Lawrence W. Wilson

Five Things I Can't Do (And You Can't Either!)

2011-09-11T19:58:00.000-04:00

Most of the things that sap my time and energy as a pastor—or in any aspect of life—are things I can't do by try anyway.

I don't mean dreams that are too big or goals that are too challenging. Those represent things I might accomplish if I work diligently and God blesses the effort.

I'm referring to things that nobody can do—they simply cannot be done.

How often have you wasted time, burned energy, or lost sleep on one of these fruitless activities?

Trying to make people like you.
Attempting to make decisions for other people.
Controlling the behavior of another person.
Pleasing everyone.
Avoiding all mistakes.
Trying to do everything.

If you're like me, plenty.

If the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing while expecting different results, it would be crazy to continue acting as if any of us could accomplish these things. The best thing you can do to boost your self-esteem, productivity, and ability to sleep is to simply stop doing them.

Instead, focus on the things that are within your control. Here's a short list of things you and I can do if we try.

Communicate clearly.
Be cheerful and friendly.
Work diligently.
Set priorities and allocate time based on your highest values.
Make reasonable attempts to resolve conflicts.
Build relationships that allow you to speak into the lives of others.
Accept the things you cannot change.
Love yourself and others—in spite of your many flaws.

What would you add to this list?

What I Learned on September 11

2011-09-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

I remember exactly where I was at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.

I suspect most of you do too. September 11 was one of those days when time stood still, like the day JFK was shot or when the Challenger exploded. The perfect world in which we lived was suddenly, dramatically altered. It wasn’t safe anymore.

For many of us, life will now be divided into two eras—before 9/11, and after.

As the date rolls around this year—now 10 years past—I’ve been remembering those feelings, and some that followed. Like my anger at the people who did this cruel and stupid thing. And my fear that it could happen again. And my trepidation about entering a war on the other side of the world. And my greater anxiety about sending my son to fight it.

This week I've been reflecting on some of those feelings. What I've discovered is that in a world where nothing seems as secure as it once did, there is a reality that never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same,yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

Here are some scriptures I’ve taken comfort in this week.

Isaiah 6:1–7

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Mark 13:1–2, 32

As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down" . . . “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert!

Psalm 90:1–2

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

What are you thinking about on the anniversary of 9/11?

Setting Boundaries on Ministry Time

2011-09-05T21:59:00.000-04:00

Most pastors I know work too much. There are a few slackers, of course, but people drawn to pastoral ministry are usually both high achievers and high-empathy people, which means they have difficulty setting personal boundaries. Ministry is nearly boundary-less to begin with, and a pastor's job description is incredibly broad.

According to Pulpit and Pew Research, the median hours worked per week for full-time Protestant clergy is 50 (58 for Catholic). That means of course that many work far more.

And the pastorate is a high-stress profession. According to the New York Times, "Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could." The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.

25 percent of pastors' wives see their husband's work schedule as a source of conflict.
33 percent felt burned out within their first five years of ministry.
33 percent say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.

I had my own brush with burnout about ten years into my ministry. Church life was challenging, and it seemed that all I did was work. I felt disconnected from friends, most of whom lived in other areas of the country, and I spent little time with my growing children. At one point I surveyed my ministry time several weeks and found that it average 62 hours. During one particularly busy season, I worked 17 days in a row.

After seeing those numbers in black-and-white, I decided enough was enough and made some changes to my personal schedule. Over the years, these have developed into personal rules that help me set boundaries and ensure enough rest and family time.

Work 50 Hours Per Week
More than 50, and I know I’m running on fumes. Too munch less than that, and I feel that I’m not giving enough effort. Summertime is different because there are fewer administrative and program demands so I work about 40 hours per week from mid-June to early August.

Take One Day off Each Week
Monday is my current day off, and it is sacrosanct. I never go in to the office, check e-mail, or take phone calls. Heather knows that I won’t discuss ministry matters—even for her ministries—on Monday. In addition to Mondays, I take one extra day each month for a total of five. (Saturdays are never a full day off for me.)

Take Holidays
When a holiday falls on Monday, I take an additional day off within two weeks. For years I did not do this, and I regret it.

Set a Quitting Time Each Day
The one thing I miss about corporate life is the clear quitting time (that and the two-day weekend). Pastoral ministry has no clear stopping point day. When most people are heading home from work, my evening of pastoral appointments, committee meetings, or ministry events is just beginning.

However, I seldom check e-mail after 6:00 p.m., and never after arriving home in the evening. This helps me clear my mind and rest at the end of each day.

Take All Available Vacation Time
Again, I didn’t do enough of this for many years and now wonder why. I’ve found that it is best for me to take whole weeks off rather than a day or two at a time. I also find it best to take at least part of the week away from home. It is challenging to find affordable places to go, so I’ve begun compiling a list of free or low-cost vacation options for pastors.

Avoid Consecutive 12-Hour Days
My best energy is in the morning, so I generally begin work early. But much ministry happens in the evening, so it is not uncommon for me to arrive home from work after 9:00 p.m. To keep the balance, I sometimes take an hour our two at midday to make time for cycling, yard work, or personal business, and I occasionally take an afternoon off.

Plan a Year in Advance
Days off, date nights, and family outings are nearly impossible to schedule a week's notice—or even a month's. It is best to plan personal dates far in advance, then work committee meetings and appointments around them. If you’re not familiar with the concept of life planning, I suggest this free resource.

For me, setting boundaries on ministry time has involved knowing my physical and emotional limits, establishing a work pattern that fits, and, above all, honoring God's command to rest.

What boundaries have you set to divide your ministry and personal time?

Learning from Jesus' Questions

2011-09-01T22:22:00.000-04:00

Jesus asked questions frequently, and they were always provocative, loaded with spiritual intensity. in their book, Connecting Like Jesus, Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling suggest that pondering the questions of Jesus can be a powerful tool for spiritual awakening.

I'll admit that I was skeptical when I first heard of this technique. I'm a type-A personality, and I usually bring that achievement orientation to my spiritual practices. That's one of the reasons I thrive on Bible reading—you can check off the chapters every day!

But the very next day, I was listening to the story of Bartimaeus and stumbled across this exchange:

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

What sounded like an obvious question suddenly seemed much more profound. It became an occasion to ponder my own motives for seeking Jesus and asking if I truly do want to perceive reality clearly—especially the real truth about myself. For most of the day that question slipped in and out of my consciousness. "What do I really want from Jesus?"

Here are some of the questions Jesus asked during his ministry. Why not choose one and try this discipline. Simply ponder the question for awhile, force other thoughts out of your mind, and see if the Holy Spirit will reveal something to you.

Why are you terrified? (Matt 8:26)
Do you believe I can do this? (Matt 9:28)
Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? (Matt 12:48)
Why did you doubt? (Matt 14:31)
But who do you say that I am? (Matt 16:15)
Why do you ask me about what is good? (Matt 19:16)
Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? (Matt 20:22)
What do you want me to do for you? (Matt 20:32)
Why are you thinking such things in your heart? (Mark 2:8)
Why does this generation seek a sign? (Mark 8:12)
Why were you looking for me? (Luke 2:49)
Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25)

Which of Jesus' questions speaks to you?

The Least Thing You Can Do to Change the World

2011-08-30T22:26:00.000-04:00

Public service is making a big comeback in our culture. In 2010 more than 62 million Americans volunteered their time through an organization. Many Christians, especially those in the emerging generation, are intensely interested in social causes like human trafficking, creation care, and the global AIDS pandemic.

That's a good thing. Yet I notice a disconnect in our attitude on serving at more mundane levels. I'll use myself as an example.

Last year our congregation undertook to provide baskets of food for low-income families around Thanksgiving. The response was tremendous, and we exceeded our goal by about 30 percent. It was a great success, and I was tremendously proud of our team.

The day was marred for me, however, by noticing that a used coffee cup was still sitting on the window ledge in the church foyer. It had been there for at least two weeks, and I was thoroughly frustrated. Sheesh, I thought. A couple of hundred people must have seen this and just walked on by. Why doesn't anybody pitch in around here?

Then it dawned on me that I had been walking past that same coffee cup, muttering, for over two weeks!

Everybody wants to save the world; nobody wants to take out the trash.

When Jesus taught his disciples to serve one another, he used as his example the lowly task of foot washing—something akin to cleaning the bathroom today.

"Now it's your turn," he told them. "You're no better than I am, so you have no excuse for not pitching in with the grunt work."

We are easily inspired by grand causes that promise to feed the hungry, cure diseases, and bring justice to the world, as well we should be. Yet the most revolutionary, loving, and ultimately transforming thing we can do may be to unload the dishwasher or empty the recycle bin.

Try it. And the next time someone asks what you're doing to spread the love of Jesus, tell them, "I'm babysitting for my neighbor so she can have a date with her husband."

Who knows? It just might change the world.

What small act of service could you do this week?

Don't Blame the Sound Guy: Four Ways to Handle Technical Problems

2011-08-29T08:38:00.003-04:00

Martin Short is quite possibly the funniest person on earth. I recently attended his one-man show, and he kept the audience in stitches for 90 minutes.

But not everything went according to plan. A video that was supposed to cover one of his costume changes failed to play, and his piano player's monitor went out during a comedic duet causing an abrupt end to the routine.

As a pastor, I was glad to see that even headline talents have their share of technical glitches! I've had more than one Sunday marred by feedback in the speakers or slides didn't change on cue.

Beyond that, I learned something from this veteran performer about how to respond when technical glitches happen during a live presentation, as they inevitably do. In both cases, he incorporated the events into his act, distracting attention from the annoying interruption and redirecting it back to comedy.

I have seen (and sometimes made) these unhelpful responses to technical snafus. Whatever you do, don't—

Comment on every little glitch. If you don't call attention to a minor problem, few people will notice. Most of the time you can ignore it and keep moving.
Ignore conditions that make your audience uncomfortable. When the A/C goes out and they're fanning themselves with business cards, you need to let the audience know you're aware of the problem. Let the audience know you're aware of conditions that affect your performance and their enjoyment.
Stop speaking and glare at the sound guy. Blame doesn't help people perform under pressure. Cast your comments in first person, and people will be forgiving. ("I'm sorry that happened. We're working on it.") Take responsibility for the overall quality of your presentation.
Pause too long for a solution. Standing around waiting for the engineers only makes you look less competent. Forget the video, grab another mic, and keep moving.

When your tech program misfires, acknowledge it if necessary, smile!, and quickly move on. It is amazing what a little humor an humility will do to disarm a situation.

What is the worst tech problem you've faced, and how did you handle it?

How to Reach People Who Don't Need Anything

2011-08-25T22:03:00.000-04:00

A basic principle of missional ministry is that it must meet a need. Missionaries of often provide food or medical care along with the gospel. Here at home, churches may provide clothing or school supplies to meet the practical needs of the people in their community.

But how do you reach people who don't need anything?

The church I serve is located in a fast-growing suburb where the median age is 31, the median annual income is over $75,000, and 85 percent of the population has a college education. People here don't need clean water, clothing, food, or medical care—they have all that.

Yet people are people no matter where they live, and there are deep human needs in every community. Here are some latent needs that I've discovered in my community. You can be sure they exist in your context as well.

Financial Counsel
Last year we offered Financial Peace University, and we learned that our class of about 70 people had just under $2 million in consumer debt. Families are being crushed by their inability to manage personal finances. That's a point at which the church can help.

Marriage Enrichment
Nobody wears a sign that reads "Headed for Splitsville," but many marriages are struggling. Couples nearly always want to resolve their issues, but they don't know how. Can you help them?

Addiction Recovery
There are no drug dealers on street corners in my town, but many people are (or have family members who are) addicted to alcohol, drugs, or pornography. Most will not ask for help but are grateful to find it. Begin a Celebrate Recovery group, and you may be surprised who shows up.

Purpose
The irony of life in a prosperous culture is that it lacks purpose. People who seem to have everything often feel that their lives are meaningless. Enlist them in drilling wells in Africa, providing food in the inner city, or rebuilding homes after a hurricane, and you will connect with a need they are not fully aware of.

What human needs is your church trying to meet?

The Most Effective Thing a Church Can Do

2011-08-24T22:24:00.001-04:00

Most church leaders would say that prayer is an important to their ministry, but its fair to say that prayer is not the heartbeat of every congregation. It is tempting to begin relying on hard work, technology, or strategy rather than dependence upon God.

I'm convinced that most leaders don't do this intentionally. It's just that the pressure to produce results and the ever-present urge to do something can distract us from the true source of power in ministry.

I recall one church board meeting where we faced a challenging problem. Our team discussed the matter at length, and I recommended what I saw as a practical—though less than desirable—solution. I was ready to call for a vote when one member spoke up. "Wait a minute," he said. "I think we should pray about this. Right now. We shouldn't take any action until we wait and see what God might do."

We did go to prayer, and within a week God provided a solution that none of us had thought possible. I was humbled and reminded that prayer is the most practical thing we can do.

Here are some things you can do to elevate the place of prayer in your church.

Pray. ensure that your personal prayer life is vibrant. You can't lead others into an experience that you don't have.

Model Prayer. Make prayer a real, not ceremonial, part of your ministry. Let people see you praying at meetings, counseling sessions, and staff one-on-ones.

Teach Others How to Pray. Jesus did as much for his disciples. Teaching simple prayer techniques, preaching on prayer, or offering a small group on the practice of prayer will help others gain confidence in praying.

Pray Together. Bring back the weekly prayer meeting. Enlist a team to pray with you prior to church. Always, always, always include corporate prayer in your worship.

Celebrate Answers to Prayer. People need to hear (and share) testimonies of God's provision, healing, and help. Encourage people to report God's work in their lives, then highlight it during worship or publish it in your e-newsletter (with permission).

How does your church encourage the practice of prayer?

Learning from Others: The Wisdom of Wesley

2011-08-23T21:41:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons I love writing is that it allows me to be friends with people who live on a different continent—even in a different century.

One of the people who has influenced my life is John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement. Here is a collection of gems from his prolific writings.

I've highlighted the portions that

The World Is My Parish
"I look on the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.”

Journal (June 11, 1739)

We Think and Let Think

“But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.

“The Character of a Methodist” (1739)

We Grow by Degrees

“Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees.”

Letter (June 17, 1760)

More from Myself, Less from Others

“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself, and less from others. Go thou and do likewise!”

Letter to Reverend Samuel Furley (January 25, 1762)

An Ounce of Love

“Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.”

Letter to Joseph Benson (November 7, 1768)

Religion and Reason

“Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason. It is our part, by religion and reason joined, to counteract them all we can.”

Letter to John Benson (October 5, 1770)

Hardly Sure of Anything

“When I was young I was sure of everything. In a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before. At present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to man.

Reply to a letter signed “Philosophaster,” London Magazine (1775)

Never in a Hurry

“Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.”

Letter (December 10, 1777)

Earn All You Can

“Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can.”

Sermon 50, “The Use of Money”

God Is with Us

“The best of it all is, God is with us.”

Wesley’s last words

What historic writer has influenced you?

Retreat and Vacation Accommodations for Pastors

2011-08-22T21:31:00.007-04:00

Pastors and others in full-time Christian ministry have challenging responsibilities that can be spiritually and emotionally draining. Time away from ministry—and away from home—is an important tool for recharging the batteries and regaining perspective.

That time can be hard to come by, however. Most pastors earn a modest salary, and many are bivocational.

As a preacher's kid myself, I recall most of our family "vacations" were really trips to visit relatives. In time, my parents were able to save up for a camping trailer so we could get away for a day or two into the woods of Northern Michigan. I believe those family retreats enabled my father to weather the demands of pastoral life.

I learned from Dad's example, and I make it a point to plan weekend (or, in our case, weekday) getaways with Heather at least three or four times per year. Time away really clears the head, centers the spirit, and helps us reconnect with each other and God's vision for our life and ministry.

Here is a list of Christian ministries that offer guest, retreat, or vacation accommodations for those in ministry. Some are simply guest houses, others are full-blown conference centers, and a few offer counseling and or other therapeutic services. A few of them are free for clergy.

I've done my best to present accurate information, but I make not guarantee that it is either correct or current. Contact the ministries themselves to confirm details. Be sure to identify yourself as a pastor or full-time Christian servant.

Hopefully, you enjoy a few days away to rest and rekindle your passion for ministry.

$ Free or offered for a donation
$$ Inexpensive to moderately priced
$$$ Moderately priced to more costly
♥ Counseling, mentoring, or coaching available

ALABAMA

Camp Victory

363 Victory Circle, Samson, AL 36477

334-898-7948

Contact Bill Richoux

CALIFORNIA

Antioch Ranch

39451 Comptche Ukiah Rd,

Mendocino, CA 95460

877-460-7095

Contact Jerry and Pat Westfall

Forest Home

40,000 Valley of the Falls Dr.,

Forest Falls, CA 92339

909-389-3485,

Contact Michael Stanley, Guest Conferences Sales Manager

Genesee Home

7202 Genesee Road,

Taylorsville, CA 95983

530-284-1082

Contact Charley or Bev Blom, Host Couple

Leadership Renewal Center

2650 Amalfi, Chowchilla, CA 93610

360-929-2207

E-mail

$$$

Pinecrest Christian Conference Center

1140 Pinecrest Rd., P.O. Box 409, Twin Peaks, CA 92391

909-338-4243

Contact Doug Schlemmer, Director

Rancho Capistrano

29251 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

949-347-4000

Rancho de la Paz

PO Box 1388, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

951-245-4082

Contact Pete or Bev Caruso, Directors

$$ ♥

The Cottage on Coronado Island

261 ‘H’ Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118

877-472-9333

Contact Dr. Walter Becker

$$$ ♥

The Oaks

P.O. Box 437, 18651 Pine Canyon Rd., Lake Hughes, CA 93532

661-724-1018

Contact Paul Crockett, director of guest relations

CANADA

Fairhaven Ministries—Canada

PO Box 155, Vernon, BC V1T 6M2, Canada

250-260-1616

Contact Rev. Len Frank, director

Oasis Retreat

P.O. Box 300 Station A, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X3 Canada (near Sumas, WA)

604-850-8795, E-mail

♥

COLORADO

Blessing Ranch

900 Red Mountain Rd, Livermore, CO 80536

970-495-0920

Contact Dr. John Walker, Executive Director

$$$ ♥

CrossRoads Counseling of the Rockies

PO Box 476, Buena Vista, CO 81211

719-395-4673, E-mail

$$$ ♥

Eagles Nest Retreat

P.O. Box 1165; Ouray, CO 81427

800-533-4049

Contact Dr. and Mrs. (Kay) John Gowins, Directors

Majestic Mountain Ministries

Location: Twin Lakes, CO

Home Office: PO Box 91224, Austin, TX 78709

(office) 512-288-7580 (camp) 719-486-2208, E-mail

Marble Retreat

181 Bannockburn, Marble, CO 81623

888-216-2725

$$$ ♥

Quiet Waters Ministries

9185 East Kenyon Avenue, Suite 150, Denver, CO 80237

866-5-waters (866-592-8377)

Contact James L. Schlottman, Executive Director

$$$ ♥

Renewal Ministries

P.O. Box 740100, Arvada, CO 80006

Contact J. Blair and Wendy L. Dalton, Founders/Directors

1-888-277-7256 or 303-467-0777

$$$ ♥

Rocky Mountain Renewal

3115 Castle Woods Ln, Dubuque, IA 52001

Two locations:

Rancho Mira Sol, 4425 CR 228, Durango, CO 81301

Rio Grande/Living Water, Creede, CO 81130

Contact Gail Formby, Assistant Ministry Coordinator, Dubuque, IA

Serenity’s Promise

1207 Carnahan Court, Monument, CO 80132

719-487-1221

Contact Sherryll R. Parker, Owner and Hostess

Shining Mountain Ranch

PO Box 926, Westcliffe, CO 81252

719-783-2627

Contact Glenn and Doreen Seibel, Owners

SonScape Ministries

PO Box 7777, Woodland Park, CO 80866

719-687-7007 or 888-766-7227

Contact Connie Paul, Ministry Coordinator

$$$ ♥

Stone Gate Resources

11509 Palmer Divide Road, Larkspur, CO 80118

888-575-3030 or 303-688-5680,

Also see restoringsexualpurity.org

Contact Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg, Executive Director

♥

FLORIDA

Beside Still Waters

Manatee Religious Services, 3111 29th Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34208

877-608-0999

Contact Mary Moore

D and D Missionary Homes, Inc.

4020 58th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714

727-522-0522, E-mail

Dove Shores

14520 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507

850-492-3682 (DOVE)

Contact Rev. Mike or Dr. Sharon Hill

$$ ♥

GEORGIA

Restoration Road

7969 Restoration Rd., Blairsville, GA 30512

706-745-7411

Contact Joann Earl, host and founder

Shepherd’s Refuge – Selah Ministries

PO Box 1907, Cleveland, GA 30528

404-474-0686 or 770-316-9665

Contact Ruedi and Sandy Mettler, Host Couple

The Father’s Heart Ministry

58 Misty Ln, Cleveland, GA 30528 (90 min north of Atlanta airport)

678-596-3916

Contact Jerry and Denise Basel, Counselors and Co-Directors

$$ ♥

IDAHO

Diamond T Ranch

5361 River Road, Clark Fork, ID 83811

208-266-0490

Contact Tom and Brenda Wagoner

ILLINOIS

Cedar Creek Retreat Center

3549 E. 25th Rd., Marseilles, IL 61341

1-877-833-2272 (reservations); 815-496-9481 (information)

Contact Harold or Janice Meaux

Deer Ridge Ministries

401 Meadows Street, Polo, IL 61064

Retreat Location: Freeport, IL

815-543-6250

Contact David or Louise Decker, Directors

Lake Williamson

PO Box 620, 17280 Lakeside Dr., Carlinville, IL 62626

217-854-4824

Contact Activities Center staff

INDIANA

King’s Ranch

8173 Davison Road, Oldenburg, IN 47036

812-527-2138, E-mail

KANSAS

Buffalo Ridge Hospitality and Retreat Center

Mailing: PO Box 400, Ottawa, KS 66095

Location: 1203 Finney Rd, Williamsburg, KS 66095

785-746-5418, E-mail

MASSACHUSETTS

The Escape House

c/o Rev. Rob and Debbie Killeffer, 192 West St., Braintree, MA 02184

781-356-8286

MICHIGAN

Alongside, Inc.

P.O. Box 587, Richland, MI 49083

269-671-4809

Contact Steve Maybee, care coordinator

$$$ ♥

Fa-Ho-Lo Camp and Conference Center

Assemblies of God Michigan District

3000 Mount Hope Road, Grass Lake, MI 49240

517-522-6800

MISSOURI

Anchor Retreat and Conference Center

170 Deckard Lane, Kimberling City, MO 65686

(o) 417-739-9017, (h) 417-739-1642, E-mail

Contact Harvey and Linda Goodman; Chris and Sonya Goodman

Brook at Bethpage

1461 Elkhorn Rd, Stella, MO 64867

417-628-3041 or 417-483-5458

Contact Gaines or Sandy Dittrich

Little House in the Hollow

119 White Ash Rd., Highlandville, MO 65669

417-725-2494

Contact Paul and Naomi Rees, Owners

MONTANA

Elijah’s Brook

PO Box 447, Glasgow, MT 59230

406-228-2694

Contact Alan Pine, Director (PO Box 20, St. Marie, MT 59231; 406-524-3700)

Mountaintop Retreat

13705 Cottonwood Canyon, Dr., Bozeman, MT 59718

406-763-4566

Contact Ted and Laura Roth

NEBRASKA

The Marie House

202 Broadway, Naponee, NE 68960

308-269-2015

Contact Pastor Duane Lauber

$

NEW MEXICO

Glorieta Conference Center

11 State Rd. 50, Glorieta, NM 87535 (near Santa Fe)
800-797-4222
$$

NORTH CAROLINA

Renewal Ministries

2010 Midland Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387

910-692-4060

Contact Rev. David Hicks

Innkeeper Ministries, Inc.

6701 Lewisburg Ozias Rd, Lewisburg, OH 45338

937-962-8312 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri)

Contact Bob and Jan Hartenstein

Mohican Valley Camp and Canoe

3069 State Route 3, Loudonville, OH 44842

419-994-5204 or 800-682-2663

Contact Rev. Sheila Bechtel, Overseer

Ridgecrest Conference Center
PO Box 128, Ridgecrest, NC 28770 (near Asheville)
800-588-7222
$$

Riverside Retreat for Pastors

3069 State Route 3, Loudonville, OH 44842

419-994-5204 or 800-682-2663

Contact Rev. Sheila Bechtel, Overseer

PENNSYLVANIA

Life Ministries

P.O. Box 311, Franklin, PA 16323

814-437-6251

Contact Rich Tygert, Administrator

SOUTH CAROLINA

Restoration House

PO Box 283, Landrum, SC 29356

864-977-8020

Contact Pastor Daniel L. Garvin

$$$ ♥

TENNESSEE

Cozy Bear Cabins

Pigeon Forge, TN, 800-835-6780

Contact Michael and Pamela Thompson

Fairhaven Ministries—Tennessee

2198 Roaring Creek Road, Roan Mountain, TN 37687

423-772-4269

Contact Calvin Swanson, Director

TEXAS

Hidden Manna Christian Retreat Center

35A Hidden Manna, New Waverly, TX 77358

936-295-9413

Contact Louise Looney

Sky Ranch

24657 CR448, Van, TX 75790

800-962-2267 x221 or 903-569-3482 x221, E-mail

VIRGINIA

Bethany House Ministries (Meadows of Dan, Virginia)

Contact address: P.O. Box 14853, Greensboro, NC 27415

336-272-4766

Contact Jim and Karon Storment

WASHINGTON

Camp Berachah Ministries

19830 SE 328th Place, Auburn, WA 98092

253-939-0488 or 1-800-859-2267

Contact Guest Host (Randy or Diana)

Hosanna Way Station Christian Retreat Center

8 Hosanna Way, Republic, WA 99166

509-775-2967

Contact Carl and Tammy Stevens

Soundview Ministries

8609 182nd Place SW, Edmonds, WA 98026

425-774-4118

Contact Rev. Ted or Jane Hutchinson

WEST VIRGINIA

Faith Mountain Ministries, Inc.

HC 73, Box 18C, Rosedale, WV 26636

304-364-4019

Contact Herb or Kathy Miller, Directors

WISCONSIN

Ministries Resource Center, Inc.

14190 Barker Hollow Rd., Woodman, WI 53827

608-988-4326 or 608-988-4649

Contact Rev. Gerald and Alita Robertson, executive program director

MULTIPLE LOCATION

Christian Hospitality Network

A network of over 900 national and international participating lodging

properties

Office: PO Box 12303, Knoxville, TN 37912 (office)

865-376-7546

Contact Paul Cowell, founder

Makahiki Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 415, Mariposa, CA 95338

209-966-2988, E-mail

Pastors Retreat Network

PO Box 180455, Delafield, WI 53018-0455

866-703-9544

PastorCare: The National Clergy Support Network

P.O. Box 52044, Raleigh, NC 27612

919-787-7024

Do you know of a place that offers retreat or vacation accommodations for pastors?

What Lyle Lovett Taught Me about Preaching

2011-08-21T20:46:00.000-04:00

As a preacher, I have long taken inspiration from popular singers. It isn't their message or popularity that interests me but their creativity, passion, and use of voice. Those of us who communicate for a living can learn from one another, regardless of the medium we use.

I recently attended my first Lyle Lovett concert, and I picked up some lessons from the veteran singer that I hope will help me become a better preacher.

Be Yourself

Lovett is known as a country singer, but his work defies categorization. Country? Blues? Jazz? They all fit for a song or two. But his success comes in part from defining himself rather being defined by any one genre.

As a preacher, I want to learn from other preachers but never imitate them.

Be Confident

I was a bit surprised when Lovett opened his concert with a heart-stirring rendition of the country classic "Stand by Your Man." I don't care how many records you've sold, it takes confidence for any man to introduce himself with the words, "Sometimes it's hard to be a woman." But he pulled it off with real emotion. I even started singing along!

Understand the gift God has given you, and proclaim it like it is true and it matters. It is, and it does.

Surround Yourself with Talent

Lovett played with his "Large Band," 14 singers and musicians besides himself. He featured each of them at some point in the show and never failed to direct credit after each song. Their presence didn't diminish his status as the star. If anything, they highlighted his unique voice and style.

Many preachers are reluctant to share face time. They take nearly all of the speaking roles in a service and rarely invite a guest to preach. That's a mistake. Surrounding yourself with talented partners will only enhance the value of your voice and message.

Respect Your Audience

The band warmed up the crowed with a country rendition of "Back Home Again in Indiana," our unofficial state song, and when a fan shouted, "Thank you for coming," he replied, "No, thank you for having us." His rapport was disarming and helped the audience warm up to his music.

In my preaching, I want always to be respectful and patient with my listeners, especially when the subject is challenging. When people know how much you care, they care how much you know.

Relax and Have Fun

Preaching is serious business, and I treat it that way. Yet it's good to remember that storytelling, self-effacing humor, and even a bit of silliness can provide a bit of relief and heighten the impact of the more serious moments.

I was impressed with Lovett's relaxed manner and the way he laced his performance with jokes, some told on himself. I want to do the same in my preaching.

Who inspires you to be a better speaker?

Have You Ever Had a Vision?

2011-08-18T21:08:00.004-04:00

As a seminary student, I attended a proper, historic, white-clapboard New England church where the custom was to receive communion on the first Sunday each month.

On a fine December morning, I sat in the white-box pew as ushers served the elements from glistening brass trays. A violinist accompanied the Eucharist with a solo rendition of “Silent Night.” Snow was gently falling, the Advent wreath burned brightly, it was a perfect Sunday.

As I raised the cup to my lips, I was transported to a different place. I could see Jesus on the cross. I heard the people murmuring, laughing, weeping. The sound of the hammer echoed in my ears. I could taste the bitter smell of wine and vinegar.

The clatter of plastic cups against wooden pews broke the spell. The preacher said, “Amen,” and we all went home, I with the taste of vinegar in my mouth.

It was the first time I had what I now know as a vision.

Have you ever had a vision?

Five Ways to Unlock Imagination

2011-08-17T23:13:00.001-04:00

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.

Albert Einstein

Imagination and inspiration have a lot in common—they may be one and the same thing. Many creative people would describe their greatest moments of insight in quasi-religious terms like breakthrough or awakening. Is it possible that when our imaginations are the most free, we are also the most free to hear from God?

I know that in my own creative efforts—writing and speaking—the things that most fuel my imagination are the some of the same things that bring me into the presence of God.

Rest – When I am free from stress and feeling relaxed, I am more free to see what could be.
Playfulness – When I stop worrying about how I appear to others and let go of fears and inhibitions, I experience new things and see the world from a different perspective.
Silence – When I get away from the noise, especially human-generated sound, I am more free to hear what is there.
Reflection – When I take time to think, examine, and consider possibilities, I see things I hadn't seen before.
Collaboration – When I am more open to the thoughts and ideas of others (living or dead), I am more able to create new thoughts myself.

These are some of the things that fuel imagination/inspiration in me.

What practices or habits help you to be creative?

Hallmarks of a Missional Strategy

2011-08-17T08:16:00.002-04:00

The church in North America has tried a variety of approaches to faith sharing over the past several decades. Whenever one church has had success with a method for making disciples, it has been copied by many others. Here are a few that I remember.

Evangelistic Rallies or "Crusades." The idea was to gather many nonbelievers, sometimes at a large event, preach the gospel, then call for a decision. Billy Graham and others were very successful at this.

Sunday School Bussing. This became popular in the 1960s when Sunday school was at its peak. Many churches used this very effectively for reaching neighborhood children.

Door-to-Door Calling. During the 1970s many churches were mobilized to go throughout their communities knocking on doors and asking, "If you were to die tonight, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?" Surprisingly (at least to me) this worked very well in some communities.

Every method has its day. The secret is to find out what will be effective here and now.

As a young pastor, I tried to cut-and-copy multiplication strategies I'd seed elsewhere. None of them worked. At my first church, I organized a group to go door-to-door distributing literature. Church members were skeptical and only a few agreed to join me. In the the highly reserved culture of Northern New York State, we were viewed with skepticism. Few would open the door to speak to us, and nobody came to Christ.

At my next congregation, I inherited a church bus from my predecessor, and we used it to bring children to our midweek program. It worked for awhile, but the program declined rapidly fewer kids were willing to ride, the bus became expensive to maintain, and our one aging driving had difficulty driving at night.

Every leader must discover what will be effective in his or her own culture and community. Though methods don't always transfer, principles often do. Here are some things good missional strategies have in common. They are—

External

The days of doing evangelism by attraction are over. Simply having a great location, sparkling facility, and lively worship experience will attract nonbelievers to the faith. Those things attract only Christians; and while that's important, it is not the mission. To reach nonbelievers, we must go where they are. A solid outreach strategy will scatter the church into the world.

Contextual

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for evangelism. Communities vary much too widely for that. To be effective at evangelism, church leaders must study the context, understand whom they seek to reach, what their life patterns are, how they think. A good outreach strategy will be targeted to reach its community.

Holistic

Jesus didn't just preach. He also healed, taught, fed the hungry, and cast out demons. He ministered to the whole person. Financial pressures, marital stress, and addiction to alcohol and drugs are three pressing needs in my community. What about yours? A viable outreach strategy will bring hope and healing to hurting people.

Measurable

There is a goal to our mission: it is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is not merely to aggregate more and more believers into one church but to multiply. To be successful, we must make converts. In our day—and perhaps in any—the best measure of that is baptism. A successful strategy will result in the baptism of new believers.

What have you found effective in reaching your community?

The Difference Between Multiplication and Aggregation

2011-08-15T19:53:00.007-04:00

To multiply something is to increase its number greatly by making copies of the original. When you push the copy button, you multiply a document. When you send an e-mail to several addresses, you multiply your message. When you leave two rabbits alone, you get more rabbits. That's multiplication.

Aggregation is different. To aggregate is to gather existing items into a group. When you use a feed aggregator like Google Reader, you don't create more blogs. You simply gather existing pages into a single location.

The North American church has become expert at aggregation, but seems less interested in multiplication.

I've seen this tendency in my own ministry. Located in the fast-growing community of Fishers, Ind., our church receives visitors nearly every Sunday. During my first year or so as pastor, I found this exciting. We eagerly followed up on every new contact and were successful in incorporating many of newcomers into our congregation.

After awhile, however, I noticed that nearly all of them were already Christians. Most were either new to the area or were interested in changing churches. Most of our effort was aimed at retaining these Christians into our fellowship—aggregation. We were much less successful in reaching into our community to make new converts. That realization led to a deliberate change in our ministry strategy.

I'll comment on the elements of a good multiplication strategy in the next post. Here are several indicators that a church's growth strategy is based on multiplication rather than aggregation.

The leaders of the church (not just the pastor) speak frequently about the need to make converts.
A significant portion of the church's ministry budget is devoted to missional activity.
Ministry leaders have invested time in learning about the nature of the community and the religious attitudes of people who live there.
A strategy exists for reaching into the community, versus waiting for newcomers to find the church.
Ministry events are frequently held off-campus in the places where nonbelievers gather.
The church is considering or has participated in launching a new congregation within the past three years.
New converts were baptized as a result of the church's ministry within the past year.

How can you tell if a church is focused on multiplication?

Why Self-Improvement Is Not Enough

2011-08-12T20:15:00.002-04:00

Self-improvement is a good thing, but it is not the aim of the Christian faith. Christianity is about the transformation of people, relationships, and communities. There is a big difference.

Many years ago I bought my first personal computer, a Commodore 64. It was bulky and slow and had only enough memory to hold about one sermon or book chapter—but it was a huge improvement over my manual typewriter.

Last week, I got an iPhone. The smart phone (and other online devices) is not merely an improvement in technology. It is a revolution in the way human beings relate to each other. Wireless technology hasn't improved communication; it has transformed it.

Our goal in following Christ is not merely to improve ourselves—to be a little less irritable, a little more generous, not quite so overweight. Our goal is to be transformed by the renewing of the way we think. Then we will behave differently toward other people, and our relationships will be transformed so that we treat even our enemies with dignity and compassion. The result will be nothing less than a revolution in our society (see Rom. 12).

So while I'm eager to improve my height/weight ratio, and I'm interested in learning another language, my real goal is to become, as the Apostle Paul put it, "a new creation."

Here is what I hope will happen in my life as I am transformed by the renewing of my mind.

I will begin to think more and more as God does, seeing the world from his perspective.
I will stop thinking constantly about what's best for me and begin to put others first.
Relationships with my family members, friends, and associates will improve dramatically as they sense that I constantly have their best at heart.
I will gain a great sense of satisfaction from doing the things I do well in the service of others.
Over time, the people around me will come to adopt this new way of thinking.
As more of us begin to think and act unselfishly, many problems in our community will disappear, and we will take coordinated action to solve others.
This revolution will spread throughout our city, region, and, finally, the world.

What would transformation look like in your life?

William Sloane Coffin on Hope

2011-08-11T04:23:00.004-04:00

Hope is a state of mind, independent of the state of the world. So you, if your heart's full of hope, you can be persistent when you can't be optimistic. You can keep the faith despite the evidence, knowing that only in so doing, has the evidence any chance of changing. So while I'm not optimistic, I'm always very hopeful.

William Sloane on NPR, 1994. Repeated for his obituary, April 13, 2006.

Why We Need Prophetic Preaching

2011-08-09T21:09:00.000-04:00

Is there room for a prophetic voice in the church today? Is it possible for a preacher to gain a hearing while pointing out the ways that people are failing to live up to God's vision for the world and challenging them to do better?

I'm not so sure.

For one thing, prophets have always been outsiders. In Bible times, many of them were beaten or even killed when they challenged the status quo. John Wesley, who spoke and wrote nearly as much about social sins like slavery as he did about personal holiness, did nearly all of his preaching outside the established church. Preaching that "afflicts the comfortable" is seldom well received.

Also, the drift of the modern gospel is toward personal fulfillment, not social responsibility. There is a great hunger among people to find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, and rightly so. Yet we seem to have less interest in justice, repentance, and reconciliation, classic themes of the prophetic preacher.

What would happen to a preacher who, rather than preaching about how to be the best version of yourself or tips for improving your prayer life, began to preach about health care reform or human trafficking or immigration policy?

John the Baptist was beheaded for speaking out on controversial issues. Today's preacher is more likely to be fired—or simply ignored.

Whether in vogue or not, there are good reasons for Christian leaders to speak about the important social issues of the day.

God has compassion for helpless people, and the preacher may be their only voice.
The Bible speaks with equal fervor about corporate sins as about personal ones.
God's grace can redeem the systems and structures of human society, not just individuals in it.
Ignorance of injustice is not an excuse for inaction (see Matt. 25:44-46).
Prophetic preaching has made a difference in great causes of the past, such as the abolition of slavery and extending equal rights to women.
It's more fun to live a little; playing it safe is boring.

In her book Prophetic Preaching, Leonora Tubbs Tisdale points out that some preachers shy away from controversial topics because they are afraid of dividing the congregation or being disliked. We might well fear what will happen if we speak the truth. We might better fear what will happen if we don't.

When was the last time you heard a prophetic sermon?

Why People Come Back to Church

2011-08-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Church attendance has been dropping for decades, even among Christians. The primary reason, I'm convinced, is that too few people find an authentic connection to God in worship—they don't experience a "God moment" at church.

There is a secondary reason why many believers are disinterested in church—they find no connection with other people there either.

When Heather and I were married, we began searching for a place to worship together. While we found some churches, large and small, that seemed attractive, it was difficult to make connections. At larger churches, programs seemed to suffice for relationships. We were invited to take part in ministries, but no one recognized us from week to week.

At mid-sized churches, we found that relational networks were already in place. We visited one congregation that was bustling with people and activity. Although we visited three times and took the initiative to greet others, few responded with more than a nod. They went to church to see their friends, not make new ones.

When we settled at Fall Creek Wesleyan Church (before I became pastor there), it was in part because we were greeted warmly, invited to return, and called by name when we came again. People are not looking for a friendly church—they are looking for a friend.

Regardless of the size of your congregation, there are things you can do to help people find the second-most-important factor in attending a church: connection to others.

Decide to put others first. You can connect with your friends anytime. On Sunday morning, place the needs of others ahead of your own.
Greet people you don't know. Get over your fears and inhibition, and consider yourself a greeter at your own church.
Remember names. You may have to work at this. Say it several times, then write it down. Call the person by name when you meet again.
Play the host. Offer to show visitors around and consider inviting them out for lunch. Yes, this still works.
Be a connector. You can't be friends with everyone, but you can help newcomers find others—even other newcomers—who might develop a relationship.
Invite people to share your life. We are not called simply to greet people but to live the Christian life in community. To make others truly welcome, you must open yourself to forming new relationships.

What helps you get connected with others at church?

Garrison Keillor on Prophetic Preaching

2011-08-06T09:03:00.003-04:00

God was saying to me, "witeness to this," and "reveal the truth about this," and "be a prophet." And I said, "No, thank you. I don't want it!"

[God] said, "This will be a great service to the poeple you love, to tell them the truth."

And I said, "They're not going to thank me for it. I know that for sure. People hurt prophets. They throw sharp things at them. . . . I don't want that. I don't want any pain whatsoever. . . . Minor dentristy is more than enough for me."

So no thank you, I don't want to be a prophet and tell the truth. What can I do that's the opposite of that? And so I got into this line of work: telling lies.

Garrison Keillor, "Prophet" Fertility CD, cited by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale in Prophetic Preaching: A Pastoral Approach (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 2010) 1.

Finding God at Church

2011-08-05T07:57:00.002-04:00

The rate of church attendance has been falling for decades in North America. The primary reason, I believe, is not that the music isn't contemporary or the preaching doesn't talk about real-life issues, but that there is not power in our worship. We seldom sense an authentic connection to God.

I remember one of the first times I did feel that God was present and active in a church service. It was during a Sunday service at the church where my dad was pastor. I was probably 14 years old at the time and was generally bored with church. But on this Sunday, something was different. Throughout the morning, there seemed to be a sense of urgency or expectancy among people. I could sense it in the enthusiasm with which they sang and the fervor with which Dad delivered his sermon.

At the conclusion of his sermon, my father called people who wanted to confess sin and make a fresh start with God to come forward and pray. Many people did, and others—close friends and mature Christians—knelt with them to counsel and encourage them. The service lasted much longer than usual, and people simply stayed. We all knew that God was present, and nobody wanted to leave.

Since then I've consistently had a sense of God's presence in worship. Not every service ends with a spectacular moment, but I am aware that God is always present and working in people's lives.

While no one can predict what God will do, or when, there are some things we can do to help ourselves and others experience God for themselves.

Pray for it. Days prior to Sunday, seek the Spirit's leading for yourself and your people. Your midweek prayer service can do more to build your Sunday experience than any other thing you do in the course of the week.

Plan a God moment. No, you can't engineer God's activity. But you can bring yourself and others to a point of expectancy—a moment in the service when you believe something special could happen. It might be your prayer time, communion, the climax of the sermon, or even the offering. When is the one moment in this week's service when you hope and pray God will move?

Arrive expecting to meet God. Faith is our basic currency in dealing with God. If you believe he will gather with you on Sunday, he will. (He will anyway, but he won't say much if nobody is listening.)

Help others enter God's presence. People come to church carrying a ton of junk in their heads, everything from the stress in their marriage to the errands they need to run in the afternoon. Call them to a place where they can sense God's presence. Help them slow down and listen. Remind people that "God is in this place," and when you see God working, tell them, "What you are sensing right now is the movement of the Holy Spirit."

Let people share their experience. We used to call this testimony time, an opportunity for those who have been touched by God to share their experience—of conversion, sanctification, answered prayer, or whatever God has done for them. When we see God working in others, we are more likely to seek him ourselves.

People come to church looking for God. As a leader, you can help to make the introduction.In the next post, I'll talk about the other primary reason people attend church—and why it is often missing.

How do people experience God at your church?

Why Christians Don't Attend Church

2011-08-04T08:52:00.004-04:00

A new study by the Barna organization shows that church attendance among self-identified Christians has declined by nine percentage points since 1991. Not that that's news to anyone. Everybody who does attend church understands that fewer and fewer people are attending larger and larger congregations. So while many local congregations are growing in size, overall church attendance is declining—even among Christians.

Still, it begs the question: Why don't more Christians attend church?

Over the same two decades that Barna studied, two standard answers emerged in our thinking. People don't attend church because—

1. The music is outdated and not in keeping with current styles, and
2. The preaching is dull and not relevant to daily life.

It's time to admit that those answers are not correct. Contemporary music is now the dominant model in the North American church, and life-issue sermons ("How to Have a Happy Marriage," "Six Tips for Reducing Stress") salted with video clips are standard fare in the pulpit. The church couldn't possibly be more contemporary, yet attendance is still falling.

The real reason Christians don't attend church is that they find the whole thing irrelevant to their lives—not their ordinary lives but their spiritual life and well being. They find no power in church, not authentic connection to God, no life change. As long as church is a pleasant hour of adult contemporary music followed by an uplifting talk, it will never compete with soccer practice or a trip to the mall as a weekend activity for families.

Church has to offer something more. It must provide a real connection to God every time people walk through the door. They must come with the realistic expectation that they will experience the Holy Spirit, hear God speak, and experience life transformation or see it in someone else.

In the next post, I'll offer five things church leaders can do to help that happen.

Why do you think Christians don't attend church?

Faith in the Present Tense

2011-04-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Do you believe God can do anything? Most of the Christians I know would say yes without much thought. Of course he can.

What we probably mean, however, is that could have done anything. God could have parted the Red Sea or made the sun stand still or raised someone from the dead. God could—and did—do all those things a long, long time ago.

Or we may mean that God will do anything in the future. One day, ages and ages from now, Jesus will return—long after we're all dead, of course—and everybody will go to heaven.

But what about now. Right now. In this very moment? Do you believe God can do anything
today?

Martha, the sister of Lazarus, had faith in the past and the future, but she had a hard time seeing God in the present tense. When Jesus finally came to Bethany, she had faith in the past. She said, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died."

When Jesus spoke of resurrection, she had faith in the future. “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

But what about today? It took a good deal more faith to believe that Jesus could raise her brother from the dead, right on the spot.

What about you?

When do you find it difficult to have faith in the present?

Religion vs. Relationship

2011-03-16T09:44:00.003-04:00

This week I'm composing a message for people who just don't get church.

We usually call these folk seekers or the dechurched, but I've found that some of us with deep roots in the faith are equally mystified by religion.

Did you ever feel this way? You try to be a decent person, but you're not exactly sure what God is looking for. Sometimes it seems like everything you do is wrong according to somebody. Church feels like a lot of odd jargon and outdated rules.

I'm keying on the story of Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), who was perhaps the most religious of all those who encountered Jesus during his ministry. Yet even Nicodemus, good man that he was, didn't get it when it came to faith.

Here's my challenge: How can I explain the difference between religion (the lifestyle of godly people) and relationship (the essence of true spirituality)?

What word pictures or illustrations would demonstrate our need to move beyond "church" and experience a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit?

This message will be an opportunity to invite people to enter a relationship with God through faith in Christ—to be born again—in Jesus' words.

Any advice?

Twelve (Unspectacular) Works of the Holy Spirit

2011-02-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

What does the Holy Spirit do besides slay people in the Spirit? If a person doesn't speak in tongues, does he or she really have the Holy Spirit?

Because God had never worked in my life in sensational ways, I once wondered if my experience of the Holy spirit was real. Others seemed to have more ... pizzaz in their spiritual experience. Was something wrong with me?

In time—and after studying the Scriptures more fully—I realized that the Spirit's work is not always accompanied by emotional or ecstatic experiences. While the more sensational aspects of the Spirit's work get a lot of attention, there are a number of other ways in which the Holy Spirit is active in our lives.

Here are some works of the Holy Spirit that don't usually make headlines.

Intercession - John 14:16

Presence - John 14:17

Enlightenment - John 14:26

Boldness - Acts 4:31

Discernment - Acts 5:9

Wisdom - Acts 6:10

Encouragement - Acts 9:31

Call to Ministry - Acts 20:28

Peace and Joy - Romans 4:17

Freedom from Sin - Romans 8:2

Confirmation of Salvation - Romans 8:16

Judgment - 1 Corinthians 2:15

What has the Holy Spirit done in you?