I'm seeing and hearing it from all directions. God is calling his people to Himself, not as an option, but as the priority of our life.
At a recent pastor's monthly meeting a representative form The World Trumpet Mission (www.worldtrumpet.com) asked, "How desperate are we for change; for the transformation of our community?" Are we really willing to seek God's face until we encounter Him and He gives us his heart for His work in our communities? I am being challenged to go much deeper with God, personally.
I felt led to re-read Nehemiah. Nehemiah's heart was broken because of the sad state of the city of God. He prayed, fasted and mourned and God gave Nehemiah His heart and plan for rebuilding His city. I want to be touched by God with the burden He has for our communities. I was to be part of His rebuilding plan.
Another pastor, preaching at an area denominational meeting, shared from Psalm 42:1-2, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Again the message was a call to give ourselves first and foremost and entirely over to God so He can use us to accomplish His mission in and through our lives. The invitation brought so many forward the aisles were filled. The Lord is calling His people to a fresh encounter with Him.
Then an online friend contacted me about a ministry that is seeking community transformation by leading the churches to engage their communities for positive change together. The key need is once again a people willing to lay it all down for their Savior.
God is bringing renewal to His people through many different channels. And God's people are hearing and seeing and responding.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Who Cares? CONNECTING CARING CHURCHES
Christians actively involved in their churches know that there are many good people who care very much about their communities. What seems to be lacking is this awareness among the unchurched of our communities.
Christians are often perceived as uncaring or cold to those outside of their churches. They are even seen to be hostile toward those not attending church and to other Christians with whom they disagree. I believe this is mostly a perception problem rather than reality. As David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons say in their book, Unchristian, "Our research shows that many of those outside of Christianity, especially younger adults, have little trust in the Christian faith, and esteem for the lifestyle of Christ followers is quickly fading among outsiders. They admit their emotional and intellectual barriers go up when they are around Christians, and they reject Jesus because they feel rejected by Christians."
My passion is to seek to change this perception. Imagine a grass roots campaign where churches actively work together across denominational lines to let their communities know the answer to this question, "Who Cares?" by joining forces with other churches to convince their community that they care very much about their neighbors.
What great ideas can you think of to let your community know that as part of a cooperative effort with Christians from your community churches "We Care" about them?
Christians are often perceived as uncaring or cold to those outside of their churches. They are even seen to be hostile toward those not attending church and to other Christians with whom they disagree. I believe this is mostly a perception problem rather than reality. As David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons say in their book, Unchristian, "Our research shows that many of those outside of Christianity, especially younger adults, have little trust in the Christian faith, and esteem for the lifestyle of Christ followers is quickly fading among outsiders. They admit their emotional and intellectual barriers go up when they are around Christians, and they reject Jesus because they feel rejected by Christians."
My passion is to seek to change this perception. Imagine a grass roots campaign where churches actively work together across denominational lines to let their communities know the answer to this question, "Who Cares?" by joining forces with other churches to convince their community that they care very much about their neighbors.
What great ideas can you think of to let your community know that as part of a cooperative effort with Christians from your community churches "We Care" about them?
Monday, October 19, 2009
From Good to Great: WHAT ARE WE BEST IN THE WORLD AT?
As I've asked God for wisdom he has brought me into contact with many wonderful Christian brothers and sisters who have shared their hearts and thoughts with me. They have also shared many great books and concepts from their readings.
I recently asked a fellow minister to review what I'm doing. He told me about a book, Good to Great, and the hedgehog concept. The basic point is that every organization needs to honestly answer three questions. First, "What are we the best in the world at?" Second, "What is our economic denominator (engine)?" Third, "What are our core people most passionate about?" By answering these questions with a willingness to face the answers "without blinking," the organization's hedgehog concept will emerge which "will unify, organize, and guide all of the organization's decisions."
The question I am eager to clarify is "What are we the best in the world at?" At the moment a better question for us might be, "What do we want to become the best in the world at?" My initial answer to this question was: "We want to be the best in the world at listing every church and their ministries in the world."
As I've thought more about this I've wondered what those looking for a church would want us to be the best in the world at. They would want the site to be the best place in the world to easily and quickly find what they were looking for from a church. They might also like to know what other people think about a particular church they were thinking about attending.
People often seek referrals from coworkers and friends before attending or seeking some help from a church. For example, "What kind of services do they have? Do they have a youth program and is it any good?" Searchers want to know the what, when, and where of a church and it's ministries, but they also want a positive referral or a warning if the church has a negative reputation. The reason for searching the web is to be efficient in one's search; to eliminate most options for the short list of likely matches.
It seems then, that a web site that lists all churches and their ministries along with user reviews would be a useful tool for those surfing the web for churches to meet their needs. This site would be a great tool as well if it enabled user interaction - a Christian social networking capability.
What do you think? Is this something you would find useful? One of the three questions referenced the passion of the core people. I'm convinced that there are many Christians who passionately want to connect with their unchurched neighbors. Does the concept of a web site like PaulsOnline.org as described above excite you? What would you like to see changed about the hedgehog concept so far described?
I recently asked a fellow minister to review what I'm doing. He told me about a book, Good to Great, and the hedgehog concept. The basic point is that every organization needs to honestly answer three questions. First, "What are we the best in the world at?" Second, "What is our economic denominator (engine)?" Third, "What are our core people most passionate about?" By answering these questions with a willingness to face the answers "without blinking," the organization's hedgehog concept will emerge which "will unify, organize, and guide all of the organization's decisions."
The question I am eager to clarify is "What are we the best in the world at?" At the moment a better question for us might be, "What do we want to become the best in the world at?" My initial answer to this question was: "We want to be the best in the world at listing every church and their ministries in the world."
As I've thought more about this I've wondered what those looking for a church would want us to be the best in the world at. They would want the site to be the best place in the world to easily and quickly find what they were looking for from a church. They might also like to know what other people think about a particular church they were thinking about attending.
People often seek referrals from coworkers and friends before attending or seeking some help from a church. For example, "What kind of services do they have? Do they have a youth program and is it any good?" Searchers want to know the what, when, and where of a church and it's ministries, but they also want a positive referral or a warning if the church has a negative reputation. The reason for searching the web is to be efficient in one's search; to eliminate most options for the short list of likely matches.
It seems then, that a web site that lists all churches and their ministries along with user reviews would be a useful tool for those surfing the web for churches to meet their needs. This site would be a great tool as well if it enabled user interaction - a Christian social networking capability.
What do you think? Is this something you would find useful? One of the three questions referenced the passion of the core people. I'm convinced that there are many Christians who passionately want to connect with their unchurched neighbors. Does the concept of a web site like PaulsOnline.org as described above excite you? What would you like to see changed about the hedgehog concept so far described?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
More Stop Signs: KEEPING OUR DISTANCE
No one likes it when their private space is violated. It is considered rude, for example, for someone you do not know to hug you the first time you meet. This is why we shake hands when we greet others. Shaking hands establishes our personal "space" of at least two arms length. We are comfortable when we keep this distance from others until we become more familiar and mutually desire to move closer in our relationship. This closeness takes time to develop. As long as there is mutual respect and a sharing of common interests, the likelihood is that an appropriately intimate and healthy relationship will develop.
Our tendency as individuals and churches, however, is to keep our distance from others we've been called to seek relationships with. We know that we've been "commissioned" to go into all the world to make disciples of those who do not know Jesus; to be-friend them (Matthew 28:18-20). We have also been "commanded" to partner together (John 13:34-35) as his church. The reality, though, is that too often we have become competitors and critics of one another. This results in our being isolated from rather than intimately relating with one another. What is stopping us from developing healthy relationships with all Christians in our communities and what can we do to change this?
One thing that is stopping us is our distrust of others. We are skeptical when other churches want to partner with us in our community. It is almost as if we think they are spies just wanting to steal our ideas or worse, our resources and members.
Another stop sign is our ignorance. Few of us know the history and rationale for our own traditions let alone those of our neighbor churches. In ignorance we assume they must be wrong in their beliefs and behaviors as a result.
We are also stopped by the simple fear of the unknown. Just as we may be stopped from meeting others at a social event for fear of what might happen, we avoid taking the risk of reaching out in friendship to other churches in our community.
My desire and hope is that others will join with me in making the effort, at least, to not be stopped by these factors. I would suggest replacing our stop signs with yield signs. Instead of being stopped by distrust, what if we just assumed, unless and until proven otherwise, that all Christians and churches can be trusted to relate with us in healthy ways?
Image also if we yielded to educating ourselves about each others traditions, beliefs and practices. Instead of assuming everyone else is wrong, imagine if we sought to understand one another instead.
If fear of the unknown is stopping us because of what "might" happen; imagine if we yielded to the possibility that almost always something positive will happen. Let's major on love and minor in fear for love casts out fear.
I am just scratching the surface of this issue here. I know there are others of you out there who want to see the Body of Christ united in love serving our communities side-by-side. So please join in this conversation sharing your thoughts and ideas for making this possibility a reality.
Our tendency as individuals and churches, however, is to keep our distance from others we've been called to seek relationships with. We know that we've been "commissioned" to go into all the world to make disciples of those who do not know Jesus; to be-friend them (Matthew 28:18-20). We have also been "commanded" to partner together (John 13:34-35) as his church. The reality, though, is that too often we have become competitors and critics of one another. This results in our being isolated from rather than intimately relating with one another. What is stopping us from developing healthy relationships with all Christians in our communities and what can we do to change this?
One thing that is stopping us is our distrust of others. We are skeptical when other churches want to partner with us in our community. It is almost as if we think they are spies just wanting to steal our ideas or worse, our resources and members.
Another stop sign is our ignorance. Few of us know the history and rationale for our own traditions let alone those of our neighbor churches. In ignorance we assume they must be wrong in their beliefs and behaviors as a result.
We are also stopped by the simple fear of the unknown. Just as we may be stopped from meeting others at a social event for fear of what might happen, we avoid taking the risk of reaching out in friendship to other churches in our community.
My desire and hope is that others will join with me in making the effort, at least, to not be stopped by these factors. I would suggest replacing our stop signs with yield signs. Instead of being stopped by distrust, what if we just assumed, unless and until proven otherwise, that all Christians and churches can be trusted to relate with us in healthy ways?
Image also if we yielded to educating ourselves about each others traditions, beliefs and practices. Instead of assuming everyone else is wrong, imagine if we sought to understand one another instead.
If fear of the unknown is stopping us because of what "might" happen; imagine if we yielded to the possibility that almost always something positive will happen. Let's major on love and minor in fear for love casts out fear.
I am just scratching the surface of this issue here. I know there are others of you out there who want to see the Body of Christ united in love serving our communities side-by-side. So please join in this conversation sharing your thoughts and ideas for making this possibility a reality.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Stop Signs: BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
I've been thinking about stop signs. Stop signs have a purpose. They help to regulate traffic and keep us from running into each other. Many a person has been badly injured or killed as the result of someone running a stop sign.
In relationships we call these boundaries. To have healthy relationships we learn to set up appropriate boundaries to ensure our physical and emotional safety. We know that it is best to honor the boundaries others have set. The concern I've had over the years, however, is when these boundaries result in limiting healthy relationships between the church and its community. These stop signs have often become barriers to relating instead of boundaries.
Take for example churches that make no effort to communicate to their visitors they are expected and welcome in their church by offering poor or no signage in the parking lots to direct their guests to the church entrances and preferred parking spaces. These churches do not have anyone at the church doors to be on the lookout for visitors and are not prepared to welcome them when they do find their way in. These are stop signs to the person looking for a warm church community to become a part of.
There are many other stop signs churches use to actively prevent their church from being challenged to consider their neighbor's needs and, therefore, having to change in order to minister to these needs. These come in the form of "concerns." For example, "How are we going to fund that ministry," or "Where are the workers going to come from to lead and teach and manage that new program?" These concerns become stop signs to developing outreach efforts that stop the church from impacting it's community for Christ.
Worse, I believe, are the barriers we have erected between our community churches to working together to reach our communities. We are stopped by our fear of loosing members to other churches, by our concern over theological correctness, and by our prejudices about other church styles and traditions.
Instead of being stopped from relating altogether, we might consider removing some of our barriers, our stop signs, and replacing them with "caution" signs to make sure we are not foolishly tolerating behaviors and practices our Lord would not tolerate and "yield" signs where we adjust our efforts so we can "merge" with others going in the same direction we are headed.
Let's talk about this and make the effort to find ways of relating for the good of the unchurched and hurting of our communities.
In relationships we call these boundaries. To have healthy relationships we learn to set up appropriate boundaries to ensure our physical and emotional safety. We know that it is best to honor the boundaries others have set. The concern I've had over the years, however, is when these boundaries result in limiting healthy relationships between the church and its community. These stop signs have often become barriers to relating instead of boundaries.
Take for example churches that make no effort to communicate to their visitors they are expected and welcome in their church by offering poor or no signage in the parking lots to direct their guests to the church entrances and preferred parking spaces. These churches do not have anyone at the church doors to be on the lookout for visitors and are not prepared to welcome them when they do find their way in. These are stop signs to the person looking for a warm church community to become a part of.
There are many other stop signs churches use to actively prevent their church from being challenged to consider their neighbor's needs and, therefore, having to change in order to minister to these needs. These come in the form of "concerns." For example, "How are we going to fund that ministry," or "Where are the workers going to come from to lead and teach and manage that new program?" These concerns become stop signs to developing outreach efforts that stop the church from impacting it's community for Christ.
Worse, I believe, are the barriers we have erected between our community churches to working together to reach our communities. We are stopped by our fear of loosing members to other churches, by our concern over theological correctness, and by our prejudices about other church styles and traditions.
Instead of being stopped from relating altogether, we might consider removing some of our barriers, our stop signs, and replacing them with "caution" signs to make sure we are not foolishly tolerating behaviors and practices our Lord would not tolerate and "yield" signs where we adjust our efforts so we can "merge" with others going in the same direction we are headed.
Let's talk about this and make the effort to find ways of relating for the good of the unchurched and hurting of our communities.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Unity Project: REACHING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Most people agree with me when I suggest that the churches of our communities need to work together to reach our unchurched neighbors. Churches, usually of the same denomination, have been cooperating together to do mission activities outside of their communities for decades. But when we look closely at their cooperative efforts in their own communities we see they are usually not targeting the needs of their unchurched neighbors as much as they are the desires of the members of their churches. Churches will join forces to plan a Christmas or an Easter service, for example, but they will seldom work side-by-side to reach the unmet ministry needs of those not attending their churches. While we may be having some good fellowship with other believers we are not reaching out to meet our neighbors and their needs in Christ together.
Churches are increasingly competing for members and their finances. The rise in programs and activities being offered by most churches reflects this trend. The focus of most of a church's ministries is on meeting the needs and desires of the members themselves. There is little if any effort being made to work with other churches in the community for the purpose of reaching those so far unreached by the churches of the community. Reggie McNeal explores this phenomenon in his book, "The Present Future."
In my efforts to build bridges between the churches in our community and then to encourage these churches to work together I am seeing a lot of busy ministers managing very full ministry plates already. As much as they would like to do more together, they just don't see how they can.
I would like to suggest an option -- the Unity Project. The idea of the Unity Project is for at least two churches to commit to working together on one community outreach/missions project. To free up the money and manpower resources of both churches one of the churches would choose not to do a ministry they had already planned to do, possibly an outreach effort they do annually already. The two churches would then plan a cooperative effort they would co-host in the community. Along with the various meetings that would be needed the church leadership could plan combined worship services where the ministers would take turns preaching about unity and obstacles to unity. Small groups could study the similarities and differences of the two church traditions and dialogue sessions could be planned for sharing among the church and the community members. This is doable but it would require two churches willing to take the risks and make the efforts necessary.
My belief is that the unchurched of our communities would be impressed enough by this effort to attend the event, or events, just to see what is happening. This would be a wonderful testimony to them and to the churches themselves of the uniting power of the love and Spirit of Jesus (see John 13:34-45). What do you think? Would you be willing to give it a try?
Churches are increasingly competing for members and their finances. The rise in programs and activities being offered by most churches reflects this trend. The focus of most of a church's ministries is on meeting the needs and desires of the members themselves. There is little if any effort being made to work with other churches in the community for the purpose of reaching those so far unreached by the churches of the community. Reggie McNeal explores this phenomenon in his book, "The Present Future."
In my efforts to build bridges between the churches in our community and then to encourage these churches to work together I am seeing a lot of busy ministers managing very full ministry plates already. As much as they would like to do more together, they just don't see how they can.
I would like to suggest an option -- the Unity Project. The idea of the Unity Project is for at least two churches to commit to working together on one community outreach/missions project. To free up the money and manpower resources of both churches one of the churches would choose not to do a ministry they had already planned to do, possibly an outreach effort they do annually already. The two churches would then plan a cooperative effort they would co-host in the community. Along with the various meetings that would be needed the church leadership could plan combined worship services where the ministers would take turns preaching about unity and obstacles to unity. Small groups could study the similarities and differences of the two church traditions and dialogue sessions could be planned for sharing among the church and the community members. This is doable but it would require two churches willing to take the risks and make the efforts necessary.
My belief is that the unchurched of our communities would be impressed enough by this effort to attend the event, or events, just to see what is happening. This would be a wonderful testimony to them and to the churches themselves of the uniting power of the love and Spirit of Jesus (see John 13:34-45). What do you think? Would you be willing to give it a try?
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Relationship Principle: INTERCONNECTEDNESS
While channel surfing recently I happened upon, Mindwalk, "a cerebral (thinkers) movie," one critic called it, "serving as an introduction to systems theory." Systems theory teaches that we are interconnected and function as parts of the systems our interconnectedness creates. Our nuclear families are a good example. As individuals we live in relationship with the other individuals in the family and whatever affects one affects everyone through our relationships. Think of it as an infant's mobile over his crib. When a breeze blows the entire mobile responds out of the relationships of the individual parts.
One of the Mindwalk characters takes this interconnectedness factor a step further suggesting that it is out of our interconnectedness that we make "beautiful music" we otherwise could not make alone. He uses the example of a simple musical chord. When it is played a unique harmony is created resulting in a distinctive feeling by the hearer. The notes alone carry none of this feeling. "The essence of the chord," he posits, "is in its interconnectedness. Then, when you add time and pitch, you make melody. Relationship," he concludes, "makes music."
When Jesus' family comes together to serve God out of our love for him, a distinctive harmony is created. As Paul says, 12"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." 1 Corinthians 12
Add the unique factor of the particular community each part of the body is serving in and a sweet melody is heard. Serving our communities in relationship with all parts of the body in our community makes a beautiful love song creating a distinctive feeling in the hearts of those listening.
One of the Mindwalk characters takes this interconnectedness factor a step further suggesting that it is out of our interconnectedness that we make "beautiful music" we otherwise could not make alone. He uses the example of a simple musical chord. When it is played a unique harmony is created resulting in a distinctive feeling by the hearer. The notes alone carry none of this feeling. "The essence of the chord," he posits, "is in its interconnectedness. Then, when you add time and pitch, you make melody. Relationship," he concludes, "makes music."
When Jesus' family comes together to serve God out of our love for him, a distinctive harmony is created. As Paul says, 12"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." 1 Corinthians 12
Add the unique factor of the particular community each part of the body is serving in and a sweet melody is heard. Serving our communities in relationship with all parts of the body in our community makes a beautiful love song creating a distinctive feeling in the hearts of those listening.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Compassion Principle: SEE, FEEL, ACT!
You remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 recorded in Mark 6. Jesus saw the shepherd-less multitude who had followed him and his disciples as they were trying to get away for some much needed rest. When he saw them he felt compassion for them, and then he acted to meet their spiritual and physical hunger involving his disciples in the process.
I had a similar experience last week. It was the Jehovah Witnesses 2009-2010 District Convention, "Keep On The Watch," being held over a two weekend period at the Hampton Coliseum. I decided to go and see if I could meet some folks and do a little witnessing of my own. My guess is there were about 3,000 people there.
As I found my way to a seat in the nose-bleed section a deep sadness came over me. "So, this is what a multitude of Shepherd-less people looks like," I thought to myself. It wasn't an arrogant feeling. I wasn't feeling better than or holier than anyone. I was simply and profoundly impressed with how Jesus must have felt that day when he saw all of those good people searching for truth, love, and relationship gathered together looking for him.
I saw, I felt ... but what could I possibly do? I felt so useless. I did the one thing I could do, I prayed. I thanked God for showing me what he sees. I interceded for the children, the youth, the young families, the adults who were being taught wrong doctrine. They meant well, but they simply were not sharing Truth. The sadness is still with me.
Paul's Online is an impossible mission Jesus has given me and a few others. Our purpose is to reach all unchurched people and connect them to the resources of the existing churches in our communities. I say it is impossible, not because there are so many people to reach, but because the church of Jesus is so divided. As I watched and listened to the false teachings, I grieved not only over the need of the Shepherd-less I saw, but for the absence of the church. Have we written them off? Do we no longer "see" them and, therefore, no longer feel for their lostness?
We can act! We must act! It is time we get our act together! Though our differences are significant, we are one Body if we are Jesus' disciples. After all, his solution was to bless and break and use what they had to feed the multitude. That is still his solution.
I had a similar experience last week. It was the Jehovah Witnesses 2009-2010 District Convention, "Keep On The Watch," being held over a two weekend period at the Hampton Coliseum. I decided to go and see if I could meet some folks and do a little witnessing of my own. My guess is there were about 3,000 people there.
As I found my way to a seat in the nose-bleed section a deep sadness came over me. "So, this is what a multitude of Shepherd-less people looks like," I thought to myself. It wasn't an arrogant feeling. I wasn't feeling better than or holier than anyone. I was simply and profoundly impressed with how Jesus must have felt that day when he saw all of those good people searching for truth, love, and relationship gathered together looking for him.
I saw, I felt ... but what could I possibly do? I felt so useless. I did the one thing I could do, I prayed. I thanked God for showing me what he sees. I interceded for the children, the youth, the young families, the adults who were being taught wrong doctrine. They meant well, but they simply were not sharing Truth. The sadness is still with me.
Paul's Online is an impossible mission Jesus has given me and a few others. Our purpose is to reach all unchurched people and connect them to the resources of the existing churches in our communities. I say it is impossible, not because there are so many people to reach, but because the church of Jesus is so divided. As I watched and listened to the false teachings, I grieved not only over the need of the Shepherd-less I saw, but for the absence of the church. Have we written them off? Do we no longer "see" them and, therefore, no longer feel for their lostness?
We can act! We must act! It is time we get our act together! Though our differences are significant, we are one Body if we are Jesus' disciples. After all, his solution was to bless and break and use what they had to feed the multitude. That is still his solution.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Change Principle: MOVE WITH THE CHEESE
I'm re-reading "Who moved my cheese." It is a story about two mice (Sniff and Scurry) and two little people (Hem and Haw). They represent the four typical ways we respond to change. Although the story teaches many principles about change, what the author calls The Handwriting on the Wall, the one principle that caught my attention was, Move With the Cheese.
As simple and obvious as this sounds, the struggle for me is being willing and able to leave what I know for the unknowns ahead, even though there's nothing here (no cheese) anymore.
The point of the story is that things change and it is best if we pay attention to the changes as they are occurring, adapt to them and then move with them. We will be happier and more productive if we do not resist or ignore change.
Change is hard. Fear is formidable. Yet ministry without a mission is a cheese-less situation for me and worth facing my fears and making changes for. Paul's Online is my new cheese. I haven't found the big stash of various types of new cheese yet at New Cheese Station N (you'll have to read the book to understand this) but I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. At least I'm moving with the cheese now.
As simple and obvious as this sounds, the struggle for me is being willing and able to leave what I know for the unknowns ahead, even though there's nothing here (no cheese) anymore.
The point of the story is that things change and it is best if we pay attention to the changes as they are occurring, adapt to them and then move with them. We will be happier and more productive if we do not resist or ignore change.
Change is hard. Fear is formidable. Yet ministry without a mission is a cheese-less situation for me and worth facing my fears and making changes for. Paul's Online is my new cheese. I haven't found the big stash of various types of new cheese yet at New Cheese Station N (you'll have to read the book to understand this) but I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. At least I'm moving with the cheese now.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Number 19 Principle: BEING A TEAM PLAYER
7"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
Alistair Begg told a story yesterday about someone who showed a video at a conference he was attending of a hockey player who, clip after clip, was passing the puck to another player who then scored a goal. Number 19's claim to fame was not that he was a great scorer, but that he was great at assisting others in scoring goals.
I did a little research and found that number 19 for the San Jose' Sharks, the team the video clips were taken from, is Joe Thornton. Consistently over the years Joe has been a leading points getter. Players get their points based on the number of goals scored and the number of assists they have. In the 2007-2008 season, for example, Joe was the highest points getter with 96 points - 29 of which were for goals he scored and 67 were for his assists. The entire team scored 172 goals that year which means that Joe personally scored 16% of the goals and assisted in 46% of the remaining 143 goals. Alistair's point was that although number 19 did not score most of the team's goals, most of the goals that were scored involved number 19 (95 of the 172).
I want to score some goals for Jesus, my coach, and his church, my team. More than that I want to be a number 19. I want to help my teammates score goals. Joe Thornton is a good illustration that teams win on the combined efforts of everyone on the team and that assisting is more important than scoring.
Paul's Online is a team effort following the example of another great team player, the Apostle Paul. Although he personally did many great things for Jesus, he was only part of a much larger team. Just read his letters to the churches and see how he assisted them through his encouragements and teachings. Paul also often mentioned those who assisted him in his work.
Click here for Alistair Begg's awesome Scottish accent: http://www.truthforlife.org
Alistair Begg told a story yesterday about someone who showed a video at a conference he was attending of a hockey player who, clip after clip, was passing the puck to another player who then scored a goal. Number 19's claim to fame was not that he was a great scorer, but that he was great at assisting others in scoring goals.
I did a little research and found that number 19 for the San Jose' Sharks, the team the video clips were taken from, is Joe Thornton. Consistently over the years Joe has been a leading points getter. Players get their points based on the number of goals scored and the number of assists they have. In the 2007-2008 season, for example, Joe was the highest points getter with 96 points - 29 of which were for goals he scored and 67 were for his assists. The entire team scored 172 goals that year which means that Joe personally scored 16% of the goals and assisted in 46% of the remaining 143 goals. Alistair's point was that although number 19 did not score most of the team's goals, most of the goals that were scored involved number 19 (95 of the 172).
I want to score some goals for Jesus, my coach, and his church, my team. More than that I want to be a number 19. I want to help my teammates score goals. Joe Thornton is a good illustration that teams win on the combined efforts of everyone on the team and that assisting is more important than scoring.
Paul's Online is a team effort following the example of another great team player, the Apostle Paul. Although he personally did many great things for Jesus, he was only part of a much larger team. Just read his letters to the churches and see how he assisted them through his encouragements and teachings. Paul also often mentioned those who assisted him in his work.
Click here for Alistair Begg's awesome Scottish accent: http://www.truthforlife.org
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Magnet Principle: OUR ATTRACTIVENESS
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..." John 6:44
Churches are like magnets. Magnets attract ferromagnetic material (i.e. iron) which is material that has the capacity to become a magnet. A magnet's field is invisible and responsible for the force that pulls on these other materials.
Churches have a similar attracting force on their community. The people in the church are like the people in the community whose only difference is that they have become Christians who together serve and worship Jesus regularly. People living and working in the church's community have this same capacity to come to know and serve Jesus.
What I've noticed is that, like magnets, churches tend to attract only those in their community who are near by, either physically or relationally. In other words, most people who will come to a particular church are those who have been drawn to that church by it's members. Churches attract visitors when a church member invites a friend or neighbor or someone they know to attend with them. Like Andrew (see John 1:40-42), who had personally come to know Jesus and then went and found his brother and told him what happened and then brought Peter to Jesus, churches function well by sharing what they know about Jesus with others and then bring these people to Jesus.
A good way to increase the effectiveness of the Church is to increase the "attractive force," the pull we have on our community by taking this force (Christian people) out to where the people are who need to come to know Jesus, like Andrew did. The text in John tells us, "the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah.'"
Most people simply will not come to church on their own, regardless of our signs, flyers, and advertisements. These efforts will increase their awareness of our presence, but they will not exert any of our natural attractive force on them.
Churches are like magnets. Magnets attract ferromagnetic material (i.e. iron) which is material that has the capacity to become a magnet. A magnet's field is invisible and responsible for the force that pulls on these other materials.
Churches have a similar attracting force on their community. The people in the church are like the people in the community whose only difference is that they have become Christians who together serve and worship Jesus regularly. People living and working in the church's community have this same capacity to come to know and serve Jesus.
What I've noticed is that, like magnets, churches tend to attract only those in their community who are near by, either physically or relationally. In other words, most people who will come to a particular church are those who have been drawn to that church by it's members. Churches attract visitors when a church member invites a friend or neighbor or someone they know to attend with them. Like Andrew (see John 1:40-42), who had personally come to know Jesus and then went and found his brother and told him what happened and then brought Peter to Jesus, churches function well by sharing what they know about Jesus with others and then bring these people to Jesus.
A good way to increase the effectiveness of the Church is to increase the "attractive force," the pull we have on our community by taking this force (Christian people) out to where the people are who need to come to know Jesus, like Andrew did. The text in John tells us, "the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah.'"
Most people simply will not come to church on their own, regardless of our signs, flyers, and advertisements. These efforts will increase their awareness of our presence, but they will not exert any of our natural attractive force on them.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Chu Chu Principle: GETTING CLOSE
"The nearer we come to God, the more graciously will He reveal Himself to us. When the prodigal comes to his father, his father runs to meet him. When the wandering dove returns to the ark, Noah puts out his hand to pull her in unto him, When the tender wife seeks her husband's society, he comes to her on wings of love. Come then, dear friend, let us draw nigh to God who so graciously awaits us, yea, comes to meet us." (Charles Spurgeon, Daily Devotions)
Chu Chu is our cat. He is the typical "Morris" or "Garfield" look-a-like. Chu Chu, like most male tabby cats, loves getting close. Within seconds of our coming home he greets us and within minutes he is sitting on one of our laps. He loves being petted and combed, of course, but he prefers to just nudge up to one of us or to sit on one of our laps ... for hours at a time ... and I like it when he does.
I believe God likes it when we just want to get close to him. Relationally, Chu Chu and I are not on the same level. Even though I talk to him all the time I know he doesn't understand a word I'm saying. But, amazingly, although God is on a far different level than us, we can have a relationship with him. We can communicate. So I'm convinced he loves it when we make the effort to get close to him.
I used to be afraid to draw near to God thinking he couldn't possibly relate to me or care about me or want to hear from me especially since I'm "just" a sinful human being. But I've learned this is not the case at all. He is still God and I am still me but after all he went through to make a relationship with me (and you) possible, who am I to think that I don't matter to God.
"Come near to God and he will come near to you," we read in James 4:8a. God knows our nature and our limitations and our sinfulness and our "whatevers," which makes it all the more exciting to realize that he just wants us to nudge up to him and sit in his lap so he can care for us and show us his love for us. He extends an open invitation to us all to "come near" hoping we will.
I'm reminded of a preaching professor speaking on this subject once. He used to play a game with his two daughters. He would always have pennies in his pockets so when he came home they would great him with great enthusiasm trying find those pennies in his pockets. They loved the game and he loved their attention. The pennies were nothing of value to him. What was priceless was his two giggling daughters climbing all over him. He loved it!
Years later he received a Father's Day card from one of his now adult daughters expressing her appreciation to him for the love that she knew he had for them; how he always took the time to just be with them.
When was the last time you took your Father up on his offer? It's OK to come to him for the things we deem to be valuable but remember that he is much more interested in just getting close to you and you're getting close to him ... just the way you are.
Chu Chu is our cat. He is the typical "Morris" or "Garfield" look-a-like. Chu Chu, like most male tabby cats, loves getting close. Within seconds of our coming home he greets us and within minutes he is sitting on one of our laps. He loves being petted and combed, of course, but he prefers to just nudge up to one of us or to sit on one of our laps ... for hours at a time ... and I like it when he does.
I believe God likes it when we just want to get close to him. Relationally, Chu Chu and I are not on the same level. Even though I talk to him all the time I know he doesn't understand a word I'm saying. But, amazingly, although God is on a far different level than us, we can have a relationship with him. We can communicate. So I'm convinced he loves it when we make the effort to get close to him.
I used to be afraid to draw near to God thinking he couldn't possibly relate to me or care about me or want to hear from me especially since I'm "just" a sinful human being. But I've learned this is not the case at all. He is still God and I am still me but after all he went through to make a relationship with me (and you) possible, who am I to think that I don't matter to God.
"Come near to God and he will come near to you," we read in James 4:8a. God knows our nature and our limitations and our sinfulness and our "whatevers," which makes it all the more exciting to realize that he just wants us to nudge up to him and sit in his lap so he can care for us and show us his love for us. He extends an open invitation to us all to "come near" hoping we will.
I'm reminded of a preaching professor speaking on this subject once. He used to play a game with his two daughters. He would always have pennies in his pockets so when he came home they would great him with great enthusiasm trying find those pennies in his pockets. They loved the game and he loved their attention. The pennies were nothing of value to him. What was priceless was his two giggling daughters climbing all over him. He loved it!
Years later he received a Father's Day card from one of his now adult daughters expressing her appreciation to him for the love that she knew he had for them; how he always took the time to just be with them.
When was the last time you took your Father up on his offer? It's OK to come to him for the things we deem to be valuable but remember that he is much more interested in just getting close to you and you're getting close to him ... just the way you are.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Johnny Principle: MAKING US SOMETHING
“We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, that is, into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something.” (Oswald Chambers, “Daily Thoughts for Disciples,”)
He approached me with a look of hope. “Would you please help me with my homework? Somebody told me you were good at math.” By his expression, I knew he wanted more than help with his math homework. What he was really asking was, “Would you please do my homework for me? Throwing a little flattery in to smooth things over was a nice touch.
Good thing for Johnny that I am good at math and I’m pretty good at hearing what people really mean despite what they say. “Sure, I can help you.” I answered. What happened next had more to do with learning character than it had to do with learning math.
He slid the paper in front of me, “We need to do these.” I led him through a series of questions probing his level of understanding along the way. Before long the light bulb went on and he understood the solution to the math problem. He left only to return in a few minutes because that particular approach didn’t work with the next set of problems. He was disappointed when the old solution no longer worked. His math teacher had changed the nature of the problem slightly. When we figured this out he was happy again. We repeated this process with each new twist and he learned more about math. He felt good about learning. He got a bit frustrated at times but he never lost his humor and he never gave up. He learned because he trusted in himself and in his teachers.
A couple of days later Johnny came home from school proudly waving his math test paper around for all to see. He received the highest grade in the class ... an A+ ... a perfect score. I was proud of him because he had not only learned some math; he had learned something about being responsible for solving his own problems.
God loves to help us, to teach us, and for us to grow and mature and accomplish what we are capable of accomplishing. He also wants us to accept the responsibility for doing our part. God will never do for us what we can lean to do for ourselves...with his help.
When we come to God seeking his help aren’t we often really hoping he will just fix things for us? Have you noticed that he doesn’t just give us the right answers or do what we need? This is because he not only wants to teach us something; he wants to make us something.
Who hasn’t ever asked God, “Why are you putting me though this struggle?” God doesn’t enjoy watching us suffer. But he does enjoy it when we accept the responsibility for our own problem solving.
I love what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
How did Paul learn this lesson? Through years of facing life’s problems that he brought to Jesus for help. Jesus didn’t do what Paul needed done. Instead he taught Paul that his grace was sufficient and that God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12) and so Paul learned, “I can do everything through Christ...”
You can learn the solutions to your problems too if you will choose to do your part; if you accept your responsibility in finding the solution ... with God’s help.
Some people grow up being told they cannot do math. That’s a lie. Everyone can learn to do math. Some people also go through life believing the lie that they cannot know God or be used by God or understand things about God. Everyone can learn. Everyone can get an A+ in math and in life ... through Christ.
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