You can't buy forgiveness

1 Samuel 12:1, 14-15  When I was little there was a claymation show on Sunday mornings called Davey & Goliath. It was a 15 minute show that involved a boy and his dog (who could talk to Davey but no one else) and each episode they would learn a theological truth by way of events in their everyday life. I watched it every week and eventually had every episode memorized. One week Davey and his family were on a ski vacation. Davey took his dad's skis without permission and when one of them came off it slid into a crevasse, never to be seen again.

His dad knew something was up when Davey suddenly became extra helpful and polite around the house. Davey finally admitted that he was trying to earn his dad's forgiveness. I'll never forget Davey's dad's stern but loving voice saying, "Davey, you can't buy forgiveness."

Israel had sinned by insisting on having a king like all of the other nations. They got what they wanted, but feared that God would punish them for pushing for their own way in spite of Samuel's warnings. Having their own way did cause them a great deal of misery over the next few centuries, but God never turned his back totally on Israel. He loved them, not because of what they did for him, but because of who he is.  He still sent Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for their sins. You can't buy forgiveness.

Watchful & Thankful

Colossians 4:2- When I was a boy, my brother and I pestered Dad for months until he bought us a minibike. We stood in the store as Dad made the deal. 3.5 horses of motorized freedom and adventure sat gleaming on that showroom floor. But Dad didn't have a truck, so he arranged for it to be delivered to the house later in the afternoon. Ryan and I were distraught at the knowledge that we owned a minibike but were not able to possess it. We hurriedly ate our lunches and stood in the front yard watching the street and waited for the delivery truck to appear. After what seemed like years, the truck appeared, the minibike was unloaded, the delivery papers were signed, and suddenly we possessed what we had been wanting for months. It was as great as we had imagined. I learned how to service a small engine, maintain chains and cables, and how to clean carburetors. We got many hours of enjoyment out of that minibike. Dad saw us use, maintain and appreciate the value of that minibike. Yes, we told him thanks, but he saw that we reality of our thankfulness by the attention and care we gave the gift he gave to us.

When we pray, are we praying with a watchful eye that believes that the promise God makes will be come true? And when we receive the promise; that answer to our prayer, what is our response? Will God see us live a life of appreciation for what He has done for us?

Let's make sure that in our prayers we are both watchful and thankful.

Love because...

Romans 12:12-  This simple scripture comes in the middle of a paragraph that details what love looks like when lived out in a person. it is interesting to note that all of the examples here speak only to our responsibilities to others. It never promises that if we do these things that love will be returned to us by those we have shown love to. Verse 12 tells us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. We would like for verse 13 to tell us that if we do these things all our hopes would become reality, our affliction would go away and we could take a break from prayer for a while and just enjoy blessings. Instead it calls on us to be ready to share what little stuff we have with others.

We love because we are instructed to love. We are able to love because Christ has shown His love to us. Although our love is directed to people, it goes to the very heart of God because when we love His creation, we love Him. So we don't love in order to get love. We love because we are loved. We aren't initiating love. We are returning love.

Always

1Chronicles 16:11 Those of us who have been in church for a while have heard over and over the necessity of putting God first in every situation. We all know several scriptures that we turn to in situations we want to change. But typically we don't resort to prayer until we have exhausted all of our own ideas and abilities. Many times I have heard someone say with resignation, "All we can do now is pray." How much less drama would we endure in our lives if we sought God's leading every day; even in days when it seems like we can handle it without Him? When we are in constant communication, we don't have to get reacquainted every time we have a crisis. "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Always means always. Not just in a crisis.

Who's In Charge?

Luke 6:12-16  Jesus spent all night in prayer in preparation for his choice of the 12 who would be his apostles. All night. Jesus. The Son of God. Yeah, Him. He spent all night in prayer before making a major decision. That convicts me. How many times have I made a major decision after convincing myself that my thinking about it a lot was equivalent to praying about it? We can all quote scriptures about taking our needs to God in prayer, but many times our prayer sounds a lot like, "Change my mind if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not wrong" while we are on the way to act on our decision.

I hear God get blamed for a lot of stuff. Someone says they "heard from God", and take action, only to reverse course some time later when it didn't work out the way they thought it would and say again that they "heard from God". I always want to ask them, "Which time were you lying?" When you prepare in prayer for a major decision you can go in peace regardless of the outcome, because you know that you are following God.  I always feel better when He is responsible for the outcome. I have a habit of messing things up when I make the decision.

Feed the Roots

Luke 5:15-16- Doing the work of the Lord is draining even when it is fulfilling. When you have something that is working well and is fruitful there is a temptation to keep on doing it as long as it works. But if you do that, there will be a time when your spiritual tank will run dry. That is when failures occur. Don't mistake fruit for food. You may be producing a bunker crop of fruit, but unless you are rooted in the fertile soil of private prayer and devotion, the fruit will stop and the tree may die. It seems counter-intuitive to withdraw when things are going gang-busters, but if you don't, you, and those around you will eventually suffer the consequences of not feeding the roots. Disregard those who would encourage you to keep doing what's working when you know you need time to replenish. Those who want you to keep going will bail on you when you give out. Get alone with God. Feed your roots so you can produce fruit for the long haul. It's good for you. It's good for those around you.

It's Free!

Luke 3:21-22; 4:1-2, 13- Many times in life we focus on minor things and miss out on the larger picture. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him while he prayed. It is tempting to spend our time focusing on the specifics of how that happened; what it looked and sounded like, or what method he employed to receive it and fail to focus on what the Holy Spirit did in Jesus. Jesus went through a severe time of testing and temptation through the strength given by the Holy Spirit. Satan threw every device at his disposal at Jesus but was unsuccessful. Jesus employed no methods, no gimmicks sold by other preachers, or positive thought strategies. Jesus employed what is available to every believer- the power and strength of the Holy Spirit working in him. Don't be confused by the proliferation of messages out there. Don't get caught in the traps of specifics some would push upon you. Pray that God's Holy Spirit would come and give you the strength to overcome everything Satan can throw at you. It is a power that cannot be bought or sold. But it is available to all who will accept it in faith.

Daily or Desperation?

Mark 1:21, 35-39- The Gospel of Mark is the most action packed of the gospel accounts. Jesus goes from place to place performing miracles, confronting accusers, and teaching disciples. But Jesus realized the necessity of spending time alone in prayer, regardless how how busy and fruitful his ministry was. He went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogue. It was a great meeting with popular adoration and a miracle. People were abuzz about the great service. Jesus leaves and goes to the home of a friend and heals a sick lady there. People come to the house all evening and he heals the sick and delivers the possessed. All in all a pretty good day of ministry.

Early the next morning while the disciples were sleeping in, enjoying the memories of the day before, Jesus got up early and got alone so he could pray. He didn't wait until he had given himself out and hit a wall of discouragement or weariness. Neither should we. Our prayers must be consistent to be powerful. If we want to be effective over the long haul, we can't coast after victories, or wait until a new battle rages. If Jesus needed daily prayer, how much more do we? Let's practice Daily prayer instead of Desperation prayer.

Rescue

Acts 12:5-17 We really do have an adversary who would like to destroy us. Each of us as believers have a responsibility to pray for one another when difficult situations arise. Paul's friends faithfully and constantly prayed for him while he was in prison. When someone asks you to pray for their difficult situation, it is easy to say you will but then forget to actually do it. But there is great power in concerted, corporate prayer with many voices in agreement. As time goes on, and as life gets more uncertain, we will find it increasingly necessary to support one another in concerted constant prayer. It's a discipline each of us need to develop. We'll sure want others to surround us with prayer when we are the subject!

Every Day

We remember the really great days and the really tough days. But most of our days are normal days with normal aggravations, joys, fears, and blessings. It is important that we reserve time in each of these normal days to build our relationship with our Heavenly Father. The writer of Lamentations tells us "morning by morning new mercies I see". The Psalmist tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good". Spend some part of everyday just getting to know God and ask for His everyday help and deliverance. Then when the great day comes, your first thought will be to praise the Lord for His blessing. And when the difficult day comes, your first thought will be to praise the Lord for His sustaining and protecting power.

When we really know God, in every life circumstance, we will naturally praise the Lord. But to really know Him, you need to talk with Him every day.

Protection

Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32  It would be nice if we received a package at the time of our salvation that explained all the benefits of membership. Then we could see how our decision to join would cause us to receive automatic protection and blessing. However, that is not how it works. Our salvation is secure, but our lives are still day to day. Crises occur, illnesses afflict, and uncertainties abound. I wonder if these seemingly bad things are around because they keep us talking to God? Our petitions to God for protection keep us close to God in a deeper way than our thanks for blessings will ever do. When we walk through the dark, scary places; holding only to His hand, we really get to know His nature.

Go to Him with everything. He'll be glad to hear from you.

Bless Me!

1 Chronicles 4:10  The Prayer of Jabez, a little book written several years ago by Bruce Wilkinson caused many in Christian circles to talk about Jabez for the first time. Hidden in a long genealogical record, Jabez stands out because he prays for a blessed life and increased influence. The book was very nicely written. Nothing wrong with the book. But, as with most things church-related, there were errors and extremes involved in the application of this short prayer. Some advocated the continual word for word reciting of this prayer as a way to unlock health, wealth and influence in the life of anyone who would participate. If it really worked like that, wouldn't someone have discovered this magic incantation centuries ago? And where are all the influential millionaires who bought into the plan?

We should pray for God to bless us. But the blessings of God may look much different than a bloated checkbook balance. He may bless us to be able to have influence in our middle class neighborhood. He may bless us to have influence in a child's life. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Being in right relationship with God is the greatest blessing of them all.

What is important?

1 Kings 8:22-30, 9:1-3  In our day and age, most of us don't worship in huge elaborate houses of worship. Most of us worship in fairly pedestrian settings; whether it is in a modest building built to be a church, or as in my case, a remodel of a structure which once served a very different purpose. The space tells a lot about our idea of who God is and what His presence means to us.

A downtown mission may have very rustic benches and scarce decoration. This scene may be desirable to create the sense that God is not put off by those who are down and out. A church in the historic section of town may have been built decades or even centuries prior and serve as a reminder that God is not put off by riches or solid planning.

What is important is the priority which is placed on the actual presence of God in the space used in His name. Building a place of magnificence solely so people of influence will have a place worthy of their attendance is wrong. Just as wrong is the group which prides themselves on their poverty, and hides their laziness or stinginess behind a mask of holiness.

Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple showed his understanding that we cannot build something that is too majestic for God. Anything we come up with is an embarrassment if we think that God will be impressed with our labors. Solomon's prayer recognizes God's promises and faithfulness in the past and counts on God's continued faithfulness in the future, recognizing that it is all a gift from God. God owes us nothing. Yes, He made a covenant with Israel, but it is completely one sided in our favor. We do what we can do with what He gave us to begin with, and He protects and provides for us and gives us eternal life. So God's presence in our midst is the bottom line. If He's not here, we have nothing.

What to we have to brag or complain about?

Why So Long?

1Samuel 1:1-11,19-20,27-28- Many of the most moving stories in the Bible involve the inability to have children. Think of Sarai, Rachel, and now, Hannah. Who can explain how God works? Why does He seem to delay so long in fulfilling these women's desire to bear children? But are these the right questions? He did answer. Each of these children were significant characters in the story of the coming Messiah. It is our human desire to control God; to require Him to do things the way we want him to do it in the time frame we specify. But He doesn't have to. He's God. We're not. Many times one of my grandsons will demand that they be given something NOW when I know what the day has in store for them just a little later. They may be hurt or angry that I don't give into their demand, but I know that something better awaits. When it is revealed to them what they've been forced to wait on, the former request is forgotten in the glory of what has been revealed to them.

I don't know all the "whys" of what we go through, but I trust in God's love and providential care.  2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says, Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Hang in there.

Bitter/Sweet

Exodus 15:22-27- Moses led the people from the Red Sea. The Red Sea that had seen the Children of Israel completely delivered out of their Egyptian bondage. A place of total, convincing, unquestioned miraculous victory. But just a few days after, they were thirsty and needed water. For three days they searched and finally water was spotted! But when they arrived they found that the water was not fit for drinking. That's when the trouble started. As long as they were all in the same boat and looking for water, they shepherded their resources and made the water they carried go as far as they could. But when the promise of fresh water turned into disappointment, they turned against their leader.

Moses went to God in prayer, but God answered in a strange way. The Lord showed Moses a tree. Moses broke off a branch from the tree and tossed it in the water. I think of the insurance commercial where the farmer yells at the woodchucks, "Hey, you dang woodchucks! Stop chuckin' my wood!"

When the wood hit the water, Moses declared it fit to drink, and it was. What a strange way for a prayer to have been answered. What if Moses had had his own idea of how God should have answered and dug his heels in until God revealed reverse osmosis water purification technology to him? There would have been an entire nation of skeletons left as a monument to Moses' thoughts of how things should work.

God reserves the right to meet our needs in the way He wants to do it. He will not be limited by our plans or opinions. He used this circumstance to speak to them a promise that serving Him faithfully (meaning even when our circumstances don't coincide with our expectations) He will be faithful to us.

After leading them to the place of bitter waters, and after He showed them that He could meet their need anywhere He placed them, God led them to a true oasis with palm trees and a dozen good wells. He was the same loving Heavenly Father at Marah as He was at Elim. No mistakes, no crisis in God's view. He was in charge all the way.

When God's People Pray

Wednesday night I will be leading a new study. "When God's People Pray" by Jim Cymbala is exactly what I feel that the faithful Wednesday night group at Living Water Church will benefit from participating in. This week's topic is "God's Heart For Us". As we go forward, focused and committed prayer coming from many hearts is what will cause us to break free from what has held us back and allow the Holy Spirit to move and work freely in and through us to do great things for God's church. If you don't usually come on Wednesday night I would urge you to start now. You will benefit greatly from this study.

Let Your Light Shine

On October 30 I will begin a new series called "Let Your Light Shine". In this series we will explore "What is Light?", "What is my light?", and "Where can your light be used?" Many people spend their lives thinking that they have no special gifts or abilities and as a result have become mere benefitters of their church and their relationship with Christ instead of participators in the exciting and challenging work  of spreading the gospel. My goal with this series is to unlock and unleash the potential of those who have never really sensed their value to the Kingdom and set them on a new course of service and fulfillment.

TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

06/19/2008

Anxiety.  That’s the one best word that would’ve described what Mike and Melissa were feeling as they were commuting to a church service.  Why?  Shouldn’t the gathering of the Body of Christ be exciting?  Of course.  But, Mike and Melissa were not yet part of the “Body of Christ.”  They had both grown up in church, but as they went to college, found each other, and started a family of their own, church had gotten lost in the mix.  It had now been well over 10 years since they had been to a church service.  Today was a big day.

How would your church welcome Mike and Melissa as they reach out for a life change?  Too many times our own ideas and prejudices can actually get in the way of reaching those like Mike and Melissa.  We’ve been given the great responsibility each week to provide an experience that brings people like Mike and Melissa to Christ, rather than distracts them from Him.  Let’s examine some of the top methods that welcoming churches are using.

THEY EVALUATE THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE

Realize the visit does not begin with the first song.  The visit begins from the moment the guest pulls into the parking lot.  Train yourself to pay attention to the details of every element of the guest’s experience.  For example:
• Is the landscaping neat and in order?  Are the grounds free from trash and debris?
• Does the building appear inviting or neglected?
• Are the entrances clearly marked and easy to find?
• Is there guest parking?  Is it clearly marked?
• Is parking difficult?  If so, are there attendants present to help direct cars?
• Is there a logical flow to the traffic?  Is it clearly indicated?
• Are there any means to help the elderly or disabled into the building?

Evaluate in detail every moment of the experience to see if there is anything you can do to help facilitate what God wants to accomplish in the guest’s heart that day.

THEY THINK THROUGH THE MIND OF THE GUEST

I used to have a favorite sandwich shop.  They always featured a daily special.  All the regulars knew that you had to order “The Special” to get the special pricing.  If a club sandwich was on sale and you ordered a “Club Sandwich,” you’d get charged the regular menu price.  The words “The Special” were the password that got you the discount.  Does your church have any practices that newcomers would be oblivious to?

Try to think through everything as if it were your first time at your church.  Sometimes, this can be extremely difficult.  Consider having some trusted friends from outside your congregation visit your church and give their unbiased opinion.  You may want to even prepare some questions for them to keep in their minds prior to their visit.

THEY DON’T SINGLE OUT THE GUEST

Nothing can be more intimidating to a newcomer than to be singled out as an outsider.  Sure, you want to make them feel special and you want your congregation to recognize the guests and welcome them, but find a way to do this without having the guest stand, speak, wave, or wear any badge, ribbon, or article that identifies him or her as an “outsider.”  Most guests arrive and want to blend in like a chameleon.  While many guests do not mind special treatment (e.g., close parking, a special gift, the attention of staff, etc.), they do not want this special treatment to single them out.

THEY TEACH EVERYONE TO BE HOSPITABLE

Hosts and greeters are wonderful!  They are never a replacement for a close, hospitable community beyond the church doors, though.  This takes the message of your church beyond the “professionals” to the “users.”  When the “name tag” people are nice, I assume that they’re probably supposed to be that way while wearing the name tag.  It’s when the average church member takes time for me that I feel special.  Good leadership is able to model open community and inclusiveness in a way to be contagious to the whole congregation.

THEY FOLLOW-UP

A great follow-up program can help solidify what God has started to do in a newcomer’s heart.  It can also be one of many steps in a process of connecting the guest to your congregation.  If you have collected data on the guest, use this data to customize your follow-up approach to them.  For example, if Mike and Melissa indicated on their communication card that they have two elementary aged children, present them with the most exciting aspects of your children’s ministry.  Give them information about how they can connect to your congregation as a couple with young children.  The most effective follow-up occurs within 36 hours of the church visit.

THEY HAVE GREAT SIGNAGE

You may have a logical, excellent layout for your church building, but without proper signage, it will be difficult for the guest to navigate.  Here are some questions guests may have that proper signage would answer quickly:
• Where should I park?
• Which door is the entrance?
• Where is the auditorium?
• Where are the restrooms?
• Where do I take my children?
• Where do I find more information about this church?

In creating signage, go beyond simply labeling doors and entrances to providing directional signage to help guests navigate your facilities.  These signs should be simple and easy to read. 

THEY CREATE CONNECTING ENVIRONMENTS

In education, the hallmark of a great school is a low student-to-teacher ratio.  When more students are added to a class, the odds of a student slipping through the cracks academically increases.  Think in these terms with your assimilation process.  Although you may have a large worship gathering, the welcoming church creates multiple environments for people to connect with each other.  Many times these consist of medium sized groups and small group environments.  Find ways for people that have things in common to connect.

THEY RESPECT THE CONGREGATION’S TIME

A full-time job is 40 hours per week.  A salaried professional typically puts in much more than 40 hours each week.  After factoring in commute time and America’s obsession with extra-curricular busyness, many families find it difficult to find time for each other.  In this time-pressed environment, many can come to view the worship gathering and other church activities as an added bonus, rather than a necessity.  Help your guests realize the importance of coming together as a Body to worship.  Beyond this, help them realize that you respect the time they are investing by not wasting it.  If something is not uplifting God or contributing to the evangelization or spiritual development of those in attendance, consider if it really deserves a part in the service schedule.  If you find yourself adding “fluff” to your sermons to fill a specified amount of time, consider cutting the fluff and sticking with the things that matter.  Your guests will have a better understanding of what you’re trying to communicate and you will show that you value their time.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR WITH-IT-NESS

As I was checking out from a store last week, the cashier left the register just after ringing my last item and just before receiving my payment.  He’d gotten distracted and left me hanging in the middle of a transaction.  Ever have anyone do that to you in a conversation?  Maybe they’re physically with you, but you can tell from their glazed eyes that their mind is somewhere else.  It’s essential to maintain your “with-it-ness” with your guests!  Nothing speaks to someone’s value more than individual attention.  No marketing campaign or clever service element can ever take the place of a personal heart to heart connection.  Take time to be in the moment with your guests.  It could be what it takes to move them closer to a relationship with God.

Source/Author: Mark Forrester
Publication: MinistryDirect
Submitted by: Jimmy Abrams

It's not that far

OK, friends who live in Oklahoma City. Time for a geography lesson. I'm not pastoring in North Dakota. I'm pastoring in Guthrie. Guthrie is the next town north of Edmond. No one says that Edmond is "so far away", but I commonly hear that excuse when I ask when you are gonna come visit me some Sunday morning. Let me attempt to dispel some myths about visiting Guthrie:

It does not require an overnight stay to visit Guthrie. From north OKC it takes 35-40 minutes to reach Living Water Church.

We speak the same Oklahoma English that you do.

We have electricity and flush toilets.

There are good places to eat after church.

You can actually take your cup of coffee into the sanctuary during service.

Our morning worship experience begins at 10am and ends around 11:15.

The preaching is getting better.

It wouldn't hurt you to visit us some time. Seriously.

Bad Memories

Tonight I was visiting an art exhibit of paintings created by a friend. My son-in-law did an amazing job of converting an empty cafe into an elegant art gallery. While inside, however, I realized that I had been in this building before. Way back when I was in high school, this place had been a Pizza Planet where our youth group would occasionally go after Sunday night services.

Soon after getting my driver's license, I was allowed to take the car to Pizza Planet one Sunday night on the condition that I take my little brother with me. I was so flush with the excitement of driving myself, I didn't really mind. I entered Pizza Planet as a newly ordained young man. I had cash in one pocket and car keys in the other. I sat down with the confidence only a 16 year old male driver possesses, and ordered my drink and pizza.

The drinks arrived and the banter began. Within seconds, my little brother knocked over his completely full strawberry soda. Immediately it rushed the short distance to the edge of the table where it cascaded in a crimson waterfall directly in my lap, ruining my evening's coolness; not to mention my brand new white double-knit slacks.

Tonight I stood for a moment on the exact spot. Some day I'll have to forgive my brother.

Royal Ranger Adventure

Our Royal Rangers are going to have their first outing on October 15. Lonnie and the gang will be going to Red Rock Canyon to hike, explore and rappel. All boys are invited. Be a part of the excitement!

Poor Customer Service

This morning I went to a national chain office supply store to get some copier paper for the church. While I was checking out I saw a lady carrying her desktop computer in her arms. My first thought was, "Oh boy, I hate having to take my computer for repair." I have been her before; carrying my computer, knowing that I am at a severe knowledge disadvantage and wondering if this trip would be the one that would require me to go through the painful process of switching to a new computer.

The lady was directed by the person at my check-out station to take her burden to the customer service desk. There were two employees at the service desk and I was sure that she would come under their care very quickly. However, they seemed not to notice the lady and continued their light-hearted conversation while she stood close by, uncertain as to where to set her computer. Another employee, who appeared to be older and seemingly more responsible came walking quickly toward the two. I assumed that she would immediately connect with the poor lady and get on to the two younger ones for being un-noticing of the lady's dilemma. However, she gave an order to the boy about some messiness on one of the aisles and sent him away. She then gave some directions to the other girl and set her in another direction. All of this happened within 4 feet of the lady who was still holding her computer. No one had talked to her yet. Finally the lady was told someone would be with her shortly; the first acknowledgement of her existence in the store. As I was leaving, I saw her decide to set her computer down on a counter. No one had given her any instruction. She was the customer. She was the reason the store exists. Nothing else could have been more important than making her feel appreciated for picking their store over the many other options Oklahoma City offers.

Poor customer service always frustrates me. I worry that this story might be lived out at Living Water Church. Could someone come into our place, carrying a heavy burden and looking to repair her life and find people who are occupied in conversations with people they have known for years? Could the placement of chairs or the quantity of coffee stirrers take precedent over connecting with someone who is out her element by coming into a church?

Let's all keep an eye out for someone who we don't recognize. Let's be ready to meet them; to hear their story; to see how we can help lead them to what they need. After all, people with burdens are the reason for our existence. Nothing else we do comes close to them in importance.

God Moves In Mysterious Ways

God moves in mysterious ways,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter tase,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper (1731-1800)

A Pentecostal Profession of Faith

WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, God is far away,

Christ stays in the past,

the Gospel is a dead letter,

the Church is simply an organization,

authority a matter of domination,

mission a matter of propaganda,

the liturgical services no more than a reminder of the past,

Christian living a slave morality.

BUT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, God is with us,

the universe is resurrected

and groans with the birth pangs of the kingdom,

the risen Christ is here,

The Gospel is the power of life,

the Church is the organism, the Body of the living Christ,

authority is service,

mission is Pentecost,

the liturgy is both memorial and anticipation,

human action is God at work in this world.

-Patriarch Ignatius IV

How well do you know the Bible?

A pulpit committee invited a young minister to come to their church for an interview. The committee chairman asked, "Son, do you know the Bible very well?"

The young minister replied, "Fairly well, sir."

The chairman then asked, "Which part do you know the best?"

He said, "I know the New Testament the best."

Continuing, the chairman asked, "Which part of the New Testament do you know best?"

The young minister replied, "Several different parts."

The chairman said, "Why don't you tell us the story of the prodigal son."

The young man said, "Sure...there was a man named Nicodemus, who went down to Jericho by night and he fell upon stony ground and the thorns choked him half to death. The next morning Solomon and his wife, Gomorrah, came by, and carried him down to the Ark for Moses to take care of. As he was going through the Eastern Gate into the Ark, he caught his hair in a limb and he hung there forty days and forty nights and he afterwards did hunger. Then the ravens came and fed him. The very next day, three wise men came down to the boat dock and he caught a ship to Nineveh. When he got there he found Delilah sitting on a wall. He said, 'Chunk her down boys, chunk her down.'
And they said, 'How many times shall we chunk her down?'
And he said, 'Seventy times seven.'
So they chunked her down four hundred and ninety times. Then she burst asunder in their midst. They picked up twelve baskets of the leftovers and asked, 'At the resurrection whose wife shall she be?'"

The committee chairman suddenly interrupted the young minister and said to the remainder of the committee, "Fellows, I think we ought to ask the church to call him as our minister. He is awfully young, but he sure does know his Bible."

Is this how well you know your Bible?

On Target, On Time

Last fall we made a tough decision to discontinue our Sunday School because the way we were doing it was very tiring on the few who were involved in the children's ministry. The stated goal in January was that we would finish completion of the EdZone classrooms and restart with a complete selection of classes for every age group in September. It was a statement of faith, because at the time the rooms were far from complete and financial resources were very scarce.

I have the advantage of being to see the fulfillment of this vision on a day to day basis. In those early weeks we would see what we were able to do with the available funds. Electrical work was installed and sheetrock was hung, taped and bedded. When we got to the place where the air conditioner had to be replaced before we could proceed further, the good people of Living Water responded and the money was raised. A miracle anonymous gift provided the remaining funds necessary to install the ceiling and floor tiles. Men of the church provided their labor, allowing us to extend the funds even further. Now these rooms are a testament to our faith that God supplies our needs. They are a major step toward the completion of the original vision of moving into the facility we call our church home.

Now this Sunday, right on the promised time, we resume Sunday School at Living Water Church. We have classes for Toddlers (1-3 in diapers) Preschool (3-5 potty trained) Primary (grades 1-3) Junior (grades 4-6) Youth (grades 6-12) and Adults (everyone else). It will begin at 9 and will end at 9:45.

I am grateful for the many who have made this possible; those who gave of their time or finances to get the rooms ready, and those who have given of their time to be teachers in these classes.

But most especially, I am grateful to God who makes all things possible. This is an exciting time to be a part of what God is doing at Living Water Church.

OK, maybe I AM all that

I am sitting in the All About Cha coffee shop in Edmond. I had about an hour before a lunch meeting across the street, and I have seen this place but have never had the opportunity to try it out. There is always some reading that I need to do, so I thought I would pull in and have a cup while reading. The atmosphere in the place is great. Airy and contemporary with an Asian feel, just being in here makes me feel cooler than I really am. (And after all, isn't that what we're all after?)

I am reading a commentary on Colossians written by N.T. Wright in preparation for a series I plan to share probably in January. N.T. Wright is one of the most readable theologians who is writing today. I came across a line I thought was very good.

When the lavish and generous beauty of the world makes you catch your breath, remember that it is like that because of Jesus.

Out of habit I reached for my phone to tweet that, but I feared that it might exceed the character limit. I could have done it on Facebook, but a thought struck me. I am in here with my new MacBook in my backpack case slung casually over one shoulder. I can be one of those people who sit in coffee shops and work for hours on their laptop doing all sorts of world changing things. Suddenly I was overcome with the overwhelming urge to get some leather flip flops and grow a soul patch.

Assisted Living Musings

When I visit my dad in his assisted living center I usually find him sitting in a common area in a chair where he can see down a long hallway. This allows him to watch most of the comings and goings of staff and residents. As I sit with him, he keeps a running commentary on the folks who appear in his field of view. As I have spent time there, I have come to an obivious conclusion: the end of life season is tough.

I see a couple. He is sprightly and clear-headed, but his wife's mind is gone. It is tender and heart-breaking to see him, who gives the impression that he could exist quite well in the outside world, staying faithful to his marriage vows and tending to his wife who knows when he is with her, but very little else.

I see younger people who, for whatever reason, have lost their ability to think things through, and I wonder how many years will their world will be limited to the cream colored walls of the facility.

The older ones, including my dad, fall into one of two categories: those whose minds have outlived their bodies and those whose bodies have outlived their minds. I haven't decided which is less desirable.

I look at Dad, and I know that he is spiritually ready to make the next journey. He hangs on tenaciously to this life because it is what he knows. He knows conceptually about his glorified body in Heaven, but for 94 years he has lived the reality of this life, so he stays with what he knows. But I know that when that day comes, and Jesus says "Well done", Dad will wonder why he hung on so long.

Don't fail to make your preparations for your Heavenly destination.

Memories

I talk to people from time to time who pine for things to be as they once were. They hold an idealized view of a place, a period of time, a group of friends, or an association with others, and it becomes a standard which cannot be attained in any other situation. This ideal changed, maybe slowly, maybe rapidly, but the change is not seen as ordinary transition, and it is for sure not seen as improvement. They find it difficult to enjoy today because they haven't forgiven today for not being yesterday.

The problem is that things always change. Summers end and as fall arrives, leaves die and fall off. Maybe a tornado strips the leaves off early in the Spring and cheats the tree of its Summer leaves. But the tree changes. There is no going back to what once was. If we attempt to recreate the past, we find very quickly that it is a fool's errand. You can reassemble a group of people, but the perspectives, attitudes and worldviews of the people have changed. The chemistry which once held the group together doesn't exist anymore. That's why high school reunions sound so good in theory but are usually awkward in reality.

The best thing we can do with the past is to preserve and honor the good parts, learn from and discard the bad parts, and realize that today we are a much different person than we were back then.

Back in my youth Barbra Striesand sang the song "The Way We Were" (although I liked the Gladys Knight version much better). It went something like:

Memories line the corners of my mind,
Misty water-colored memories, of the way we were.
Scattered pictures, of the smiles we left behind,
Smiles we gave to one another, of the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time re-written every line,
And if we had the chance to do it all again, tell me would we, could we?
Memories, can be beautiful and yet,
What's too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget.
But it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember, the way we were.

We have the opportunity to enjoy today, today. Tomorrow we can't do anything about it.
And wishing that today was yesterday is wasted effort.

I Was Born To Reject Rejection

OK. This was a new one on me. Last night Carole and I were looking for a quick bite before we went to the evening service at General Council. We had been told that there was a small food court in a nearby hall in the convention center. Sure enough, it was right where we were told it would be. We saw a little Mexican grill and decided that that would be our place. It seemed to have the shortest line and besides that, it smelled good. We took our place at the end of the line and began to read the menu signboard.  Our stomachs began to growl in anticipation. A few seconds later, a young lady, an employee, came over to us and said, "Sorry, we're closing." Then she began to pull the web barrier across the line in front of us. No one was behind us in line. It was just me and Carole. I asked, "Are you serious?" Carole said, "Can't you close the line behind us?" She wouldn't look us in the eye. She just hooked the barrier in place in front of us and walked away. Wow. I've never had that happen before.

So we went to plan B. At the arena where the service was to be held, we found a concession stand that would consent to sell us something, so we got a hotdog, a popcorn and two cokes. And it only cost us $16.50.

Life is an experiment

Life is an experiment. Or, if you wish, life is a series of experiments. I have come to that conclusion because if I hadn't arrived at that conclusion I would have had no choice but to lose my mind. As a person who is living my life in an imperfect world, many of the decisions I make will have imperfect outcomes. Some make decisions with no thought to God's will for their lives, and some struggle to make decisions because they are waiting to hear a specific direction from God for every decision. Those who disregard God's will eventually find themselves in a fix of their own making, because God will allow us to go our own way as long as we are satisfied with our own plan. And it is easy to point to them and dismiss their difficulty with a simple "You made your bed, now lie on it."

But many Christians who want to live lives that are pleasing to God really get tied up in knots over the specifics of the decisions they must make. They feel that a decision must be 100% perfect because God doesn't make mistakes. Then when the outcome they get is less than what they expected, they have to figure out what went wrong. They either blame themselves because "they must have missed God", or someone involved in the decision must have blown their opportunity. The example of King Saul is brought up frequently in these discussions. But before we begin to expose the Sauls in our situations, we must look inside ourselves to see if we are truly a Samuel.

In reality there are few decisions which are truly "one chance to get it right the first time" lifelong decisions. Most of the decisions we make are transitional decisions. They are made today and are adjusted later. Cars we buy can be traded. Appointments we make can be changed. The outcome we get can be just what God wanted to bring us to the place we have been asking Him to bring us to. He doesn't guarantee that each decision we make will turn out as we wanted it to just because we have placed it in His hands. He has promised that He will honor our humble and obedient spirit.

So if you've made a decision, a judgment call, or started on a new direction in life and it isn't turning out the way you hoped it would, don't get all tied up in knots. If you didn't seek God's input before making the decision, ask His forgiveness and ask His guidance to get you through the situation. If you feel that you did seek God's counsel, then continue to walk in faith even though the decision might seem disastrous. He does things we can't understand, but we can understand that He loves us and will see us through. Don't beat yourself up and don't point fingers. Just trust Him. He loves you. Really.He does. Look at life as a series of experiments. Some will turn out the way you expected. But experiments have uncertain outcomes or else they wouldn't be experiments. They would be habits.

Withdrawl Symptoms

This Sunday will be the first Sunday morning service at Living Water Church that I have missed since Carole and I were call here last November and I am already suffering withdrawl symptons. Carole and I are leaving on Friday for Arizona for General Council, which is the national meeting of Assembly of God ministers and is held every other year. We are leaving a couple of days before it begins so we can enjoy a couple of days at the Grand Canyon, which is one of our favorite places on earth. I am looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time with Carole, who is my favorite person on earth, and I'm looking forward to hearing what the leadership of the A/G will have to say concerning the future of our movement. I am expecting to come back refreshed and enthused after hearing new ideas and enjoying wonderful worship services each day.

But I am still having withdrawl symptoms from Living Water. God has been working an amazing transformation in me since I began this journey in Guthrie. I see the seeds of fresh momentum beginning to germinate in our church and I love what God has been doing in our Sunday services. I don't want to miss one minute of this fresh, new and exciting season. I have complete confidence in Scott and believe that he will bring a powerful word. I don't have any fear that any uprisings will occur or that the church will suffer in my absence. I just like being at LWC. I don't like missing. I'm going to enjoy myself while I'm gone, but I will be really happy to get back!

Perception- the sequel

Many of you have talked to me about the last post about my adventure at the bank. Thanks for offering to help sort and roll coins, and most of all for the many humorous comments you have made. I thought I'd share how the story ends:

I took the infamous coin jug to Highpointe church because I knew they have a machine which will sort and count coins. My friends there even visited with me while the coins were sorting. I carried them away in their separate containers and headed to the bank where our church has its account. I carried in the smaller containers and waited for an available teller. The young lady didn't seem the least bit bothered that I had a large amount of coins to deposit and she was very helpful and cheerful despite a number of machine malfunctions while the process unfolded.

As a parenthetical aside, while I was watching the coins being counted, one of the ladies from Missy's Bakery came into the bank with a pan of baked goods for someone in the bank. I asked her if I could get added to her route for routine delivery of fresh baked items, but I wasn't given any hope that that would ever happen.

When my teller was finished with the counting and the rolling of the coins, she asked another bank employee to verify her count. As the other lady was verifying, she suddenly looked up and me and said, "Oh, you're the jug guy from yesterday!"

Yeah, that's me. The jug guy from yesterday.

Have a great day!!!

Perception

Our church just completed a coin drive to help our children go to Kids Camp. I am thrilled that we have 25 kids leaving Monday to have a great time at camp. My responsibility today was to take the big jug of coins and cash to the bank to be deposited. Being a bank, I figured they had the stuff to count coins accurately, if not happily. The jug of coins weighs around 50 pounds, so you don't want to carry it further than you have to, and you have to use both hands. I made it through the front door and someone was standing at each teller window, so I asked one of the workers if there was someplace it would be okay to set the jug down while I waited for an available teller. One lady smiled and pointed to a clear area of counter space and I headed that direction. Just prior to being relieved of the load of coins another lady said quite urgently, "Are they separated?" The jug is clear, so I thought it was a rather silly question, but I answered "No". She replied, "We can't take them unless they are separated", to which I replied, still carrying the full weight of the jug, "I was told that you have a coin counter." With a matter of fact expression, she said, "We do but we don't sort coins. They have to be separated." With that matter settled, I thanked her for the information and headed to the door. However, it is more difficult to pull the door toward you than it is to push it away when you are carrying a bulky load of coins. No one made a move to help, and I got the door open and made it to the truck.

I was not angry that the bank doesn't sort coins. I should have called or gone in empty handed to make sure. My feeling was that the bank had missed a golden opportunity to display helpfulness in excess of policy. One person saying, "I hate that you have had to carry that jug of coins for nothing" as she reached to help with the door would have given me a completely different impression of the entire bank. What I got was information. I needed the information but a little grace would have turned a frustrating experience into a pleasant one. I would not expect them to sort the coins for me if their machine doesn't do it, but I did expect them to show a little sympathy for my situation.

Maybe that's how we as church people should be. In stead of giving someone only the truth, which the person may not want to hear, we can add a little grace to the truth and possibly get a much better result.

'Tis all that I can do

For whatever reason I have had the last verse from the old Isaac Watts hymn, "At the Cross" on my mind today. That verse goes:

But drops of grief can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe,
Dear Lord I give my self away; 'tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith, I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.

As I reflected on the words of this song sung many times in my youth I thought of those who I have encountered over the years who have struggled with their forgiveness. They continued to labor and grieve over past sins and transgressions. I really believe that they felt that they were either disqualified from Christian service, or that they must labor in Christian service in an attempt to make themselves "worthy" of their salvation. This song verse isn't scripture, of course, but it does a good job of summing up the heart of Christian service. We owed a debt beyond our capacity to pay, but Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross paid our debt in full. Our response is (or should be) that we give ourselves completely to Christ in gratitude for what has already been done for us. Anything less is gross ingratitude. Dear Lord, we give ourselves away. It's all that we can do.

The Power of Forgiveness

This week it has been my privilege to visit with two different people who have endured hurt and betrayal by someone they thought they could trust. That in itself isn't remarkable. Each of us who have lived any time at all bear the scars of hurts inflicted by someone we loved. What made these two conversations remarkable what that each of them made the conscious choice to forgive the one who caused the hurt.

Both situations left the hurting person with a perfect opportunity to use the hurt as an excuse for harboring bitterness and mistrust for the remainder of their lives, but their choice to forgive actually freed them to live in joy. They fully realize the pain they suffered and they don't minimize the severity of the offense, but by forgiving, they have released themselves from the weight of bitterness and unforgiveness which so many carry to their grave.

Each of the people I visited with are joyous people. If you didn't know their story you might be fooled into thinking that nothing bad had ever happened to them, but their joy is not fakery; it authentic God-given joy.

They have found that forgiveness is the best gift they could give themselves. Forgiveness is powerful.

A Lot Has Happened!

In preparing for the dedication of the EdZone this weekend I got to thinking about those who have helped bring us to this place. I thought of those who originally looked at a metal warehouse and saw a beautiful church. I thought of those who gave of their finances, time and talents to lay out the floorplan and began to do the work. I thought of those who framed walls, ran electrical, built platforms, strung cables, hung lights and projectors, layed tile, painted, hung ceilings and decorated. It was a grand undertaking. I know that I do not know everyone who was involved in the early labor but I owe a debt of gratitude to all who gave of themselves so completely to build the attractive and current house of worship we enjoy.

While difficulties slowed the project, they did not kill the dream. The dream is alive and well and gaining momentum week by week. This week's dedication will be a further step in fulfilling the vision that placed us where we are today.

I have sensed since my arrival a few months ago that my first mandate was to complete the original vision before I led us in any new directions. The EdZone is the most visible of the remaining work. Now only a couple of air conditioners and some roof repair stand between us and the completion of the original plan.

God has been faithful through the exciting early days of the project, through the difficulty of the crisis period, and in the quiet healing period we are experiencing today. He has never left us and He never will. He still has great things in store for us, and as we keep our hearts turned to Him, He will reveal His plans for Living Water Church.

Be blessed and I'll see you Sunday!

Dedication Celebration!

This Sunday we will be dedicating the EdZone at Living Water Church. The completion of these three rooms brings us a giant step closer to fulfilling the original vision of our facility. Progress had slowed for a little while, but now we are gaining speed toward all that God has prepared in advance for us to do! I am really looking for an exciting and encouraging day on Sunday as we recount God's faithhfulness, remember all of His blessings, and reaffirm His plan for our lives. Come Sunday morning at 10 and bring someone with you!

I'm older than I've ever been.

I have always made an attempt to be able to make conversation about many topics. My secret is to learn enough about a topic to ask good questions. Then if someone I encounter shows some expertise in a subject I can ask a question or two and reveal that it is not the first time I have thought about the issue or topic. It works well just about all the time; especially if I don't try to pass myself off as an expert. People love to talk with someone who is interested in their vocation or passion.

But there is an area in which I have no ability to do anything but to appear completely lost. That's because I am lost. Back in my early 20's I served briefly as a sound man at my church. It was a simple sound board and it didn't take much technical knowledge to run it. Mostly if I watched what was happening and kept anyone from picking up a dead mike I was okay. I didn't like doing it, however, so when someone came along who did enjoy it, I was glad to hand off the job. It was then that I decided not to try to stay current in my knowledge of sound technology. That was back in the days before personal comupters and video screens. Multimedia at that time meant carousel slide projectors, overhead transparency projectors or 16mm movie projectors. That was in that era that I stopped learning about those things. I wanted to be seen as "not an option" for any future sound booth assignments. My strategy has worked perfectly for years.

Fast forward to today. I am a pastor of a church with an intimidating array of multimedia equipment. I am the one who is at the church during the week, so when visiting musicians or preachers come, they also come to me with their technical questions. My batting average is perfect. I always give moronic answers because I don't even know what to call the various thingamabobs that are back there. I know we can show a video, but don't ask what format. I know we can mike a guitar, but don't ask me about anything more than that because you will get a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders. I know we have internet, but don't ask me if we have a static IP address. I don't know and I don't want to know. We have some amazingly proficient and faithful technical people who happen to work at jobs which won't allow me to call them and quiz them about technical matters during the day. In this connected day and age, I sound increasingly old and outdated. Maybe that is why the lady at Taco Bell assumes that I qualify for the senior discount and gives it to me without even asking. Seven years from now I'll actually qualify.

Generational Worship- part 4

As I bring this series to a close I'm afraid that I've identified more questions than answers. I have heard of and witnessed several approaches to "all generations" worship and none of what I have seen has been completely successful. I don't like the idea of separate services; they only serve to further segregate the generations. But let's face it. Most people who lead worship today in our growing suburban churches are leading contemporary songs. Many pastors, trying not to alienate anyone, advocate a "mix". Usually this means that the contemporary worship leader is forced to sing a hymn or two to pacify the old folks (translated: consistent tithers). What tends to happen is one of two things: One, when the hymn is sung the old folks over-respond to demonstrate how this music moves people more than that new stuff and if we would just go back to the old stuff we could really see a move of God like we used to see. Then they stand stone-faced and unmoved during the contemporary songs.Or two, the contemporary worship leader dresses up the old song with newer chords, rythmns and phrasing, and it becomes just as unsingable as the new songs they already don't know. The mix doesn't satisfy when its' intent is to pacify strong personalities and their preferences. The issue is much deeper than the song selection.

On the other hand, the contemporary devotees are quick to say that the older folks should "get on board or get out of the way" and make it appear that only the old are stuck on their music. But let it be known that a traditional group is coming to perform, and it will be very difficult to find a young person in the house. They are just as guilty of being snobby about their music, and have decided that only music written by a select cadre of contemporary worship artists and written in the past 10 years can usher in the presence of God. That is every bit as wrong as the belief that God only speaks through southern gospel music. (I've actually heard that assertion.)

My travels to other countries has taught me much about the banality of style preferences in regard to connecting with God in music. I've been in a tiny church dug back into a hill in Peru where a tambourine was the only instrument. I not only couldn't understand the words, the tunes were not familiar to me either. But as I watched the faces of the out of tune singers as they lifted up the name of Jesus, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing because the presence of God was so heavy in the place. I have witnessed the same thing in Nepal, Russia, Suriname, Cuba and other places. Where there is a hunger to connect with the God of all creation who desires to inhabit the praises of His people, God shows up. When there is a desire for a concert, a concert shows up. When God shows up, no one critiques the music. At a concert, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I believe that everyone should have an opportunity during a weekly service to throw their head back and sing a song they already know. The reason is not that the songs we know are better than songs we don't know, but worship is all about release. Releasing our troubles and aggravations for a few moments and feeling the sweet presence of God. This is difficult to do when you are attempting to learn a new melody and words. This should be an easy thing for pastors and worship leaders to agree on. The quality of the concert is secondary to the quickening of the Spirit. And there should be great sensitivity to the specifics of a local congregation. Remember that you are leading, not herding your flock. If you're leading, but no one is following, you are just out for a walk. I've found few who were truly obstinate about their music style. Most are afraid of being marginalized, or they have a desire to connect with God again, and think that returning to the forms which were in use when their relationship was new and fresh is the way to reawaken it. Sadly, multi-generational churches are rare because of the insensitivity or lack of wisdom of church leaders; both pastors and worship leaders. As a pastor, it is my desire and fervent belief that Jesus is Lord of all, and he can connect with all, even when they are in the same room.

As Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?"

Generational Worship- part 3

I don't pretend to know nearly as much about the heart of the contemporary form of worship, so I speak as an observer rather than an insider. But I must say that I have been blessed, impressed and challenged on many occasions while being around those who are immersed in the contemporary worship. I make it a habit to cultivate relationships with young people who are passionate for Christ. I have been around many on mission trips, in youth services, and at large gatherings. Their worship is honest, genuine, heart-felt and demonstrative. For them, worship is less about the community gathering and more about a personal encounter with the Spirit of God during worship. They are passionate about their music and the effect that it causes in them during the worship experience.

Once again, I am more of an observer and I welcome correction of my observations, but it appears to me that the "singability" of the song or even a knowledge of the words is less important than having the song in the air creating the atmosphere that ushers them into the presence of God. Standing, arms uplifted, eyes closed, this worship experience seems to close in around the individual and there is no hurry for those involved to move on to other elements of the service. If the song goes on, no problem. If the words are not entirely known, no worry. It is present, and the worshipper has an exclusive audience with their Lord.

Two other major differences from traditional worship exist: New songs are introduced regularly, and the quality of the musicians and vocalists is usually quite good whether there is an entire worship band or just one person with an acoustic guitar. Today's contemporary worship leaders are quite gifted creatively and musically. The chords are different, the rythymns are different, and the phrasing is different and this is the major source of conflict with those who prefer the traditional songs. Just as a new song begins to become familiar, it goes away in favor of a new song, hence the charge that the new songs have no "staying power". I answer this charge by saying that as this is a fairly new genre of music, it is going through an explosively creative era and there is a constant weeding out of the songs which will not endure. The songs in our hymnals represent only a fraction of the songs written during that era, but only the hymnal songs made the cut. Since they are published in a book and the others have vanished, it gives the illusion that the songwriters of that era wrote only classics. But many of the songs written decades ago had no staying power. Forty years from now, a hundred or so songs from this era will still be known. Prediction- Shout To The Lord will make the cut; I Went Into The Enemy's Camp will not.

The potential shortcomings of contemporary worship is the opposite of those of traditional worship. Rather than becoming dry and formalistic, the contemporary form lends itself to the potential of narcissism, and the constant chasing after the new and fresh. This reveling in the individual experience can result in a prideful, self-righteous spirit that dismisses the perceived lack of spirituality of the older set. We disregard the community of the believers at our own peril.

I do envy the passion and emotion that our young worshippers display during the worship service. There is something simple and profound in the individual experience. An old hymn describes being "shut in with God in a secret place" and I see that in the worship experience of the contemporary worshipper. We old guys can learn a lot about appreciating the "fresh" and being more concerned about connecting with God than with how many times we sing the chorus.

Tomorrow I will attempt to propose how we can all worship in the same room.

Generational Worship- part 2

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of his spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my saviour, all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my saviour, all the day long.

I just typed the words to the first verse of this hymn from memory, even though I have not sung it in a church service for decades. That is an illustration of the influence of the songs we sang in church as I grew up. When I was a boy, we sang many songs that people the age of my grandparents would have also sung. We sang them from songbooks which changed only once in my lifetime. The "Melodies of Praise" hymnal was replaced in my early teenage years by "Hymns of Glorious Praise" only after much consideration and discussion. It really was a really big deal to make any changes to the songs we sang. New songs were to be sung as "specials", and choruses were to be sung during extended altar times or during baptismal services. As I write this, there is no hint of a smirk or dismissive attitude, because I love the influence that those timeless songs still have on me. They are still the songs I sing in the car or when I'm alone. Although many times they were led by people of poor voice and were accompanied by a piano and organ which might be poorly played, they still, through their repetition, got into my spirit and still reside there today.

The "song service" consisted of three or four songs from the hymnal. Everyone was expected to participate, whether that person could sing well, or not. Very seldom did anyone get carried away during the song service, but it was a time of community worship in song, where no one was excluded. There would be a hymnal for everyone. You held a book in your hands and it was the same book year in and year out. It spoke of permanence; of stability; of community. Over the years, these songs were imbedded in our psyche and they remain to this day. Our services resembled very closely the services my grandparents attended; the only difference was air-conditioning and better sound systems.

But there was a problem with the hymnal style of worship. The songs could become so familiar that those who sang them sang them without internalizing the message the song conveyed. Many times the song service would just occupy the first 20 minutes of the service, serving as a spacer between the opening comments and the offering. It became possible to sing powerful messages such as "Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified. Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied for me. There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary" without even realizing the message that the song was conveying. The permanence which had seemed so comforting devolved into formalism and in some cases, legalism. Any attempts to change were viewed with suspicion or even hostility.

It is a shame that the younger generation did not get to bond with these songs, but the reality is that they do not connect at all with them in the manner in which they were performed. The rythmns and the phrasing just do not resonate. Popular music began to change drastically in the 60's and the baby boomers began to break with anything that spoke of their parents' music. The change in church music came several years later. If I could ask anything of the young people of today I would ask them to have some appreciation of those who preceeded them. You don't have to embrace the music they prefer, but it should not be dismissed out of hand, either. In this world where technological changes occur continually, there is something attractive about those songs that transport the older generation to the years of their spiritual formation; when they were young and sorting out the complications of marriage, career and children. Those songs, passed down to them by those who had gone on before, were an anchor in the stormy seas of life. They didn't change like the world around them, and they offer safe haven to those who love them. Maybe you could find some of these old treasures, rework the chord progressions, and give them to a new generation, while showing some love and respect for those who most likely sacrificed to pay for the church you attend today.

Generational Worship- Part 1

This is the first of four posts that have been on my heart concerning music and worship in the local church. I know that being 54 makes me an official member of the old guy club. However, I was still a young man when the current wave of contemporary music and worship styles burst upon the scene. I hope to give some perspective on this highly emotional and often conbtroverisal and divisive issue in church life. It is not my purpose to declare anyone "right" or "wrong". I will attempt to share some insight into the strengths and potential weaknesses of both the older and younger generational preferences for worship. Be aware that I will always approach these styles as preferences because when we take either preference and lay it alongside the timeline of the church since its inception on the day of Pentecost two thousand years ago, both are tied to really short snippets of time. Both "Just As I Am" and "Days of Elijah" would seem strange to the first century believers.

In the next post I will attempt to describe the worship style of the generation that preceded me; many times referred to as "traditional." After that I will again try to describe the "contemporary" form of worship. The final post will discuss the possibility of both generations having respect for each other and making some room for the possible merit of the other generation's worship preference. I am not yet convinced that there is only one way to connect with God through music, but I am convinced that our adversary would like us to feel that if the other generation "wins" my generation "loses". I think we can be better than that.

Things are happening!

When you come to Living Water this week you won't recognize the Edzone! The transformation this week is dramatic. The hallway is already unrecognizable. It will be so nice to direct people down an attractive, brightly lit hallway to take their children to Miss Toby's room. The whole project will be finished in a couple of weeks and we will have an official dedication of the Edzone. It is really exciting. A special thank you to all of the men who have painted, textured, layed tile, hung ceiling grid and tiles, furnished scaffolding, hung doors, installed trim, and stained woodwork. So much work has been done in a short period of time. What a blessing it is to be part of such a wonderful church family!

Full Speed Ahead on the EdZone!

Since we received the anonymous gift to complete the EdZone, we have ramped up the intensity in getting it ready for Easter. Men from the church have been and curently are working evenings to paint and install the ceiling. The electrician is standing by to wire up the lights, the trim carpenter is sitting on ready to hang the door and to install the chair rail and baseboard, and I am taking bids on having the tile installed. This is thrilling and exciting. As I walk the hallway I can see it crowded with children going to their classes and enjoying children's church on Sunday morning. I see entire families having dinner on the Patio before going to their vaious classes on Wednesday nights. I see some type of meeting or event happening in these rooms every day because these rooms are far too valuable to use only a couple of hours a week. I am straining with anticipation to see this vision become reality in the next few weeks as God continues His miraculous provision for the vision he has placed on the heart of our great church!

Change by the inch is a cinch

Several years ago an older minister friend of mine said something that I thought was the kind of thing old guys say to justify not changing. In referring to church leadership he said, "Change by the inch is a cinch, but change by the yard is hard." He was encouraging me not to be in so much of an all-fired hurry to make things happen and look the way I wanted them to be. I dismissed his comment at the time and stayed aggravated at anyone who didn't share my exact vision for how things "should be".

Now, a few years and many experiences later, I see the wisdom in his statement. Now that I lead a congregation, I understand. I am blessed by having people of all age groups represented. I have people who are recent converts and those who have been in church their entire life. I understand that I will never get all of them to agree with 100% of anything I do, but that is not a reason to intentionally leave any of them behind.

I know that it is possible to become paralyzed into inaction by fear of the reaction of the people I lead, but I can also see that thinking of how my decisions may affect different people causes me to  think things through and make sure that they are God's idea and not my own path to Pastor Randy awesomness. As most any pastor can attest, I have some in my church who would like things to change faster, and I have some who think I am going too fast already. So, instead of threatening or frustrating me, the variety of opinions drive me to my knees to pray for wisdom in each decision and new direction, and I am grateful for that. It keeps me going in a consistent direction. And when I am sure that I am following God's leading, I can live with the outcomes.

I have a vision of our church as being much different a few years from now than it is currently, but I don't feel rushed to get there by Easter or even by Christmas. I will strive to continually nudge our folks toward the goal, hoping that all will make the trip with us. So far, this change by the inch has been a cinch.

Series for April

Beginning Sunday, April 3, I am starting a series to lead up to Easter. I will be presenting messages about Jesus. They will be "The Challenging Jesus", "The Loving Jesus", "The Crucified Jesus", and on Easter Sunday, "The Resurrected Jesus". On May 1, I will conclude with "The Ascended Jesus". I am pretty excited to begin this series and I look forward to delivering each of these messages. Of course, if the Lord returns before the series is finished, I'll see you up there, and we can live it instead of listening to it.
Be blessed-

A Pretty Good Week

I don't get many weeks like this one and that's too bad. This week has allowed me to cross many things off of my "gotta get it done" list. Several of those things have been on the list quite a while. In addition, it seems as though each of these things have been completed at minimal expense!

We got a report that our home A/C unit had gone out and would have to be replaced. The final report was that there was a problem with the electrical service and OG&E fixed it.

At church I was getting the fire extinguishers tested because they had all expired. The first report was that I would have to buy a new extinguisher to replace one which was too old to continue to use. Later I found a newer one hidden in a closet, so I didn't have to buy one. Now all fire extinguishers are current.

Finally the internet is functioning in the church again, and all network functions are restored. This took nearly a month to get done.

The material list for the ceiling and lighting for the E-zone has been submitted. I have compiled the cost to get that done and will begin to purchase materials next week.

None of these are huge, but it is incredibly energizing to cross these projects off the list. Now there is plenty of room to add new projects.

How Good is Good Enough?

I just finished reading How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley. It addresses the common assumption of our day that good people deserve a good afterlife and bad people deserve something, well, bad. Stanley does an excellent job of breaking down the issue, addressing questions of whose definition of "good" are we to use? and is all of this fair? I would give this book to anyone who is having honest questions about salvation and how to make heaven. It is brief, very readable, and thorough without getting scholarly.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

What does your church think of single moms?

Last night after church, Carole and I, Sean and Alice, and our guest, Stephen Kuert went out to get something to eat. We had an enjoyable conversation while we ate. At the end of the meal our server came to gather our plates. She hesitated, then said, "I heard you talking about church stuff. First, what church do y'all go to?" We told her. She continued, "What does your church think about girls who have a kid but their husband has left them? Because I tried a church and they told me that I was an abomination."

Of course it was a race for all of us to tell her that she would find love and respect at Living Water. We gave her info about the church and contact information if she needed to talk to someone. I really hope that she will take us at our word and come at her first opportunity. I was struck by two things.

First, I admire this young lady's courage. She is pretty new to Guthrie and she had a horrible experience at a church, yet she had the courage to make herself vulnerable to us by essentially asking if it were possible for her to be accepted at our church. She has a deep-seated desire to find a place where she can fit in.

Secondly, I am grateful that our conversation and demeanor while eating pizza demonstrated something that she felt might be what she was looking for. Had we been rude, or if our conversation had been judgmental, she would not have mustered the courage to approach us.

Stephen led in a brief prayer for her and we let her know in no uncertain terms that we would be looking for her. I really hope she comes. But I really believe that we will find encounters such as this one to be the norm in coming days. It is the heart and the desire of our church.

Room Progress!

We are ready to order the HVAC unit for the Sunday School rooms this week! We have received enough money to get that major part of the project underway. Praise the Lord! As soon as that is installed we will be ready to move forward with the drop ceiling and lighting. I have a friend who may be able to get us some of the exact light fixtures we need at a drastically reduced price. Please pray! God is really teaching us how to trust Him during this project. Let's learn all we can about trusting Him to provide because that is something we can use time and time again. There is a definite limit to our checking account, but there is no limit to what God can provide for those who place their trust in Him. I'll keep you posted as miracles occur. They are happening daily around here.

Two Nations at a Crossroads

In the past couple of weeks, some amazing things have been happening in Africa. A vote was taken in Sudan which allowed Southern Sudan to separate and form a brand new country. This new country, the newest on earth, faces many challenges as it embarks on new territory, It is one thing to fantasize about separating; it is another thing completely to go about the enormous task of forming a government, a constitution, place leaders at strategic positions, formulate currency and economic strategies, and the list goes on and on. This new country is very fragile at this point, and it needs our prayers that God would raise up leaders who will lead with integrity and accountability. It would be awful if the efforts of the citizens of Southern Sudan were to lose all of their hopes for a better future because of self-serving and dishonest leaders.

Egypt is one of the most ancient of countries, but it is also going through a time of tremendous transition. Since they have ousted their leader because of an intense desire to have democratic rule, we must also pray for leaders who will lead Egypt with integrity and accountability. It is one thing to oust a leader because of dreams of a better life. It is another thing completely to make those dreams into a reality. Although Egypt is centuries old, it is in many ways as fragile right now as Southern Sudan. It would be awful if the efforts of the protestors, bathed in the hope for a better future, were to be dashed due to the ascendancy of leaders who are even more despotic and authoritarian than the one just dismissed.

Both nations need our prayers.

Special Guest Sunday Morning

This Sunday morning we will have as our guest Dwain Jones. Dwain is a representative of Calcutta Mercy Ministries, but he is also a personal friend and hero of mine. He is an exceptionally good communicator and I know that you will enjoy hearing him. But even more, he is someone who continues to give his all even though he has reached an age when he could easily "hang it up". He and his wife, Jean, have encountered many physical obstacles in recent years but they still travel the highways of Oklahoma ministering in our churches and still travel the airways, going several times a year to India to encourage their co-laborers in Calcutta. Be ready to be blessed and challenged by the ministry of Dwain Jones tomorrow morning only at Living Water Church. Sunday night he will be ministering in Arkoma (just outside of Ft. Smith, Arkansas).

Epic Fail

Yesterday I checked the messages on call notes at the church. I have not formed a really good discipline for doing that. One of the messages was a nightmare. It was from someone, a guy, who was undoubtedly sitting in front of the church last Sunday night while we were at the citywide prayer and praise service at Community Church. He had come to visit our Sunday evening service but no one was there. He didn't give his name or a callback number but he was clearly frustrated that he had come to an empty place. It was a powerful reminder to me, once again, that we must always be aware of those outside of our regular attenders who may be drawn to give our church a try. It is not enough just to let "our people" know about changes in the norm. We have to be aware of those who are out of the loop, as well. I saw that message as an epic fail on my part. We can do better. And we will, God willing.

Surrendered and Untamed

Tonight I have been reviewing a DVD teaching series called "Surrendered and Untamed". This four part teaching is based on an Antarctic expedition by extreme explorer Alex Harris. I got it thinking I would use it for a Wednesday night discussion series, but I might want to save it for a men's event. I'll make up my mind when I get the book and participant guide in a few days. I'll definitely use it; it's just a matter of where and when.

We are open for business!

The lastest snowstorm, called "Snowmageddon", or the "Snowpocalypse", has passed and left drifts of snow in its wake. If you have driven by the church, you have undoubtedly seen drifts blocking your path to the entrance. But don't be dismayed. Some of the faithful men of the church have arranged for equipment and manpower to clear the path for you. They will be working Saturday morning to move snow, clear sidewalks and spread snowmelt so you don't have to worry about getting inside. If you wish, you can pull up in front and come straight in. We will park your car for you and go get it after service. Once you are inside, you will experience the same warmth of your Living Water family and the warm embrace of the Holy Spirit. So come on! You know you want to get out of the house, anyway!

Soulprint- discovering your divine destiny

I just finished reading Soulprint by Mark Batterson and I found it to be my favorite of all of his books. Beginning with the premise that we are all unique, Batterson explores the life of David and draws fresh parallels to our own experiences and uncertainties. We are encouraged to explore our uniqueness to find how God can use us to acheive His greatest purpose for our lives. This uniqueness is described as our "soulprint".

I received a copy of Soulprint free from Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for this review.

Snowstorm Reading

I am taking advantage of the downtime caused by Snowmaggeddon 2011 by doing a lot of reading. I am really enjoying it. I am currently reading Mark Batterson's latest book, "Soulprint". I may be enjoying it more than any of the previous books he has written. Here is a quote from it:

Most of our prayers revolve around God's changing our circumstances, but God doesn't always want to change our circumstances. He wants to use those circumstances to change us! And it starts with breaking the strongholds in our lives. The good news is that God always heals what He breaks. And much as with the human body's natural healing properties, the broken spirit will be stronger after the break than it was before.

Enjoy your snow day. I don't like snow, but I really like days where I get to do a lot of uninterrupted reading.

Snowmaggeddon 2011

It really is pretty funny that we have taken to naming our storms. With a name like Snowmaggeddon, we have set the bar pretty high for future storm names. How do you top a storm whose name is a play on the name of a future battle which will mark the end of our age? It's like the triple dog dare of storm names. But I have faith in our national powers of hyperbolic storm naming. Anybody selling t-shirts yet?

Return His Call

I've been talking to a number of missionaries this week. I am constantly impressed by the quality of people God calls into a life of service and sacrifice. People who could certainly work at something worthwhile which would be much easier and less taxing are going "all in" in the service of the Lord. Age is no factor. Tuesday I talked to one missionary in his 20's and another one in his 60's. It's not a young person's calling, and it's not a mature person's calling. It is the call of God and He knows what He's doing in each individual call. He just needs us to answer when He calls. Have you let His call go through to voice mail with no thought of returning it?