Steve Blumer's Random Thoughts

New Site

2009-08-16T14:13:00.002-04:00

Launching my new site: steveblumer.com

go check it out and subscribe to those feeds please.

let me know what you think.

if you're wondering why I haven't written lately, it's because it's all moved over at steveblumer.com, I've been writing things that you really need to read or at least that's what I tell myself.

Nerds Need You

2009-08-11T16:52:00.003-04:00

One of my strengths according to Strengths Finder 2.0 is Intellectual which simply means: "They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions." I often keep to myself and need time to think or have already put much thought into the topic before making finally decisions. However, mix that with another one of my strengths, Learner, which is to: "have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them;" and I'm a magnified nerd.

I read technology blogs, follow html/css code writers on twitter, and can go on an on with someone about anything computer (hardware or software), camera, or graphically related. I also have a Master of Divinity from a bible seminary. I read church leader blogs, follow pastors on twitter and enjoy talking bible verses on youversion.com and with other bible thinkers.

I really don't find myself an expert at anything and not even a jack of all trades. I seem to always be trying to learn something new and the moment I do, I realize there's so much more I don't know.

There is a limit to my learning. I like to learn things if I have a reason to learn them. If they make my job easier, I'll learn. If someone I know knows something, I'll try learning a little about it. I like this aspect because it allows me to talk with another person about something they also enjoy talking about. It allows us to go past the "hi, how are you, again?." The downfall is that the moment I don't have these common ground areas, I scoot along.

Building lasting relationships have to move past the initial "hi, how are you, again?" as well as move past merely the work or hobby talk. Without nerds in the world, there would not be any iphones, power tools, or microwave ovens, but we need you to reach out and get to know a nerd. We need help in the relationship forming arena unless you count facebook, twitter, texting, blogging and instant messaging as a complete way of getting to know someone. Ha ha.

Do Managers Do Anything?

2009-08-07T21:45:00.003-04:00

When I started the work force at a young age, I respected or at least had this fear of power of managers, bosses, ceo's, etc. The more years I worked and knew these managers and how they worked and what kind of work they did, I became less respectful of them for their seemingly "laziness." By the time I was in college I worked my way up in the company I worked for and became managers of different departments as well as ending as the Second Manager, only under the direct store manager.

This "climb" of experience was good for me I think, because 1) I appreciated the value of someone doing the actual labor of things; and 2) I knew that the laborers valued the manager as long as it was evident that they was functioning at all.

The same experiences, I believe, are true for the church I work in. I started out 5 yrs ago volunteering where I could and it was primarily in the sound booth, running the visuals. Now I'm the executive pastor.

In the book Leadership Pipeline, it talks about the struggles most make when making a managerial change with more responsibility. If the change happens too fast or you don't recognize the value in your more people skills and planning skills and taking the time to think skills versus labor skills or you become too disconnected from the laborers, you will not only fail in that function as a leader, but you also let the team down and really halt any kind of growth for your company.

The idea behind a leader is a person who can both manage multiple tasks and people, but also foresee and plan for future problems and areas of growth. Without the leader working in this fashion, the day to day tasks get down but years down the road, the company will wonder why it's on the verge of death. It hasn't reached out to new people. New workers are only introduced with a spot opens up. There's no creation of new spots to create future growth. It hasn't tried new things. It's hasn't found new ways of doing things better. It hasn't gotten rid of things that don't really work.

Both leaders and laborers are essential, but both functions have to ask key questions to themselves.

Do you as a leader know that your role is to take time to think about the future of the people and the business? If you're stuck in doing, doing, doing, who's leading, leading, leading? Man up or woman up and set the bar high for leading the team to the next level. Your team might work harder if they know you're busy about developing their future.

Do you as a laborer not value the function of the leader to think and plan and do less of the doing? Do you support your leader by doing all you can so they can lead? Giving your leader grief all the time for being "lazy" can really affect the leader mentally. They want to please the team and they probably already struggle with this battle to think and plan versus jumping in and helping out physically all the time.

Do you as a leader value the function of your support staff? Are you still in connection with them to value their input on what's wrong and what's working? Maybe it's good for you to get busy sometimes back into the laboring so you don't lose touch of what it takes and what are the challenges to working for you. Often times it's good to accomplish something where people can see something was done. Even something small like cleaning up the room where most of the people work or changing out the light bulb that has been out for a month.

There's this fine balance as a leader to not just sit in an office and plan with straw figures or to always keep ourselves busy with tasks to the point that no one is planning for the future.

God? Love Swats? How Dare He!

2009-08-05T07:57:00.002-04:00

God is Love. Jesus loves the little children. The Lion and lamb lay together. These are these sweet, peaceful ways most Christians view the God of Christianity. These types of messages are predominantly preached in our churches of love, hope and assurance. Such things are most definitely true. God is love. He wants to call us friend. There is real hope for those persevere in suffering because God has poured out his love to us through His Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). God is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins when we ask (1 John 1:9).

I think often times with this thinking of love and forgiveness comes this exclusion of "fear" and idea of "discipline" for wrong doing. The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament does a good job of showing how we live in this perfect time of God speaking to us through his one and only Son, Jesus, and how we now live in this perfect time of a complete and final death substitute for our sins through Jesus Christ. Something of which people for thousands and thousands of year eagerly anticipated.

But with this privilege comes warnings to remain faithful and strong and to persevere and to remain connected to His church because we do live in this special age. Hebrews 10:28-31 says, "28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.s29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt fort the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy,t and insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”s and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”s31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Read that after you read the punishment described for Israel in Jeremiah 25. Why has the "fear of the Lord" become a taboo topic of modern Christianity? Why can there not be a proper balanced perspective of love and Godly discipline that a Righteous Father knows how to administer? We want God to destroy the earth of evil doers, but we cry and whine and throw fits when we get a little swat from God about our ongoing refusal to do what He asks us to do.

Can there not be love in discipline?

Cleanliness is next to Godliness?

2009-08-04T09:37:00.003-04:00

When I worked for Price Choppers in Missouri during college, I had this manager that would always have me clean the warehouse, run backstock, organize products pallets and condense space, and about once a month I would have to wax the concrete warehouse. This waxing part seemed a little worthless because we would constantly have vendors pulling in and making their mess restocking the warehouse. He used to always say "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

I've met people from both extremes. People who seem oblivious to mess and just walk around, through and it in as well as people who are have this obsessive compulsion to put everything in it's place the moment is budges in the wind.

There are negatives with both extremes and often they are very similar. Both create environments that other people often don't want to be in. Both sets of people often don't want people in their environments either. Both have this need for control in their lives and to have things their way and in some sense have problems putting themselves under outside authority influences, including the trust and acceptance in the natural laws of nature.

Yet, I also believe there is something to the statement that "cleanliness is next to Godliness." I believe that having things in order and clean creates a peace within your body, mind, and spirit. Chaos creates chaos after all. Our actions are reflections of our heart. Our heart is the seat of motivations. We do what we do because we desperately want something.

So what does the heart issue look like for those who live in clutter? What does the heart issue look like for those who must live in complete organizational grid lock? And is it possible for a person of each camp to live with one another? What is the proper balance of both?

Leading the Kids to love doing good.

2009-07-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Kids learn by watching what we do and what we don't do. Especially from the ages of 0 to 12. The hard part is to notice and talk with my children about how they are interpreting what I'm trying to teach them.

For example, by being a part of a church and being involved in serving others, I want my children to know that a relationship with Christ and doing His work is the best thing in the world. For Christmas, we're going to find ways we can take our money and time and help those in need. We're going to have family members who want to buy our kids toys to rather donate money to our kids charity of choice.

It's a tough balance. I don't want them to feel that they can just skip church when they don't feel like going. If we based things on when we feel like, we probably won't do a whole lot. It's often that when we do go when we don't feel like it, we end up feeling better and are glad that we went. I don't want them to give their money only after they've acquired the things they want. I also don't want them to think that God wants them to live a poor and oppressed lifestyle.

So do I change things up on purpose, like skipping church on a frequent basis? Do I only serve others when it fits conveniently in my schedule, and when I can do it with the whole family? But I also don't want my sons to think that I cheated on the family with God's church. Do I share with them how much we make and how much we give to church and other people?

I also don't want them to confuse serving God with church attendance. I also don't want them to confuse serving God as being on church staff. I want them to see that serving God comes from a desire to do what God wants us to do, love him and love people.

I think this is best done by letting them make some decisions but also teaching them which choices are the better ones and why. I don't think letting a 6 yr old determine for the family to miss church because they want to do something else. But it's my responsibility to work what my son wants to do into the near future if not immediately after church. I also have to know that if I forsake what he wants to do all together and "force" them to church and make a habit of this routine, I've failed as a father and as well as making a relationship with God something to be desired.

How old and what level of decisions have you set up to make a good balance? What have you done to promote God and living a life fully devoted to Him without being oppressive or a military commander?

Yo Dad!

2009-07-25T05:36:00.003-04:00

Dear Heavenly Father,

I'm sorry you get blamed for everything. It's not all your fault. I make choices and follow my sinful heart, motives, and desires. I don't take the effort to learn who you really are and what you say are the best ways to follow. I don't read your bible enough or pray to you enough. I don't spend time with enough of the right people to encourage me in your ways either. And sometimes, I think I would have a better way, but I guess I can make those kind of calls when I create my own universe. Can I borrow your tools?

Anyways, I live in a world of sinful people who do what's right in their own eyes and in that whole realm, people get hurt. I don't like it and I know you don't like it, but you get blamed as though you did it. I wouldn't like it if I got blamed for everyone else's choices. I guess I think that you have to come down and discipline the whole world right now. But I probably would think that was mean too and blame you as a poor Father.

Sounds like you probably really know what you're doing. Thank you for your love and mercy for not spanking us the moment we make sinful failures. Hope to spend time with you soon.

Team Work

2009-07-24T18:13:00.003-04:00

You have talents, I have talents. You need me and I need you. We cannot happen if you're not with me. We cannot happen if I'm not with you.

I need to humbly accept your talents working with mine and do my part to make we work.

I need to not push my talents on you as more important.

There are times that my talent may take more precedent, and there are times that your talent will take more precedent.

Humbly accept the times my talents are taking the precedent as well.

Thank you. See you tomorrow. Enjoy working with you.

Making it Spicey?!

2009-07-23T22:16:00.002-04:00

if all things fall away and come back in style, will the internet loose it's touch or is it now like food, we just dress it up and mix it up with different things to make it more appealing? How do you make your hamburgers?

What is mine is yours?

2009-07-17T07:09:00.002-04:00

Personal Space.

Everyone wants a spot in the house, a place in their work, a time in their day that they can claim as theirs and only theirs.

But if you live and work with people, your space becomes smaller and smaller.

I've discovered that at home, there is no place that becomes purely just mine.

No drawer, no desk space, no counter space allotted as my second desk spot, no side table, no night stand, no book shelf, no clean vehicle.

As annoying as that is, it would be pretty sad to not be around people for the sake of mine and tidiness.

Life goes on.

Annoying?

2009-07-16T09:08:00.003-04:00

Annoying.

Things that are annoying are not necessarily things of injustice.

They are usually not things that deserve criminal punishment.

They aren't even people sinning against you.

But they can drive a person mad.

What's With Mowing Grass Anyways?

2009-07-13T08:46:00.003-04:00

Millions don't have clean drinking water and it's all about survival.

Millions live in places where there is no fertile soil and it's all about survival.

Millions don't want to live that way and it's all about survivial.

Millions water their lawns to make them greener because it's all about image.

Millions wash their cars every week because it's all about image.

Millions mow grass on fertile soil just because it's all about image.

Forsake image for other's survival?

What if we turned our grass on fertile ground into gardens and used the water to grow for the millions who need the help?

Sure beats mowing! That's for sure.

Thoughts for making change.

Secret? Agent Man.

2009-07-07T14:48:00.007-04:00

We are to be agent men and woman for Christ. But secretively? I'm still thinking about this message Jesus taught in Matthew 6. In the beginning of the chapter He says to pray and fast and give to the needy in secret.

But even Jesus saw what the poor widow gave to the church (I know theologically it's not the church, but go with me on this one) in Mark 12:42.

James talks that faith without works is dead (2:14-17). And although we are not able and should not come to a conclusion about someone's spiritual faith based upon what is seen and what is not seen, works of good are evident and noticeable at some point.

Paul in Galatians encourages the counselee to share with their counselor the good things of progress (6:6). Pastors thrive off hearing about their "sheep" ministering to others.

The writer in Hebrews says to PROVOKE one another in doing good deeds (10:24). It's hard to be provoked if you feel like you're the only one doing it. Elijah even was discouraged because he thought he was alone in his efforts (1 Kings 19:14).

Teaching others how to be generous without showing what generosity is, is ineffective. Paul challenged the Corinthians to give what they promised to give and had even told other churches about the amount they promised to raise (2 Corin. 9:2-5). He must have known how much they had given and how much more they needed to give.

There are always people watching. There are always people who know. Always people privy to information. So should you stop giving to the church, giving to those in need, praying at a public restaurant, praying in your life group, because someone will see? Of course not. I think I've blogged on this before. The point is to do good to others in God's name for the sake of truly loving and caring for others and obedience to God whether people are watching or not. Our good deeds are not to be done for show or to please people. But if people are watching or people do see, still keep going strong. You might even encourage them in doing good deeds as well.

(side note for church leaders and pastors: beware that you don't judge someone's spiritual state because you see little of a person's giving, serving, worship, praying or caring for other people, or lord forbid, not come to hear you speak at "church." They are your "sheep" and you are to provoke, rebuke, and encourage them, but they are also to be co-laborers with you in Christ. Love them, get to know them, and they might share with you what's really going on in their life. That's being a true shephard. If you find yourself upset at people's giving, serving or coming to "church," make sure it's because you care about their relationship with God and not because you want them to please you and your ministry.)

Hot Pursuit in Rocking Chairs

2009-07-04T06:31:00.005-04:00

I was reading Matthew 6 this morning. Matthew 6 is right in the middle of Jesus' sermon on the mountain, his first message after going public with his ministry. The chapter starts out talking about doing our prayers, giving to the needy and fasting, all in secret for God. The point being that we do those things not for the praise of people. The second half of the chapter talks about not worrying in getting the things we need to survive (clothes, water, food).

The students at Fellowship Church acted out this second half about a month ago by sitting in rocking chairs and trying to rock towards signs we made saying clothes, water and food on them. It was a great illustration. Most of us find ourselves at one time or another and in our own ways spending a great amount of energy and time chasing after money and possessions the hard way. Jesus says straight up "Do NOT store up treasures for yourselves here on earth!"

If God says he'll take care of us, why do we strive so hard for these things?

One suggestion is found right in the middle of this whole chapter. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" (v. 22, 23).

It matters what we're looking at. The word for healthy means pure, sound, a seeking after the righteousness of God kind of thing (some have suggested that the meaning is being generous. It definitely fits within the context and being generous is certainly an attribute of living out God's righteousness). The point being that when our focus in on those things, our body will be full of light, a.k.a, we'll be able to know where we need to be and go and do. We'll be able to know that our path is good or evil. We'll have a peace of mind in being able to see. You can't see if everything is total dark. And that's what happens when our focus is not pure, sound, and seeking those righteous things of God.

You may already know what God says to do. Maybe you've been a Christian for some time now. Maybe you're even a leader in the church. But you still refuse to give up your pursuit of getting for "me and my circle." Maybe He even convicts you with the Holy Spirit about those things if you're a follower of Jesus, He does that sort of thing you know.

David says in Psalm 119:35-37 "Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it. Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Turn my eyes away from what is worthless!Revive me with your word!"

Bumper Sticker: No Jesus, No Peace.

2009-06-30T09:47:00.004-04:00

I threw this idea that people seek the church as this place of peace. This is not a bad thing. The church should be a place of peace. But how should this kind of peace be described and expected as one becomes a part of the church? I mean Jesus said in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage."

This word he uses for peace here is found 92 times in the New Testament and can range in meaning from a state of national tranquility, being without war or conflict, or the "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is" (Barclay-Newman).

I can assume that Jesus was definitely alluding to the latter meaning more than the first. The Jews were anticipating a national Messiah to rescue them from their enemies and create a reestablishment of the nation of Israel as a world powerhouse. Yet Jesus uses this same word of peace when he said, "do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). Jesus was not planning on using the sword to bring peace to the earth for the nation of Israel. There was to be no mistake. Jesus was not here to bring peace to the earth. But why did He later said that He was giving peace to "you?" Connect the two and He was saying that He was bringing a sword that would bring peace to man's soul!

This sword and peace connection is also found in Hebrews. Chapters 3 and 4 in Hebrews talk a lot about this "rest" or better translated as "resting place," this place of peace. It is up to individuals to diligently seek this resting place through faith in God's message. Those who are slack in seeking this resting place may find themselves short of arriving at the resting place because of their lack of obedience to hear God's message. Right in the midst of this passage is this well known verse: "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). Finding the true resting place only happens as we use the word of God to convict us of our sin and seek God's way of righteousness. True peace only exists in God's resting place. Sin and God cannot co-exist. Sin has left us short of the glory of God, short of finding rest from our work, short of living in this resting place we expect to find in the church.

The Psalmist agrees when he said, "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin" (Ps. 38:3).

So what am I saying about this peace that we are seeking to have? Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the absense of sin, through which happens as we fight with our sinful desires and thoughts of the heart with God's double-edged sword of His Word.

So don't be upset with preachers who "make" you feel guilty. You may just be and if you don't like dealing with it, don't be surprised when you keep falling short of coming to God's resting place.

Mr. Rogers, Peace, and the Church

2009-06-26T09:57:00.005-04:00

So I read this article about what church is not. I agree with the article and would love to add some more. I've been noticing these kind of talks here lately, about people getting frustrated with "the church," about people getting uncomfortable about being in a biblical community, and christians just wanting to shield their children from evil people. This all goes great with our series at Fellowship Church in Holden starting up in a couple of weeks. We're calling it "Why we love this place." It's a look at our core values, our principles of how we do ministry.

Often times I believe people are looking at the church for a place of peace. How we define peace or expect to get it might be the issue. Our creative theme for this next series is similar to "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood." The idea here is that Mr. Rogers was all about being a part of the community, interacting with the community, sharing with the community all the while being this peaceful place you wanted to be a part of as he shared life principles and creative ways to live that out.

Sure he had this land of make-believe, but it's our minds that carry these make-believe places. Our minds are where we practice these principles of life before we speak them and practice them. If we practice these biblical core values in our minds, we can wrestle against these false values that keep our minds in some fantasy world separate from the reality God wants us to live out. It's this false fantasy in our minds that destroy what church is suppose to be about.

Peace is an interesting concept anyways. For some of us, peace is defined and desired to be something without conflict and harmony with all. But Jesus said he was giving us a peace unlike what the world gives. What exactly then is this kind of peace? I have some ideas, but what are yours?

Word of Promise Next Generation Audio Bible - New Testament (Review)

2009-06-23T20:38:00.005-04:00

As a parent and a Family Ministries pastor and a person trying to help lead teens into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, I know the importance of getting kids (and adults at that) into God's Word. In this age of video games, computers and all sort of electronic devices, paper books seem unappealing to some. So I picked up Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament MP3 Set.

"Starring a Hollywood-level cast of young talent including Cody Linley (Hanna Montana, Dancing with the Stars) as Jesus, AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Mary Magdalene, Jordin Sparks (American Idol Winner) as Elizabeth, Cobin Bleu (High School Musical) as Peter, Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen) as Martha, and narrated by Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings). The project includes informative book introductions by author Max Lucado and his daughter, Jenna Lucado, who is a speaker on the Revolve® Tour."

I've listened to audio bibles before and I've found myself spacing out, not really paying attention to the reading of Scripture. But with this one, I found myself noticing things in the bible that I never noticed before. I listened to book after book. The readings of the passages were, for the most part, very well engaging and read with the perceived mood of the writer. Not only was the production done with actors, but was produced with background sound effects and non-overbearing ambient music. I would not only recommend this to teens, but to parents and adults as well. Maybe you can get it for their birthday and sync it with your iPod as well.

One small downfall is that it is an MP3 cd set, which means it might not play in all cd players. It did not work in my truck. But because it was MP3, it made it very quick to "drag and drop" into my music folder, add it to my iTunes, and play it at work on my laptop or sync it up to my portable device.

But I Don't Want To...Do What God Says!

2009-06-07T15:09:00.006-04:00

I lead the teens in topic again today and we continued in this great topic of making decisions. It certainly isn't by my own wisdom, but it comes from the bible and a great speaker, Andy Stanley. He has a book out now titled, The Principle of the Path, that talks a lot about these things.

The perspective today about decision making is that we need to surrender before we head into a direction. And from previous discussion, we know that direction determines our destination. So surrender is crucial in making it to our destination.

This idea stems from the story of Solomon. He became the wisest man to ever live. He was young and thrust into a difficult circumstance of ruling the entire nation of Israel after his father had died. He was probably no older than 20. God said he would grant him one desire because He loved Solomon's father, David, very much. Solomon asked for wisdom because he realized that leading a nation was a daunting task. God admired his selflessness of not asking for fame or fortune, and granted him wisdom beyond anyone. This wisdom brought people from all over the place bringing him gifts in exchange for wisdom. God had not only given him wisdom, but also fortune and fame (1 Kings 3).

Solomon then writes proverbs. And in Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon tells us how to make wise decisions and how to know whether we in the right direction:

5 Trusts in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.

6 Acknowledge him in all your ways,
and he will make your paths straight.

The ultimate way to make a choice and to set ourselves in a clear, straight and godly path, is to surrender our own understanding of how we think we should get there, and to trust whatever and however it is that God says to do it. It means to put our complete weight upon God's wisdom. To believe it when it's not comfortable. To obey when it doesn't seem possible.

It also says that we have to acknowledge God in all our paths, not just the path we're asking wisdom for. It doesn't do us any good to be obedience in one way, and then completely forsake another truth because we have our own understanding and control in this other area. We often do this by saying "well that was for a particular time and a particular people," "it was a cultural thing," "this isn't that big of a deal," "I still go to church and give my time," "God couldn't really be asking me that," "am I really suppose to believe this literally?" "God knows my situation and it's okay that I don't _____," "I will when I have the time, the money," "Well, I've done that before and it didn't work," "You don't know my situation, it's different."

This was exactly Solomon's failing. The wisest guy chose to follow his own thoughts and pressures of those around him in an area where God was clear. Even though Solomon was righteous in the area of worshiping God, he bent the rules in following after other gods. (1 Kings 11). This was okay, right? All the other nations were doing this. It was a cultural way to making people with the surrounding nations.

Making a decision because we don't see the harm in it, or think we know a better way without heeding God's clear direction for that right path, is not a destination we want to find ourselves in. We reap the consequences for the wrong path and wonder why we're in the mess that we're in. And we wonder why God would have ever made something like this happen. When in fact, it is ourselves who decided we didn't want to surrender this other certain area in our lives over to God's care. We would rather lean on the staff that we built. Yet, we do not want accept the consequences that come with it when it breaks.

Pastors in Pornography, Adultery, and Reconciliation?

2009-05-25T07:46:00.003-04:00

Our pastor yesterday spoke about pornography and how it is every man's issue to know how to stay away from it. He used lots of scripture showing how we could overcome the problem with God's help. It was a great message (you can find it at fellowshipholden.com/fctv and then click on the on-demand button on the player, 5-24-09 service.)

My wife and I were talking later that afternoon and was talking about that pastors who commit adultery are pretty much expected to no longer be pastors. But why? What is the Scripture support?

Is it in all instances? What about if they are found looking at porn? Jesus says if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he has committed adultery in his heart. God has always cared about the heart more than the outward actions. Why is it that we react to the actions?

Again, what is the scripture support for having pastors step down for adultery, but not other sins? And are there other exceptions? Such as if the man and his wife are reconciled? What is the appropriate time to solidify reconciliation before returning to pastorate?

I know the couple of verses that will be used, but if you use them, please show me really how those speak directly to this issue.

Memorial Day Deals

2009-05-22T11:33:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day.

I can't obviously remember how to remember. Glad I know from tv that memorial day is all about getting great deals on cars and furniture, taking camping trips with family, and having BBQs.

It's either a day to remember how we got here or a day to just enjoy the things that we get to enjoy because of how we got here without remembering how we got here.

So before I bite my first piece of BBQ chicken this weekend, I say to all those who serve and have served in our military, thank you.

#1 Complainer is...

2009-05-18T16:47:00.004-04:00

Complaining. Sometimes I think I'm the best at complaining. I can complain that someone else thinks they complain more. I've always had this tendency to complain. I know it's a problem. I've read some books about complaining. I've prayed about not complaining. I've memorized bible verses to help me not complain. I've counseled myself to figure out why it is that I complain. Two people in my life have directly told me that I complain about everything. A lot more have complained about my complaining behind my back.

I complain mostly about stupid people and we all know that the world isn't short of those. Obviously complaining has it's roots in selfishness, pride, demanding expectations because I deserve something because I'm want it because I deserve it because I'm the best and the best deserve the best. It's a me-world, didn't you know that? You must be stupid.

The bible is full on describing stupid people. And guess what? I'm just like stupid or should I say me stupid is. Stupid is someone who is slow to understand, a fool, and is often times annoying.

Complaining stems from a Hebrew word meaning murmur. It's been said that in God's ears, it sounds like murmurmurmurmurmurmurmurmur..., something annoying, kind of like a kid saying, "dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad" while you're on the phone.

Ironic that the people that annoy me the most is right under my nose. Someone once said that the common denominator in all your problems is yourself. Before you badmouth someone else, better realize you ain't no better.

Vision Takes Drive

2009-05-15T08:23:00.004-04:00

On the discussion of vision, most everyone recognizes that teaching the vision is key in getting people on board. Vision might be defined as having a God-given and God-sized purpose in life. What I find interesting here lately in this exact kind of vision in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. The vision Paul talks about here is this special raising of money for the saints in Jerusalem who were experiencing persecution and poorness. Paul spends these two chapter pumping the Corinths on seeing this vision happen.

The main principle I likened the talk to was drive. Drive is the desire to do whatever it takes to get it done. Vision must have drive. Paul was creating drive for them. How does Paul describe drive? Here is what I gleaned from these two chapters.

Drive is visible. People should be able to actually see something that you've done for the vision. Faith without works is dead. Talk is cheap.

Drive is costly. A God-sized and God-given vision requires us to give up of ourselves first and foremost for the cause. No matter what level of involvement you can do, there is more that you should be giving. That's why some call it a sacrifice.

Drive is initiating. Vision is done completed by just doing what you are told and doing only when you are told to do something. Make things happen.

Drive reflects your love for the cause. Saying you care, but doing little to nothing for the vision is lying and your love is really not in it. Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

Drive sees things through to completion. Getting burnt out or forgetting the focus destroys the vision. You must be willing for the long haul to remain true to the God-given and God-sized vision for your life.

Drive is team-minded. The kingdom of God has no room for mini-kings. You are one of many ambassadors for Christ. Partner with other ambassadors with similar vision. Both will challenge the other. both will encourage the other. Both will help the other. It is not a competition of winner/loser, but of winner/winner.

Drive gets others excited. Your God-given and God-sized vision will be contagious. Having drive for the cause will create drive in others in jump in. If others aren't jumping on board, maybe you don't have drive.

Drive welcomes accountability. It's easy to get distracted from the vision. We're are a team. Sometimes another team member needs to challenge another team member from becoming slack in their drive. The wise will accept and gain back their drive when given a tool or person to make sure the job is completed.

Drive breeds more personal drive. As you stay focused on the vision and work hard at that vision and other people join the vision, you gain more drive, passion, motivation, obsession to see the vision happen. Not excited about your vision or what you're doing? Maybe you don't have any drive to begin with.

Drive glorifies God. Vision is all about having a God-given and a God-sized purpose in life. Working hard on this vision and getting other people excited about this vision is not about you. The end result for you and those involved and those who see the vision happening, will be giving God the credit, giving God the praise, and saying "oh yeah, God is so good."

So the question is, do you have drive? Do you have the passion to do whatever it takes to make it happen? Maybe you need drive, maybe you need a vision. Can't have one without the other.

I wish the church would _____?

2009-05-12T18:58:00.001-04:00

I’ve had this opportunity to listen to the New Testament on audio during work. I listen to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians all in one week. But for some reason I had to listen to 1 and 2 Corinthians over and over, especially 2 Corin. I was compelled by all that Paul says to this church in Corinth. Though written around the first century a.d., it spoke to me.

What I want to say, I know will offend some people. Some people might even think that I am talking about them, but know that if I am talking to you, I am talking to 50 other people. I say these things to share what’s in my heart and perhaps if they are of you, you would take some godly reflection and repent if necessary as I do as well. I will be judged by God for my words and actions as well you will.

Paul writes how this church was messed up in some of the things that they did. Paul wrote some harsh words to this church. Paul was never supported financially by this church. This church was a lot of talk, and needed prodded to actually do the right thing. They had many good qualities, but Paul was compelled to keep only one thing in mind when it came to the Corinth church. They could not handle anything more than milk like a baby. That was Christ and Christ only.

For me, I am more and more compelled to work in a church full-time, where all my efforts are connecting and leading people into this growing and abiding and fully devoted relationship with Jesus Christ. I find it somewhat sickening of what the church of Jesus Christ is used for. Some people want a church to have a church directory not so they can pray for people, or find ways to develop community with them. They want a church directory to they can have access to people to invite them to their Pampered Chef party, their scrap-booking club, or so they can put a face with a name they are gossiping about.

People want to see the church be involved in all these sorts of activities and clap their hands when someone graduates High School and College. I’m all about honoring those who deserve honoring, but why is it that they don’t think of promoting or throwing a party for those who accept Christ or want to be baptized. They aren’t there wanting to help lead these young believers into maturity.

Some people don’t want to make the effort to be a part of a community of believers. They don’t want to make any effort to give time to any ministry. They don’t want to give back any of God’s money to support the pastors and workers who give their lives to God’s causes. Yet they grumble: “No pastor announced my birthday from the pulpit like they did about so and so.”

Is that what we’re really going to complain about? Is that what we’re really going to get excited about? What does that have anything to do with Christ?!

If it doesn’t have anything to do with connecting and leading people into this growing and abiding and fully devoted relationship with Jesus Christ.... I’m not claiming that I’m perfect or outside of needing some direction. I pray for people to teach me how to be better at doing those things that really matter to Christ: how to be a better leader at home, how to be a better pastor, or how to be a better follower of Christ. I want to you and I to know Christ and Christ alone.

Decisions

2009-05-09T10:17:00.004-04:00

Decisions. Everyone experiences them. Almost any important decision is not an easy decision. The easy choice is to stand ideal and pretend that the decision won't have to be made. Every decision is made between two or more equal and compelling counterparts.

One of the things I taught the students last week was that our direction, not our intentions, determine our destination (thank you Andy Stanley). Every decision is not just an event, it is a step, or more like a drag race, on a path towards a direction. Where that path leads is really the key of whether or not you want to step on the gas or pull over and figure out whether you're lost or you just missed some exit long ago. We can dream and wish and image what path we would love to be on or what destination we would love to be at, but you can't go east if you're heading west.

But decisions still aren't that easy always to make. No decision comes without difficulties. No decision comes without sacrifices. No decision affects only you. There is no perfect decision. No decision will be followed by immediate good. Every decision is followed by hard work. You'll always wonder what life would be like if you made the other decision.

Whatever decision you and I make is the decision God will use in His perfect plan. There is no plan B.

Be A Man: Penetrate

2009-05-07T15:10:00.003-04:00

In some of these other posts (http://steveblumer.blogspot.com/search/label/manhood), I attempted to tackle what are some of the characteristics of being a man. And in this post (http://steveblumer.blogspot.com/2009/02/initiating-love-whos-cooking.html) I stated the idea of being a man also meant being the initiator. Maybe I was smarter than I thought, but I really just took it from scripture, so never mind. But check this out.

I've been listening to an audio book by Stu Weber called A Tender Warrior. In the book so far he equates man's duty of being the one with the provision. And he goes into great lengths to show how provision is more than just food to eat and a place to live. It's being able "to see beforehand." It's the ability to keep the vision of where the family needs to go in the big picture of the vast landscape.

To really bring home this idea he says that to be masculine is to be the initiator (ha, I knew it!). The real interesting part for me is that he ties it to a Hebrew word for masculine which means "to penetrate", while the feminine counterpart means "to be penetrated". Obviously, this depicts something physical but also describes something inner human. To penetrate means to be the one to break down the wall, to make an advance, to move in with energy, to understand, to extend influence, and to permeate every area.

The Tender Warrior is a great book to understand on how to accomplish this masculinity, a masculinity of being tender (not soft effeminate) and being a warrior (not a fighter, but a protector). It's not a reference, biblical, or theological book on being a man, but it does use stories of biblical men as well as personal war stories and stories of men in sports, political, and business. Stu Weber is a story-teller and he will challenge you in truly being masculine in a world that is so easily confused on the subject and in a world that doesn't think there's much place or purpose for making differences between being masculine or being feminine.

I'm reminded of a preacher who once said "I serve the King of Kings, a man's man, a warrior riding on a horse when He returns. My Jesus ain't no fairy."