All I choose to say this week is summed up best by this favorite old hymn penned by William Cowper. I have only adjusted the last verse to suit better my own theological bent and tastes. If I had to post the same blog every week it would be this one. To know me, this is all you must really know.
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die!
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die!
When on that yonder shore I stand, beyond the Jordan's waves,
Then in a nobler sweeter song, I'll sing Thy pow'r to save!
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save! I'll sing Thy power to save!
Then in a nobler, sweeter song I'll sing Thy pow'r to save!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Jesus Christ: Not the Family Values Candidate
The Bible I most often preach out of was my father's. It was the Bible he received upon high school graduation. It was the same Bible he carried throughout my childhood. If I imagine my father with a Bible in his hand it is that brown leathered covered Bible I see. Sure it may be the King 
James Version, but that is what the people of my church read so it works well for preaching there. There is just something special about that Bible. Perhaps its so special because to me it represents that faith of his which I was taught and eventually accepted, the faith of my family.
When most people yield their lives to Christ they seldom consider the impact this decision will have on their families. How could they? When we first step forward in faith to accept the offered cup of the sacrifice of Christ our spiritual eyes are still milky with the dew of ignorance and inexperience in the faith. As time wears on however most people begin to gain a sense of how disastrous Jesus Christ will be to their life and the world they once knew. To be sure, a true relationship with the living Jesus Christ demands that a life be turned upside down. How we play church, how we labor, how we govern, and how we relate to those closiest to us can never be the same.
Jesus himself predicted this course of events in Luke 12:49-53 when he said, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (NIV). In so many words, "I am not the Messiah of family values."
Many can testify to exactly what Jesus meant when he made this bold statement. When you follow Christ that sometimes means you will find yourself at odds with your parents or siblings, especially if they are non-believers. Jesus did not come to preach warm and fuzzy family values, but to preach justice, redemption, mercy, freedom,love, and the truth of God in eternal life. His yoke is light and his burden easy, but his teaching is hard to take. As a result, families cannot always be united in his service. As a result mother can sometimes be turned against daughter and father against son.
However, the challange of outright division is not the only one that faces the family. In Luke 9 (verses 57-62) Jesus describes what it takes to be fit for service to the Kingdom of God. He calls a man to follow him. The man seems willing but requests to first be allowed to bury his father. Jesus rejects this as an excuse responding, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." On occasion, Christ calls men and women to proclaim the gospel and leave their family behind. (Let me be clear, when I speak of the "family" I do not mean a spouse or children, but parents and siblings.)
James Version, but that is what the people of my church read so it works well for preaching there. There is just something special about that Bible. Perhaps its so special because to me it represents that faith of his which I was taught and eventually accepted, the faith of my family.When most people yield their lives to Christ they seldom consider the impact this decision will have on their families. How could they? When we first step forward in faith to accept the offered cup of the sacrifice of Christ our spiritual eyes are still milky with the dew of ignorance and inexperience in the faith. As time wears on however most people begin to gain a sense of how disastrous Jesus Christ will be to their life and the world they once knew. To be sure, a true relationship with the living Jesus Christ demands that a life be turned upside down. How we play church, how we labor, how we govern, and how we relate to those closiest to us can never be the same.
Jesus himself predicted this course of events in Luke 12:49-53 when he said, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (NIV). In so many words, "I am not the Messiah of family values."
Many can testify to exactly what Jesus meant when he made this bold statement. When you follow Christ that sometimes means you will find yourself at odds with your parents or siblings, especially if they are non-believers. Jesus did not come to preach warm and fuzzy family values, but to preach justice, redemption, mercy, freedom,love, and the truth of God in eternal life. His yoke is light and his burden easy, but his teaching is hard to take. As a result, families cannot always be united in his service. As a result mother can sometimes be turned against daughter and father against son.
However, the challange of outright division is not the only one that faces the family. In Luke 9 (verses 57-62) Jesus describes what it takes to be fit for service to the Kingdom of God. He calls a man to follow him. The man seems willing but requests to first be allowed to bury his father. Jesus rejects this as an excuse responding, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." On occasion, Christ calls men and women to proclaim the gospel and leave their family behind. (Let me be clear, when I speak of the "family" I do not mean a spouse or children, but parents and siblings.)
Jesus even finds himself caught between family and the proclamation of the gospel. Luke writes of the incident: "Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.'
He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice'" (Luke 8:19-21) Jesus eventually puts a sharp point on the whole issue when he declares in Luke 14:26, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." To be sure, a committment to Jesus Christ must come first.
He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice'" (Luke 8:19-21) Jesus eventually puts a sharp point on the whole issue when he declares in Luke 14:26, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." To be sure, a committment to Jesus Christ must come first.
Anyone who has ever been involved in ministry knows that the choice to choose between family and Christ comes sooner or later. It normally comes first when a minister to be chooses a spouse. Their choice must be ready and willing to share the call to proclaim the message. The choice appears again as difficulty arises in planning holiday meetings. Christmas and Easter conjure up headaches not warm sentimentalities as the Church calander conflicts with family gatherings. Children challenge the call in a unique way. The only hope for a minister with children is that he or she be as good a minister at home as they are to the church. Again and again we must choose. However, for those of us who have been there the right choice is obvious, though it may be difficult to accept. Our love and service to Christ and his Kingdom must come first.
Luckily, thus far my family has understood and supported our ministry. Praise be to the Lord, I don't forsee that changing. I should mention that when a family proclaims the gospel together, carries the cross together, and yeilds all together, it flourishes. In the mean time my wife and I will continue to tell the story of the faith my family holds. All the while, I'll continue to preach out of the old rugged Bible that was once my Dad's.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
I yield... I yield...
For the past months I have increasingly struggled with the ideas of sanctification. I understood them well, or so I thought. I liked where they point us theologically. I thought they were well rooted in scripture. I knew that I was partially sancitified, or wed unto Christ or circumcised of heart (whatever terminology you prefer), but I longed for a more complete more full sanctification unto the GOd I love so dearly. I began praying for this more and more. However, it seemed the more I prayed the more I felt distant from that goal. I tried to be holy, to pour more of myself out to my wife and my church, to serve more, to pray more. It didn't work.
During my Romans and Galatians class taught by Dr. Ken Schenck Romans 1:16-17 began to speak to me. So I decided I would preach on it. I did my word studies. I read three or four of the best commentaries. I spent time in prayer. I gave it all time to percolate. As I began to put all of the pieces of the message together I realized this: I don't get any closer to God on the basis of what I do. I don't always even gain ground on the basis of what I seek from him.
Romans 1:16-17 states roughly, "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. First to the JEw and then to the Greek. For a righteousness of God is revealed from Heaven from faith to faith. For as it is written, 'The righteous will live by faith."
John Wesley would have argued that this "righteousness from God was given at first to us when we first believed and then that God goes on, in our faith, to make us actually righteous. PErfecting over time. (Forgive me if this is an elementary understanding of Wesley.) Anyway, what do I take from this? What did I get?
I got this: God makes me holy by my faith in Christ. I don't need to seek holiness as an end. I don't need to do things to become holy. I need to trust Christ to make me holy. Those things "holy people" do come as a biprduct of that trust and faith in Christ that grows deeper as the days role by. John Wesley summed it up this way in a brief hymn. (from www.ccel.org)
NOW, even now, I yield, I yield,
With all my sins to part;
Jesus, speak my pardon sealed,
And purify my heart;
Purge the love of sin away,
Then I into nothing fall;
Then I see the perfect day,
And Christ is all in all.
Jesus, now our hearts inspire
With that pure love of thine;
Kindle now the heavenly fire,
To brighten and refine;
Purify our faith like gold,
All the dross of sin remove;
Melt our spirits down,
and mouldInto thy perfect love.
I yield... I yield...
While I emphasize sanctification as a process of submission to Christ let me also not too emphatically assert that I believe it can take place in a single moment too. Although I think that this moment of which many testify is simply the moment they realized all they needed to do was to yield... to yield...
I'll admit that to some of you who might read this, this blog seems like pretty elementary stuff. I agree, it is. What I'm bloggin about is something I've known in my brain for a long time. It is something though, I confess, I am just now learning in my heart. and I yield... I yield...
During my Romans and Galatians class taught by Dr. Ken Schenck Romans 1:16-17 began to speak to me. So I decided I would preach on it. I did my word studies. I read three or four of the best commentaries. I spent time in prayer. I gave it all time to percolate. As I began to put all of the pieces of the message together I realized this: I don't get any closer to God on the basis of what I do. I don't always even gain ground on the basis of what I seek from him.
Romans 1:16-17 states roughly, "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. First to the JEw and then to the Greek. For a righteousness of God is revealed from Heaven from faith to faith. For as it is written, 'The righteous will live by faith."
John Wesley would have argued that this "righteousness from God was given at first to us when we first believed and then that God goes on, in our faith, to make us actually righteous. PErfecting over time. (Forgive me if this is an elementary understanding of Wesley.) Anyway, what do I take from this? What did I get?
I got this: God makes me holy by my faith in Christ. I don't need to seek holiness as an end. I don't need to do things to become holy. I need to trust Christ to make me holy. Those things "holy people" do come as a biprduct of that trust and faith in Christ that grows deeper as the days role by. John Wesley summed it up this way in a brief hymn. (from www.ccel.org)
NOW, even now, I yield, I yield,
With all my sins to part;
Jesus, speak my pardon sealed,
And purify my heart;
Purge the love of sin away,
Then I into nothing fall;
Then I see the perfect day,
And Christ is all in all.
Jesus, now our hearts inspire
With that pure love of thine;
Kindle now the heavenly fire,
To brighten and refine;
Purify our faith like gold,
All the dross of sin remove;
Melt our spirits down,
and mouldInto thy perfect love.
I yield... I yield...
While I emphasize sanctification as a process of submission to Christ let me also not too emphatically assert that I believe it can take place in a single moment too. Although I think that this moment of which many testify is simply the moment they realized all they needed to do was to yield... to yield...
I'll admit that to some of you who might read this, this blog seems like pretty elementary stuff. I agree, it is. What I'm bloggin about is something I've known in my brain for a long time. It is something though, I confess, I am just now learning in my heart. and I yield... I yield...
Friday, October 06, 2006
Required Reading for Pastors and Leaders
I found myself amused recently during a class in which Rev. Paul Hontz (of Holland Central Wesleyan) was the guest speaker. Throughout the course of the class period he named at least two books which should be read by every pastor. One of them he noted was an absolute must read. (I agreed with him on this; it was In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen.) That got me thinking though of all of the books that pastors and other leaders should be reading. In light of that I have a suggestion.
The recent work of Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals, should be a required text for anyone planning to to lead anyone anywhere. Goodwin does a masterful job of showing what true leadership is through the historical lense of the life and experiences of Abraham Lincoln. What Goodwin highlights as Lincoln's most imoportant trait, however, is a trait that has only recently entered the American leadership lexicon and has yet to be integrated into church leadership: emotional intelligence.
"Exactly what is Emotional Intelligence? The term encompasses the following five characteristics and abilities:
Self-awareness--knowing your emotions, recognizing feelings as they occur, and discriminating between them
Mood management--handling feelings so they're relevant to the current situation and you react appropriately
Self-motivation--"gathering up" your feelings and directing yourself towards a goal, despite self-doubt, inertia, and impulsiveness
Empathy--recognizing feelings in others and tuning into their verbal and nonverbal cues
Managing relationships--handling interpersonal interaction, conflict resolution, and negotiations" (taken from http://www.funderstanding.com/eq.cfm)
Lincoln, according to Kearns Goodwin, was the master of these traits, especially in the areas of empathy and relationship management. Now I recognize fully that a book like this will never be required reading for a church leadership class, but the subject of emotional intelligence may not be a bad subject to touch on. I also recognize that Lincoln's leadership was not specificly a Christian style, though it was certainly rooted in the prevailing protestant culture of his day. No matter what I still reccommend the book as one of the very best I've read in a very long time. Read it.
The recent work of Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals, should be a required text for anyone planning to to lead anyone anywhere. Goodwin does a masterful job of showing what true leadership is through the historical lense of the life and experiences of Abraham Lincoln. What Goodwin highlights as Lincoln's most imoportant trait, however, is a trait that has only recently entered the American leadership lexicon and has yet to be integrated into church leadership: emotional intelligence.
"Exactly what is Emotional Intelligence? The term encompasses the following five characteristics and abilities:
Self-awareness--knowing your emotions, recognizing feelings as they occur, and discriminating between them
Mood management--handling feelings so they're relevant to the current situation and you react appropriately
Self-motivation--"gathering up" your feelings and directing yourself towards a goal, despite self-doubt, inertia, and impulsiveness
Empathy--recognizing feelings in others and tuning into their verbal and nonverbal cues
Managing relationships--handling interpersonal interaction, conflict resolution, and negotiations" (taken from http://www.funderstanding.com/eq.cfm)
Lincoln, according to Kearns Goodwin, was the master of these traits, especially in the areas of empathy and relationship management. Now I recognize fully that a book like this will never be required reading for a church leadership class, but the subject of emotional intelligence may not be a bad subject to touch on. I also recognize that Lincoln's leadership was not specificly a Christian style, though it was certainly rooted in the prevailing protestant culture of his day. No matter what I still reccommend the book as one of the very best I've read in a very long time. Read it.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Summer Reading List
I thought some might like to see my summer reading list. Note that this is only a partial list, and includes some already completed reading.
The Complete Works of Josephus Completed
Written by the 1st century Jewish history, this is considered the go to reference for anyone researching the Jewish antiquities or 1st century history. I mainly skimmed this; it is heavily recap of the Bible, and lacks the divine inspiration.
To Kill a Mockingbird Completed
A classic recommended by Amy. I thought it was good, but not as good as the cover promised. Also, for me, the ending was a let down.
Fahrenheit 451 Completed
A Ray Bradbury novel, and another Amy pick, this is fiction at its finest. Although the fiction at times seems a little to near to real life for comfort. The novel is about a futuristic man whose job it is to burn books so that they wont be read. The logic is that books are too offensive, and we just want everyone to be happy, so just keep them watching TV. My TV viewing has dropped drastically since reading this. An incredible book.
The Mighty and The Almighty Completed
The book I'm currently reading, written by former Sec. Of State Madeline Albright, is a conversation about the role of faith and religion in world politics. The purpose of the book is a bit muddy, and the only suggestion to any world conflict she seems to have is to "use religious leaders to facilitate and legitimacy diplomatic negotiations." It is still a good informative read, despite the sneaking suspicion I have that it was written by committee.
Being God's Friend Partially Complete
A book by Charles Spurgeon, and a gift from Papa. I can't wait to read it. I have already read the first chapter and it seems to me a book everyone should reread monthly. I have also read "Quiet Times with Charles Spurgeon", a devotional book, and it was chalked full of striking Spurgeon quotes on every page. Spurgeon, agree or not, makes you think, and does have a way with wording the gospel.
A Consistant Ethic of Life Complete
An assortment of speeches and addresses made by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who was at one time the Archbishop of Chicago. The book addresses how Christians must develope a consistent ethic of life in the political and personal arena. In other words if the abolition of abortion is important to us thatn the cesation of warfare, a moratorium on the death penalty, and caombating hunger and disease should also be key values, for they are woven together into the "seamless garment of human life"
The Promise of Peace Complete
Another Cardinal Bernardin book, this one about Christian oppostition to warfare. I'm very interested in Catholic writing right now. They are far and away ahead of us in the area of social justice, and we would be wise to look to their beliefs in the political arena.
The Gospels
Amy and I will be reading them together.
Anything relating to Romans & Galatians
I have a Dr. Schenck Class on this subject this fall, I just want to be ready.
Much Much more....
I'll probably read ten more books than this even. However, this is all I'm sure of for now. If you have any suggestions let me know.
The Complete Works of Josephus Completed
Written by the 1st century Jewish history, this is considered the go to reference for anyone researching the Jewish antiquities or 1st century history. I mainly skimmed this; it is heavily recap of the Bible, and lacks the divine inspiration.
To Kill a Mockingbird Completed
A classic recommended by Amy. I thought it was good, but not as good as the cover promised. Also, for me, the ending was a let down.
Fahrenheit 451 Completed
A Ray Bradbury novel, and another Amy pick, this is fiction at its finest. Although the fiction at times seems a little to near to real life for comfort. The novel is about a futuristic man whose job it is to burn books so that they wont be read. The logic is that books are too offensive, and we just want everyone to be happy, so just keep them watching TV. My TV viewing has dropped drastically since reading this. An incredible book.
The Mighty and The Almighty Completed
The book I'm currently reading, written by former Sec. Of State Madeline Albright, is a conversation about the role of faith and religion in world politics. The purpose of the book is a bit muddy, and the only suggestion to any world conflict she seems to have is to "use religious leaders to facilitate and legitimacy diplomatic negotiations." It is still a good informative read, despite the sneaking suspicion I have that it was written by committee.
Being God's Friend Partially Complete
A book by Charles Spurgeon, and a gift from Papa. I can't wait to read it. I have already read the first chapter and it seems to me a book everyone should reread monthly. I have also read "Quiet Times with Charles Spurgeon", a devotional book, and it was chalked full of striking Spurgeon quotes on every page. Spurgeon, agree or not, makes you think, and does have a way with wording the gospel.
A Consistant Ethic of Life Complete
An assortment of speeches and addresses made by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who was at one time the Archbishop of Chicago. The book addresses how Christians must develope a consistent ethic of life in the political and personal arena. In other words if the abolition of abortion is important to us thatn the cesation of warfare, a moratorium on the death penalty, and caombating hunger and disease should also be key values, for they are woven together into the "seamless garment of human life"
The Promise of Peace Complete
Another Cardinal Bernardin book, this one about Christian oppostition to warfare. I'm very interested in Catholic writing right now. They are far and away ahead of us in the area of social justice, and we would be wise to look to their beliefs in the political arena.
The Gospels
Amy and I will be reading them together.
Anything relating to Romans & Galatians
I have a Dr. Schenck Class on this subject this fall, I just want to be ready.
Much Much more....
I'll probably read ten more books than this even. However, this is all I'm sure of for now. If you have any suggestions let me know.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Ishmael's Cry: A Call for Cross-Cultural Compassion
The Text
I was reading recently in Genesis 20 and came across a verse that touched me profoundly. The account of Genesis 20 is one known by many but studied by few; that of the birth of Isaac.
We are told that after Issac was born that Sarah, the wife of Abraham, demanded that her maidservant, Hagar, and the child born of her husband by this servant, Ishmael, be sent away.
The author of Genesis goes on to tell us that although this troubled Abraham greatly he went ahead and sent Ishmael and Hagar away. We are told he did this because God said, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring." (v. 12& 13)
So Abraham sends his child and the child's mother out into the desert. Eventually, however, their provisions run out. They use up all their water. Hope is lost. Hagar sets the 14 year old Ishmael down in the shade and walks away, unable to watch the inevitable death of her son, who would undoubtably soon succomb to the desert heat without water.
It is this part of the passage, then, that intruiged me. The New Living Translation tells us, "Then God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy's cries from the place where you laid him. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants."
The Big Deal
"God heard Ishmael cry". God hears the cries of the oppresse. Very significantly, he is not deaf to those outside his plans or kingdom. Ishmael went on to be a great nation, and he is commonly considered in Biblical and Qu'ran sources to be the father of the Arab peoples.
Why does this matter? It matters because the American church has a tendancy to believe that only we Americans pray to God, and that God hears only our prayers here in America. If God heard Ishmael's cry then who is to say that he will not hear the cry of Ishmael today? Millions of the descendants of Ishmael are crying out now.
It certainly is not a subject we like to think about, but in truth we must. Arabs all over the Middle East are crying out today. They are oppressed by tyranical governments, women are treated like animals under much of the strict Muslim law, the wealth of their nations is robbed out from under the people by their rulers, and they have been convinced by their poverty and desparation to follow creeds of Islamic fundamentalism and extremism. These people cry out to God for deliverance from their governments, our government, the Israelis, the desert, the heat, the poverty, and the percieved pillaging of their culture. Their cries are being raised to God.
Conclusion
Don't get me wrong, I do not condone acts of terror that this desperation promotes. I do not necessarily blame Israel for its acts of agression. It is a rough and cruel world. However, beware, God hears the cries of Ishmael, and so should we. God is intimately aquianted with those who descend from that Abrahamic line. He knows each of them by name. Although we may not agree with them, they too are near to God's heart. Thus they should be to ours also. God has heard Ishmael's cry. Can you?
I was reading recently in Genesis 20 and came across a verse that touched me profoundly. The account of Genesis 20 is one known by many but studied by few; that of the birth of Isaac.
We are told that after Issac was born that Sarah, the wife of Abraham, demanded that her maidservant, Hagar, and the child born of her husband by this servant, Ishmael, be sent away.
The author of Genesis goes on to tell us that although this troubled Abraham greatly he went ahead and sent Ishmael and Hagar away. We are told he did this because God said, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring." (v. 12& 13)
So Abraham sends his child and the child's mother out into the desert. Eventually, however, their provisions run out. They use up all their water. Hope is lost. Hagar sets the 14 year old Ishmael down in the shade and walks away, unable to watch the inevitable death of her son, who would undoubtably soon succomb to the desert heat without water.
It is this part of the passage, then, that intruiged me. The New Living Translation tells us, "Then God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy's cries from the place where you laid him. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants."
The Big Deal
"God heard Ishmael cry". God hears the cries of the oppresse. Very significantly, he is not deaf to those outside his plans or kingdom. Ishmael went on to be a great nation, and he is commonly considered in Biblical and Qu'ran sources to be the father of the Arab peoples.
Why does this matter? It matters because the American church has a tendancy to believe that only we Americans pray to God, and that God hears only our prayers here in America. If God heard Ishmael's cry then who is to say that he will not hear the cry of Ishmael today? Millions of the descendants of Ishmael are crying out now.
It certainly is not a subject we like to think about, but in truth we must. Arabs all over the Middle East are crying out today. They are oppressed by tyranical governments, women are treated like animals under much of the strict Muslim law, the wealth of their nations is robbed out from under the people by their rulers, and they have been convinced by their poverty and desparation to follow creeds of Islamic fundamentalism and extremism. These people cry out to God for deliverance from their governments, our government, the Israelis, the desert, the heat, the poverty, and the percieved pillaging of their culture. Their cries are being raised to God.
Conclusion
Don't get me wrong, I do not condone acts of terror that this desperation promotes. I do not necessarily blame Israel for its acts of agression. It is a rough and cruel world. However, beware, God hears the cries of Ishmael, and so should we. God is intimately aquianted with those who descend from that Abrahamic line. He knows each of them by name. Although we may not agree with them, they too are near to God's heart. Thus they should be to ours also. God has heard Ishmael's cry. Can you?
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Ministry That Every Church Needs
As Jimmy Hoffa once humorously stated, "I may have faults, but being wrong ain't one of them." I think from now on I will claim that line, at least on the topic of this particular blog, the ministry that every church needs.
For a semester now I have been drenched in the stuff of church growth, worship, spiritual formation, and on and on. In all this, however, I have noted one areea which even at the educational level we largely ignore. That is the area of local missions.
1. The Food Bank- One of the longest lived and most successful outreaches of many churches is the food
bank. You cannot come much closer to perfectly following the directive to "feed the
hungry" than this.
2. The Second Hand Store- The Salvation Army and Goodwill have this market cornered,
but many communities are still in need of inexpensive clothing provided
by the loving hands of the church.
3. The Transit- Your church could begin to provide a city wide transit service. Insurance would be pricy,
but charging a small fee might help offset the financial overhead. The church gets a twofer
for this one; you protect the environment and aid thos who cannot afford transportation.
4. The Community Center- A community center for Senior Citizens could be a real boon to the ministry of
any church. This normally would require a more urban setting, so the option is out for
the rural church. However, a community center for teenagers might also be a good
investment.
5. Counseling Services- Larger churches might feel comfortable launching a counseling center for a variety
of needs ranging from drgu addiction, to domestic abuse, to even psychological disorders.
If the church was too wary of the liabilities it might be better to simply subsidize visits
to another local counseling center. An effective way to do this might be by offering
financial aid to low income applicants in need of counseling.
6. Group Therapies- Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups have always found a welcoming home
in the church. Encourage a local group to use your funds and facility.
7. Homeless Shelter- Pricy but necessary.
8. Community Redevelopement- Churches in run down or dilapidated communities might feel called to
engage in programs centering on community renewal. This could take the form of
church members fixing up community houses one by one, grants to homeowners
and businesses, or adopting areas of the community to clean and beautify.
9. Meal Ticket- A weekly or monthly free meal open to the community.
10. Preschool- Financial aid to families in need who wish to enroll their children in preschool. This can be
either in the form of a church subsidized discount in a preschool operated by the church or in
the form of a check to the preschool of choice if the church does not have a preschool program.
For a semester now I have been drenched in the stuff of church growth, worship, spiritual formation, and on and on. In all this, however, I have noted one areea which even at the educational level we largely ignore. That is the area of local missions.
The Need
Let me first define what I mean by local missions: any program or organization of outreach centered, sponsered, and funded by the local church to provide a necessary service to the community. I will even be so daring as to state the following: Every church with a Sunday morning attendance of greater than fifty should have a substantive local missions program consisting of at least one major service or product contributed to the community. Among the possibilities for such programs are the following 10 starter ideas:1. The Food Bank- One of the longest lived and most successful outreaches of many churches is the food
bank. You cannot come much closer to perfectly following the directive to "feed the
hungry" than this.
2. The Second Hand Store- The Salvation Army and Goodwill have this market cornered,
but many communities are still in need of inexpensive clothing provided
by the loving hands of the church.
3. The Transit- Your church could begin to provide a city wide transit service. Insurance would be pricy,
but charging a small fee might help offset the financial overhead. The church gets a twofer
for this one; you protect the environment and aid thos who cannot afford transportation.
4. The Community Center- A community center for Senior Citizens could be a real boon to the ministry of
any church. This normally would require a more urban setting, so the option is out for
the rural church. However, a community center for teenagers might also be a good
investment.
5. Counseling Services- Larger churches might feel comfortable launching a counseling center for a variety
of needs ranging from drgu addiction, to domestic abuse, to even psychological disorders.
If the church was too wary of the liabilities it might be better to simply subsidize visits
to another local counseling center. An effective way to do this might be by offering
financial aid to low income applicants in need of counseling.
6. Group Therapies- Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups have always found a welcoming home
in the church. Encourage a local group to use your funds and facility.
7. Homeless Shelter- Pricy but necessary.
8. Community Redevelopement- Churches in run down or dilapidated communities might feel called to
engage in programs centering on community renewal. This could take the form of
church members fixing up community houses one by one, grants to homeowners
and businesses, or adopting areas of the community to clean and beautify.
9. Meal Ticket- A weekly or monthly free meal open to the community.
10. Preschool- Financial aid to families in need who wish to enroll their children in preschool. This can be
either in the form of a church subsidized discount in a preschool operated by the church or in
the form of a check to the preschool of choice if the church does not have a preschool program.
The Requirements
Even though these are badly needed ministries not every church should praticipate. Here are some thoughts on what churches might need to get started and remain successful in any such ministries.
A. Congregation- More than fifty regulars makes the whole process easier from every angle. With this
size congregation or larger you are beginning to have more discretionary funding
and enough members to support the required work level of launching such a ministry. To
be sure, there are more sacrifices for a small church to make.
B. Involvement- Ten percent of the congregation or more needs to be involved with any outreach local
missions ministry. Why? That way the ministry is the church's ministry and not "Ted's Program"
or "Betty's Thing". This also will encourage continuity long after the current pastor leaves. If
the congregation isn't involve it becomes much easier for the incoming minister to discard a
much needed outreach to pay for the new sound system.
C. Need- Why begin a local missions program for the homeless if you live in small town, USA? Tailor your
ministry to need. Something like a Chrisis Pregnancy Center would be a great ministry anywhere.
Just make sure someone else isn't already doing it.
D. Funding- Although this seems obvious I'd better state it or someone will leave a comment about it. If funds
are low try partnering with other local churches.
E. Revival- The church must have been recently revived by the Holy Spirit or have been on fire all along.
Spiritual maturity for both leadership and the congregation is probably the most imprtant factor in
the success of a ministry of this kind.
F. Spirit- There must be a general support from the congregation, rooted in the Holy Spirit's leading. If this does
not exist you may try and push ahead, but do so with caution. It is far better to fail to establish an
outreach for a time than to tear the church apart at its' seams trying.
Conclusion
Well, admittedly, this blog is not as moving as last weeks. To the contrary it is rooted much more deeply in the concrete. However, it is no less rooted in my heart. I firmly and passionately believe that every church needs a local missions program that encourages its members to service in the community. This is the very essence of what we as Christians are supposed to be about. Just as Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:42 "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Go forth to serve.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Home
I had a friend say to me yesterday, "I still believe in God I just can't stand the church. I think it is broken, evil, warped, etc." At least that is what he approximately said. If you're reading this you probably know the friend. (three hints: he's big, he spoiled, and he's a teddy bear 'most of the time')
Anyway, a serious of bad run ins with local churches had led him to be more than disenfranchised. He was angry. As we sat around a beautiful pick-nick table out in the sun Amy, our other friends, and I all took turns at tearing his comment apart.
Sure, everyone feels hurt by the Church from time to time. Nearly everyone has felt unnapreciated, been involved in a Church split, chewed out by a fellow church member, or wrongly judged. That is nothing new. If we refer to the Bible we see the same thing over and over again. The Apostle Paul is always counseling churches to get their acts together and love each other. He exhorts them to forget percieved slights and ignore intended wrongs. All in all, he challenges the Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Thesselonians, and Ephesians (and more) to love each other as is the primary task of the church. To be sure, dislike or hurt towards the Church is an age old phenomenom, as old as the faith itself.
We responded with a variety of arguments about the church being the living body of Christ, perfect as a whole Catholic (universal) unit, but flawed as individuals, congregations, and denominations. This is true, but I think today there is more than even this argument in play.
This last week Keith Drury told us that he plans to walk the Pottawattamie "Trail of Death" from Twin Lakes near Plymouth to Kansas. When he told us this I proudly offered my History of Marshall County book to him for his research. As I offered it I told him proudly, "These are my people."
Later, as I thought about this statement I could not help but be moved a little bit. Truly, those are my people. From the Michigan state line down to the banks of the Wabash I know almost every road, river, stream, and field. I talk like those people, I look like those people, and although I don't always think like them I know them and love them. They are my people. Almost every member of my family lives there. The steelworkers, truck drivers, construction workers, politicians, and especially the farmers are mine. It was from them that I have come.
There is a profound pride that I carry in having this solid identitiy. There is an immeasurable beauty in knowing where you belong . It is a facet of life being lost in this age of global travel and high speed communication. Most people can no longer say proudly, "I am from ...". Most people today can no longer call some idyllic small town home. Most people do not have a place where they can run home to when the chips are down.
That, friends, is the truest and most beautiful reason for the church today. It gives us identity. It gives us family. It gives us a place to call home.
As our conversation wound down someone concluded that "it is a place to be the home of your faith." This is true, but it is also so much more.
St. Patrick often referred to his call to minister to the Irish people as his "exile for Christ". Since my call I have felt much the same way. I am currently in exile from my homeland. I visit only occassionaly. And although I am near it and seperated by only a little more than an hour my grieving somedays is deep as I long for the plainview of home. I still miss the bawling cattle the fields of wheat and the shades of green fields and trees. (Central Indiana has a lot fewer trees.)
But in the midst of it all I can still call the Church home. They too are my people. Although I will always call Norther Indiana home, the Church helps to fill the gap. True its far from perfect when you take it in small chunks like individuals or congregations, but as a whole the Church of Christ makes a more than adequate home.
Anyway, a serious of bad run ins with local churches had led him to be more than disenfranchised. He was angry. As we sat around a beautiful pick-nick table out in the sun Amy, our other friends, and I all took turns at tearing his comment apart.
Sure, everyone feels hurt by the Church from time to time. Nearly everyone has felt unnapreciated, been involved in a Church split, chewed out by a fellow church member, or wrongly judged. That is nothing new. If we refer to the Bible we see the same thing over and over again. The Apostle Paul is always counseling churches to get their acts together and love each other. He exhorts them to forget percieved slights and ignore intended wrongs. All in all, he challenges the Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Thesselonians, and Ephesians (and more) to love each other as is the primary task of the church. To be sure, dislike or hurt towards the Church is an age old phenomenom, as old as the faith itself.
We responded with a variety of arguments about the church being the living body of Christ, perfect as a whole Catholic (universal) unit, but flawed as individuals, congregations, and denominations. This is true, but I think today there is more than even this argument in play.
This last week Keith Drury told us that he plans to walk the Pottawattamie "Trail of Death" from Twin Lakes near Plymouth to Kansas. When he told us this I proudly offered my History of Marshall County book to him for his research. As I offered it I told him proudly, "These are my people."
Later, as I thought about this statement I could not help but be moved a little bit. Truly, those are my people. From the Michigan state line down to the banks of the Wabash I know almost every road, river, stream, and field. I talk like those people, I look like those people, and although I don't always think like them I know them and love them. They are my people. Almost every member of my family lives there. The steelworkers, truck drivers, construction workers, politicians, and especially the farmers are mine. It was from them that I have come.
There is a profound pride that I carry in having this solid identitiy. There is an immeasurable beauty in knowing where you belong . It is a facet of life being lost in this age of global travel and high speed communication. Most people can no longer say proudly, "I am from ...". Most people today can no longer call some idyllic small town home. Most people do not have a place where they can run home to when the chips are down.
That, friends, is the truest and most beautiful reason for the church today. It gives us identity. It gives us family. It gives us a place to call home.
As our conversation wound down someone concluded that "it is a place to be the home of your faith." This is true, but it is also so much more.
St. Patrick often referred to his call to minister to the Irish people as his "exile for Christ". Since my call I have felt much the same way. I am currently in exile from my homeland. I visit only occassionaly. And although I am near it and seperated by only a little more than an hour my grieving somedays is deep as I long for the plainview of home. I still miss the bawling cattle the fields of wheat and the shades of green fields and trees. (Central Indiana has a lot fewer trees.)
But in the midst of it all I can still call the Church home. They too are my people. Although I will always call Norther Indiana home, the Church helps to fill the gap. True its far from perfect when you take it in small chunks like individuals or congregations, but as a whole the Church of Christ makes a more than adequate home.
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