Why Don't We Stand Up?

I just seen this article (off Yahoo’s games site) this morning. Isn’t it so sad that when Christians cry “foul” or “we’re offended” we are ridiculed and chastised as being intolerant or forcing our beliefs down the throats of people. Or maybe we just do not support our beliefs by our compromising so much and not focusing on becoming “holy as he is holy”? Maybe we are just too scared to say anything? Or maybe we just do not care? Or maybe ……..? Note that my comments are not against the video game, because I do know anything about the game. Nor, is it directed against the Muslim group that protested. Nor am I really complaining about Sony. I guess what I am really doing, is praising the Muslim group for standing up for what they believe. I wonder just what the outcome would have been if we, as Christians were offended by this game’s contents and made such a protest?

The webpage link is: http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/religious-outcry-sparks-littlebigrecall/1257227

Religious outcry sparks LittleBigRecall
New PlayStation game soundtrack unpopular with some Islamic groups
By Mike Smith
ADVERTISEMENT

LittleBigPlanet, one of this year's most-anticipated PlayStation 3 releases, won't be arriving in stores next week as expected.
The "social platforming" game is already gathering rave reviews, but it hasn't proven popular with one Muslim group, which issued a complaint to the game's publisher Sony concerning one background music track. Performed by award-winning Malian musician Toumani Diabate, the song quotes two verses from the Qur'an. Many Muslims consider the mixing of music and scripture to be deeply offensive.
Although the game is already pressed, packaged, and reportedly sitting in the back rooms of many worldwide retailers awaiting its original Oct. 21 debut, gamers eager to get hold of it will have to wait at least another week while the offending content is expunged. Updated versions of the game are expected to be shipped to stores during the week of October 27.

LITTLEBIGPICTURES

"Sorry for the delay, and rest assured, we are doing everything we can to get LittleBigPlanet to you as soon as possible," commented Patrick Seybold, Sony's US director of Corporate Communications, in a statement on the company's PlayStation blog.
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Posted: 17 Oct 2008

Apologetics at the Post Office

Today, December 4th, I was standing in line at the local post office when a well dressed middle aged woman came up to the counter and asked the clerk for some Christmas stamps. The clerk replied by telling her that the only ones she has left are religious. To this, the lady exclaimed, “I do not want any religious themed Christmas stamps for my Christmas cards. Christmas does not having anything to do with religion or anything religious. It is just another misinterpreted Christian focused holiday like Easter.”

This proclamation caught my ear and attention. It raised my curiosity to the peak to where I just had to see what she was going to do next. As I took my time addressing an envelope I watched her stuff some cards into envelopes and prepare them for sending them on to her Christmas card list recipients. As I glanced at the pile of cards yet to be processed, I read the opening on what seemed to be on each one. On the front of the card it read something like this, “May the Christ of Christmas Fill Your Life with His Love and Peace. May You and I Never Leave Him Out of Our Lives”.

I could hardly believe what I was reading and what she was challenging herself and those who would be receiving her Christmas cards. Was this the same woman that just a few moments prior made the bold proclamation that Christmas is just another misinterpreted holiday and it has nothing to do with religion? Yet here she was telling people to not let the Christ of Christmas be left out of their lives.

I must admit that my religious blood began to boil. I could feel the apologetic arguments starting to formulate in my head. My pulse started rising with anticipation for the soon to be confrontation with this woman who dares to eliminate Christ from Christmas. I could hear my preacher mind saying, “Now it your time to stand up”. I was so ready to let her have it. But then.....

But then …, I realized she was correct in some of what she was saying to the postal clerk. I strongly disagree that Christmas is a misinterpreted Christian holiday, but I do agree with her in a principle. Christmas is not really about religion. It is about our heavenly Father desiring so badly to a restored relationship with people; people like you, me and this lady that he gave us a gift of life.

As I pondered these thoughts another came up. She was wrong in saying that Christmas had nothing to do with religion. Christmas has everything to do with religion. Why was her statement wrong? I feel that it was wrong based upon the thought that for several centuries, religion was proclaimed and demanded. That this religion was hammering people from experiencing the desired relationship that God had for people. Religion flies airplanes into buildings, causes people to stumble, miss out on the beauty of God and his love, and misunderstand the meaning of Christmas (and Easter).

So there I stood, in a theological debate with myself. What conclusion did I come up with? This … “May Christmas bring us to realize the value of religion so we can truly understand the value of a relationship with God based upon his unmerited favor and saving grace.” So does Christmas have anything to do with religion or not? I guess we could debate it for a long time. So either way, may the Christmas season bring us deeper and more connected in our relationship with our loving heavenly Father

Oh what happen to this lady, you may ask? Well I do not know. All I know as I was standing there thinking she finished her task and walked out of the post office. I was awakened from my thoughts by a person asking me if I was finished with my spot at the counter.

My prayer for her and the recipients of her Christmas cards is the same for all of us. “May the Christ of Christmas (and Easter) never be left out of our lives”.

Obedience Even in the Midst of Questions

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all. - Exodus 5:23



Have you ever felt like you have been obedient to the Lord for something He called you to do and all you get are more roadblocks? This is the way Moses felt. When Moses went to tell Pharaoh to release the people because God said so, Pharaoh simply got angry and made the people make bricks without straw. Moses caught the blame for this from the people. Moses was just learning what obedience really means in God's Kingdom. You see Moses had not even begun to release plagues upon Egypt. He hadn't even gotten started yet in his calling, and he was complaining about his circumstances. There were many more encounters with Pharaoh to come, and many more plagues with no deliverances in sight. Why would God tell Moses that He is going to deliver them and not do it?

It was all in timing. God never said when He was going to deliver. He just said He would. In the next chapter, we find Moses arguing with God about not being capable of the job God had called him to:

But Moses said to the Lord, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?" Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and He commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 6:12-13).

Do you get the feeling God was losing His patience?

God had a good reason for His delays. He said, "And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it" (Ex. 7:5). God not only wanted the people of Israel but also the Egyptians to know Him. It would be the greatest show of God's power on earth.

God often causes delays in our lives that we cannot understand. Sometimes it seems our obedience is not getting rewarded. Jesus said He learned obedience through the things He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). Imagine that - Jesus having to learn obedience. What does that say for you and me? Sometimes God's delays are simply because He wants more glory in the situation, more recognition, more Christ-likeness in you and me through greater patience and obedience.

Faint not, for the fulfillment promise is yet come

I Love My Church

Realizing that there will be several individuals that will read this blog who are attendees of my church, Life in Christ Fellowship, I am tempted to misstate my feelings in this post. However, I will resist buttering up my people and just tell the truth from my heart.

As the title states, I do love my church. I daily thank and praise the Lord for such an awesome privilege of serving them as their pastor. I have been here for almost 1 year now. The days have gone by very quickly and for the most part smoothly. Has it been all a bed of roses? No, it has not. There have been days and situations that have irritated me, as flies do horses on a humid summer day. There have been days in which I pulled the window shades and locked the doors because I needed recovery time.

But, the whole balance of all days has been totally awesome and fulfilling. It is amazing how just a year ago, both Debbie and I were totally drained by the abandonment and rejection that we went through at our previous pastorate, but now we both feel whole. I can truly say, I am now longer just content in the place of ministry but I am truly and completely happy. What an amazing feeling that is!

I have been praying and searching my heart to make sure I am in balance with God’s will for the path of LICF. He has so graciously burdened my heart and soul deeply for these people. The burden goes beyond just those who are a part of our congregation, but I can honestly say without any reserve, it goes to those who WILL be a part of our church. Does that make sense? It is different that the burden for the whole community. I wish I could explain it further.

Because of this burden, it brings me to some restlessness dealing with the ministry of the church. I just want my people to deeply and freshly experience an invigorating moving of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I deeply believe that God wants to pour down upon us and do a mighty thing in our midst. So often through the account of the early church this happened only when the people were gathered together in a central location with their hearts, souls and minds united in focused upon God. I am greatly perplexed by the lack of commitment that people have at times to the gathering together of the Body of Christ. I know God can bless and move in people’s lives in their private times of individual worship, but why is there the abandonment of the Body gathering? I have asked a few other pastors about this, and they too have the same question.

Offer food … and they will come. Have music practice they will come to that, but leave prior to the studying of God’s word. Why?

To my people who read this. Please know and hold on to this thought. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL THAT I AM. I just desire that we all experience together (all of us and those who come along later) the awesome, glorious, refreshing, empowering, cleansing, leading, healing, equipping and so forth power of God! If today, this point of time in the history of our church, we who are the current people of the church do not make a re-focusing desire to the ministry and events of the church, what will that tell those who come along later? If they see us sitting in the second chair instead of the first chair, they will be taught that it is ok to remain distant in their commitment.

It was explained to me this way some time back. Today’s church people (I am not just referring to those who attend LICF) treat their commitment to the church and its ministry like leaving a tip on the table. I ask … how long could we get away with the paying of our restaurant tab by just leaving a tip in the table? Once … twice? NO we have to pay the total of the bill or we will be in trouble.

Why is it so often believers feel they can get away with just leaving a tip and not paying the whole tab? (No I am not talking about paying tithes).

There is a great debate among many church leaders about the church not being relevant to the world around her. But I ask are you as a believer making yourself relevant to the church? Maybe that is the question that should be addressed 1st? If the world could see that the believers believe in the local church and its ministry, they may ask, “What is going on that makes people so committed?” If the world could see the Church excited about being the Church, I believe that they, the world, would get interested and feel that they too need to be a part. You see, it is human nature to go where the excitement is taking place. I am not talking about pure emotionalism. I am taking about the church getting excited about being the Church. Being excited to be the messenger of the Message. The world around the local church needs to experience that is still the tool of God’s design to exclaim the truth to those with out the truth!

Yes I love my church. Because of this love, it brings me to my knees daily as I intercede for them before the throne. I just want us all to experience together; all that God wants to do in our midst. I simply refuse to believe that we have seen, heard or experience it all. I believe the best is yet to come. But are you going to be there to experience it together or will you have to hear about it in the 6 o’clock news report?

I love you, LICF. I am blessed and honored to be called your pastor.

Make Me A Sycamore Tree

One of my favorite accounts of Jesus’ ministry is where he interacted with Zacchaeus. I can strongly relate to Zacchaeus because I see a lot of myself in him. I am not referring to his physical stature, because I am almost 6’2” and as the children’s song describes him as a wee little man. Nor am I referring to his profession as a tax collector and his journey to acquiring that position.

What I see in Zacchaeus, was an individual that was empty, alone and disconnected in the midst of his important and busy life. He was a man who needed to find his identity or at least re-discover it. A person who seemed, among some groups, he had it altogether but yet wondered where the road he was on would eventually lead to. While he did not know where he was heading, he was well aware of where he was. He knew he was standing in the consequences as an outcast from the “fold” because of his compromises which he made. Those who should have been the ones to reach out to him by offering their assistance in restoring him back into the “fold” were the ones who abandon him.

All around us, there are lonely and out-cast people. While at most of the time, this status is a result of their doing which drove them away from their “home” alliances. However, the opportunity or invite to return has seldom been extended to them from the home community. These “Zacchaeus's” are just as removed from restoration, as what the Zacchaeus of the Bible was. They proceed through the continual movement of the motions of life and duty, but yet are empty, lonely and lost. Deeply desiring to be re-connected, but yet shoved behind the crowd, prevented from escaping the dungeon of loneliness and abandonment.

Who around us, around me, have we over looked that are looking toward us for redemptive acceptance presented through us by the grace of God? Who is those or that one person, who feels as if they are of little stature, because we have forced them behind the crowds to where they can not see beyond? Who is the Zacchaeus around you? Around me?

We have to read between the lines and intelligently speculate to fill in some blanks about Zacchaeus’ search for acceptance both from among the home alliances and from Jesus. We have to assume that he had heard of the mighty stories (and at this time they were only stories to him) of what had taken place in people’s lives as they made contact with Jesus. Not only had he heard of these accounts, he may have personally witnessed such events as they took place while in the midst of his personal search for resolve of his disconnection. What about the mighty impact that was made in their lives as Jesus and the others connected? Rather it was a physical correction, an emotionally reformation or a spiritual transformation Zacchaeus could not deny that something beyond the explainable natural took place.

The emptiness that resulted in the unanswered questions that haunted him drove Zacchaeus into a consuming quest to find the answers. The opportunity now was within his grasp to personally reach out to the possible solution. He heard that Jesus was passing down his pathway of life. Jesus was in town. But how, given his handed out and his acceptance of his stature and status, was he even hoping to even make contact let alone to be impacted by Jesus? He knew, or at least presumed to know, that he was not going to receive any real assistance from those who had any authority, even in the littlest amount, to open the path to meet this Jesus. Those who moved within his circle were only mocking his longing to return to his home land. How then would he proceed from there? What were, in true reality, his chances to make contact with this Jesus, let alone to be impacted by or be connected with him? Would this day conclude just as so many of the past have? No connection, no transformation of his status, no returning to home. But he was not content to live one more day without at least making a personal contact with this Teacher, this Jesus, this one who has been proclaimed as the Messiah. But how? How could this take place?

As these questions haunted his quest, he threw his hands up in despair. If only I could see over the obstacles. If only I could get beyond the press of people. If only … if only. And then, as if he was kicked by the merchant’s, who stood next to him, camel, it hit him. There it was … the answer. The way above and over the fence of people in front of him. There was the sycamore tree. It was not a pretty tree as trees go, but it was a beautiful ladder. It was his pathway to raise him above so to make contact with Jesus as he passed his way. So up he went and there he sat. Just high enough to get him above the crown, but yet low enough to still make contact with Jesus.

Then it happen … Jesus stopped just in front of him. Before Zacchaeus could even draw enough breath to speak out, Jesus looked up at him and called out his name. Jesus told him, yes him … Zacchaeus the tax collector, the compromiser, the alien for the home land that he wanted to have lunch with him at his house. He never felt larger and taller in his life. Just the thought that Jesus had stopped and spoke his name brought a security that had evaded him for many years. Yes his name … not just a generic salutation … but his personal name. And it was done in compassion, not in mockery as he had grown accustomed to.

There it is … Zacchaeus saw Jesus, because of the Sycamore tree. Not only did he see Jesus, but he made contact, which opened the door to be impacted by Jesus and then to be connected to the Kingdom of God anew and afresh. Just as the old legend tells of the Dogwood tree used to make the Cross to lift Jesus up before the world so to be seen, so the Sycamore was used to lift up Zacchaeus to see Jesus. Oh may I be a Sycamore tree. Lord, please make me to be a Sycamore tree.

Remember, there are Zacchaeus’ all around us. Remember, Jesus is in town and he is passing this way. Are you available to be an old ugly Sycamore tree? It was not the Cedars of Lebanon or the mighty Oaks that did the lifting up. It was a twisted limb, shaggy bark Sycamore tree.

Please Lord, make me a Sycamore tree! Please make my church a Sycamore tree!

Tribute to One of God's Servants

Tribute to One of God’s Servants
Rev. Don Spurgeon
South Central District Superintendent
Churches of Christ in Christian Union

Yesterday evening, May 2oth my District Superintendent passed for this world into the realms of Glory. Don was a strong leader with a heart that beat heavily for the fulfilling of the Great Commission and living out the Great Commandment. Don had a strong desire to see the churches which oversaw to be strongly active in the harvest fields for the Kingdom of God.

Though a strong District Superintendent, that was only a part of who/what Rev. Spurgeon was. He was strongly devoted husband and father. I had the privileged to sit in a series of special meetings with 5 other pastors for a period of time lasting over a year. These special days, facilitated by Rev. Spurgeon, were directed to the development of our spiritual and leadership character. During one of the sessions, that focused upon the priorities of life, dealt strongly with family commitment. As Don shared about his wife, it seemed as if the room grew brighter as his face glowed with a wholesome pride as he spoke of his wife. There was such a strong passion and love for his wife, son, daughter-in-law and his granddaughter.

As a leader, as with most leaders, Rev. Spurgeon had to make decisions and take steps that did not always set smoothly or was popular with all involved. I too, was affected by those decisions. At one point in our relationship there was some uneasy days and steps. However, through Biblical standards, we worked through that period. It was a great privilege to be able to ride around the Ohio Christian University campus on the closing day of Mount of Praise Camp meeting and to work through those feelings. I saw with in Don’s heart a passion for people that I had not seen in any other setting. I saw through his eyes, the vastness of his position as a district superintendent and the delicate balancing act that at times he had to do to keep the churches he was responsible for, marching forward.

To quote George Barna about leadership, “Leadership is not just influence, being efficient and accumulating control and power. Leadership is the process of motivating, mobilizing, resourcing and directing people to passionately and strategically pursue a vision from God that a group jointly embraces. A leader gets people excited about God’s vision.” (A Fish Out of Water). In my heart of hearts, I believe that Don fulfilled this to the utmost. He often lit a fire in my heart. Sometimes the fire was so hot, that Don even told me to slow down. Don’s passion was deep to see people to truly grasp exactly what could be done through them for the Kingdom of God. He was a man of great vision for the harvest and this vision was often passed on and adopted by those around him.

About 6 years ago, after setting out of the pastoral ministry for 7 years, I met with Don about returning. Through various events in previous pastorates, I was determined not to return to pastoring. But through Don’s gentleness and wisdom, I was offered the privilege to return. I have not looked back since nor will I look back in the future. Thank you Don for allowing me to return to the greatest job on all the earth! I am ever in-debt to Don for believing in me and affording me the opportunity to develop my leadership in the similar paths as which Don displayed and modeled.

There are so many more things in which I could write. This post is larger than I anticipated even now. As I write, more and more come to my mind. However, I wish to sum it up here. Rev. Don Spurgeon was a man after God’s own heart and he desired all those around him to experience and to be impacted by the passion of Christ. Don was a man which was surrendered to the things of God, and lived his life to fulfill God’s calling in all that he did. Thank you Don, for being my leader, mentor, friend and brother in Christ!

Four Attributes of a Life God Blesses

This is a devotional that I received from Prime Time With God, written by O.S. Hillman



"So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." - Isaiah 28:16


Whenever God calls us into a consecrated life, it is made up of four distinct stages. Christ often compared this process to building a house.

First, we must prepare to build by laying a foundation. That foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Any foundation other than Christ will not stand.

Second, as we enter a walk of faith with God, He allows each of us to experience trials, testings, miracles, and challenges in life that are designed to provide "faith experiences" that demonstrate tangible evidences of His work in our life: Moses' burning-bush experience, Peter's walk on the water, Joshua's parting of the Jordan River. These experiences built the faith of these people. The depth and width of our calling is directly proportional to the faith experiences He allows in each of our lives. If God plans an international ministry with you, chances are you will experience a higher degree of faith experiences compared to another. The reason being, you will need to look on these to ensure your calling and provide testimony to His work in your life.

The third stage deals with motives. "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord" (Prov. 16:2). What is the motive behind my actions? Is it only financial accumulation? Is it to gain control? Is it to create independence? The primary motive must be God's leading you to take such an action - it must be obedience. These other factors must be by-products of the decision.

Finally, we are prepared to take action. Here we must ask, "Do we have the skill, quality, and ability to enter into this activity?" So often we have not trained ourselves adequately to be successful in our endeavor. You would never want someone working on your teeth who had not been trained and certified as a dentist.

Before you begin your next project, ask yourself these four questions. What is the foundation this project is based on? What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement? What is my motive for entering this activity? Do I have the skill, quality, and ability to accomplish the task? Answering these questions will tell you whether God will bless your activity.

Living Sacrifices

The apostle Paul gives an urgent plea to believers in Christ “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1). Paul makes such a plea based upon “the mercies of God.”

We are objects of His saving grace; therefore we are to put our lives at His disposal. Paul uses the sacrificial word for the Jewish Levitical offering of sacrifices. The body of the believer is to be a “living sacrifice.”

How do you become a “living sacrifice”?

It begins in a once and for all being set apart to God. The Christian is set apart for God’s use in the sense of being for pure and righteous purposes. Why such an urgent plea? The philosophy of the world system does not satisfy. The longer you life by the humanistic philosophy the emptier your inner person becomes. However, the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect.

Being a living sacrifice is often not easy, or pleasant. It is self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-crucifixion of the whole person. But remember the problem with living sacrifices is they want to crawl off the altar. For the Lord Jesus Christ being a living sacrifice meant oppressive burdens. It brought Him in conflict with evil. He offered Himself as the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. However, as He conducted His Father's business He found it to be good and acceptable and perfect. A living sacrifice for Him means He humbled Himself and became “obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Should the disciple of Jesus expect anything different?

Only spiritual things will last through eternity. Jim Elliott said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim gave his life in reasonable service, to gain a spiritual inheritance that will last forever. How many saints of God have died possessing nothing of earthly value, but a living sense of “no retreats and no regrets.” They were living sacrifices to the living God.

We are living sacrifices because God is at work in us now. He is continuing to work in those whom He has brought to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We are living sacrifices because He is at work in us changing attitudes, destroying destructive habits, forming new ways of thinking that pleases God. God does not start a new work and abandon it. He always finishes what He begins. The only reasonable worship is to join Him in what He is doing.

It is our privilege to glorify God with our bodies (Rom. 6:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:20-21). Therefore, Paul admonishes us to present our bodies once and for all to God as living sacrifices. A living sacrifice involves yielding the body, mind and will to God. It is a privilege to give God our mind (Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:1-11) because He wants to transform it by releasing His power from within by using His Word. “If God controls your thinking you are a transformer.” It is a privilege to give Him your will. It is not by will power that we are transformed, but as we yield to the will of God that His power takes control of us.

Is the “living sacrifice” worth the cost? If we are living sacrifices we will not look back at the end of our lives and be disappointed or feel life is all vanity. We will be able to hear our Master say, "Come, enter into your rest."

We have only two options. We can choose to be conformed to this world system and its values or be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Only a Quarter

This is a story that was sent to me via an e-mail. Do you see yourself any where within this story? Even though it may be easy to brush this story aside and say it doesn't hold much water, but does not the spine of the story/parable relate to how our actions/attitudes/speech reflect Christ?





Several years ago, a new preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new Preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday"

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is an example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Watch your thoughts; they become words.


Watch your words; they become actions.


Watch your actions; they become habits.


Watch your habits; they become character.


Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Culturally Relevant Gospel

There is a story about two boys, and each was given a block of wood and a knife. They were instructed to begin whittling. Both set off with great determination to complete the task given them. They were aggressively making the wood chips fly. When they finished the given task, they were asked to present their final product. The first handed over a nicely carved boat and the second handed over a pile of wood shavings.

What was the difference for the outcome? One had a vision within the task and the second only saw the task. This is a reflective illustration of how we, the church, often approach the journey of the task. We hear the presentation, and receive tools to do it then set off aggressively in getting it done. Then when we are asked to present the result of the process there is a wide variety in the end product.

To have a “Culturally Relevant Gospel” it requires visualizing what the end of the journey can and should look like. Time must be spent in “seeing the boat” before starting. All of the tools and materials have been previously given to us. We the church have been given the knife, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you” and the block of wood, “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the far ends of the earth” and the task “Be my witnesses”. We do not need to change the tool or find a new block of wood. The task has not changed.

So what do we need to do to have a culturally relevant Gospel? In my experience in wood working, there are different types of wood and an equal amount of requirements to work with wood. Just as the scripture above depicts different groups of people, we must realize, no, we must deeply comprehend that people (and situations) are vastly different and requires different handling. Think with me. Instead of only looking at the listing of the people groups of Acts 1:8 as different regions, let’s look at the listing as different personalities, make-up and styles of people. Just as different regions must be ministered to at a culturally relevant way, so local people must be ministered to relevantly based upon their socially, mentally, educationally and economically make-up.

So, why it is that two churches placed in the same region experience different results? They are handed the same block of wood, receive the same tool and given the same task, but the results are so vastly different. I have trouble believing that God desires one over the other in completing the journey. I have trouble that God desires to bless one church and not the other. I have trouble accepting that God wants one church to have more and higher quality results. I refuse to accept that God provides a better tool to one over the other. But why are there different results? Can I suggest that maybe we, the wood workers are just whittlers and not cravers. Maybe we do not stop and visualize what the block of wood can be. I think of when Jesus approached Jerusalem and the scripture says that He beheld the city, He began to weep. He beheld … He visualized the status of the city and realized just what they could become. He stopped and looked at the block of wood and saw the boat. Let’s stop and see the boats in our blocks of wood and take the necessary steps to release the boats thus we become carvers instead of whittlers.

One additional thought. Consider the knife. Just in carving, the proper use of the tool makes all of the difference regardless of the vision you have. Use the knife the wrong way you’ll destroy the final outcome. Use the tool the wrong way, and you run the very high risk of causing grave bodily damage. A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one when it comes to carving. (Our knife when it comes to craving for the Church will never go dull).

Having a culturally relevant gospel does not mean changing the gospel to fit the region, but the changing the ways in which we get the boats out of the blocks of wood we have been given. Are you; am I, a whittler or a carver?

Shall We Become Relevant?

New day. Emergent Church. Vibrant Church. Relevant Ministry. And a whole lot more. There are a vast amount of terms used today through out the church world to describe the status of ministry that the church should obtain and/or function at. Why do we, church leaders find ourselves so often wrapped up in making sure we have the “correct” terminology as the basis of what we do as a church? Don’t get me wrong, I deeply believe that the church must be relevant to the ministry community to where God has placed them. We must relate to the people to whom we have been entrusted with the Holy task of sharing the all powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must make sure we are using all available “tools” to get the message out beyond the walls of the church. After all Jesus was the first one to us PowerPoint in his message. Recall the story of the woman caught in adultery and in the midst of the message to those standing around he drew something on the ground and showed to the onlookers? (I know that point is lame but I thought I would just throw it in to see if anyone catches it.) We must think beyond the boundaries of tradition.

Do not all these terms really mean ministry? Do they not describe exactly what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27?
“Although I'm free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them. I became Jewish for Jewish people. I became subject to Moses' Teachings for those who are subject to those laws. I did this to win them even though I'm not subject to Moses' Teachings. I became like a person who does not have Moses' Teachings for those who don't have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God's teachings. I'm really subject to Christ's teachings. I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them. I do all this for the sake of the Good News in order to share what it offers. Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. So I run-but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box-but not as if I were just shadow boxing. Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.” (God’s Word Version)

Paul, as well as the members of the early church, had a solid grasp upon what it took to win lost people. They deeply understood the term “emergent”, “relevant”, “seeker-sensitive”, “vibrant” and any of the “church-correct” (like politically correct) terms that grace across the pages of today’s modern day church growth movement. Oh, they understood deeply their culture, for they were a part of it. They understood the necessity of relating with the people groups they we involved with as they shared the gospel. However, I feel that one of the main distinctions that is prevalently seen among them, was they did not candy-up the gospel message. The gospel message is suppose to give a stinging effect to the hearers. The presentation of the gospel message does not become more powerful because we have altered the methods of presentation to reach the post-moderns.

A couple of years back, I got involved in a discussion with a minister in North Carolina about rather the Bible is any longer relevant to society. He told me, that there is a group of churches with strong ties in Alabama that is in the process of re-writing the Bible. His claim was that they felt that the historical Bible no longer contains the adequate messages for today’s society. Because of this conclusion, they feel that a new Bible must be written so that the modern society can hear from God. This is more than just another paraphrased version or another translation; it is a totally new bible.

Though I have not been able to find credible sources of confirmation of this information, may I assume for a minute that it is true? With this being true it raises a fear within my heart about becoming relevant as the main focus of what we do as a church. I know that this is a very far extreme result but could this become the final destination of the road of becoming relevant?

Let me suggest the following: If we have …
Empowering Leadership, Gift-based Ministry, Needs-based Evangelism, Inspiring Worship Services, Passionate Spirituality, Loving Relationships, Holistic Small Groups and Functional Structures then we will win the lost, disciple believers, equip the disciples and release labors into ministry. This will take place through the 5 avenues of growing the Church. We will then be: Broader through Ministry, Stronger through Worship, Larger through Evangelism, Warmer through Fellowship and Deeper through Discipleship.

Let’s not get so wrapped up in relevant terms of modern dialect, but let’s get wrapped up in being impacted by the passion of Christ … with a desire to impact all people with that passion. I guess what I am trying to say is this. Are people coming into a life changing, heart cleansing, and life equipping relationship with Jesus Christ through the things we are doing as a church? If not then why do it? Being relevant is not the issue … or is it?
Hum ….

Caught By the Hand of God

Caught By the Hand of God
Psalms 37:23-24


It was a cold and dark winter night when the phone rang, awaking me from a peaceful sleep. The initial thought that passed though my mind was “not what?” The day leading up to this greatly sought after rest was filled with many tasks that ran from encouraging a grieving family, to sermon preparation then onto the monthly board meeting that seemed to have lasted beyond any reasonable length of time. When I finally made it to bed, sleep quickly and gratefully came.

As the phone was answered, I quickly recognized the sound of distress and fear. On the other side was the voice of Alice. Through the sound of tears and scrambled words, I heard her say, “Pastor, we need you to over here right away. Jim is threatening me and the kids again and I am afraid that he is going to hurt us.” A river of thoughts passed through my mind from, “Why me?”, “Can this wait till tomorrow?” to “Do I need to call the police?”

I splashed some water on my face and pulled myself together. As I stepped out into the cold Michigan winter night, the sleep quickly left my eyes. I did not fathom that within the next 5 minutes I would be face to face with death. I entered Jim and Alice’s humble mobile home to find Jim standing there with a handgun pointed at his wife’s face as the 3 children cowardly huddled behind her. You talk about 911 praying, I found myself doing just that. Not a large amount of words, but very sincerely crying out to God “You got to take care of this!” At that point, I did not even know if I would see my wife and children ever again. However, as I approached Jim and Alice, I sensed the very powerful company of the Spirit of God with me. I stepped in front of the gun and began to intervene in behalf of that family. After a few minutes, Alice and the children left and headed over to her family. But yet, I stood there with Jim and his gun.

I do not remember all that was said that night, but I remember very clearly the end. For the next few hours, with the gun pointing at me, I began to share with Jim the story of the wonder, amazing and freeing power of the grace of Jesus Christ. To be there was a terrifying experience though it was a very empowering. To know that I was in the hand of God that night has repeatedly brought great strength to me since then. However, the greatest awareness was by the end of that night, to know that Jim was caught by the hand of God. As the hours waned on, the loving embracing of God was being extended to Jim. To watch Jim come to the realization that God loved him is beyond words. As Jim invited Jesus into his life, was and is, one of the greatest moments in my pastoral experience. There are several more details that took place that night that adds beauty to it. And the follow-up with the family … well let’s just say it required a tremendous amount of work.

Caught in the hands of God. Wow … what a powerful and beautiful thought. As we travel down life’s pathway, both as individuals and as a church, let’s remember that the outstretched hand of God is available. He catches. He holds. He protects. He hugs. Oh the wonderful hands of our Father. Are you there?

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 4)

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 4)
This is the final excerpt from this year's address. I trust that these have been a blessing to you in some way as you have read through them. If something has spiked an interest, please leave a comment in the comment sections under each post.

Call To Service
Ministry. What a powerful word. It often brings frustration, anticipation, anxiety, joy, fear and wonder. Sometimes all of these feelings come at once. It produces a sense of inadequateness and a statement such as, “Who, me? What do I have to offer?” While all at the same time a deep peace that only comes from being and doing what the Lord Jesus Christ wants! I believe that ministry is not just a thing we do. It is more than preaching, teaching, singing or serving. I see ministry as a life style, which includes these things along with who we are day by day outside of these activities. So when asked about ministry, instead of asking yourself what I can do, ask, “What am I already doing in my life now and how can I use them to further the Kingdom of God?” There is not one of us that are not already in some form or another, involved in ministry now. However; I believe that there is not one of us, who could not do more for the building of the Kingdom of God. There are so many more people who need the Lord, and God has given to us the opportunity and responsibility to reach them. We are a T.E.A.M.: Together Everyone Achieves More. Let’s lock arms together in prayer, service, worship, prayer, surrender, fellowship, dreaming, laboring, prayer, ministry, reaching out, contacting for an impact to connect and prayer. Most of all PRAYER!

The time has come for all believers in and disciples of Jesus Christ, that we can no longer be consumer based Christians. By this I mean, receiving more from the ministry of the church than we put into it. Sitting back and saying: Feed me, teach me, serve me and meet my needs. This type of Christianity will spiritually and emotionally bankrupt a church. You can withdraw only so much before there is nothing left. Just as the world needs to be an industrialized people, so does the church. By this I mean, just as the world needs goods produced, the church needs to have goods produced. As we minister to lost people around us, we must be producing goods (ministries) for them to consume. In today’s society and culture, whether it is right or wrong, people will not just come to church because it is the right thing to do. Just as people shop at certain stores for various reasons for getting their personal needs met, they also judge their church attendance with in the same criteria. Just as people decide as to their return to a store if their needs are being met or not … they need to know and experience their true need, not felt needs, are being met. What is this need? Are they coming into a personal, vibrant, soul cleansing, life empowering relationship with Christ Jesus? As we reach out and reach in the church walls with the ministries of the church, we must positively answer this question. Once again if we do not ask this question or do not make the required adjustments to do this for our ministry community, we have failed them miserably. To do this, we must be focused on the Kingdom of God.

“A kingdom-focused church is clear on two points: stewardship and ministry. Stewardship is vertical in the sense that a local church is under the authority and commission of the Father. It is His will, His truth and His work that we do. We focus on Him; we serve Him and not ourselves. Ministry is horizontal in the sense that a church focuses on people. We focus not on ourselves but on our stewardship under God to serve his people. We preach God’s Word to God’s people. We equip God’s people for God’s work. We take God’s gospel to the people in our community. It is about Him (God) and them (God’s people).”

“A true focus begins with God and moves to people whom God loves and desires to be in relationship with Him. Methods, programs, worship services, events, activities and the like all come after a kingdom focus in a church. Only with this order of focus will other priorities and programs be successful.”

“A local church is a kingdom community of believers in dynamic fellowship under Christ’s lordship. Its purpose is to establish the kingdom as it fulfills the Great Commission with a passion to see every person complete in Christ through making disciples, maturing believers, and multiplying ministries. While being faithful in fulfilling the Great Commission we must focus on living out the Great Commandment. For through the great commandment those in the church and those outside will display the love that Christ has.”

“Our church is a kingdom agent, placed here at the will of God to be salt and light to people without a clue or a hope. It is a dynamic body of believers who exists to exalt the Lord and labor for his causes. It is a family of God building relationships among people and pointing them to the Heavenly Father.”

“Our success as an individual church isn’t going to be determined by the plans we have. It’s going to be according to the decisions we make and what we do to act upon those decisions.”
(Gene Mims)

“We can make our church an infirmary in a sin-sick world. But the goal of this church is not to be the infirmary. I’m glad the army has field hospitals where we can take our wounded and take care of them. Maybe you have been wounded and somebody has taken care of you in a field hospital. Still, the point of the army is not to have field hospitals but to have soldiers engaged in battle. The point of a church is not only to be a Christian critical care center but a spiritual army teeming with well-trained soldiers of the cross doing battle in the world.”
(Gene Mims)

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 3)

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 3)
This part was shared after relating the demographic stats and ministry index information prior to sharing the goals for this year's ministry.

Projection Transition
As I look out across this congregation, I see a congregation filled with the desire to be used of God. A congregation built upon deep and rich history. A history and heritage that reaches back several years. Today, all across America there are churches that cannot recall such a rich heritage as we have. The glorious make-up of our congregation is totally beautiful. The vastness of the experiences and journeys that each one of us has gone through serves as a powerful tool to the advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe that there will be literally hundreds if not thousands, of souls in heaven because of the ministry of our church! I believe that we’ll be amazed at the total of jewels that will be in heaven because of so many people allowing their lives to be used for the building of the Kingdom of God! I am amazed at the vast variety of people who call Life in Christ Fellowship their church. There is an enormous amount of treasure of talent that is contained in each of your lives. The beautiful deep goal to be what God desires you to be is so magnificent. The hunger in this body to win the lost, disciple believers and equip the saints is a powerful front force to what we must be and do for Jesus. I believe that we have only just seen a small portion of what God desires to do among us. Why you may ask? Because we serve the same Lord as yester years and He does not change!

When I arrived, I was filled with such a large amount of joy and fulfillment to be used of God here and to serve as your pastor! Many of you individually and together as the body of Christ, have brought to Debbie, I and our family great love and healing. While there have been and will be times of bewilderment and disorientation, I believe if each and everyone of us will practice to be patient with and forbearing toward each other in love, we will advance beyond any hindrances that may be attempting to sideline all that the church should and can be. I am filled with a high level of anticipation and belief. I so much want to do my very best for our church and our Lord! I desire to see souls to come to know the Lord in a personal and vibrant relationship. I desire for each of us to grow and discover God’s purpose for each of our lives, as designed by His divine wisdom. I desire to see adults and couples to make a deeper, life-changing and life-fulfilling commitment to Christ. For them to reach out and grasp a hold of the vision of our church. I desire to see a youth ministry to develop and grow to such a level, that it will continue to assist our youth to know Jesus Christ in a deeper relationship. A ministry from which pastors and missionaries would be called into service for our Heavenly King. A ministry that encapsulates children from the time of their birth through their college years. A ministry to help the youth understand the love of Christ. To help in leading them, each and everyone, to a life long relationship with Him. I desire to have a youth ministry that leaves no child behind.

So where do we go from here? This is a very big question and it should not be thought through lightly, for the answer reaches into eternity. Jesus instructed us as believers and disciples, to lay up treasurers in Heaven. So to do so, means we, as a church body, must fulfill the great commission, go make disciples”. To live out the great commandment “Love one another”. We must realize and remember in all we do as a church, that Christ came to make contact with people so to have an impact on them so to be connected to them. Also, we must keep Paul’s direction to the church in mind, when he said that to fulfill the law of Christ, we must have the same mind as Christ.

As we journey together, there will be times in which questions and uncertainties will arise. There will be times when we will venture a path that will cause uneasiness in our spirit. But as these times arise, we must be careful not label them as something that did not come from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. There will be times in which what has “always has been done”, should or will be no longer be done. There will be times new and out of the ordinary adventures will be pursued and done. It has been said and proven true, that the eight most deadly words for a church are, “We have never done it this way before”. There will be times that new areas of activity will cease to exist. Will everything that we do together be a flying success? Absolutely not! But just because it doesn’t work out how we would have anticipated it to, do not always mean it was the wrong thing to do. At the same time, because something seems to be working does not always mean it is the right thing to do or keep doing.

I am truly amazed at what God has done for us! He has richly blessed this church with great people. Each and every one has talents and is filled with great potential for the kingdom. I am truly blessed that God has allowed me the privilege of knowing you. I am greatly indebted to Him. While I am still in the infancy of pastorate here, I am unwaveringly convinced that God has great plans for us as a church! Everyone, and we all, each need to allow Him full access to our lives. I guarantee that He will not lead us astray. Nor will we be disappointed with the outcome.

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 2)

This is the second excerpt from the 2007 State of the Church Address given at Life in Christ Fellowship. I hope that you may receive some inspiration as you read through it. What a great joy and honor to be used by God in the building of His Kingdom.



Projection
It is so easy to say, let’s just add another program or what we so often title “ministry”. By adding, we draw to the conclusion that this will take care of the issue of “faithfulness and fruitfulness.” A slippery slope that so many churches travel down is the belief that the next program/ministry is the sliver bullet. It will be the cure all. It will be the one that brings in the harvest. We need to realize programs come and go. There is always a new one waiting in the wings. I am not arguing against the development of programs or areas of ministry, but unless they are and continue to be “bringing people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, one that is growing, productive and fruitful”, we have miserably failed them. We need to ask ourselves, “Are people coming into vital and vibrant relationship with Christ through the things we do as a church?” If our answer is no to this question, the program must be either re-aligned or discontinued. Time is too short and people are too precious for us to be wasting time, energy, and resources. No matter how hard you kick a dead horse, it will not get up. Take the saddle off and put it on another. I do believe in ministry and programs only if they are meeting people’s true need, and that being, people are needing to be truly connected and a part of the Kingdom of God. We must be a Kingdom-building focused church. We must focus more on the being side of life versus the doing side. We can be doing all day long, but unless there is development of the being side, we are just shoveling dirt with a tablespoon. The doing must produce the being. Most of us, if not all, realize that this is the cycle we must have, the doing producing the faithful and fruitful being, then the being resulting in faithful and fruitful doing. But it has to start at the being.

Safe Pasture
All around us in our ministry community are people … families and individuals, who are looking for the true church. Though they may not realize that this is what they are searching for, but yet in turn they are searching. We as a church have a responsibility to assist these in finding safe pasture. In presenting this, I have in the past been accused of being too much of a dreamer and not being realistic. But this is my dream. “The presentation of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness of all that it truly is, to all people. To not predetermine the whom it is presented to.” One part of our calling is to the presentation. We must present the idyllic reality of “safe pasture”.

You ask,” What is safe pasture?” It’s a secure place where you feel deep connections with others, where you are known and encouraged and challenged. It’s an expansive place where you find profound meaning for your life and where you are helped in practical ways to live out that meaning. It’s a holy place where a holy God loves to make himself known, where he instructs his people, and where they come together to worship him for all that he is. It’s a place of love. A place of vitality, a place of change, a place of laughter and tears, and silence and loud praise. It’s a place that feels like home … because it is.

Safe pasture is a place of trust, a place where I can entrust my spiritual life to others in the confidence that they will lead me into an ever-deepening knowledge of God. I trust that they will not violate their call in the process, will not use my vulnerability for their own gain, and will not manipulate me to any end that leads me away from life with my Savior. Safe pasture is a place of protection. When I can trust my shepherds and can feel protected in my walk, then I am willing to follow them into the deeper and/or more difficult truths of Scripture. The earned trust that makes one “feel safe” validates the shepherd’s integrity.

Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, described safe pasture in these familiar words: “I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:9-10).”

Because Jesus is the good Shepherd, he provides his people with safe pasture – a place of safety, a place of freedom, a place of refreshment and abundance and life. It is not a place of loss or death or personal desolation. Still, this “safe pasture” should not be understood as a home always and forever free from attack from wolves or exempt from disease. Rather it is the place where true defense can be found. Jesus never leaves us with only ourselves or with our personal resources at our disposal. He remains always with us, defending us and enabling us to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. This is the kind of “safe pasture” Jesus means the church to provide.”
(“The Church You’ve Always Wanted”, E. Glenn Wagner)

As we reach out into our ministry community, we must remember to offer and provide this safe pasture. But for us to be able, we must find it our selves. We must enter and receive the unfathomable riches and blessings of the safe pasture that Christ is presenting to us. We, the church, are the continuation of the ministry of Christ. We are his body in this time and place.

2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 1)

The following is an excerpt from this year's State of the Church Address that I give each year in January. Just prior to this, I shared with the congregation the demographic stats of our Ministry Community. Our church is a 3 year old church plant from a result of a breaking away from a large 1800+ size congregation. We have a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel with a large base of people. In recent studies, it shows that nearly 67% of the population of our Ministry Community does not attend at any time or regularly any worship service. That represents nearly 120,000 people. People that matter to God, and therefore they matter to us. Please read through this, and share your thoughts with me. I do covet your prayers as we, Life in Christ Fellowship, proceed on this incredible journey.

I realize that this information may not be of importance or seem of any value to some individuals, but each of these numbers represent people, people who are loved by God and matter deeply to Him. By realizing the make-up of our “MINISTRY COMMUNITY”, it will assist us in progressing forward in the development of the ministries of our church.

(Share the Dream … Build the Team, Donald W. Morgan)

Numbers Count

“… many – say, “Numbers don’t count,” or “I’m not interested in numbers.” Really?

Numbers are not just numbers – they signify people and presumably we who are in service of Jesus Christ care about people. Presumably we care about their welfare, well being, and how the gospel might bless their lives. We care if people are being neglected or turned off by the church.

If we would study the most vital, dynamic and growing churches, we will discover that where there is numerical growth, there usually is spiritual growth. Those who dispute this haven’t looked closely and let themselves off too easily, excusing their apathy.

Often times, as more and more people come into the life of the church, they bring new vitality to the life of faith together. Not complacent, not satisfied with the things they used to be, they bring a dynamic that pushes the church forward toward greater faithfulness and spiritual growth. The more that are added to the flock, the higher the commitment of the church as a whole. Thus resulting in moving from being a low-commitment church to being a high-commitment church. In a word, the increasing quantity brings increasing quality. (Then the cycle begins; the higher the quality results in a higher quantity).

Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Church, reminds us that we are called to be faithful and fruitful – not one or the other, but both. “God wants our church to be both faithful and fruitful. One without the other is only half of the equation. Numerical results are not justification for being unfaithful to the message, but neither can we use faithfulness as an excuse for being ineffective.”

Let me illustrate is this way. Picture with me, a quickly rising river. The crops and property around the banks of the river are in danger of being over run and being destroyed. The only chance for the survival is for dirt to be pushed up to the banks and piled high to prevent the water from causing the damage. So we jump to the scene and duty. I grab a tablespoon, one of you grab a shovel and yet another mounts onto the seat of a bulldozer. We three start moving dirt as fervently and aggressively as possible with the tool we have chosen. Let me ask this question. Who is being more faithful to the movement of the dirt to prevent the overflowing of the river? Is it I the one with the tablespoon, the one with the shovel or the one with the bulldozer? In all reality, we all three are equally faithful. However we are not equal to being fruitful. While there are demands presented that require faithfulness, there is also a call to be wise so to be fruitful.

So at times in the midst of being faithful, there is a call to evaluate are we being fruitful. If we are not being fruitful, then the right thing to do is to stop just being faithful, and look for ways to be fruitful and then employ them into action. To become fruitful in the application of faithfulness, the question to ask is, “What is the fruit that we desire see produced as a result of the faithfulness?” And, “Is what we are being faithful to, going to produce the fruit?”

“Somewhere, sometime, we need to come to grips with the Lord’s clear and compelling statement to Peter, and I believe, to you and me, as recorded in Matthew 16:18: “On this rock I will build my church.” Surely He was interested in His church growing and reaching more and more people. Surely He envisioned his movement as an ever-expanding reality by which more and more lives might be touched and transformed. How then can we, as followers of Christ, be content with a dormant, less than effective situation for the cause of Christ? How can we as disciples, dismiss ineffectiveness as of no consequence?

Somewhere, sometime, it’s important to come to grips with our Lord’s final and absolute command to His disciples, as recorded in Mathew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples.” He didn’t say, “Recycle the saints” or “Simply care for those who are already there,” although he surely did call us to feed His sheep. No, Jesus said, “Make disciples.” Be fishers of men, women and children – not – keepers of the aquarium. He has called us to be engaged in the mission.

The mission comes down to you and me. What do we regard as important? What do we believe is the nature of our calling as a church? What is the will of God for his church, Life in Christ Fellowship? And are we in His will? If we don’t believe our congregation is called to be effective, dynamic, and growing for the kingdom – neither faithfulness nor fruitfulness will happen – count on it!

But if we have the will to see our church grow, to help it become dynamic, and if we see ourselves called, not only to have a will, but also to be in the will of God, then our congregation can become dynamic. IT CAN! In short, where there is a will there is a way, and when we are in the will of God the way will be open.”