I need You Lord, in all I do
You’re always there to see me through
I can’t get by unless I lean on You, Lord

The Lord has a will and I have a need
To follow that will, to humbly be still
To rest in it, nest in it
Fully be blessed in it
Following my Father’s will

Your love Lord, is in my heart
You wrote it there, it won’t depart
It lights my way and keeps me out of the dark

The Lord has a will and I have a need
To follow that will, to humbly be still
To rest in it, nest in it
Fully be blessed in it
Following my Father’s will
I thank You Lord, Your word is sown into my life And there it’s grown, it’s roots go deep
Where living waters are known

The Lord has a will and I have a need
To follow that will, to humbly be still
To rest in it, nest in it
Fully be blessed in it
Following my Father’s will

The Lord has a will and I have a need
To follow that will, to humbly be still
To rest in it, nest in it
Fully be blessed in it
Following my Father’s will

To rest in it, nest in it
Fully be blessed in it
Following my Father’s will.

According to Wiersbe’s Bible Exposition Commentary, “Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.” It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor.

Many of life’s opportunities are as fleeting as favorable winds and tides. If we don’t seize the moment, the conditions change and opportunity passes us by.

This makes the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:15-17 resonate with fresh meaning. Here the Holy Spirit guides Paul to write, “¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

From these verses we observe that making the most of life’s opportunities involves:

1. Being careful about how we live by having an awareness and understanding of what is going on around us.
2. Being decisive about what we are doing and where we are going by keeping our goal of pleasing God and entering into His presence as our priority in life.
3. Being determined to avoid folly and follow after the ways of wisdom by honoring God first in our lives.
4. Being aware of the dangers that surround us by realizing that evil abounds in these desperate times.
5. Being knowledgeable of God’s will and choosing simply to trust and obey His good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives.

May God richly bless you as you seek to please Him!

Bill Williams
© May 11, 2010

I think that’s why the words of Proverbs 16:23-24 have been on my mind today. These verses read as follows:

A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (NIV)

Careless words tossed about without thinking can offend and injure. On the other hand, pleasant words can provide sweet sustenance for the soul and a cure for that which troubles us at our core.

With these verses in mind, three specific reflections come to mind:

1. All who desire to lavish pleasant words upon their neighbors should seek a heart of wisdom.
2. Mothers and fathers who want the voice playing in their children’s minds to be pleasant and positive should be sure their mouths are guided by a wisdom-filled heart.
3. Christians who wish for the words that roll across our lips to promote instruction should make sure the meditations of our hearts are acceptable to the Lord.

May God help each one of us fill our hearts with the wisdom that is from above!

© Bill Williams
May 11, 2010

⁷“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

With that in mind my hope is these lines will encourage us all to greater faithfulness in prayer.

The Gospels clearly portray Jesus’ faithfulness in prayer. He both modeled prayer (Luke 11:1) and taught a model for prayer (Matthew 6:9-15). Knowing the human tendencies of hypocrisy and feelings of self-sufficiency, he warned about proper attitudes in prayer (Matthew 6:5-8).

With respect to the practice of prayer, a little acrostic has helped me a lot through the years. I don’t have any idea who originated this. Thinking a praying in these categories has proved beneficial, when comes bringing balance and focus to my prayers. Many of you will recognize this as the “ACTS” of prayer:

• A doration: Psalm 112; 117; Matthew 6:9; and 11:25ff.
• C onfession: Matthew 6:12; Luke 18:13; and 1 John 1:5ff.
• T hanksgiving: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; and Philippians 4:6.
• S upplication: Intercessory- 1 Timothy 2:1ff; and Personal- Philippians 4:6-7.

Probably the most import thing for me to keep in mind is the fact that faithfulness in prayer is a very personal matter. Keeping my heart in tune with God remains the most important factor. It remains true that “…the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, NLT). It is far more important to be a person of prayer than it is to be familiar with and follow a formulaic list of correct prayer-practices. A person of prayer is one who approaches God…

1. In “fear” (with respect)- Psalm 145:17-20; and Psalm 115:12-13.
2. In faith- James 5:6 and 5:15.
3. In humility- James 4:6 (Proverbs 3:34); and 2 Chronicles 7:14.
4. With ones whole heart- Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 21:21; and James 1:5-7.
5. With selflessness- Luke 18:9-14 and James 4:3.
6. With forgiving spirit- Matthew 6:14-15; and Ephesians 4:32.
7. With confidence- Hebrews 2:18; 4:16-17; and 10:19, 35.
8. With persistence- Luke 18:1-7; and 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
9. With sincerity and simplicity- Matthew 6:5-8 and Mark 12:38-40.
10. In accord with God’s will- Matthew 26:42 and 1 John 5:14.
11. With a heart for obedience to God’s will- 1 John 3:22.

Someone has said that the power of prayer is in praying. I believe I understand and agree with the sentiment behind this statement. Only those who pray earnestly ever experience the awesome efficacy of prayer. However, the true power of prayer is wrapped up in the reality that God hears and answers our prayers. That really is incredible, isn’t it? The Creator of the Cosmos, the Sustainer of all that exists, hears and answers our prayers. This is the ultimate encouragement to faithfulness in prayer. We can have complete confidence in this reality. To help us keep this in perspective we must remember the following:

• Sometimes God chooses to delay His answer, Luke 18:1-7.
• Sometimes God lavishes us more abundantly than we ask, 1 Kings 18:24, 36-38; and 1 Kings 3:10ff.
• Sometimes God grants us a different, a better response than we seek, 1 Kings 19:1-9; and 2 Cor. 12:7-9.
• Sometimes, since God loves us and has our best interest in mind, God simply says “No” to our requests, 2 Samuel 12:15-20.
• Sometimes God responds immediately in the affirmative to our prayers, Numbers 14:30; 1 Kings 17:20-21; and Acts 12:5ff.

Hopefully, this little article will encourage you to greater faithfulness in prayers. Remember, seven days without prayers makes one weak! Believe and you will receive. Doubt and do without.

Bill Williams
© May 9, 2010

Now reflect on the Spirit-breathed words of Philippians 2:6-11…

⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

First, we are God’s! We are His workmanship. The original language here is quite expressive. It’s not as though we are simply another day’s run on the assembly line. Instead, we are God’s “poiema,” which signifies something made as by a master craftsman. We are, literally speaking, God’s poetry in motion!

Second, we are created in Christ Jesus for a purpose! As the master craftsman makes yoke for the oxen that lightens the burden; as the artistic master paints a scene that sooths troubled hearts; as a master wordsmith crafts a poem that encourages the fainthearted, we too have crafted by God through Christ Jesus for the purpose of glorifying God as we do good works.

Third, we are part of God’s eternal plan to save and bless the world through Jesus! Just as Jesus Christ’s mission and ministry was conceived in the mind of God before times eternal, so also is the mission and ministry of His followers. This is by God’s design. Thus, we must all recognize the significance of every good thing we do in service to God. Not even a cup of cold water given in His name goes unnoticed.

Dear Christian reader please remember:

1. We are God’s!
2. We are created in Christ Jesus for a purpose!
3. We are part of God’s eternal plan to save the world and bless the world through Jesus!

© Bill Williams
April 25, 2010

It was a special treat that I will long cherish. Nine holes of golf with Telesa’s uncle, Ewell Booker. Being nearly 80, he’s been playing golf almost longer than I’ve been alive. He is still pretty good, too. Our afternoon was refreshing. It is great to spend time with a kind-hearted and clear thinking older brother in the faith. Between strokes we talked about many things. Although no longer serving in this capacity, Ewell served as an spiritual shepherd for many years. He remains intensely concerned about the spiritual welfare of the Lord’s church.

One thing that seemed to concern him a great deal is what he sees as a growing tendency to “accept, without discerning, what some man has written in a book.” Now, he’s a great proponent of reading and wouldn’t discourage reading widely for a moment. But, he noted that, in his estimation, this seemed to be a primary source of many of the problems that followers of Jesus have when it comes to living into what Christ has called us to do.

Evidently this is true. Few have traveled as far and wide in the brotherhood as F. LaGard Smith. His perceptions are based on a panoramic view of many faith-groups, especially churches of Christ, throughout the world. In his book, “Who Is My Brother?” Smith makes this passionate observation: “In one Bible class after another the diligent quest for an authoritative ‘book, chapter, and verse’ on such subjects as Christian fellowship has been replaced by banal discussion of books about the Book or, worse yet, by the latest psycho-babble on everything from marriage and parenting to dieting and codependency. The memorization of passages is all but ancient history, and adult classes rarely rise above the level of Scripture proficiency once expected in junior high.” (p. 52) This is a piercing observation, to be sure.

The older I get, the more I agree, sort of. I don’t think our mental-midgetry is limited to thoughtlessly following what books about The Book have to say. Sometimes, it pops up when reading blogs about The Book. Or, conversations about The Book. With the proliferation of information comes the necessity of practicing more intense scrutiny of what we are reading.

Now, I enjoy books.  Books are my tools. I’ve got books everywhere. As I sit here in my home office, which is tucked away in the corner of a room in the basement, I count eighteen books within sight. These are books that I am currently working out of. Sometimes my wife gently suggests that I need to round up some of the twenty or thirty books that are deposited next to the places I normally park around the house and take them back to my office. Books mean a lot to me. I collect them, but more than anything else, I read them. A friend recently asked me to write the introduction to his latest book. What an honor! Lord willing, I’ll gladly do so. I’ve even got a few of my own “book ideas” in the works, which I hope to publish some day.

If, however, I ever do get any of them written, I hope no one will accept, without careful investigation and analysis in light of God’s Word, what I write. This should be our practice with every book that we read, every sermon that we hear and every class that we attend. If what the Apostle Paul taught merited examination (and it did- see: Acts 17:11), then everything that we hear or read today should be examined as well.

I’m convinced that we must revive our sense of yearning for truth which is revealed nowhere more explicitly that in the Scriptures. We can use the books of men to aid us in our study of the Book of God, but that’s the extent of it. When eating chicken, we spit out the bones, right? In reading the reasonings of mere humans, we must be careful to do the same. A powerful guiding principle is set forth 1 Thessalonians 5:21, where we are told to: “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”  If our studies point us to something that seems “new” (and this will happen, because nobody can know it all), then we need to intensify our examination- Test Everything!  If it is true, it’s not really new. It’s just new to me.  Thus, I need to embrace it- Hold On To The Good!

This will require, for many of us, that we spend significantly less time reading books (or blogs) about the Bible and much more time searching the Scriptures, meditating on God’s Word, and memorizing the immutable truths contained therein. If we will do these things we will be better equipped to read, with discernment, and benefit from the valuable research of others. This will, also, serve as a safeguard against the tendency to accept, without discernment, what some man has written in a book, or in the footnotes of our study Bibles. Furthermore, this practice should protect us from having to deal with some of the self-inflicted problems which we face from time-to-time, because we have neglected God’s Word. In this regard, an ounce of prevention is worth tons of cure!

© Bill Williams
2010.04.15

This is why God set you apart! This is who you are—every single one of you who offers his or her body as a living sacrifice. You are God-pleasing, life-giving sacrifices. Living like you know this really makes God happy! This is what it means to live the good life. Your very being is in harmony with the Creator of the Cosmos. Living this way will not only put a smile on God’s face, it will keep you from being pressed into the world’s way of living. So, go ahead live it up! No! Live it out! If you do this, every day your life will have great meaning.

Every song of praise you sing will flow freely from a heart so fully in love with God that you can’t do anything but praise Him.

Every prayer you pray will be like speaking to your best friend, because it is!

Every time you read the Scriptures it will be like reading a love-letter from God, because it is.

Every time you give your life in service to those in need, it’ll be just like giving something to the Lord, because it is. That’s what you do, because that’s who you are. So, let your love for God freely flow. You’ll never know how far it will go, but you do know God will see that it does a lot of good, because that’s who you are. He made you that way!
Praise the Lord!

© Bill Williams
March 23, 2010

Like I said, I find this testimonial quite interesting. I’ve gotten to know this person a little better subsequent to this day. Gaining more insight into her life has only served to create more curiosity about the original assertion. I do think about it often.

The incongruence between these words and reality is the chief thing that gives me pause. You see, since the time I heard these words spoken by this person, I have on numerous occasions heard her misrepresent matters under discussion by selectively reporting important information. I have also heard her present several differing versions of a story as an accurate portrayal of the truth. Because I am often privy to information she is not aware of, I have listened incredulously while she has lied right to my face. Her words often resonate in my mind, “I’ve never been touched by evil. It’s always been only good,” she said.

What do I do with this situation? I want to help my acquaintance. I don’t want to come across as one of those “religious people” who are always judging people that she often talks about. Still, I face a conundrum. I’ve also observed this woman who affirmed that she has never been touched by evil perpetrate evil on others through her misrepresentations and deceit. Like a category five hurricane, she leaves a trail of devastation and numerous walking wounded in her wake wherever she goes.

Reflecting on this situation has reminded why it matters so much to God that people tell the truth. It is the epitome of tragedy when we humans, the pinnacle of God’s creation, those who bear His image, choose to traffic in lies. Simply put, God does not want us to give false testimony (Deuteronomy 5:20).

In addition to this, I’m reminded just how destructive lies can be. That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote so clearly on this point: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9). Deceit, as much as idleness, is the Devil’s playground! People are hurt by lies.

What’s more? I’m convicted! I’ve told people I would do things that I’ve left undone. I had good intentions, just didn’t have the time to make that call, or make that visit, or write that book review. I guess we all do things like that, right? Is it really a lie if we had no intention to deceive? Well, I’m not making any excuses. This evil looks as ugly on me as it does on anyone else. With God as my strength, I’m really going to try to do better.

I’ve also been struck by the fact that there seems to be no compunction on the part of some to fabricate a version of reality that suits their own purposes. This seems to transcend situational ethics, where the end justifying the means. There doesn’t appear to be a need to justify anything! My acquaintance seems to think truth is irrelevant, as long as the desired results are achieved. A major flaw with the philosophy has to do with the fact that “the desired results” are built on the shifting sand of deceit, thus making them almost impossible to define or realize.

In the final analysis, I’m not sure if my acquaintance understands what she is doing. This is no excuse for her behavior. Far from it! It shines a bright light on one of the greatest tragedy in this situation. It sometimes seems as though she does not know she should tell the truth. It’s like she has never heard that God doesn’t want us to bear false witness. It’s like the idea of putting off the old self with its practices is a completely foreign concept to her. It’s like she’s unaware of the existence of the Ten Commandments or the transforming power of the Gospel. It’s like she serves another god—the god of the bottom line. Can it be that she has never heard the prophets decry the destructive condition that arises when people ignore God and His will?

Obviously, I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated with the injustices which rise from the deceit. More than this, though, I’m frustrated with myself for not being able to find a way through the tangled web woven by my acquaintance to her heart. For her sake, I wish I could. For the sake of all those she has hurt—and will hurt—I wish I could.

Many who read these lines know people just like the person I’ve described. You probably share my frustration. What have you done to help you keep your heart right when dealing with this sort of behavior? How have you been able to help people understand the damage their falsehoods cause? What can we do to help people overcome this deleterious habit.

© Bill Williams
2010.03.08

As I’ve reflected on these verses, Eugene Peterson’s rendering has proven to be most helpful:

^38-42“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

^43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

⁴⁸“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” (The Message)

Heeding Jesus’ leading is not always the easiest path to follow, is it? It’s certainly not the course of least resistance. Living into this high calling can, in fact, lead us down some incredibly rough and rocky roads. In spite of the fact that it is not easy and while openly confessing that I have often fallen short of Jesus’ calling, I’m still convinced this is the best way to live. So I am want to ask:

— What about you, do you believe this is the best way to live?

— How have you been able to incorporate this teaching in your daily lives?

— What words of advice do you have for others who are struggling to live into the Lord’s will in this regard?

© Bill Williams

Lord willing, in just a few weeks I will make two presentations at the New England Church Growth Conference. My assigned topic is: Natural Church Growth.

Central to my presentations will be an examination of Christian A. Schwarz’s materials on Natural Church Development, which emphasize the importance of minimizing the obstacles to church growth.

Because I value your input and believe it will greatly enhance these presentations, I would appreciate you commenting on the following statements:

1. I believe the key to natural church growth is…
2. I have had the following positive encounters with Schwarz’s guide to the eight essentials of healthy churches…
3. I would like to offer the following caution(s) regarding Schwarz’s approach to church growth…

Thanks so much for your input!

Blessings in Christ,

Bill Williams, Director
Focus Northeast

She’s the love of my life,

The woman I’m privileged to call my wife.

She’s the wind beneath my wings,

The woman for whom my heart sings.

She’s God’s daily gift of pleasant smiles and good cheer,

The woman who gives me pleasure just by being near.

She’s my dear, sweet, loving, kind and gentle wife.

The woman who remains the love on my life.

________________

Happy Valentine’s Day, Telesa!

I love you!

As they have so many times in the past, athletes from all over the world have gathered to compete in their special events. When the cameras are rolling they often say it is an honor just to be there. But, these all of these folks reached the Olympics because they are fierce competitors. We know they are there to go for the gold.

Associated with this is a sad but true reality. It has been vexing the souls of athletes for centuries. Paul commented on it in 1 Corinthians 9:24, saying, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?”

Seems like a cruel reality, doesn’t it? That is, however, just the way it is in The Games. In point of fact, of the 200+ nations sending athletes to participate, about 85 of these nations have never won a gold medal!

The same holds true in the “game of life,” particularly when it is played by human rules. The last I heard, Bill Gates’ net worth exceeds the combined net worth of more than 175 million Americans on the bottom of the scale. There really are only a few “big winners.” The rest are merely also ran’s—people who are soon to be forgotten.

By worldly standards, if you don’t have it all, then you have nothing at all. If you can’t boastfully say, “Been there—done that—got the T-shirt!” well, don’t say anything at all. As with the Olympics, a mere [tongue in cheek] valiant effort is all-too-soon forgotten and always falls short of winning the prize.

Not so in Christ! Thanks be to God, all who finish the course will receive a crown of righteousness from the Lord Himself one day (2 Timothy 4:7-8). All who persevere under trial will receive the crown of life, which the Lord Himself has promised (James 1:12). What’s more? The Lord is presently leading His followers in triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14); and, the victor’s crown, the crown of life, awaits all those who are faithful until death (Revelation 2:10). Praise the Lord!

So, then, let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us! Let us forget the things that are behind. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Let us press on toward the goal—for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus! (cf. Hebrews 12:1-2 and Philippians 3:13-14)

Just think about it, one day we may even be able to set our prize on the mantle over the fireplace in the mansion Christ has gone to prepare for us in a city with streets paved with gold. Yes! That’s it. Let’s go for the gold!

© Bill Williams
February 12, 2010

The prognosis remains uncertain. Has the cancer spread? Will the treatments be effective? Will her son recover? Or, will he require additional surgeries and further treatments?

When I ask her how she is coping with her son’s illness, she expresses quiet confidence that all will turn out well. Jenny explains that while she is thankful for every attentive medical practitioner and the treatments he receives, she knows that her son’s recovery is not entirely dependent on these. She confidently asserts, “I have a quiver full of assets at my disposal.”

When I inquire about the meaning of such a statement she explains that she is employing a strategy her pastor speaks of often. He encourages members of her church to target the concerns of their hearts with “arrow prayers.” These prayers are focused and specific, being devoid of the vague generalities which often fill our audible prayers.

So, she prays for her son. She lets a prayer-arrow fly, asking God to fill every person involved in his care with a special measure of wisdom and insight. She launches a pray-arrow for the effectiveness of the chemotherapy he receives. She gently aims a pray-arrow for his heart, asking God to help his spirits to remain high. She sends out a pray-arrow for the organs in his body that process the chemicals coursing through his body. She hurls a pray-arrow at every cancerous cell being targeted, asking that each one be destroyed.

She empties her quiver often each day. While doing so, she witnesses the gradual but steady recovery of her son. Time passes. The eventual outcome: Jenny’s son is cancer free!

Through this experience, she becomes more-and-more convinced that every believer needs to target every aspect of his or her life with “arrow prayers.” She encouraged me to do so. I’ve encouraged others to do so since.

© Bill Williams
January 19, 2010

Arizona has beautiful sunsets, as well. They are very different. They too are, nevertheless, marvels to behold. My earliest years were spent on the high plains in the western Oklahoma Panhandle, where the frequent serene sunsets almost made them commonplace. There are days that I would really like to be back in the wide open spaces of my youth where I could enjoy the peaceful ending of a day, while watching the sun slip behind the horizon.

When I lived in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the opportunity to witness the splendor of sunsets was somewhat limited by the topography and incredibly tall trees. Even there, though, I witnessed many breathtaking sunsets from my front porch in the hills of Hockessin, Delaware.

Sunsets are beautiful!

Another one of God’s masterpieces is the beautiful lives of God’s children who have reached the sunset years of their lives. They radiate God’s glory and splendor in amazing ways. Just like sunsets, their lives are beautiful to behold. These are, I guess one could say, spiritual sunsets of lives which radiate the glory of God. Senior saints are like trees planted by rivers of water bearing the fruit of the Spirit, with Christian graces adorning their lives. Spiritual sunsets are beautiful, indeed!

Proverbs 16:31 states: “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” This is the translation of Today’s New International Version. While it says essentially the same thing, I like the way the Contemporary English Version phrases this verse when it says, “Gray hair is a glorious crown worn by those who have lived right.” Clearly, this speaks of God’s glory shining through the life of one who has lived for Him, making the hair of gray so lovely a crown.

Whether we are young or old or some place in between, we love and admire those who have faithfully followed in the steps of Jesus. We never cease to marvel over each beautiful masterpiece, which has been created by God’s gracious working in the lives of senior saints. Not only are these spiritual sunsets beautiful to behold, they powerfully teach all who marvel at their majesty that for which we should be striving. To each of the senior saints among us we express our heartfelt thanks for leading us as together we follow in the steps of Jesus!

Yes, sunsets are beautiful! But, there are many marvels that are much more beautiful to witness. These are seen each time a dear, sweet child of God faithfully follows the Lord in the sunset years of life.

Ah! Spiritual sunsets! They are the most beautiful of all!

© Bill Williams
January 13, 2010

Here’s the point: Church growth isn’t simply a matter of finding ways to fill empty pews. I suggest to you that the empty pews are not the priority, at least from God’s point-of-view.

When we talk about growth it’s important to note that the thing God always emphasizes—that which is always a priority with God—is spiritual maturity. This is the growth of members of the body of Christ into the likeness of Jesus. In light of such passages as 2 Peter 1:5-11, it seems that God is most concerned about the growth that takes place in the hearts and lives of individuals who compose the body of people called from the world through the gospel.

As we think about church growth the question is not so much “what if we were serious” about it? The real question is do we have the same ideas about church growth as God has? Do we want what God wants?

In my experience, our priorities often get turned upside down, with the desire for numeric growth displacing sincere concern for spiritual growth. When this occurs, the leadership of a church can easily become fixated on monitoring nickels and noses, while obsessing on budgets and buildings.

In such a climate the interests of individuals can easily eclipse the purposes of Christ. With this being the case “ministry” plans are often constructed around satisfying a constituency rather than serving Christ and ministering to those who are precious in His sight. The prevailing mentality is purely egocentric, with members asking: Is the church satisfying me? Am I getting from church what I want? This is a concept which, for the most part, is foreign to the Scriptures.

Now, there is a certain element of this that needs to be taken into consideration. God wants us to grow and mature. God wants us to develop spiritually. Thus, we need to be in a spiritual context in which we are realizing our hunger and thirst for the Lord being satisfied. In that respect, we need to be getting what we want. That is, of course, if our ultimate goal is to grow to be more like Jesus—if we want what God wants!

God wants us to focus on our spiritual relationship and our responsibility to Him—not just to know things about Him—but the embrace what the Apostle Peter wrote about in his last know correspondence. Here he said, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).

That’s really the standard by which we should be measuring growth. It’s one of the things that has been a question of mine for many years. How do you grow in grace? The answer is contained in the thing Jesus was doing in Matthew 9, when he was having dinner at home of Matthew, the tax collector. Here’s the reading:

⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Jesus was criticized for eating with “tax collectors and sinners.” His response was, in essence, sick people, not the healthy need a doctor. I came so that I might do just what I’m doing. If you had a real understanding of the God you offer sacrifices to, you would know this. Go, now, learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

You guys have it backward. You put the emphasis on the things that can be seen and therefore measured; but God puts emphasis on the things that are not seen. They, therefore, can not be so easily quantified or measured. God says that His main concern is with where our heart is. Where is your heart? If your heart is with me, then I can do with you the things that will bring honor and glory to me. If your heart is not right, then you are just building castles of sand that will easily be washed away when the rains come and the winds blow.

When we talk about growth, God does not want us to say: What can I do to make the church grow?

In fact, the answer to this question is:

N.O.T.H.I.N.G!

Perhaps it would be ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

There is nothing I can do to make the church grow! There is nothing we can do to make the church grow! The emphasis in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 is on the fact that God makes things grow. Notice what the Apostle Paul states in these two verses:

I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but GOD HAS BEEN MAKING IT GROW. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but ONLY GOD, who MAKES THINGS GROW.

Paul planted the seed of God’s word; Apollos watered it; but, God caused the increase! Neither the planter nor the waterer is anything! When it comes to making the seed grow, God is everything!

It is God’s business! When we think about our attitude towards growth, if we are to realize growth, then our hearts must be enveloped by the idea that it is God who makes the church grow.

If we have this attitude—if we have this understanding—then this is where I believe Jesus wants us to be. Look at where He started in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 5:3).

All this nonsense that goes on out there on the airways in our world is far removed from this teaching of Jesus. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The slick preacher who has his teeth whitened and his Bible cradled in his arm strikes an oblique pose and smiles into the camera while he preaches his health and wealth gospel. He reaches the conclusion and says with all sincerity: You, too, can be like me!

The notion that this is what the gospel is about is the very thing that God is against. I believe that Jesus would contend earnestly with these people, if He were to walk amongst us today. This would be the case not just because of the message, but because many people are listening to the message.

The problem with this is that it’s only a temporary “fix.” It’s a spiritual rah-rah session, the spiritual benefits of which last about 20 minutes. It’s a moisturizing ointment cream applied to a malignant melanoma. It’s a dog-and-pony show that only has its impact on our lives as long as we pay the cast to perform for us. The emPHASis is on the wrong sylLABle.

Now, with this as our background let’s think about the 1 Corinthians passage again. If our hearts are in the right place, based on the thrust of this verse, we might say in response to the question “what can I do to make the church grow?”

E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!

Look at it again:

I PLANTED THE SEED; APOLLOS WATERED IT, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

What if the seed had not been sown? What if the seed or seedlings had not been watered? There was/is no alternate plan. This seed sowing and plant watering function is God’s plan. If we see ourselves as God’s instruments—God’s fellow-workers—we realize that we are nothing in and of ourselves, but we are everything God needs in His hands.

God has called us out of the world for a purpose! He didn’t call us to idle away the years while we wait to die and go to heaven. We are, according to Ephesians 2:10 here to do the good works He prepared for us to do in advance. If we understand this, then we understand that as God’s instruments our lives have everything to do with the growth and development of the body of Christ.

The implications are significant:

—We will look afresh at the one another passages and renew our commitment to being a blessing and encouragement to each other in the Lord.

—We’ll also realize that God is not pleased if we tear down the body of Christ. This is God’s family. We are God’s holy people. His plan is to tell the world how much He cares through us. Just think what a mockery is for God’s messengers of mercy to be backbiting and devouring one another.

Whenever God talks about kingdom growth, although none of us is anything of ourselves, we are something in God’s hand. Everybody is somebody in Christ’s body. Each of us should live like we believe this. Each of us should treat others like we believe this!

Colossians 1, beginning in verse 21, talks to us about the application, or perhaps, the implementation of this idea. Look at these verses with me. Here we see that:

There are few ideas more astounding than what is brought to light in these verses. God continues to work in the world. He works through those who emulate His Son; those who are willing to fill up in their bodies the things that remain to be suffered for the sake of the Messiah’s mission on earth. In fact, the Messiah’s mission continues still through those who yield their lives to the Spirit’s call and decide to walk in the Savior’s footsteps. What Jesus began when He walked on this earth is what God is doing in the world through us! WOW! Doesn’t that just stir you up on the inside!

What is the objective, with respect to those who respond to the gospel call, that is? What was the Apostle Paul’s growth strategy? What is your matrix for measuring success in church growth? Paul said that his goal was to may present everyone fully mature in Christ!

This suggests that we can no longer travel under the umbrella of satisfaction with numeric growth as a substitute for church growth! It’s not about getting people wet—dunking them in the baptistery. We must realize that God has a call on every single Christian’s life! This call is for each one of us to become more like Jesus. This gets down to the core of where every single one of us lives.

Paul concludes by saying, in essence, he can do nothing of himself to make the church grow when he says, “to this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” But, when God is working through me, I can do everything necessary to be part of what God is doing to make the church grow!

This is a principle that needs to be embraced by all. This is not something that applies to the clergy, or a select group of laborers, this is something that every person who has been called from the world and brought into a kingdom-relationship with Christ in order to be a part of what God is doing in the world.

How do we get to this point in our thinking?

(1) We must embrace Jesus’ kingdom claim!

We must realize that He made it and then embrace it. Look again at Matthew 28:18. This is another of Jesus’ kingdom claims. He has stated: I am reigning! The time has come for you to embrace this reality. We can build mega-church; mega-denominations; mega-movements—it’s been done over-and-over through out Christian history—but it is all to no avail if what we do is not under Christ’s authority and by His command. We are not part of the corporation of Christ, ruled by a board of directors. We are not the country club of Christ, ruled by need to maintain membership. We are not part of the social order of Christ. No! We’re part of the kingdom where Christ now rules in human hearts for the glory of God.

(2) We must heed the kingdom call of Christ!

See: Matthew 28:19-20. There is basically one point: Jesus wants us to make disciples. He has not called us to build churches. There is not a point in this where Jesus focuses on bricks and mortar. He doesn’t teach us the best techniques for counting nickels and noses. He is not concerned about the number of bucks we have in the bank or the number of buns we have on the pews. He calls us to build lives by making disciples for Him. We are to make a difference in the world by making a difference in the lives of people. As this happens numbers will increase, but it appears, when you read through the book of Acts that it’s God’s business to keep up which these numbers. Clearly, in Acts God was counting. But, He was not just counting noses. God was also counting on His people to be faithful to the kingdom call of Christ to make disciples of all nations—every ethnic group.

This was/is God’s master plan for inclusion of the marginalized. He has an open admissions policy. All who are will to follow Jesus are welcome. This is our message for the world! Are we sharing it? God knows those who are His! It all boils down to knowing what the kingdom is about and remembering that God has called us to a task.

(3) We must be willing to be used by God to help others do the same!

Our message for the world is really quite simple. We ask: Can I help? Or, how can we help? What is the church supposed to be saying to the world? Can we help? There are so many needs. Our responsibility is to work that which is good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of God (Galatians 6:10). When it is within our power to act, we should act (Proverbs 3:27).

The most valuable thing we have to offer is to pass along Christ’s kingdom call to the world—the light of the knowledge of the glory of God which shone in the face of Jesus. This is the greatest treasure we possess in these jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:5-7). God has given us all this so that we might share it with those in need.

May God help us to embrace the kingdom claim of Christ and heed His authoritative call on our lives and help others to do the same!

You see, I was engrossed in thought, as I attempted to sort through a number of questions which weighed heavily on my mind. So, I was completely preoccupied as I turned off the busy street on to the long driveway to the church parking lot.

I pulled along side the building and retrieved the day’s mail, tossing it on the passenger’s seat of my car. Once I parked in my usual stall just a few feet away. I picked up the large envelope and looked at the return address.

Once I read the sender’s name, I was fully in the moment. I opened the package with great anticipation. It contained a letter and a cassette tape. I soon discovered that I’d received a “thank you” letter the likes of which everyone should be privileged to receive.

The enclosed tape was queued to play a song that should give you a good idea as to the substance of the letter. When I played it, I heard Ray Boltz’s tribute song entitled Thank You. I’m sure you remember it. The chorus is embedded in my memory:

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

The young man who sent this letter to me has been in my life since 1982. His name is Darrin. He is one of the most sincere followers of Jesus I have ever known. In reality, it was I who should thank him, for it was a genuine privilege to share the Gospel with him when he was just 12 years old. Since then, I’ve been blessed a thousand times over by the sweet memories of his love for the Lord.

By the time his note arrived in the mail, Darrin had graduated from high school and college. He was serving as a minister and continuing his ministry training. As he matured it became important to him to let me know that he appreciated me taking the time to share Jesus with him that fall afternoon in 1982.

The fact that he took the time to prepare this special gesture of thanks encouraged me like few things ever have. God used him to help me see beyond the struggles of the moment. He also helped me gain a perspective on the things that really matter in life. The memory of that moment has benefitted me over-and-over ever since. As the Apostle Paul had a blessing from God in the form of an encourager named Onesiphorus, I have one named Darrin, who has often refreshed me (see: 2 Timothy 1:16).

Darrin continues to serve the Lord faithfully. God has blessed his wife and him with two lovely children. He and his family live in Gunnison, Colorado, where, in spite of the fact that he faces a severe health challenge, Darrin serves as the pulpit minister for the Gunnison Church of Christ.

May the Lord bless each and every person who reads these lines with a Darrin in your lives. May the Lord bless Darrin with the help he needs to do battle with the foe that seeks to rob him of health and longevity. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Darrin, because he often refreshed me.

© Bill Williams
January 4, 2010

I was wounded by a friend the other day. Was this a case of friendly fire? I don’t know. It would surprise me if it was. I didn’t know we were even in a battle.

My friend, who is notorious for his playful banter, took a swipe at me personally. It was one of those, “You never…” statements.  He poured salt on the wound within a few minutes as we discussed a project I had successfully completed. It seemed to me as though my best efforts were being dismissed by one of those “Oh, it’s probably just…”

Because these injuries were inflicted by a friend, I didn’t even realize I’d been hurt until hours later. My epiphany came about later that day during a soul-searching session in which I was honestly trying to determine why I was feeling discouraged.

My initial sefl-talk was something like: Come on! Get with it! You’ve got nothing to feel bad about. It’s probably just something you ate. Maybe your blood sugar is low. You definitely are going to have to start getting more sleep. Maybe it’s the Benedryl you took a couple of hours ago.

No matter where my thoughts took me, there did not seem to be an answer. All of the possible explanations were weighed in the balance and found lacking. Why am I feeling rotten? Why do I feel like I could sit on a dime and dangle my legs? Why do I feel like I want to run and hide, closing myself off from the world?

Questions like these just kept hounding me? As I continued to reflect on my day, I saw myself sitting in a meeting in a public place. There, with crowds surrounding us and people I know, people I trust, people I love, sitting at the table two statements ran through my mind in rapid succession:

— You never…

— Oh, it’s probably just…

Then I understood exactly what my problem was. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time, I was wounded by these words. Amazingly, gaining this insight almost immediately ended my discouragement. I immediately began processing this, trying to determine what my best response should be.

Frankly, this was prompted because my first response was not correct. It was anger. Not strong anger. Not the kind of anger that prompted me to pick up the phone and give this person a piece of my mind. But, the kind of anger that made me want to plan appropriate retaliation when the opportunity presented itself.

Soon after realizing that two wrongs don’t make a right, I began to process these two assessments of my character and conduct in a different light. Some things that helped me put this into perspective are:

1) The realization that there is some truth in my critic’s comments. These comments were not completely true. On both counts, I could have argued my case and won the day. I am sure that my friendly accuser would have backed down. In retrospect, I’m glad that I didn’t take such a stand.

2) There was no malice in his comments. In my opinion there was a lack of wisdom, because of the timing. But my friend is a loving person, whose whole life has been spent serving and caring for others. I’ve even wished in times past that he would be more forthright, that he would speak his mind. I guess it’s possible that he just needed to get in a little practice with me.

3) There might never have been another time. Sometimes you’ve gotta’ work with what you’ve got. I’ve thought that there really is no need to worry about the timing. Pride is what keeps me from wanting another person to point out my shortcomings in a public setting. It also causes me to be embarrassed when my efforts are belittled in the presence of others. If pride were not in the picture, it wouldn’t matter what others say to me or about me or, even, when they said it. If it’s true, then it’s time to change. If it’s not true, then it’s time to forgive. Either way, a person who humbles himself under the mighty hand of God, one who has truly died to self, does not feel as though he has to save face.

After this day’s events, I have a new appreciation for Proverbs 27:6, where we read, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Even still, I’m trying to think about the impact of my words on those with whom I am speaking, before I let them rattle off of my tongue. Towards this end the Apostle Paul’s counsel in Ephesians 4:29 seems most fitting: Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

May God help us all to choose our words wisely.

© Bill Williams
January 5, 2010

Some believe that snow-filled-skies produce a veritable winter wonderland. For others, the piles of small white ice crystals are a prolific powdery pestilence. When a single snowfall measures 36 inches, as it did in my Delaware neighborhood a few years ago, I tend to line up with the pestilence party.

Whether snow receives positive or negative reviews in your household, when it comes in abundance I tend to reflect on its  biblical significance. (Perhaps this just means that snow days leave me with too much time on my hands.) I have learned some interesting things, though.

According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, snow is common in Palestine during winter. The snow-covered peaks of the Lebanon range are visible almost year-round. Snow was transported to Tyre, Sidon, and Damascus as a luxury. Harvesters, laboring in the hot fields used it to cool the water they drank (Proverbs 25:13; Jeremiah 18:14). It is likely Herod Antipas, at his feasts in Tiberias, enjoyed the modern luxury of ice-water from this very source. Snow is also frequently used figuratively in the Scriptures. A couple of  examples are:

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  —Psalm 51:7

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. —Isaiah 1:18

As I reflect on snowy days, several important lessons have come to mind. Among these are:

#1) The paradox of purity— Reflecting on the words of Isaiah makes me realize only God could have worked this out. Scarlet-colored, sin-stained souls are purified by the scarlet-colored, sin-free blood of Jesus Christ. Thus cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, sinners are made whiter than snow. Wow! With David, we can confidently cry out to God, “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

#2) The value of preparedness— Even though we usually get ample warnings when major storms are approaching, many are still ill prepared. Although I had made a grocery run the day before the last big storm arrived, there were a few items that I wanted to purchase. When my wife and I pulled in to the parking lot at the shopping center in our neighborhood, I could not believe my eyes. Scores of drivers were zigzagging between snow drifts, automobiles and pedestrians in search of the rare, open parking space. Utter chaos reigned inside the grocery store. It seemed as though everyone was making their last minute preparations at the same time!

The lesson is obvious, isn’t it? We have been given ample notice to be well prepared for the ultimate appointment we must all keep. Hebrews tells us all people are destined to die once, and after this comes the judgment. No long sermons here—just a reminder: We need to be prepared!

#3) The importance of being in the presence of God with His people— Although snow storms seldom necessitate the cancellation of our regular worship gatherings, this has happened a couple of times since my family moved to Delaware. Sundays with gathering with brothers and sisters for worship are just plain weird, aren’t they? Most of us can count on one hand the number of times weather has caused a cancellation of worship services. When this does happen it helps us appreciate what a special privilege we’ve been given to gather with people of like precious faith and offer up the fruit of our lips in praise to God. It is good to be in the presence of God with those who share a desire to lift-up the name of Jesus—not just for the blessing we receive, but, also, for the blessing we impart.

What other lessons have you learned from this prolific powdery pestilence, I mean snow?

© Bill Williams
January 4, 2010

The appointed time for Bible class to begin was 9:30. At 9:25 ours was the only car in the sand and gravel parking lot. As we were about ready to give up on anyone coming, five cars rushed into the parking lot. The brother who was teaching the Bible class started the class by asking, “Who remembers where we got to last week?” I kid you not when I tell you that those in attendance debated for several minutes whether or not the final verses of 2 Corinthians 8 had been covered. The teacher finally gave up and made a couple of comments on these verses and then said something like, “There! Now are you happy?”

The song leader this morning was an 86 year-old-man. He was so kind. It was one of my first preaching appointments, but he made me feel like a champion. I don’t remember what we sang. I just remember that the tempo was slow and the accent was that unmistakable Texas tahwaaaang. As I began preaching, he settled in on the front pew for his nap. Although he didn’t snore, his breathing was loud, long and steady. There was no doubt about it. He was asleep.

I preached my lesson. The song leader sat with his head down, body comfortably slumped in the front pew. When I made my last point, I gently tapped on the pulpit as I spoke. He didn’t budge. I raised my voice and summarized my main points and dropped my Bible on the pulpit. He didn’t budge. I then shouted my summary and slammed my Bible down hard on the pulpit. He didn’t budge. Thus, I concluded that I might just be leading the invitation song myself and extended the invitation. At the very instant that I said while we stand and sing, he came to life and started the invitation song right on cue.

When the final prayer was prayed the brethren made a beeline for the door. The brother who taught the Bible class handed me a small envelop as he went by. Then he stood at the back door near the light switch waiting for my wife and me to collect our things so that we could be on our way. When we stepped outside his car and ours were all that remained in the parking lot. He thanked me and said the brethren really liked me and they would have me back real soon.

As my wife and I were driving down the road I handed her the envelop and asked her to see what was in it. We hoped there would be enough to cover our expenses and buy lunch on our way home. When she opened it she just said, “Wow!” The check it contained was five times more than most congregations paid for fill-in preacher students. We were astounded.

The next day I asked one of my mentors if it was right to accept such an exorbitant amount of money for preaching just one sermon. He explained to me that these brethren didn’t invite me because they wanted to hear me preach. They had me there because they wanted to bless my life and ministry. He said that I should cash check and be grateful. I did. We were and are grateful for the way God’s children blessed us in ministry for more than twenty-five years.

I’m not sure if this little church is still hanging on. But fond memories of their love for God and willingness to be used by Him to bless others linger still in my memory. May God help us all look for similar ways to be a blessing in the lives of others.

© Bill Williams
January 2, 2010