Revitalize Your Church

Make This The Moment!

2009-12-15T06:30:00.004-06:00

“Lord, make this the moment of my full salvation!

Baptize me now with the Holy Ghost, and the fire of pure love.

Now, cleanse the thoughts of my heart,

Let me perfectly love thee.”

-- Prayer of Hester Ann Rogers, early Methodist leader

(from An Account of the Experiences of Hester Ann Rogers and her Funeral Sermon by Hester Ann Rogers and Thomas Coke)

Jerry's Birthday

2009-12-15T05:54:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday to my friend, Jerry Zamber. You made it! I had a hunch you would!

For the past few weeks, Jerry has hovered near death's door, in a valiant struggle against cancer. It's nothing short of a miracle that he made it to this special day.

Although Jerry's body grows a bit weaker daily -- he still smiles.

I ask my readers to remember Jerry and Lorraine today in your thoughts and prayers.

(By the way, Jerry is the artist who crafted our awesome pulpit.)

40 Loaves

2009-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

I recently had the privilege of reading a delightful little devotional book, 40 Loaves, by C. D. Baker. (A sample copy was provided for review by the publisher.)

It's a 40 day discipleship journey, for those who are hungry for more than the stale crusts the world has to offer.

Through a series of thought provoking questions, Baker challenges the reader to dig deeper spiritually and emotionally.

Each chapter heading is a question, such as the following:

Why can't I overcome sin in my life?
Why are my feelings hurt so easily?
Why don't I know what I want in life?
Why am I so desperate to be understood?
Why am I stuck in the past?
Why do I always feel exhausted?
Why have I stopped dreaming?

The answers, though brief, provide excellent insights and each chapter concludes with a list of " food for thought" questions for further personal reflection.

40 Loaves would make an outstanding Lenten resource for congregations or individuals.

Order here.

Catching Cows

2009-12-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Suburbanite, Emrys Tyler, upon graduation from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, received the call to Ninevah -- Ninevah Presbyterian Church -- a rural congregation on the banks of the Susquehanna River in New York.

Tyler quickly discovered that Ninevah is a place "where folks measure themselves, not by what they build, but by what they grow. And to grow the fruit of the land, you have to put your fingers in the soil, sweat in the sun, and wait with patience through the winter."

Along this line, he wrote an outstanding article in a recent edition of Fuller Focus: The Spiritual Gift of Catching Cows.

(Special thanks to my friend, Ron McClung, who sent this article to me.)

Obligation

2009-12-11T07:56:00.000-06:00

A man said to the universe,
"Sir, I exist."
"However, replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."

Stephen Crane in War Is Kind and Other Lines (1899)

Coming of the Snow

2009-12-10T07:10:00.003-06:00

From The Singing Wilderness, by Sigurd Olson, my favorite nature writer:

There is a new excitement in the air, a feeling of release. Life will now be lived in an established white world where conditions of food and shelter will not change for a long time.

Stability has come to the northwoods, and to my own life as well.

The coming of the snow adds zest to my activities. Now, there will be time for a multitude of things that during the feverish moving about of summer and fall, were denied me, leisure after the long and constant busyness.

To me, that is the meaning of the first snowfall -- not a cessation of effort but a drawing of the curtain on so many of the warm-weather activities that consume so much time.

The snow means a return to a world of order, peace and simplicity. Those first drifting flakes are a benediction and the day on which they come is different from any other in the year.

(pp. 192-193)

Clearing Ice

2009-12-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

Arctic December air glazed my windshield over with thick ice overnight. Early in the morning before the sun woke up, I found myself trying to carve a hole.

I searched for my scraper in vain. It was gone. Some dear friend borrowed it and forgot to bring it back. I improvised by using a cd case, which, though handy and somewhat practical, seemed hardly sufficient for the task.

Undaunted, I attacked the windshield with vigorous enthusiasm, struggling in the frigid blasts to shape some semblance of visibility.

Unfortunately, as soon as I scraped the ice away, it just frosted over again.

A half hour of scratching and scraping brought nothing more than a small peep hole, barely big enough to see while driving.

At lunch time, the same, day, however, I went to my car and was surprised to discover all of the windows were clear! Not a patch of ice on them! When the sun rose, it melted all the ice away.

I thought, “Now, there’s a lesson on how to deal with difficult situations and relationships. Love is the sun. When it rises, warming beams melt away all the resentment, bitterness and misunderstanding.”

Grim, determined chiseling (or hammering away) hardly ever brings the desired result. Force rarely solves a perplexing dilemma. You can’t clear up a frozen relationship by attacking. That just brings more ice.

Perhaps, if you find yourself in a heart-chilling struggle, you should stop working so hard to fix it, be patient, and just let the sun come up.

Frosty's Baby Picture

2009-12-08T07:33:00.002-06:00

It's going to be raining snow babies today

Wesleyan Life Online

2009-12-08T06:00:00.002-06:00

I've been invited to guest-blog at Wesleyan Life Online. It's an outstanding ministry resource aimed at those serving in the Wesleyan Church.

Kudos to Jerry Brecheisen, for his excellent leadership in this new endeavor.

Country Parson

2009-12-07T07:52:00.006-06:00

Tim Keller's advice to young ministers -- "Consider Becoming a Country Parson."

That's good advice for those who are eager to get out into the field of ministry. As a solo pastor, you'll get a chance to do just about everything everything.

Most young people upon graduation, hope for a staff position in a larger suburban church, but that kind of ministry does not equip one for the multiple demands of senior/solo pastorate or church planting.

The fact is -- there is a shortage of rural/small town pastors -- and a glut of people hoping for staff positions.

One important reminder, however, is in order: a country pastorate is NOT merely the stepping stone to a "bigger and better" ministry. It may BE the bigger and better ministry for you.

With over 18 years of experience as a country parson, I can honestly say it is the most rewarding ministry position I could possibly imagine.

Family Tree

2009-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

A while back, I was telling my kids where various members of our family were born.

"Your grandpa was born in Indiana, and Grandma came from Tennessee," I said.

"My brothers were born in South Dakota, and I was born in Ohio. Your mom was born in Illinois. Adam and Ryan were born in California. Luke and Hannah were born in Minnesota, and Wes was born in Wisconsin.

"Wow!" said Wes, "It's amazing that we all found each other!"

A New Christmas Carol

2009-12-05T08:02:00.005-06:00

I'm tempted to have our choir sing this one at the Candlelight Christmas Eve Services. . . and then preach a sermon on repentance.

(HT Frank Viola)

60 Years in One Church and Still Going

2009-12-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Prairie Hill Baptist Church Church called Fred Sain to be their pastor 60 years ago, and he's still there! He says he never heard God say, "Move!"

There's Someone Stalking Me

2009-12-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

Seriously!!

A powerful post by my dear friend, Keith Drury -- convicting and oh, so true.

Hunting Party

2009-12-02T06:18:00.003-06:00

I have never seen a group of hunters heading off to the woods in a valiant quest for mice.

(This thought came from seminary professor, W. L. Muncy Jr., challenging the church to tackle bigger issues.)

Spreading Lonliness

2009-12-02T06:00:00.002-06:00

An insightful article on Lonliness in the Group Context which has direct implications for church relationships.

Preaching that Sticks

2009-12-01T07:25:00.001-06:00

An outstanding post for preachers from Ed Stetzer

Hiebert for Dummies

2009-12-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

The outstanding missiologist, Paul Hiebert, taught at my alma mater, Fuller Seminary and then finished his career at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

I have always admired his thoughtful work, and recall his thought provoking lectures, which usually left my head spinning.

His textbook, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues, proved helpful in navigating the murky waters of contextualization vs. syncretism in Native American ministry. (Though there were several occasions when I read a paragraph a half dozen times before I understand what he was trying to communicate.)

Jon and Mindy Hirst, have recently brought some basic Hiebert concepts within the reach of simple-minded readers like me. I love warm cookies from the bottom shelf!

Ooze Viral Bloggers recently provided me a copy of their new book, Through the River: Understanding Your Assumptions about Truth.

The Hirsts have captured some pretty deep philosophy, and traslated it, via delightful story form, into something the rest of us can grasp. Their mythical village of "River Town", illustrates the the three primary ways people understand truth.

The Rock Dwellers (positivists) see everything as black and white. "I have all the truth and if you disagree, you don't have any!" They engage others via argument and refutation.

The Island Dwellers (instrumentalists) see everything as relative. "I have my truth. You have your truth. There is no absolute truth. Every perspective is equally valid." The operative term: "whatever!"

The Valley Dwellers (critical realists) believe that there certainly IS absolute truth -- but that nobody grasps it absolutely. They value the sincere quest for a deeper understanding. They believe that we can learn something from anybody, and this requires genuine humility. "Tell me your experiences and I'll tell you mine. Then we will see how that fits together into the larger picture."

An excellent read, If I ever teach a course on philosphy, world view, or anthropology, this will be a text.

Order here.

Chester Marcol

2009-11-30T09:39:00.003-06:00

Chester Marcol is coming to Hayward this Wednesday night to speak at a rally sponsored by FCA. Special thanks to my good friend, Randy Young, who followed the inner prompting, and opened the door for this opportunity.

What do Teachers Make?

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

A Difference!

Helping the World

2009-11-28T08:36:00.003-06:00

"We cannot help the world unless we change our way of being in it."

-- Hope & Action, an advent pastoral letter from Methodist bishops

Backyard Victory

2009-11-27T08:08:00.005-06:00

Stellar quarterbacks, Rogers and Wilson, both facing vicious Lions, emerged victorious on Thanksgiving Day -- but Wilson had to nurse a sore toe afterwards.

Turkey Census

2009-11-27T06:30:00.000-06:00

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 250 million turkeys were raised in the United States in 2009.

I wonder what the turkey census is today?

Take the Turkey Day Quiz Here

As The Sun Rises

2009-11-26T08:08:00.000-06:00

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.
Be fair in thy judgement, and guarded in thy speech.
Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility. -- Anonymous

Alcohol Related Fatality?

2009-11-25T08:23:00.002-06:00

The other day, the kids and I were driving north on highway 53, when we passed a dead bear lying on the side of the road.

I stopped to pay my respects, and thought maybe it was alcohol related.