Be Here Now

I need to buy groceries.

The yard needs mowing.

It’s time for an oil change.

 

My son wants to be with me.

 

I take him to the gym.

He waits on my haircut.

I haul him around town on errands.

 

My son wants to be with me –not just around me.

 

We rush to church.

We rush back home.

I take a nap.

He plays alone.

 

My son wakes me up with a gentle tap. He still hasn’t given up on me.

 

“Dad, will you play with me?”

 

I have a paper to write.

I need to catch up on my to-do.

I brought work home from the office.

 

A million times before I have said to myself, “if I can just finish this project/paper/errand/task/nap, I’ll have more time to focus on him.”

But the truth is, life never stops. The busyness only gets busier.

In Luke 12:22-31, Jesus teaches us about the Father’s provision in a busy, demanding world.

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

If I believe that God is really sovereign over all things; and if I believe that He makes perfect provision –even for the birds and the plants; then surely I can trust that He will make provision for me.

Jesus is very clear: you can be free from the busyness and anxiety that keep you from kingdom living. You don’t have to keep up with the rat race. The funny thing is that no matter how hard we try, we never get ahead!

Instead, for those who are willing to seek first the kingdom (v. 31), God will make provision to handle the busyness.

That doesn’t mean you will never have to make another trip to Wal-Mart or have to mow the yard. It simply means that when you seek the busyness first, kingdom work rarely receives the attention it deserves. But when you focus on kingdom work first, all “these things will be added to you.”

For me, my first order of kingdom work is being a godly father and disciple-maker to my Son. God has entrusted him to me.

Recently a good friend shared a short, simple phrase with me: Be here now. It simply means that wherever God has placed you, He gives you the grace and provision to live fully in that moment taking advantage of kingdom opportunities. It means that when I am with my son, God has given me the privilege to focus on him and “be here now.”

It reminds me of something Billy Graham’s daughter said when a reporter asked her how she dealt with her father’s extensive travel and time away from home. She said something to the effect of, “Its no problem, because when he is home, he is 100% home.”

In the same way, I can imagine that Jesus never told the apostles, “let’s take a day off –I’ve got to do some catch-up work,” or “you guys stay quiet while I run in the store.” Instead, Scripture paints a picture of Christ as always being 100% focused and invested in His present company.

So the next time the empty refrigerator and the long to-do list are competing for the attention I owe to my son, I have the wonderful liberty to choose to be here now. God will provide for everything else.

Breathing in Outer Space

Imagine stepping out into outer-space for a spacewalk. As you take your first steps out of the international space station into the infinite realm of space, something terrible happens. You feel sick. Your hearing and speaking abilities suddenly vanish. Trapped in a spacesuit, you feel disoriented and can only think of one thing: get back to the space station -fast.

Sound like a sci-fi movie? Actually, it was real life for Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. Some time ago, Parmitano’s life was in jeopardy as he found himself in an unimaginable position.

According to the Associated Press, Partmitano’s life-threatening situation was caused by a leak in his spacesuit’s cooling system which was infiltrating the air in his helmet. The very suit that was designed to protect him from danger was now trapping him in deadly chemicals. What he needed, more than anything, was oxygen.

Fortunately, his spacewalking partner, American Christopher Cassidy, was able to help him into the space station where he discarded his helmet and was able to breathe.

Isn’t it interesting how something as simple as the air we breathe can be the difference between life and death?

In the beginning, God breathed into man’s nostrils (Genesis 2:7). It was the breath of life -the final ingredient that awoke man into consciousness before God.

When man sinned, it was as if (like the astronaut’s space suit) he began breathing the deadly chemicals of sin. The pure air that man breathed had been compromised and would now lead to death (Genesis 2:17). [understand that this is an illustration… death is a result of sin, not bad air]

And just as the astronaut was trapped in a suit designed to enable life, man’s body began to work against him. He felt pain, showed signs of aging, and experienced futility (Genesis 3:16-19). Unless someone intervened, he would surely die. The tainted air of sin is ultimately lethal.

Oh, and did you know the Hebrew and Greek words for Spirit (Ruach & Pneuma) can be translated “breath”? Interestingly, in John 20:22, Jesus “breathed on [the apostles] and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'”

In other words, when we experience rebirth (aka ‘spiritual birth), the breath of the Holy Spirit is breathed into our hearts just as physical breath was breathed into Adam’s nostrils. No longer are we enslaved by our sin-tainted “mortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:53). We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) breathing fresh air.

Have you found that fresh air? Are you breathing the breath of new life?

Sometimes, although I have new life, I find myself choosing to breathe tainted air. That’s about as wise as the astronaut walking back into outer space knowing his spacesuit has a deadly malfunction. It just goes to show how delusional our sin really is.

So, today I want to make this old Hymn my prayer:

1.
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
until my heart is clean;
let sunshine fill its inmost part,
with not a cloud between.

Chorus
Breathe on me, breathe on me
Holy Spirit, breathe on me;
Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.

2.
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
my stubborn will subdue;
teach me in words of living flame
what Christ would have me do.

3.
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
fill me with pow’r divine;
kindle a flame of love and zeal
within this heart of mine.

4.
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
till I am all Thine own,
until my will is lost in Thine,
to live for Thee alone.

Incredible Testimony

The following is the testimony of my friend, Daniel Barham. Daniel and I attend the same church. I wish you could see the amazing joy Daniel constantly displays. If you have a few minutes, please read this:

God gave me loving parents who have done everything they could to give me a normal life.

I was born in 1960. I was an identical twin. My brother David (first twin) died at birth. I was damaged at birth. I have Ataxia a form of Cerebral Palsy. My disability is speech, Dyspepsia and slight dexterity problems. I had an underbite, my tongue worked backwards and I drooled. I couldn’t use my tongue or lips to eat or talk. My face has little feeling.

My mom was once asked “Are you going to put him away?” My parents were strong for me.

At the age of two I attended Easter Seal School in Washington, DC. were I received therapy to help me with my many problems. Then I attended kindergarten and grade school at Holly Park School in College Park, Maryland. I was in the Special Education wing; there I saw children who were a lot worse off than me. I was one of the few that could run and play like a normal kid.

A few years went by Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore said that I was not receiving a good education. They encouraged my parents to have me moved to a regular class room. My parents did everything they could to get me out of the special school. My parents were told “ Danny will not make it in regular school and if you take him out he won’t be able to come back”.

God continued to watch over me. My parent’s main streamed me into regular school before that was acceptable. I was put in 5th grade, two years behind my age. I had a great male teacher and classmates. I learned to play Chess. Some of the boys in my class were in the Lewisdale Boys Club and played on 70 pound Lewisdale Lions football team. I joined the Lewisdale Boys Club and started playing football. I won a starting position on the defense line.

The next summer we move to Bowie, Maryland were I started 6th grade. From 6th grade on I saw how mean kids and the real world can be. I had to be strong to face each day.

When I was fifteen years old, sitting on the living room floor like an Indian cross- legged watching the Washington Redskins, and eating ice cream. At that moment I had a seizure and my face turned blue and stopped breathing. My parents called for help and tried to get me breathing again. I believed in God but didn’t know God! I left my body not knowing what was going on. One minute I was watching the game the next minute I found myself somewhere else. I found myself moving, like floating in the air. I could see but as I looked around I realize my body was gone! I asked myself: “Where is my body”? It was almost black around me, but as I was floating it was getting brighter and brighter. I could see ahead of me in the distance a Gate. It was gold with two lion heads on the gate. In the Bible, God is the LION of JUDAH, KING of KINGS. The gate was closed, it was God’s way of saying it wasn’t my time. The next thing I knew I was outside my house on my way to the hospital. As time went on I started to compare my experience with the Bible and realize they both match up! That can only mean one thing
God is real and Jesus is our Savior. The answer is Faith!

God continued to change my life ; always keeping me strong.

A few years later, I continued to have more corrective surgery. This time to have all of my my saliva glands taken out. This solved my drooling problem – no more drool. I was the thirteenth person in the world to have this type of surgery. It took all my courage to face my classmates and keep focused on my lessons. It was hard for people to understand what was wrong with me and accept me. (This is true even today.)
But God was there for me.

In 1977, I started classes at Bowie High School. God continues to open doors for me and he gave me special friends. I was given a chance to join the Bowie High School Cross Country team. My friend Jim Bouchard was the captain of the team. . His family was my second family. We have been friends for the past 35 years

From 1978 to 1980 there was more surgeries. My tongue was shortened and my jaw moved back. I was wired shut for six weeks.

In 1980, I received my High School diploma.

My mom help me get a job with Volkswagen Of America as a warehouseman. It was a great job; but the unkindness continued. But, most of all I was able to stay strong because of my faith.

Then in 1989, I faced a life threatening situation. My jaw had moved forward again. The doctor’s thought I would not be able to survive another surgery. I had too much scare tissue. We found another doctor who though he could help me. Staying strong – I knew that God had kept me here for a purpose. My jaw was moved back again, cheek implants and my chin shortened. For first time in my life I could put my lips together.
I had been working at Volkswagen for fourteen years. They moved the warehouse to New Jersey. I prayed to God for direction . I decided not to make the move to New Jersey. I started working part time at the US Naval Academy Gift Shop and took classes at Anne Arundel Community College. In 2000, I got my Two Year Associate of Arts Degree.

This was about the time I started listen to Christian music. God was at work again!

I got to go see “The Darins” a Christian singing group. They are four sisters. Two of the sisters have epilepsy. I met them and told them my story. They asked me to be able to use my story in their newsletter. We been special friends for 13 years.

God continued to open doors for me to be a volunteer at Meals On Wheels. For two years I did a 50 mile route three days a week. After my family move to Arkansas, God opened the door again for me. I had another Meals on Wheels route here in Conway. I deliver meals for 18 to 32 seniors at two apartment buildings. I been doing this route, three days a week for seven years. At times I maybe the only person my clients see that day. I found that I need to be strong for others.

I am a sports nut! I play basketball and softball with my brothers in Christ. That is how I met my good friends Robert Isby and Daniel Faulkner. This is given me an opportunity to have fellowship with my brothers. I was playing on another church team and meet my good friend Brooks Ruhman who was on the Antioch team. We were friendly rivals. We were the top two teams in the league.

Two years ago, my family came to Antioch. Daniel and Jessica Faulkner who been my friends for 8 years attend Antioch. They made me feel welcomed.

Brooks saw me when I walk in the door of Antioch. He remember me and he said “ He is the one who beat us in the softball game”. I caught two pop ups. That was the year my softball team and Antioch end up with a 15-1 record. Now I am on Brook’s softball team. We have fun beating the another Antioch softball team…. and needle my brothers.

Stay strong! God is in control! He has plans for each of us. Anything is possible with God on your side! God’s Word, my parents, fellowship and singing Christian songs to God help me stay strong!

I have been asked – ” Do you think you could be healed by prayer?”
My response – “That would be nice; but I don’t think so. GOD USES ME THE WAY I AM.”

She Still Encourages My Faith

Jill wrote this in her journal on her 34th birthday. Two years earlier we had suffered a miscarriage. Eight and a half months later, Bryce was born.

Eleven and a half months later, Jill went home to be with the Lord.

12-20-07

God, You who are mighty have done great things for me –and holy is your name!!! God you have given us another baby –I’m pregnant!!! I haven’t told anyone yet –not even Scott! I can’t quit crying!! Crying w/ Laughter, and unfortunately w/ fear too.

God, this baby may not be ours to hold either. Your will –not mine. Your will –not Scott’s. Why can’t I quite crying? I laugh –I cry. I cry –I cry harder. (Am I going to be crazy like this the whole time?) God here is my prayer:

Let me be a humble servant of you, a faithful and encouraging wife to Scott, and a God-honoring and loving mother to this baby (and all the babies you give us) all the days of my life, Scott’s life and this baby’s life.

Little did Jill know that her faith in God’s provision after losing a baby would inspire my faith in God’s provision after losing her.

One day, I can’t wait for Bryce to read his mother’s meditations and prayers on his behalf. She loved him from before he entered this world and she continues to love him after she has left this world.

Praise God for a legacy of faith that did not depend upon her will, but God’s will.

The Time I Used the Heimlich

Not long ago, my son and I were eating in a local restaurant. All of a sudden, a lady at the table next to us stood up and started shouting, “Somebody do the Heineken! Somebody do the Heineken!” I was pretty sure the word she was looking for was “Heimlich,” but this wasn’t a time to trip over details. Her husband had choked on his dinner.

Long story short, I stood up, took my position behind the man, and began thrusting my hands into his abdomen. It only took two tries before a massive piece of steak popped out. I was a surprised by how easily is came out.

Later that night, I was thinking about how many years it had been since I learned the Heimlich in a school health class. It was at least 25 years ago! And to the best of my knowledge, I hadn’t taken any refresher courses. Somehow, it was conveniently waiting in my brain for the day I would need it.

It reminds me of the way God’s Word comes to mind years after we memorize a verse, hear a sermon, or study a passage. His Word trains our minds to be ready for any situation.

My Jr. High health teacher wasn’t at the restaurant to see me save the choking man’s life. Yet, it was his instruction that trained me for the moment.

If you are a pastor, teacher, Bible study leader, or parent who has ever wondered if your instruction is having any impact; take heart. You may not see the results today or tomorrow. In fact, you may never see the fruit of your labor. But that does not take away from the fact that just like teaching the Heimlich maneuver saves physical lives, teaching God’s Word saves spiritual lives!

Good News In The Midst of Disaster

For centuries, men have debated whether or not natural disasters are caused by God or allowed by God. No matter the answer, we can all agree that natural disasters are used by God for His glory. I’d like to share an example that is taking place right now.

I just received this email from a friend. The original text is from a missionary in Myanmar reporting on the recent flooding and land slides. As the email points out, a church leader, Ko Nyi Nyi, and his family are among thousands who have been displaced and housed in rescue centers.

What strikes me the most about the email is how Ko Nyi Nyi chooses to see this disaster. Namely, he sees it as an opportunity for the gospel. Oh, that I might have such wisdom in the midst of tragedy!

Here is the text of the email. As you read, please be in prayer for the people of Myanmar.

Heavy monsoon rains during the month of July have caused flooding and landslides in several parts of Myanmar and over a hundred people dead and displaced thousands. Among many victims Ko Nyi Nyi, one of our trained leaders and his family are out of them. They live in Nanchung village, Sagaing Division, northwest of Myanmar. He and his wife and 3 kids are now in rescue camp for 4 weeks. Now the water is gone but mud remain in his house and all over the village and they could not move into their home yet because of mud and bad smell all over the village.  The Myanmar government has appealed for international aid to flood victims. International aids have been arriving from several countries including the US. Thanks for it. But I think it would need long term for recovery. Bridges and roads have been destroyed or damaged by the flood landslides in Chin State and Sagaing Division and communications in those areas are still very difficult.

 

Ko Nyi Nyi is one of our workers in the area of Athetsaka (LifeWord Burmese program). He has been advertising our LifeWord Burmese program and collecting our listener’s letters from many villages. By answering those listener’s questions through him we have another chances to share Christ in that region.  Two people have been saved and another two people made profession of faith through him and our lifeWord Burmese program.

 

Now, the Lord opens for Ko Nyi Nyi to shares the gospel in rescue camps every day and night. He told me that many people are more interested in the gospel after that flood. He asked me to send more gospel tracts. But it is out of print. Please pray for Ko Nyi Nyi as he continue to share the gospel many lost souls might be saved. The only way we can reach right now to that region is by flight and it is very expensive. Please pray for the recovery of those damage roads.

 

Our mission church members who live in 5 different villages of Irrawaddy Division have been affected by the flood also. No one is dead but their rice fields have been covering by waters.

 

I asked uncle Myint about our brethren in Paletwa area of Chin State. Chin State and Irrawaddy Division are two out of 5 regions the Myanmar government has declared disaster zones. Uncle Myint told me our brethren in Paletwa, Chin State are OK. No one is dead but all of their crops were destroyed by the recent heavy monsoon rains. Please pray for them.

 

We never have that kind of flooding and landslides in Myanmar. But we have it now and at the same time that kinds of disasters were not only in Myanmar but also in some parts of India and in Macedonia etc., I believe it is the sign of Christ coming! His coming is very near. Pray for us so that we might able to share the gospel in effective ways to unbelieving people of Myanmar.

 

Thanks for your prayers and support!

 

Rama

Nature vs. Nurture in Discipleship

Do these names sound familiar? –OJ Simpson, Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson, Timothy McVeigh, Scott Peterson, The Menendez Brothers, Jeffrey Dahmer, Lindsay Lohan, Casey Anthony, Justin Beiber, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. What is it that we so desperately want to know about them?

For some reason, we are all fascinated by the stories of their lives. We all want to know how a boy rises from humble beginnings in Springfield Missouri to become a sought-after Hollywood icon (Brad Pitt). We are curious how a timid first grader in West Allis, Wisconsin becomes a cannibalistic serial murderer (Jeffery Dahmer). We are even enthralled to learn about “normal people” who haven’t accomplished anything significant except to make the cut on a reality TV show. Why all the interest?

I have a theory: In all of these “real life” stories, we just want to know one thing: How did they become who they are today?

Ultimately, it comes back to the standing debate in the field of social science: nature vs. nurture.

The influence of nature refers to a person’s internal make-up or traits passed down from their family line. The influence of nurture refers to external factors that have shaped a person by exposure and involvement.

For instance, in a TV trial, a lawyer will usually point to either nature or nurture to explain a defendant’s actions. “He was born with a tendency toward anger” (nature) or “Her parents pushed her too hard in her academic studies” (nurture). In the same way, VH1’s Behind the Music and ESPN’s 30 For 30 documentaries interview family and friends of famous people to determine the same factors in their lives.

Both nature and nurture can have a strong impact on a person’s life. So, when it comes to factors that affect Spiritual Growth, which is it: nature or nurture?

Check out Paul’s answer in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Paul attributes both nature and nurture to the growth of the Corinthian believers. Paul and Appolos provided the influence of nurture by coming alongside the Corinthians and providing external factors that shaped their lives. In Paul’s case, he provided an evangelistic influence while Apollos provided a follow-up influence. Both, according to Paul, are legitimate factors in the Corinthian’s growth.

However, that’s not the end of the story. Paul also points to an internal influence (aka “nature”) when he states, “God gave the growth.” This is the internal influence where God alone changes hearts.

Only God can transform the inside of man (nature). However, He chooses to use the external influences of men (nurture) as part of His sanctifying work in the lives of believers. It’s a divine partnership called discipleship.

Its too bad we aren’t as interested in what makes a 43 year old woman a faithful mother as we are with what makes Angelina Jolie a compelling actress. And it’s a tragedy that we aren’t as fascinated with what makes a 54 year old cancer survivor share his faith with co-workers as we are with what makes OJ tick.

If we were more interested in God’s unique way of growing his people, we might see a grand design of nature and nurture crafted together by the master disciple-maker Himself.  And that’s more than any reality TV show could ever capture!

The Greatness of God’s Faithfulness (4 of 4)

(These are excerpts from a recent sermon from Genesis 15.)

 Part 4: “The Solution to the Covenant”

If you feel the tension in your heart like I felt when I read this text (Genesis 15, see Part 1 here and Part 2 here and Part 3 here) and tried to see things from Abraham’s perspective, this will be a great relief to you —Abraham never walked between the animals; God walked between the animals. Do you see the significance of that? It is one of the most beautiful pictures in all of Scripture: “When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch (that’s God) passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, ‘To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmoites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.’ ” (vs. 17-21)

Can you imagine the sweet, beautiful, incredible relief on Abraham’s face when he was standing there, trembling and wondering, “How will I ever make it through this covenant, knowing that it will kill me because I’d have to put my life on the line?” But in that very moment when he gave up because he did not know what to do, God — knowing that Abraham would never be able to be completely faithful to Him — went before him and showed His faithfulness to Abraham.

What a beautiful picture! God’s faithfulness is what everything is built on, not our faithfulness. God went before him and led the way. God said, “Abraham, this is not a covenant for you to sign your name to. This is a covenant for me to put my guarantee on.”

Even when I am not faithful to Him, God is always faithful to me.

When I was serving as a pastor, I was not always a faithful pastor. I have plenty of instances, more than I’d care to admit, where I neglected my people, didn’t study the Word the way I should have and did not fulfill my role and my duties the way I should have. But I read this passage and realized that, even in my unfaithfulness, my God was always faithful to my congregation. He never left them and never forsook them. Praise God, in my insufficiency, He is completely sufficient.

As a parent, I’m overwhelmed at times when I see, on a daily basis, the ways I let my little boy down — the times I’m away that I should be at home, the times I’m at home and should be completely involved in his life, but I’ll let my tiredness or busyness take precedence. And there are times that I’m just in pain because of the ways I’ve failed my son. But I read this and I know that my God will never fail my son, that when I’m not faithful as a parent, God is always faithful to be my son’s grace. He is sufficient for my son.

God’s faithfulness to us does not depend on our faithfulness to Him. Praise God! You see can sum it up even shorter than that. It’s just real basic:

I can’t — He can.

I probably won’t — He always will.

I can’t earn it and don’t deserve it — He has done it and paid it all for me. He is faithful to me.

That is the gospel. In fact, Jesus talked about the ultimate covenant saying: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ ” (Matt. 26:27-28)

The very next day after saying those words, Christ went to the cross and shed His blood — “Cross my heart, I chose to die.” Not because He had failed the covenant. Absolutely not! It’s because He knew we had failed the covenant, and He stood in our place, taking the penalty for our sin, paying the blood sacrifice of the covenant for us. He completely fulfilled the old covenant and inaugurated the new covenant in His blood of grace that is sufficient for all who would believe.

When we look to the cross, we see Christ saying, “The covenant has been sealed in blood and it is finished.” Every covenant is now fulfilled in Christ and the sign that goes with the covenant is the cross. That’s the fulfillment.

That’s why I love Gen. 15:6: “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” That was immediately after God had showed him the stars in the sky and God had said, “Abraham, here’s a sign. I will be faithful.” In other words, Abraham believed God by responding to God’s faithfulness.

Now just put that together for a second. Consider that Abraham was responding to God’s display of faithfulness in his life. And because of God’s faithfulness, he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. I think we could come up with this: not only is God’s faithfulness the stand-in for our lack of faith, but when we look to God’s faithfulness, it fuels our desire to be faithful to Him.

When I now look to God’s ultimate display of His faithfulness on the cross, my faith is strengthened because I’m staring at God’s faithfulness — and I believe. And when I look in faith to at the cross on which my Savior died, it is credited to me as righteousness. Not because of anything I’ve done, but because of His faithfulness to me.

Maybe you’re at a place where you can relate — that dark, lonely hour of your life. Maybe you came here immediately after having a meeting with that member of your church that may not attend all the time, but when they do, they have something to say to you. Maybe you came here thinking, “I don’t even think I’m in the right place. I don’t know if I can take this anymore. God, I need a sign. I just need something. Can you just show me that I’m okay, that this is where I’m supposed to be?”

Or maybe the grand plans that you had for your church or mission seem to have just crumbled before you. You’re trying to be obedient, but you don’t know what to do next and you just want God to confirm that it’s okay and that you’re doing what He has called you to do.

Or maybe you’re heartbroken because that guy that you’ve invested five or six months into, trying to disciple him, has just made it very clear to you that he has walked away from the faith and doesn’t want any more of it. You desperately need God to tell you that it wasn’t wasted time and that you were doing exactly what He wanted you to do.

No matter the situation, be encouraged! We serve a God who goes before us! He knows you won’t always know how to handle every difficult ministry situation; so He goes before you. He already knows the plans that will crumble all around you, and He’s already gone before you in that situation. And He knows that soul that you feel like you have failed, and He goes before you ministering in ways you cannot see.

The message very simple. If you find yourself in one of those dark moments of despair, don’t look for a sign; look to the cross. Because in the cross you’ll always find the one beautiful truth that every servant of God needs to know — that our God always faithful. And He has signed that covenant in His blood.

 

(Check out Part 1 here , Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.)

What Biblical Preaching is NOT

Here are five quick thoughts on what preaching is not. Are you guilty of any of these?

 

Running Commentary. Explaining the meaning of each verse is great. In fact, preaching is incomplete without it. However, this is not the end of the sermon! Anyone in the congregation could have saved time and read a commentary at home. If the sermon leaves you saying, “so what?” or “how should I respond?” then you have left out the crucial aspect of application. Preaching is not just sharing what God said, but also relating how we should respond.

 

A Secular Therapy Session. I applaud churches who identify real felt needs of the congregation and work to help them address those needs. What I do not applaud, however, is addressing needs without the truth and power of God’s Word. Without Scripture, such talk amounts to no more than a secular therapy session or episode of an afternoon talk show. The Scripture, by the way, must not be a springboard upon which the preacher dives into his own opinion. Rather, the Scripture must be the ocean into which he leads the congregation to dive –being immersed in its wisdom, guidance, standards, and life.

 

Social Commentary. For some preachers, the sermon does not sound so much like an afternoon talk show, but rather a talk-radio monologue in which “all that is wrong with society” is discussed. Like talk radio shows, these sermons identify plenty of problems but rarely bring about resolution. After all, what would they talk about then? Of course pastors must address current issues, but always in the proper perspective: The Bible is the standard for life and godliness, not for political and economic victory. If your sermon sounds like it came directly from the RNC playbook rather than God’s book, you are treading on dangerous ground. In case you haven’t noticed, political parties aren’t exactly bastions of truth.

 

House Keeping. Have you ever visited a church on a Sunday when the entire service focused on the new small group sign up or community service project? While it may have been valuable in assimilating the congregation toward action, it probably wasn’t much of a worship service –especially to the visitors. While Sunday mornings is a great time to address the entire congregation with important announcements and instructions, let’s try to keep it out of the sermon. There are plenty of other creative ways to communicate before and after the service.

 

Bully Pulpit. Every pastor has his issue he loves to address. For some it is the evils of drug abuse, for others the tragedy of abortion or needs of the poor. Whatever the issue, it is probably a valid concern. However, that does not mean every sermon should come back to that topic. At least three things happen when a pastor continually stresses the same issue every week: 1) it becomes a running joke with the congregation (“here he goes again, it’s the same thing every week”). 2) the congregation begins tuning the pastor out (“I’ve heard this before”). 3) the congregation’s view of the Scripture is diminished (Let’s see how he can get from Jonah to cocaine addiction this week!).

Road Trip: Sulphur Springs, TX

Did you know that Sulphur Springs, Texas has the world’s only free standing glass public restrooms located on its town square? Its a little strange -especially in the fact that from the inside, you can see out. But from the outside, you cannot see in. Still, I decided not to try them…. Davis Street Baptist Church is also located in Sulphur Springs.

It was a hot day in Texas as I walked into Davis Street Baptist Church. Before I entered the door, I knew it was a special place. A group of young men were standing at the door greeting everyone who entered. It wasn’t the normal, “good morning,” or “take a bulletin.” No, these young men really took the time to make everyone feel welcome. They had real conversations with each family as the approached hugging parents and high-fifiving children. It was fun to watch -at least until I broke into a sweat on the radiating parking lot!

Once inside, I continued seeing an atmosphere of love. The greeters weren’t the only ones evoking the vibe -everyone seemed to genuinely love and care for one-another. What a special place!

The sanctuary was filled with diverse age groups, yet was predominantly made up of 30-somethings. As the service began, I was thankful for the approach the musicians took with the music -they led as servants to the entire church. The music was wonderful and provided an excellent opportunity for the entire congregation to praise God together in song.

Pastor Andy Comer has led Davis Street well. His calm, personable demeanor is reflected throughout the congregation. I have the utmost respect for Andy and the entire church.

And, just in case you are wondering, the church has solid, opaque walls around all of its restroom facilities 🙂