Friday, June 27, 2008

Back Safe and Sound

The Arizona group is back. We finished our 2100 mile odyssey back in the church parking lot about 5:30 this afternoon. Other than being tired of the inside of the church van, we are all quite happy with the trip, the work, and the friend building. More on this in later posts.

Now on to Freedom Fest!

Friday, June 20, 2008

I'm standing on a corner in Bylas Arizona...

I will be leaving the blogosphere for a few days. Bright and early Saturday morning I will be going with 7 great guys to Bylas, Arizona for our mission quest. We will be working on a church being built on the Apache reservation near Bylas, so I won't have e-mail or internet access. I'm sure I'll have some great stories upon our return Friday night.

Be excellent to each other!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Just do it.

As I have visited with people from many churches over the past few years I am struck by something that I have had difficulty expressing without seeming arrogant. It seems that in Pentecostal circles we have embraced the wonderful supernatural aspects of the Holy Spirit without fully understanding the theology behind what we espouse. In other words, we have valued the signs and wonders more than the earnest, steadfast study of the scripture.

When I visit with people and ask questions or make assertions about biblical truths, more often than not, I will hear a quote from a favorite preacher rather than a scripture reference. If I hear a scripture reference, it will be quoted as a stand alone promise with no thought given to the context of the scripture verse.

It is no wonder that we have so many wonderful, sincere people falling for things that are not truly biblical. It is no wonder that so many live powerless lives, because the phrases they quote sound good to their Christian friends, but there is a hesitancy about saying them to their unchurched friends because they wonder if those phrases really are true. We have many long-time Christians, but not many mature Christians.

I am anything but a Bible scholar, but I have made a life priority out of daily Bible reading. Over the years, I have come to a solid sound faith in God. Now, when I hear something said by a preacher or believer, I can immediately sense if it fits within the whole counsel of God. This without a seminary degree. Just through daily Bible reading. All of us have Bibles. We can all read a few chapters a day. Over time you will see immeasurable results. I promise.

Just do it.

Monday, June 16, 2008

What a US Open!

Wow, what a US Open! Even though the tournament was scheduled for 72 holes, it took 91 holes to determine a champion. Even with one leg, Tiger Woods has everyone else battling for second. None of the young guns even come close to threatening his stranglehold on the top of the world ranking. How embarassing for the PGA that Tiger has knee surgery and does not play a full round of golf for 4 weeks leading up to the most demanding of the major tournaments and yet he wins.
Props to Rocco Mediate. He is the only golfer this week who showed any ability at all to play with Tiger and not fold. I was really pulling for him. Two days in a row he came to the 18th hole with a one stroke lead and two days in a row that wasn't enough. I don't believe that there is any athlete in any sport who is tougher mentally or physically than Tiger Woods. I just wish he had someone nearly as tough to play against so that he could fully display his toughness. We got a glimpse this week. No other tour player would have been willing to finish the first round of the tournament with a knee that gave that much pain, yet Tiger not only played all four rounds, he played an extra round, and when that was not enough, he played one more hole. I think he is a cyborg.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I really like small groups!

The folks from the small group which meets at my house left a little while ago. Our crowd was down a little because three of the families were gone various places. But still we met, we visited, we ate, and we discussed spiritual and daily victory in our lives. All of this occurred in a comfortable atmosphere. I got to wear flip flops and leave my shirttail out. As we discussed our topic, everyone in the room contributed to the conversation, and we all learned something about ourselves and the believers around us. We confirmed some things about our relationship with God by hearing others express similar views. We also were stretched to think in some new ways or were encouraged to find out that we weren't the only one who struggles with certain things.

To me, this is an incredibly important element in living together as a body of believers. The corporate meeting is a necessary element, but it is does not meet every need in believer's lives. As long as we are only spectators, we will not be encouraged to formulate our thoughts in coherent ways that can be expressed to others. The small group discussion, carried out among friends in a friend's living room creates that vital link for the believer to test his thoughts or express his questions in a venue that is loving. To those who might say that we have given up a Sunday night service, I would say that we have gained so much more. We have been given the golden opportunity to examine and practice our faith in an environment that is encouraging. And that is the first step towards actually sharing our faith with those who need to hear it.

Small groups are awesome!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Summer Dreams Make Me Feel Fine

What a week! Last Sunday I had 5 air conditioners that weren't functioning. Man, people really get cranky when their room is hot! Well, as of 4:30 Friday afternoon, every air conditioner in the church is running. One unit had a broken thermostat wire, one unit had to be replaced, and three units had thermostat problems. Our computerized thermostat control was fried a few weeks ago when the church took a lightning strike. We had technicians around for three days running new wires and replacing equipment that was fried. Yes, it is covered under insurance. But it looks like we have to continue working out the bugs in the system. There is one temporary thermostat in the church foyer, because the technician couldn't come until Monday. But, due to some good advice from one the men in the church, I was able to get it functioning. So, hopefully, everyone can enjoy an excellent Father's Day service and not be distracted by sweat running down between their shoulder blades.

Be cool!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

What time is it? Now

To me, the hardest concept to grasp concerning an eternal, all-knowing and all-powerful God is that He is not bound by our concepts of time. As humans, we see time in three phases. What happened yesterday is past, what is happening today is present, and what will happen tomorrow is future. But with God, every time is now. At this moment, He is at the dawn of creation, at the end of the world, and right here with us. He is already at the end of whatever trial we are facing. He already knows how it comes out. He is currently at the time of the hurt you suffered decades ago, and He is with you right now, standing with you in your confusion, to offer His grace, which is the only thing we need to get through our uncertanties.

God is never surprised by our circumstances. He is not shocked when something or someone hurts me. He is there when it happens, and He is there already when it is all sorted out for eternity. In light of eternity, and in light of God's unmeasurable knowledge, the amazing thing is not that He can see us through our struggles. The amazing thing is that a God who is that great and powerful wants to see us through our struggles.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Unplanned Crusade

The story of the feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle which is recorded in all four gospels. It is a great story because everyone can understand the miracle of feeding so many with so little with so much left over. But there are so many applications that are only apparent as we read and reread the account. I have read the accounts many times in my personal Bible reading, I've blogged on this story, and listened to many sermons about this miracle, but new impressions continue to come.

I love the humanness of the disciples. They give me a sense of hope that as messed up as I am, I can still be used effectively by God. When they saw the unplanned crowd of folks, they saw a logistical nightmare. Their plans for a spiritual and physical retreat alone with Jesus had been tossed out of the window, and I'm sure they were aggravated. They saw the people as an imposition; Jesus saw them with compassion. They accurately assessed that there was not enough money in the account to give everybody even a bite, but Jesus told them to give the crowd something to eat. They realized that what they had in inventory couldn't do it. They said, "Send them away", but Jesus said, "Have them set down".

Jesus knew all along who had the food, how much it was, how many people were in the crowd, and what the outcome would be. The disciples had to uncover that information bit by bit. The disciples thought they were trying to protect Jesus' reputation, but Jesus was just using this opportunity to build His team. They didn't realize the full implication of the miracle even after it happened.

The disciples didn't plan a miracle crusade. But a miracle crusade occurred because it was in Jesus' plan. It was God's will, so it was God's bill. He paid it in full with twelve baskets of leftovers.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

The Cold Within

I don't know what's got me thinking of all these poems, but this one was written back in the '60s.
'The Cold Within'
Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.
The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.
And the last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,
Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within.
-- James Patrick Kinney

Friday, June 6, 2008

A Significant Shift

There are many things about church life that are frustrating to me. Some of them I have blogged about, and there are many topics that I dwell on and pray about while seeking answers about the part I can play to strengthen the body of believers at Lakeside as well as the Church at large.

There is a shift happening here at Lakeside, however that is a great encouragment to me. There are two small groups that are exhibiting the best of small group ministry, and they are not even listed in our listing of small groups. Alma Hill's Sunday School class and the M&M group are long standing small groups who meet with a common purpose and who have relationships built on long time friendships and common interests. They keep track of how others in the group are doing, and if someone is absent from the group, someone contacts him. When their members are ill or hospitalized, they rally around to visit and pray for them and to make sure that practical needs are met. The care that they give one another is given in love; not due to vocation.

This is the type of ministry that the New Testament holds up as a model for the church. Let us all learn from these valuable small groups.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Sermons We See

Edgar Guest was a popular poet in the middle 1900s. He was known as the "People's Poet" because of the homespun and folksy way of his poetry. This poem of his is one of my favorites, because it speaks in a very practical way the principle of living our faith out where people can see it.

Sermons We See
Edgar Guest
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Arizona is on the horizon!

It is hard to believe that the Arizona Mission trip is less than three weeks away. I have talked to Charlie Odell, the missionary we work with, and he said that the work is progressing nicely by the teams that are preceding us. We will be leaving early on Saturday morning, June 21 and make the 14+ hour drive to the Apache Reservation near Bylas, Arizona in one day. We will attend church on the reservation on Sunday morning. We will be cooking our own meals because the nearest restaurant will be 30 miles away. We will sleep in air conditioned comfort in the portable bunkhouses that are available. Each guy will need to bring his own bedding and towel. We will work on the new church building Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will be doing miscellaneous finishing up work such as trimwork, hardware installation and minor painting. On Thursday we will see some of the local sites and begin the trip back. We will arrive home Friday evening, June 27. We will have a great time.

I love the discussion!

In some of my recent posts there has been some discussion in the comments page by Chris Green DMin. Some of you have wondered who he is. He is one of the founding elders of the church that both of my kids and their families attend and a good friend of mine. He is really, really smart about theological issues (as evidenced by his doctorate in Ministry) and I enjoy talking with him about Biblical topics. Sometimes we will meet for coffee just so I can discuss topics that I am thinking about. Because I know that he has spent years in study, I always feel the need to think through my topics for discussion before I spout off. This forces me to really understand my position on issues and not just rely on the standard "company line" answers.

I hope that you do not feel intimidated to comment during one of our comments section discussions. Please feel free to join the conversation, even if you disagree with something that is said. Also do not feel that comments have to be deeply theological to be pertinent. Just jump in. This is discussion, not debate. There are no winners and losers. If you are challenged to think in a fresh way, we are all winners.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Alex Hanna

Sunday morning we heard a report from missionary Alex Hanna who ministers to the Arabic speaking world and heard some incredible testimonies of God's tremendous power to change lives. I don't know if you understood all that he said, but in one of his testimonies he told us of a town in the Middle East where every man, woman, boy and girl in the town had a dream of Jesus on the same night. As a result, there was a huge conversion to Christ and all of mosques in that town were converted to churches! I know that in our minds that seems far-fetched, but that is the kind of God we serve. He has an infinite number of ways to accomplish His purpose. We should never weaken in our resolve to trust Him, whatever circumstance we may encounter.

I am thinking about inviting Alex to conduct a seminar on witnessing and ministering to Muslims during our missions emphasis week in September. It would not be held during a normal service time; rather it would be on a different evening so we could invite people from other churches to attend. Would you be interested? Let me know.