we held at church this weekend. Specifically, "Would God consider them to be successful?"
Does God count "nickels and noses" like many church leaders do? If more than average numbers of people show up and the evangelist receives a good offering is that success to God? Does He measure success by the number of people who respond to a public call from an evangelist to raise their hand or who step forward to an altar? Or could success in God's mind be the simple fact that we did it? That we set aside time out of the normal routine of life to focus on Him and to collectively, corporately seek a deepening of relationship with Him, manifestation of His power, and a visitation of His glory?
What are your thoughts? How do you think God measures the success of renewal services? More importantly, do you feel like the services were beneficial to/for you? Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Friday, March 20, 2009
Revival - Part 5
Jesus said, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful... enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:23)
I doubt we will experience a mighty act of God without faith. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen." In many ways we are backed against a wall and need a move of God. Yes, faith then would be seeing in our minds and believing in our hearts for God's deliverance through a mighty act.
But Jesus takes "faith" a step further. He connects "faith" with "joy" and "rest" in the passage above. In John 15 Jesus also said, These things I have done and spoken to you so that your joy may be full. Possibly then the faith we should demonstrate at this time is contentment (rest) and joy. As we center in Christ we have singleness of vision and passion. He is our heart's desire. The natural outcropping of this is joy (Galatians 5:22-23).
Tomorrow evening our weekend of renewal services begin. Until then let's demonstrate our faith by confessing our contentment and centeredness in Christ and joyfully express the realization of our heart's desire. Today we find ourselves in an interesting position, don't we? In some ways we are in a tight spot... backs against the wall, and in need of a mighty act of God. And yet, we have all we need in Christ Jesus. COOL!
Heavenly Father,
You have met all of my needs through Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. My cup is full and running over. The desire of my heart is Jesus. I will place my trust in our relationship and celebrate that I am with I AM. In Jesus' name. Amen
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
I doubt we will experience a mighty act of God without faith. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen." In many ways we are backed against a wall and need a move of God. Yes, faith then would be seeing in our minds and believing in our hearts for God's deliverance through a mighty act.
But Jesus takes "faith" a step further. He connects "faith" with "joy" and "rest" in the passage above. In John 15 Jesus also said, These things I have done and spoken to you so that your joy may be full. Possibly then the faith we should demonstrate at this time is contentment (rest) and joy. As we center in Christ we have singleness of vision and passion. He is our heart's desire. The natural outcropping of this is joy (Galatians 5:22-23).
Tomorrow evening our weekend of renewal services begin. Until then let's demonstrate our faith by confessing our contentment and centeredness in Christ and joyfully express the realization of our heart's desire. Today we find ourselves in an interesting position, don't we? In some ways we are in a tight spot... backs against the wall, and in need of a mighty act of God. And yet, we have all we need in Christ Jesus. COOL!
Heavenly Father,
You have met all of my needs through Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. My cup is full and running over. The desire of my heart is Jesus. I will place my trust in our relationship and celebrate that I am with I AM. In Jesus' name. Amen
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Revival-Part 4
"Prayer is the key that unlocks the doors of heaven"
I have no idea who first made that statement. I grew up hearing it as a kid and I still believe it holds true today as well. Prayer is an important aspect to experiencing a mighty move of God.
One of my favorite stories from American church history comes out of the "Great American Revival" that occurred in the mid 1800's. Jeremiah Lanphier is credited for contributing to that great move of God. It is said that he was an unknown and obscure individual who had it laid upon his heart to pray that God would send renewal/revival to his country. After asking God "Lord what would you have me do for my country?" he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to rent a room and put up an announcement that there would be a prayer meeting held there at such-and-such location every week at a certain hour.
History says that Jeremiah went there on the advertised date to pray and not a single person was there. So he began to pray. A half hour later two more showed up. Within an hour there were six praying with Jeremiah.
The second week came around and there were fifty people stop by to pray. Then it grew to one hundred. Others soon started other prayer meetings and before long there was hardly a street in New York City that was without a prayer meeting. Before long merchants were closing their shops in the middle of the day for prayer. People were offering up petitions everyday and God was on the move!
Then it happened... All of the sudden the Spirit of God fell on the people. They began to repent of sin and center their lives in Christ. Not one or two at a time, but hundreds! Soon it spread throughout the northern states and it is estimated that more than a quarter of a million centered their life in Christ in the span of three months.
Wow! These are real facts. Church history proves time and time again that God responds with mighty acts when His people pray. What God has done in the past should encourage us towards prayer today.
"Blessed are they that put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 2:12). Be a PUSHY person this week... Pray Until Something Happens!
Thanks for stopping by...
------
Adrian
I have no idea who first made that statement. I grew up hearing it as a kid and I still believe it holds true today as well. Prayer is an important aspect to experiencing a mighty move of God.
One of my favorite stories from American church history comes out of the "Great American Revival" that occurred in the mid 1800's. Jeremiah Lanphier is credited for contributing to that great move of God. It is said that he was an unknown and obscure individual who had it laid upon his heart to pray that God would send renewal/revival to his country. After asking God "Lord what would you have me do for my country?" he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to rent a room and put up an announcement that there would be a prayer meeting held there at such-and-such location every week at a certain hour.
History says that Jeremiah went there on the advertised date to pray and not a single person was there. So he began to pray. A half hour later two more showed up. Within an hour there were six praying with Jeremiah.
The second week came around and there were fifty people stop by to pray. Then it grew to one hundred. Others soon started other prayer meetings and before long there was hardly a street in New York City that was without a prayer meeting. Before long merchants were closing their shops in the middle of the day for prayer. People were offering up petitions everyday and God was on the move!
Then it happened... All of the sudden the Spirit of God fell on the people. They began to repent of sin and center their lives in Christ. Not one or two at a time, but hundreds! Soon it spread throughout the northern states and it is estimated that more than a quarter of a million centered their life in Christ in the span of three months.
Wow! These are real facts. Church history proves time and time again that God responds with mighty acts when His people pray. What God has done in the past should encourage us towards prayer today.
"Blessed are they that put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 2:12). Be a PUSHY person this week... Pray Until Something Happens!
Thanks for stopping by...
------
Adrian
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Revival - Part 3
"...how do you know that God has not raised you up for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)
This passage reminds us that the "mighty acts of God" were carried forward often times by insignificant instruments. A small stone in the sling-shot of a little shepherd boy; Gideon's clay pots and trumpets; Joshua's walking around the walls of Jericho; Hezekiah's singing; on and on the examples go, one after another. Even in Esther's situation, the Jews were about to be killed when Mordecai spoke the above words of challenge to her. Why, who was she to go before the king? Shouldn't God's deliverance come through a more suitable source, one might ask? There seemed to be so much hinging on Esther's willingness to be used as God's instrument of glory for such a serious time as this, don't you think?
No, not when you realize that God is in the business of displaying His power through "the least of these," the humble of heart, the most insignificant of instruments. For in human "weakness, He is made strong," the Bible says. This should serve as an encouragement for us today and elevate our expectation for this coming weekend!
Perhaps God wants to do a new thing - a mighty act - and He may desire to do it through us... YES! Let's believe that God has raised us up for such a time as this. That He wants to employ us as the ones whom He will perform His "mighty works" through this weekend! Will you answer the call? Will you make the commitment? Will you consecrate yourself as an object of/for His glory on earth? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
This passage reminds us that the "mighty acts of God" were carried forward often times by insignificant instruments. A small stone in the sling-shot of a little shepherd boy; Gideon's clay pots and trumpets; Joshua's walking around the walls of Jericho; Hezekiah's singing; on and on the examples go, one after another. Even in Esther's situation, the Jews were about to be killed when Mordecai spoke the above words of challenge to her. Why, who was she to go before the king? Shouldn't God's deliverance come through a more suitable source, one might ask? There seemed to be so much hinging on Esther's willingness to be used as God's instrument of glory for such a serious time as this, don't you think?
No, not when you realize that God is in the business of displaying His power through "the least of these," the humble of heart, the most insignificant of instruments. For in human "weakness, He is made strong," the Bible says. This should serve as an encouragement for us today and elevate our expectation for this coming weekend!
Perhaps God wants to do a new thing - a mighty act - and He may desire to do it through us... YES! Let's believe that God has raised us up for such a time as this. That He wants to employ us as the ones whom He will perform His "mighty works" through this weekend! Will you answer the call? Will you make the commitment? Will you consecrate yourself as an object of/for His glory on earth? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Revival-Part 2
"Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it shall come forth; shall you not know it?" (Isaiah 43:19)
In the context surrounding this verse God is telling His people they should not live in the past as though the only deliverance He could produce was from Egypt. That He is more resourceful than what was demonstrated through the ministry of Moses. God is also pointing out that He is not like the idols worshipped by the surrounding nations, locked in to doing the same thing over and over again. No, God is telling His people that His resources are infinite and that He can/will deliver them in new ways. NICE!
I not only find encouragement through the resourcefulness which God alludes to in this passage but also through His use of the words "Behold" and "Now." The words remind me/us that "revival" (mighty acts of God) are sudden. Some things in the church grow gently, progressive, in a "step by step" manner. Not revival...it happens suddenly! What would a spontaneous act of revival look like to you? What would you expect to see if God preformed a "mighty act" in your church?
Often times the "mighty acts of God" occurred in the Bible when people were backed again the wall with no human means of deliverance. Then "suddenly" God manifest His power, revealed His presence and delivered His people. Do you feel like we are "up against the wall" in our church? What are the things we cannot do for ourselves at this time?
As we approach this weekend of special services with evangelist Gary Wright I ask for you to consider three things: One, pray for God to perform a "mighty act" in our midst this coming weekend. Two, expect God to bring spontaneous revival upon WHFC. Three, as an act of consecration to Jesus attend all of the services: Saturday night, Sunday morning and evening.
"Behold" and "Now" ... NICE!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
In the context surrounding this verse God is telling His people they should not live in the past as though the only deliverance He could produce was from Egypt. That He is more resourceful than what was demonstrated through the ministry of Moses. God is also pointing out that He is not like the idols worshipped by the surrounding nations, locked in to doing the same thing over and over again. No, God is telling His people that His resources are infinite and that He can/will deliver them in new ways. NICE!
I not only find encouragement through the resourcefulness which God alludes to in this passage but also through His use of the words "Behold" and "Now." The words remind me/us that "revival" (mighty acts of God) are sudden. Some things in the church grow gently, progressive, in a "step by step" manner. Not revival...it happens suddenly! What would a spontaneous act of revival look like to you? What would you expect to see if God preformed a "mighty act" in your church?
Often times the "mighty acts of God" occurred in the Bible when people were backed again the wall with no human means of deliverance. Then "suddenly" God manifest His power, revealed His presence and delivered His people. Do you feel like we are "up against the wall" in our church? What are the things we cannot do for ourselves at this time?
As we approach this weekend of special services with evangelist Gary Wright I ask for you to consider three things: One, pray for God to perform a "mighty act" in our midst this coming weekend. Two, expect God to bring spontaneous revival upon WHFC. Three, as an act of consecration to Jesus attend all of the services: Saturday night, Sunday morning and evening.
"Behold" and "Now" ... NICE!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, March 16, 2009
Revival
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us so, what mighty acts you did in their days, in the times of old (Psalm 44:1)
Sacred literature and church history both record the mighty acts of God. We read them with astonishment and we look back upon them as substantial matters of history. They are viewed as "turning points" when God showed up and made a difference in people's lives and circumstances. By faith we believe that the wondrous things God did in the "times of old" by grace He will do again, in our time.
As we look towards the weekend renewal services with evangelist Gary Wright I wish to focus on the topic of "Revival" in this week's blog. We need a mighty rush of God's grace at Willoughby Hills Friends Church. We are ripe for a miraculous outpouring of His precious Holy Spirit.
This week we need to pursue Christ-centeredness in our attendees and strive less for Christ-likeness. Christ-centeredness speaks of heart devotion and consecration of life whereas Christ-likeness references human effort and rigorous discipline. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of Christ-likeness. The Bible speaks frequently of buffeting ourselves for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. Pursuing Christ-likeness is a part of our daily maturation and reasonable service of duty.
However, the "mighty acts of God" typically comes from our "centerness in Christ." The times when we rest in Christ, when we cease to strive and call upon His mercy and grace. There are limits to our human effort. As a church body we "labor in love" for one another as instructed by the Apostle Paul and "serve up Christ to our community" as taught by Jesus in Matthew 25. But, as demonstrated by our Lord there is a time for rest. Let that time be now. This very week when we seek the mighty acts of God.
What is the difference between Christ-likeness and Christ-centeredness to you? What does it mean to be Christ-centered in "practical terms" this week? What are the "mighty acts of God" you need to see in your life and church today?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Sacred literature and church history both record the mighty acts of God. We read them with astonishment and we look back upon them as substantial matters of history. They are viewed as "turning points" when God showed up and made a difference in people's lives and circumstances. By faith we believe that the wondrous things God did in the "times of old" by grace He will do again, in our time.
As we look towards the weekend renewal services with evangelist Gary Wright I wish to focus on the topic of "Revival" in this week's blog. We need a mighty rush of God's grace at Willoughby Hills Friends Church. We are ripe for a miraculous outpouring of His precious Holy Spirit.
This week we need to pursue Christ-centeredness in our attendees and strive less for Christ-likeness. Christ-centeredness speaks of heart devotion and consecration of life whereas Christ-likeness references human effort and rigorous discipline. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of Christ-likeness. The Bible speaks frequently of buffeting ourselves for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. Pursuing Christ-likeness is a part of our daily maturation and reasonable service of duty.
However, the "mighty acts of God" typically comes from our "centerness in Christ." The times when we rest in Christ, when we cease to strive and call upon His mercy and grace. There are limits to our human effort. As a church body we "labor in love" for one another as instructed by the Apostle Paul and "serve up Christ to our community" as taught by Jesus in Matthew 25. But, as demonstrated by our Lord there is a time for rest. Let that time be now. This very week when we seek the mighty acts of God.
What is the difference between Christ-likeness and Christ-centeredness to you? What does it mean to be Christ-centered in "practical terms" this week? What are the "mighty acts of God" you need to see in your life and church today?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Trials and Temptations
I just returned from the Saturday morning Men's Fight Club. We meet at 7:30 am every Saturday in the church Cafe' to study the Bible and encourage one another. Our name is derived from Nehemiah 4:14, "Do not be afraid of the enemy, remember your Lord is great and awesome. Go fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes!" I am encouraged each week by the men who come out at such an early hour on their day off to learn the fundamentals of Christian warfare.
Today our study began in the book of Job. Several questions surfaced as we read the text. Let me share some of them with you and hopefully you will be able to add fodder to the discussion as well.
First, "God told Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil"(1:8). God speaks very highly of Job, does He not? My question is, "What would God say about you?"
Second, in 1:6-7 the text states "that Satan presented himself before the LORD and God asked, where have you come from? From roaming the earth, and going back and forth in it." The question: does Satan still have face time with God today?
Third, there is the statement from verse eight, "Then the LORD says to Satan, have you considered my servant Job?" The question: Does God still strategically (intentionally) use Satan in the maturation process of men's lives? Does God summons Satan as a resource to foster Christ-centeredness in a man's life? What say you to these questions?
I think often times we miss growth opportunities because we are "fighting the devil," so to speak. Our mental and emotional energy is spent on trying to figure out why God is permitting Satan or circumstances to go a certain way; spiritually we can become exhausted binding the Devil and battling demons in prayer and in keeping our faith up; educationally and physically we can often times give ourselves to extremes in strategizing and thwarting the plan of Satan or attempting to prevent crisis from coming in our lives that it distracts us from the teaching/growing moments with God.
Maybe the lesson for us from Job is, we give the Devil too much credit for orchestrating the pain and trials in our lives. Maybe the only real influence he has in our day to day existence is what God has intentionally planned to conform us into the image "likeness" of Jesus Christ?
I think "Hell" for Satan today could possibly be (1), not being able to do what he wants (kill, steal and destroy) and (2), in knowing that God is using him (Satan) for the good of His people. Did not the Apostle Paul say something about "God using all things for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose?" (Romans 8:28-29)
Let's keep Christ preeminent in all things! I hope to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Today our study began in the book of Job. Several questions surfaced as we read the text. Let me share some of them with you and hopefully you will be able to add fodder to the discussion as well.
First, "God told Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil"(1:8). God speaks very highly of Job, does He not? My question is, "What would God say about you?"
Second, in 1:6-7 the text states "that Satan presented himself before the LORD and God asked, where have you come from? From roaming the earth, and going back and forth in it." The question: does Satan still have face time with God today?
Third, there is the statement from verse eight, "Then the LORD says to Satan, have you considered my servant Job?" The question: Does God still strategically (intentionally) use Satan in the maturation process of men's lives? Does God summons Satan as a resource to foster Christ-centeredness in a man's life? What say you to these questions?
I think often times we miss growth opportunities because we are "fighting the devil," so to speak. Our mental and emotional energy is spent on trying to figure out why God is permitting Satan or circumstances to go a certain way; spiritually we can become exhausted binding the Devil and battling demons in prayer and in keeping our faith up; educationally and physically we can often times give ourselves to extremes in strategizing and thwarting the plan of Satan or attempting to prevent crisis from coming in our lives that it distracts us from the teaching/growing moments with God.
Maybe the lesson for us from Job is, we give the Devil too much credit for orchestrating the pain and trials in our lives. Maybe the only real influence he has in our day to day existence is what God has intentionally planned to conform us into the image "likeness" of Jesus Christ?
I think "Hell" for Satan today could possibly be (1), not being able to do what he wants (kill, steal and destroy) and (2), in knowing that God is using him (Satan) for the good of His people. Did not the Apostle Paul say something about "God using all things for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose?" (Romans 8:28-29)
Let's keep Christ preeminent in all things! I hope to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Pastors- continued
I have two questions for your consideration today.
First, let me contribute more to yesterday's discussion. I just read an article titled "Pastor Burnout: Combating a Church wide Epidemic" published by the Christian Broadcasting Network. It says, "What might be called a spiritual virus is stalking the homes and pulpits of America's pastors. Each year, thousands of clergy walk away from their ministries, suffering from burnout brought on by frantic schedules and unrealistic expectations ... The clergy is like the Titanic - it is sinking fast. Fifteen hundred ministers every month drop out of the ministry. That's an epidemic. Even more sobering is that nearly 6000 Southern Baptist ministers fall victim to burnout, depression, marital problems, and even suicide."
Obviously something is definitely wrong and it is not just with those in professional ministry. We need an overhaul and it must occur in our organizations. Somehow we need to reconcile the "Good News" with the current "bad news." The good news that God is in the business of healing broken people. The bad news: participating in sharing the good news is creating broken people. How crazy is that?
I guess we can conclude that we (the organized church in America) is not doing the work God's way. What needs to be transformed? Where are our values, priorities and the way we do business wrong? That's question number one... what say you?
Question number two, I am conducting another poll. This time I am asking you to think like the Devil...(ironic, don't you think?). No seriously, imagine you could look into hell and observe Satan and his demons plotting the the destruction of your local church. What kind of things do you think you would hear? I have received several suggestions so far and would really like to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
First, let me contribute more to yesterday's discussion. I just read an article titled "Pastor Burnout: Combating a Church wide Epidemic" published by the Christian Broadcasting Network. It says, "What might be called a spiritual virus is stalking the homes and pulpits of America's pastors. Each year, thousands of clergy walk away from their ministries, suffering from burnout brought on by frantic schedules and unrealistic expectations ... The clergy is like the Titanic - it is sinking fast. Fifteen hundred ministers every month drop out of the ministry. That's an epidemic. Even more sobering is that nearly 6000 Southern Baptist ministers fall victim to burnout, depression, marital problems, and even suicide."
Obviously something is definitely wrong and it is not just with those in professional ministry. We need an overhaul and it must occur in our organizations. Somehow we need to reconcile the "Good News" with the current "bad news." The good news that God is in the business of healing broken people. The bad news: participating in sharing the good news is creating broken people. How crazy is that?
I guess we can conclude that we (the organized church in America) is not doing the work God's way. What needs to be transformed? Where are our values, priorities and the way we do business wrong? That's question number one... what say you?
Question number two, I am conducting another poll. This time I am asking you to think like the Devil...(ironic, don't you think?). No seriously, imagine you could look into hell and observe Satan and his demons plotting the the destruction of your local church. What kind of things do you think you would hear? I have received several suggestions so far and would really like to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pastors
This month one of my goals is to contact all of our pastors in the district and pray for them and seek to encourage them where I can. Whether it is in my volunteer work as a District Superintendent or under the employ of Willoughby Hills Friends Church, the most important responsibility I have is to care for our pastors. Statistically, the pastorate is a difficult vocation. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you... for My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Really? Easy? Light? Why does this not seem to be the case for pastors?
Barna reports that "every month 1300 pastors in the U. S. are fired or forced to resign. Within ten years 40% will leave the ministry discouraged for another line of work. Eighty percent say their work has a negative impact on their home life. Seventy-five percent struggle with their finances and feel they are underpaid compared to other professionals in their church or community. Fifty percent feel they suffer physically from stress and sleepless nights over the problems and expectations of the people in their congregations" (taken from the book I am reading this week by Don Cousins, Experiencing LeaderShift,pages 43-54).
These are difficult times for pastors. They struggle with discouragement and burnout on a daily basis. Unfortunately very few in the church, including lay leadership, understand these dynamics. They cannot identify with the problems pastors face or the burdens they carry and actually minister to their need.
It is my job to protect and support the pastors under my care. I cannot get caught up in the labor of administration or the pressing needs of the church and neglect the precious men and women God has placed under my umbrella of responsibility at this time. Please join me in praying for our pastors on a daily basis. Please consider how you can bless them, encourage them, and care for their needs while they shepherd the flock of God.
Something has got to change for the sake of pastors in the USA. We need an overhaul of sorts. It can begin with us moving towards our pastors with empathy, love and prayer. What else can we do? Please share with me your thoughts...
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Barna reports that "every month 1300 pastors in the U. S. are fired or forced to resign. Within ten years 40% will leave the ministry discouraged for another line of work. Eighty percent say their work has a negative impact on their home life. Seventy-five percent struggle with their finances and feel they are underpaid compared to other professionals in their church or community. Fifty percent feel they suffer physically from stress and sleepless nights over the problems and expectations of the people in their congregations" (taken from the book I am reading this week by Don Cousins, Experiencing LeaderShift,pages 43-54).
These are difficult times for pastors. They struggle with discouragement and burnout on a daily basis. Unfortunately very few in the church, including lay leadership, understand these dynamics. They cannot identify with the problems pastors face or the burdens they carry and actually minister to their need.
It is my job to protect and support the pastors under my care. I cannot get caught up in the labor of administration or the pressing needs of the church and neglect the precious men and women God has placed under my umbrella of responsibility at this time. Please join me in praying for our pastors on a daily basis. Please consider how you can bless them, encourage them, and care for their needs while they shepherd the flock of God.
Something has got to change for the sake of pastors in the USA. We need an overhaul of sorts. It can begin with us moving towards our pastors with empathy, love and prayer. What else can we do? Please share with me your thoughts...
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Evangelism
"To evangelize or not to evangelize? That is the question..."
Last week I posed the same question in three different venues and surprisingly received the same response. The question: "You are God for a day and your job is to decide who gets into heaven. Your first case is a primitive man from Africa. He never heard of gospel message or even the mention of Jesus' name. Yet he was a good man. Loved his wife and kids, cared for his neighbors, and was an all around good guy. Does he get in?"
Most of those whom I polled said "Yes, he's in!" Some determined he had a good heart and would receive admission accordingly. Most of the others said he would be admitted into heaven out of a state of innocence. Stating that God would not hold him accountable because he never heard the claims of Christ. Only two of those I polled said "the man was going to Hell because he did not confess Jesus Christ as Lord and seek forgiveness of sins." Do these results surprise you? They did me. I would have thought more would have chosen a traditional "narrow road/gate" approach as spoken of in the gospel of John.
All of this is leading to a question and pointing out discussion Willoughby Hills Friends Church will need to have regarding what evangelism and altar calls will look like in the years to come. If I understand the trends of my industry then the results of my little poll is in step with mainstream Christianity today. The process of salvation is under construction and is being redefined to fit a post modern society.
So the question I raise as fodder for discussion is this: "Why evangelize if it means destroying someones innocence and possibly condemning them to Hell?" Why give a public invitation at church to confront one's personal sin and repent if it could hurt as much as it helps in some instances? Should evangelism be limited to non-public venues where the "fishers of men" can discern the leading of the Spirit and the preparedness of the hearer? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Last week I posed the same question in three different venues and surprisingly received the same response. The question: "You are God for a day and your job is to decide who gets into heaven. Your first case is a primitive man from Africa. He never heard of gospel message or even the mention of Jesus' name. Yet he was a good man. Loved his wife and kids, cared for his neighbors, and was an all around good guy. Does he get in?"
Most of those whom I polled said "Yes, he's in!" Some determined he had a good heart and would receive admission accordingly. Most of the others said he would be admitted into heaven out of a state of innocence. Stating that God would not hold him accountable because he never heard the claims of Christ. Only two of those I polled said "the man was going to Hell because he did not confess Jesus Christ as Lord and seek forgiveness of sins." Do these results surprise you? They did me. I would have thought more would have chosen a traditional "narrow road/gate" approach as spoken of in the gospel of John.
All of this is leading to a question and pointing out discussion Willoughby Hills Friends Church will need to have regarding what evangelism and altar calls will look like in the years to come. If I understand the trends of my industry then the results of my little poll is in step with mainstream Christianity today. The process of salvation is under construction and is being redefined to fit a post modern society.
So the question I raise as fodder for discussion is this: "Why evangelize if it means destroying someones innocence and possibly condemning them to Hell?" Why give a public invitation at church to confront one's personal sin and repent if it could hurt as much as it helps in some instances? Should evangelism be limited to non-public venues where the "fishers of men" can discern the leading of the Spirit and the preparedness of the hearer? What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
------
Adrian
Monday, March 9, 2009
Truth-based Discipleship & Evangelism
As I mentioned a few days ago, in our "three year plan" Willoughby Hills Friends Church will need to address greater effectiveness in the areas of discipleship and evangelism. I wonder if this will require a paradigm shift of sorts? A change is perspective?
Often times churches from the holiness tradition appear to be sin-based in perspective when undertaking these two key areas of ministry. Sometimes the reason for world evangelization is because people are inherently evil thus they need a crisis moment, "a confrontation," if you will, with personal sin and the Gospel. Likewise, discipleship can often become little more than sin avoidance through rigorous exercises in spiritual discipline.
Though I believe both of the above are important in proper context to the maturation process of a Christian, sin should not be the primary focal point of our evangelism or discipleship. Yes, people are sinners and need a Savior but sin based programming will not motive people long term to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to be "truth based" in our approach.
When I speak of a "truth based" approach to discipleship and evangelism I am thinking of the fact that all men are created in the image of God, and God is good. The fall of humanity in the garden of Eden did not eradicate the goodness of God that every human being inherently possesses. Instead of saying to others, "Your evil, deal with it, turn or burn" let's expose the good qualities in people and encourage them to "grow in those divinely manufactured properties."
This "truth-based" approach to discipleship and evangelism does not eliminate the need for a "crisis moment" with the claims of Jesus Christ, it simply changes the focus. Instead of telling someone they need to encounter Jesus before they can "be good," let's identify and celebrate the good "God like" qualities that already exist in people and share with them how through a relationship with Jesus they can experience the full manifestation of these divine properties. Let's "atta boy" the behaviors of man that reflect the imago dei, "the image of God" in man and then share how experiencing the fullness of Christ can loose one from the tethers of sin and provide the means to be the very embodiment of Christ in the world today.
What say you? Would this approach require a paradigm shift for WHFC? What might a "truth-based approach to discipleship and evangelism look like over the next three years? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Often times churches from the holiness tradition appear to be sin-based in perspective when undertaking these two key areas of ministry. Sometimes the reason for world evangelization is because people are inherently evil thus they need a crisis moment, "a confrontation," if you will, with personal sin and the Gospel. Likewise, discipleship can often become little more than sin avoidance through rigorous exercises in spiritual discipline.
Though I believe both of the above are important in proper context to the maturation process of a Christian, sin should not be the primary focal point of our evangelism or discipleship. Yes, people are sinners and need a Savior but sin based programming will not motive people long term to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to be "truth based" in our approach.
When I speak of a "truth based" approach to discipleship and evangelism I am thinking of the fact that all men are created in the image of God, and God is good. The fall of humanity in the garden of Eden did not eradicate the goodness of God that every human being inherently possesses. Instead of saying to others, "Your evil, deal with it, turn or burn" let's expose the good qualities in people and encourage them to "grow in those divinely manufactured properties."
This "truth-based" approach to discipleship and evangelism does not eliminate the need for a "crisis moment" with the claims of Jesus Christ, it simply changes the focus. Instead of telling someone they need to encounter Jesus before they can "be good," let's identify and celebrate the good "God like" qualities that already exist in people and share with them how through a relationship with Jesus they can experience the full manifestation of these divine properties. Let's "atta boy" the behaviors of man that reflect the imago dei, "the image of God" in man and then share how experiencing the fullness of Christ can loose one from the tethers of sin and provide the means to be the very embodiment of Christ in the world today.
What say you? Would this approach require a paradigm shift for WHFC? What might a "truth-based approach to discipleship and evangelism look like over the next three years? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sinless Perfection?
"Dilige, et quod vis fac"
In the philosophy of St. Augustine, loving God results in the will always conforming to God's will. Thus the statement "Love, and do what you will" (dilige, et quod vis fac). By this Augustine meant that when we truly love God we will act in a manner that pleases God. When our will is set on God alone, what we want to do - what pleases us - is nothing else than what God views as right. When we love God, we can indeed do as we please. (Grenz, The Moral Quest. p. 139)
What do you think? When a person's heart is perfected in love for Christ does it restore one's innocense with God? Can one live life without concern for what is right or wrong, or the need to discern between good from evil? Is there such a thing as a state of sinless perfection in man's relationship with God where unconditional acceptance is extended to man by God?
What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
In the philosophy of St. Augustine, loving God results in the will always conforming to God's will. Thus the statement "Love, and do what you will" (dilige, et quod vis fac). By this Augustine meant that when we truly love God we will act in a manner that pleases God. When our will is set on God alone, what we want to do - what pleases us - is nothing else than what God views as right. When we love God, we can indeed do as we please. (Grenz, The Moral Quest. p. 139)
What do you think? When a person's heart is perfected in love for Christ does it restore one's innocense with God? Can one live life without concern for what is right or wrong, or the need to discern between good from evil? Is there such a thing as a state of sinless perfection in man's relationship with God where unconditional acceptance is extended to man by God?
What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
-------
Adrian
Friday, March 6, 2009
Disciple Making
As I mentioned earlier this week one of my goals for 09 is to spearhead a three year plan for Willoughby Hills Friends Church. I would like your feedback on what areas of ministry we need to address. Please send your thoughts and ideas my way either through the blog or email (DrHalvey@yahoo.com).
One area of concentration we must address in the three year plan is discipleship. Sometimes I think that our large program driven structure can actually create more obstacles and distractions to becoming Christlike that it removes. I concur with Hartgrove's comment in his new book, New Monasticism, that "the greatest enemy of intimacy with God can be service for God."
Big and active is not always best when maturing people for Christ. Clearly discipleship and evangelism "cannot be massed produced or commoditized. One size fits all programming will not work" (Keith Meyer, www.christianitytoday.com/le/ community life/discipleship). I do not think that means WHFC needs to sell its 10 million dollar complex in the "burbs" and locate elsewhere in smaller venues. Nor do I think it means we should abandon our effort to draw a crowd each week in corporate worship. However, I do think it means that we must be more realistic in perspective regarding our effectiveness in disciplining people and more intentional and relevant in our approach. Experience proves that 1200 attendees will not become spiritual mature just through preaching, programming, and busyness.
I think the same clarification is needed at WHFC regarding evangelism as well. I will address this subject at a later time and solicit your feedback. But, my suspicion is that some people still believe that our primary thrust for evangelism should be the Saturday night and Sunday morning venue. I think we should expect people to come to Christ in our worship services but our venue for evangelism must be expanded in principle and definitely become more intentional in focus beyond the walls of 2846 SOM Center Road.
Back to discipleship, Jesus seemed to have two strategies. One for the crowds He attracted and another for His disciples in small group settings. We must model this approach and encourage people into intentional smaller relational groupings. Possibly our only curriculum we use for intentional discipleship should be what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said would lead to the restoration of the church. An "uncompromising attitude of life lived according to the Sermon on the Mount in the following of Christ" (Keith Myers) What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
One area of concentration we must address in the three year plan is discipleship. Sometimes I think that our large program driven structure can actually create more obstacles and distractions to becoming Christlike that it removes. I concur with Hartgrove's comment in his new book, New Monasticism, that "the greatest enemy of intimacy with God can be service for God."
Big and active is not always best when maturing people for Christ. Clearly discipleship and evangelism "cannot be massed produced or commoditized. One size fits all programming will not work" (Keith Meyer, www.christianitytoday.com/le/ community life/discipleship). I do not think that means WHFC needs to sell its 10 million dollar complex in the "burbs" and locate elsewhere in smaller venues. Nor do I think it means we should abandon our effort to draw a crowd each week in corporate worship. However, I do think it means that we must be more realistic in perspective regarding our effectiveness in disciplining people and more intentional and relevant in our approach. Experience proves that 1200 attendees will not become spiritual mature just through preaching, programming, and busyness.
I think the same clarification is needed at WHFC regarding evangelism as well. I will address this subject at a later time and solicit your feedback. But, my suspicion is that some people still believe that our primary thrust for evangelism should be the Saturday night and Sunday morning venue. I think we should expect people to come to Christ in our worship services but our venue for evangelism must be expanded in principle and definitely become more intentional in focus beyond the walls of 2846 SOM Center Road.
Back to discipleship, Jesus seemed to have two strategies. One for the crowds He attracted and another for His disciples in small group settings. We must model this approach and encourage people into intentional smaller relational groupings. Possibly our only curriculum we use for intentional discipleship should be what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said would lead to the restoration of the church. An "uncompromising attitude of life lived according to the Sermon on the Mount in the following of Christ" (Keith Myers) What say you?
Thanks for stopping by!
--------
Adrian
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Educating Children
Questions, questions, questions. Every time I turn around it seems like someone is asking questions... I love it! One of my favorites from yesterday was, "What's your position on schooling children? Should children attend a Christian school if possible?" My answer is "YES!"
By all means I believe parents should send their children to a quality Christian school unless otherwise directed by the Holy Spirit. Lisa and I made a conscious decision to educate our three boys in a public venue only because we felt that was God's leading for us at the time. I have no regret for following His direction. My boys had a very successful K-12 experience and are competing well for the Kingdom of God and professionally today.
However, I would safely assume that our leading of the Holy Spirit to educate our children in a public school venue is not the case for most Christian parents. So, unless God specifically calls them to educate their children in a public school with specific objectives in mind, or to wrestle with the rigors and challenges of Home Schooling, the best a parent can provide for their children's social, emotional, spiritual, academic development is a "quality" Christian school experience.
I believe our parents at Willoughby Hills Friends Church should ask God to speak to their heart regarding this matter. I John 2:20 states that God has given us an "unction," and anointing of the Holy Spirit to know what is true. Unfortunately I think many parents make their decision based upon economics rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. Those are my thoughts. What say you?
I am pleased that we have a "quality" Christian K-12 school meeting in our facility. More than 400 students meet at WHFC daily to "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." If you want to explore how our school can minister to your family give Cornerstone Christian Academy a call at 440-943-9260.
Thanks for stopping by!
-----
Adrian
By all means I believe parents should send their children to a quality Christian school unless otherwise directed by the Holy Spirit. Lisa and I made a conscious decision to educate our three boys in a public venue only because we felt that was God's leading for us at the time. I have no regret for following His direction. My boys had a very successful K-12 experience and are competing well for the Kingdom of God and professionally today.
However, I would safely assume that our leading of the Holy Spirit to educate our children in a public school venue is not the case for most Christian parents. So, unless God specifically calls them to educate their children in a public school with specific objectives in mind, or to wrestle with the rigors and challenges of Home Schooling, the best a parent can provide for their children's social, emotional, spiritual, academic development is a "quality" Christian school experience.
I believe our parents at Willoughby Hills Friends Church should ask God to speak to their heart regarding this matter. I John 2:20 states that God has given us an "unction," and anointing of the Holy Spirit to know what is true. Unfortunately I think many parents make their decision based upon economics rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. Those are my thoughts. What say you?
I am pleased that we have a "quality" Christian K-12 school meeting in our facility. More than 400 students meet at WHFC daily to "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." If you want to explore how our school can minister to your family give Cornerstone Christian Academy a call at 440-943-9260.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian
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