Pastor John

Merry Christmas

2008-12-09T22:27:00.002-05:00

Just thought I should let you know I'll be taking a little time away from the blog thing. You should see some new postings after Christmas. From my family to yours - Merry Christmas and May God Bless you and yours in the new year!

Pastor John

Color

2008-11-17T08:35:00.003-05:00

I was privileged to behold one of the most brilliant rainbows I have ever seen the other day while I was sitting in my deer stand. I was situated under a pine tree in the rain and was thinking how much fun I was having in the wind and rain when all of a sudden the sun dropped low enough on the horizon to illuminate the ground under the clouds. The most vibrant orange struck my eyes from the color in the leaves and the contrast of the dark clouds above. In an instant, a rainbow formed. The rainbow was a massive rainbow with a twin counterpart that wasn't quite as bright, but was still beautiful. Friends of mine from church saw the twin bows from as far as 20 miles away. It was huge. As the sun finished its course toward sunset, the rainbow intensified in an ebbing and flowing brilliance that is not soon to be compared. I was awe struck and amazed at the beauty of it and could not help but thank God for the color he placed in nature. I think part of the reason the color was so bright was because of the dark clouds that had been pouring rain. There's no doubt in my mind that God's blessing shines the brightest when we're in our darkest hour. There's probably another lesson in that, but you'll have to figure that one out!

Election Day

2008-11-04T13:53:00.003-05:00

The Bible says, "This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it". You might wonder, "Even election day?" The answer is yes! Every day is a gift from God and especially days like election day. So many people come to an election day with anxiety or fear mixed with excitement and expectation. There is much that depends on this day because the outcome of it will set the tone for our country for many years to come.

With all that depends on today, you need to know this, too! Every day is a gift from God and every day presents opportunities that have potential to shape your future. But for the providential care of Almighty God, we might waste everyday and opportunity that He gives to us. The point to this little story is this: God has clearly brought us to this point and he will cearly superintend the events of this election and guide us toward the final consumation of the age. This is the day the Lord has made; regardless of wins the election, we can rejoice and be glad in the day! Be sure to VOTE!

The Day Before Election

2008-11-02T21:20:00.003-05:00

Tuesday is the BIG day! It's the day we get to vote for the next president of the USA. How cool is that? We actually get to have a say in who serves us. There is great debate over the person who will hold the most influential position in our country and arguably the world. Let me give my two cents about what a Christian should look for in a candidate.

First, the candidate must be a person of integrity. I know that seems impossible with politicians, but there are some out there. The best way to determine if the person is a person of integrity is to check his voting record with his past election promises. See if the two match and if not why not.

Second, the candidate must be a person of character / morals. There really is a debate over what constitutes morals. Some say that homsexuality is acceptable morality while others do not agree. Some say that abortion isn't a matter of terminating a human life and others disagree. The kind of morality the candidate possesses is of the utmost importance. In fact, in my opinion, it is the morality of the person that is the single greatest indicator of what kind of leader s/he would be.

Third, the candidate should be above board in his business dealings and professional relationships. We need to know where a person's allegiance rests. The associations a person keeps indicates a great deal about where that candidate's interests are, his sympathies rest and his loyalties lie.

Tuesday is the big day. Let's make it count.

The Privilege to Vote

2008-10-28T10:48:00.003-04:00

Since we live in a society with representative government and since our society prides itself on the practice of religious liberty, we as Christians need desperately to vote and vote our values at election time. Many Christians around the world do not have the luxury of expressing their faith or their convictions in the public arena. We do. Many Christians around the world would love to have an opportunity to be heard and to know that their right to practice their convictions in the public arena are protected.

Christians are to be Christ-like in every area of life. They are to represent their Lord in their speech, attitudes and conduct. We should never compartmentalize our faith and relegate it to something on Sunday. Rather, we should live out our faith on a day in and day out basis. That daily living out of faith should be experienced every election day when we vote. Let me give you some examples. If we believe that life is sacred, we should vote against abortion, federal funding of abortion clinics, euthanasia, assisted suicide. If we believe that life is sacred, we should vote for candidates who uphold the sanctity of life and we should vote against candidates who do not uphold the sanctity of human life. If we believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, we should vote for those who uphold that traditional view and vote against those who do not. If we beleive that homosexuality is a perversion of God's plan for humanity, then we should oppose the attempts of politicians and activists to force their agenda on our society. We should vote our values. I hope this November 4th, you'll not leave your faith at home. I hope you'll vote your values!

Religious Liberty

2008-10-27T08:52:00.004-04:00

Most Christians I know are unaware of the battle for religious liberty that was fought by our forefathers in the faith and the role that battle played in the formation of our own country. The simple version of the story carries us back to the days of dispute between the Pope of Rome and those dissenters who did not agree with corruption of the Roman Church. What was set in motion was a series of events that set that the church of Rome against governmental authorities and those in the church who were vocal in their disagreement with the church's policies. The Roman Church utilized force to implement its policies and silence those who were in disagreement.

As you can imagine, force didn't calm anything, but, instead, fanned the flames. The Roman Church burned people alive for translating the Bible into the language of the people. The Roman Church seized property and confiscated possession and imprisioned people when they attempted to worship God according to their own convictions. Depending upon the alliances, governments would often times participate in the enforcement of the church's policies. In an atmosphere of oppression, the religious liberty of thousands of people was squashed and the morale of the people was broken.

Enter the Ana-baptists, puritans, seperatists and others. These are the folks who refused to bow the knee to the Pope of Rome and worship in a way that was against their convictions and conscience. Those who refused to allow their religious liberty to be taken were either treated harshly or banished or allowed to leave to go to the colonies that would eventually become the United States of America. The very foundation of this country has its roots in the fight to preserve religious liberty. I would encourage you to vote this election according to your values and not allow a secular and increasingly pagan society keep you from the polls because you're Chrisitan. You have a right to vote and a right to be heard as a Christian. Exercise that privilege that was purchased with the blood of our forefathers. Vote November 4th.

Reaching People Involves LOVING People

2008-10-21T21:00:00.003-04:00

One of the most familiar Greek terms for love is agape. Agape is defined as a love of choice or goodwill. When God penned John 3:16, he used agape to describe the kind of love he demonstrated for humanity by sending his son to live, die and rise again. God chose to love us when we were unworthy of his love. In the same way that God chose to love us when we didn't deserve his love, Christian people should extend love, genuine love, to those who do not deserve our love.

This love of choice begins with choosing to love other Christians. Jesus prayed for the unity of the body so that the outside world would see the love we have for one another and know that God is real. How else could a group a people from such economic, racial and social diversity come together and experience unity unless God had done a work in their lives. Unfortunately, most churches are known more for their business meetings or habits of running off preachers than they are for loving one another and their communities. Once Christian people have begun to practice agape for one another, they should turn their attention outward and demonstrate love of choice for those unloved by society. The church is only limited by its own creativity or fear when it comes to loving the unloved of society.

Reaching People Involves LEARNING About People

2008-10-20T21:54:00.003-04:00

I've been a people watcher since I was a child. My mother used to drag the whole family to the shopping malls within 150 miles of our home and she would shop until we got tired. Daddy would sit with us and we would watch people. He would tell us how to watch people without looking like we were watching people. I know now that I'm a father he was just trying to get us to be still and quiet.... We were so good at watching people, we even made the front page of the lifestyle section of the Charlotte Observer by sitting on the floor of the mall surrounded by mountains of bags and packages. I don't remember exactly, but the caption said something to the effect of the Helms family watching people. I say all of this to let you know, I'm a people watcher.

Here's what I've learned from people as it relates to reaching them with the Gospel:
1. People what to be respected.
- There may have been a day in this country when you could knock on someone's door unannounced and expect them to stop what they were doing and give you a solid hearing of the Gospel. That day is gone! Most people live at such break-neck speed that you must have an appointment in order to meet with them. Some have said they will continue to knock on doors with no invitation. I prefer to respect a person's home and schedule enough to make an appointment.
2. People will listen to you if they are respected by you.
- Once a person sees that you respect his time, his privacy, his beliefs (even if they are wrong), his opinions (even if they are different from yours) then and only then will he give you the respect that is necessary for an honest hearing of the Gospel. Think about it and decide: Would you a Jehovah's Witness the time of day if he imposed himself on you in the middle of a family function or would you be more likely to listen to someone (even a Jehovah's Witness) if they asked for a time to meet?
3. People are creatures of habit and they do what they want to do.
- There was a day in this country when folks were expected to come to church on Sunday. That day is gone! People feel no sense of obligation or duty to their church anymore. Mind you, I'm talking about church people. If we can't get church people to come but half time, what in the world do you think lost people think about church? They see us as irrelevant and disconnected from their lives. They are playing soccer, participating in the bowling league, serving in civic clubs and doing life independently of the church. By the way, one of the reasons we can't get church folks to church like we used to is because they are busy doing the same kinds of things! So what do you do? Maybe we ought to stop trying to gather the church all the time and we ought to start intentionally scattering the church into the civic clubs, ball leagues and other functions that people participate in. Instead of expecting lost people to come to us, maybe we ought to think about new and innovative ways to do what Jesus commanded us to do and that is to go and meet them where they are.
4. People change when they meet God through Jesus Christ.
- Once a person is respected and you earn the right to share Jesus with that person, God changes him or her. Instead of spending every minute living for himself / herself, God initiates the transformation process that we call sanctification in the church and what we call life change in the world. People can change with the help of God. Most people don't know they need God's help and that is the privilege of the church - to help people see how God desires to help them.

Reaching People with the Gospel

2008-10-20T09:47:00.003-04:00

In Luke 14:23 Jesus spoke of a servant who was sent into the "highways and hedges" to compel people to come to a wedding feast. That story underscores the importance of reaching out to people rather than expecting people to show up just because we have an event scheduled. The mentality of most church folks seems to be that of, "we've built it now they can come". Jesus never commanded us to build, but to go, compel, preach and share. Reaching people with the Gospel, then, supposes that a Christian engages people where they are. Here are some thoughts on how to do that....

What would it be like if instead of starting a new Sunday School Class, we advertised a bible study at Shoney's on Thursday nights for anyone interested?

What would it be like if instead of participating in a church softball league with a bunch of other Christians, we got together a team of Christian men and sponsored a team in the industrial league?

What would it be like if instead of starting our own little leagues, we trained men and women how to lead little league football, soccer, baseball and basketball teams with an eye toward sharing the Gospel and being salt and light?

What would it be like if instead of spending millions of dollars on a family life center to gather the church together, again, the church bought every family a membership at the YMCA?

How 'bout this? Instead of spending all that money on brotherhood meals and women's groups meals, what if we took that money and paid the entry fee for a few trained evangelists into hunting clubs, country clubs, quilting clubs and the like?

Here's the point - We spend a lot of money talking about evangelism and not doing evangelism. Why not spend that money to strategically place Christian people in places where non-christian people hang out so that the Gospel might be shared and souls saved?

Receiving God's Love

2008-10-14T10:26:00.002-04:00

I was blessed this past Sunday with multiplying Hershey's Bars. On Wednesday night I was tell a story about a teenaged crush I had on a particular young lady. I was in seventh grade and she was in eighth. I liked her greatly and overheard her one day say that she liked Hershey's Bars. So....I went to the store and bought one, but could not muster the courage to give it to her as an expression of my undying love. So, I kept the thing for days until I finally decided I had better give it to her before it melted. When I approached her, I simply placed the candy bar on her desk and said, "Here! This is for you." She smiled and ate the candy bar without so much as a thank you (let alone an expression of mutual attraction)!

The point to the story is this. I didn't know how to express my love to her and she didn't know how to receive my love. The moral of the story is this: God knows how to express his love for his children. His children need to learn how to receive His love so they don't miss out on the kindness of God. Why not practice receiving God's love, today?

I'm Baaaack......

2008-10-13T08:25:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the absence from the blog, but I've been unusually busy for the last several days. Here's a thought to be pondered. Are you led by God's Spirit? Romans 8: 14 makes the strong statement that those who are being led by the Spirit are children of God. The opposite is implied - if you are NOT led by the Spirit, then you are not the child of God. The New Testament bears this truth in many other fashions, perhaps none so striking as the Pharisees and their religiosity. Though they knew the law, they didn't do it because they were unable to do so. When a person meets God that person comes under the influence of God's Spirit. He is led by, empowered by and controled by the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit is absent or void from a person's life, that person is led by external influences (the world, demonic influence, etc...) or internal influences (attitudes, fleshly desire, etc...). The child of God, on the other hand, has crucified the flesh and denied the world and pursues only the Lord. What happens in this pursuit is truly a God-Thing! The Spirit creates within a person the desire to do what God wants done. The Spirit creates within a person the momentum to get that thing that God wants done, done. The Spirit influences a person so that in the process of doing the thing that God wants done that person knows what to do and how to do it. Every day of a Christian's life should be spent surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Have you surrendered, today?

Church Outside the Box

2008-09-23T21:55:00.004-04:00

The "Church Box" (the common way of doing church in the south) typically looks like this: Sunday morning Bible Study (aka Sunday School); Morning Worship (usually at 11am with various worship elements); Discipleship Training or Training Union (more Bible study for church members in the early afternoon); and, evening worship service (usually immediately after the training union thing). Of course there are hybrids of this format, but the format is universal enough to recognize the Church Box that so many of us are accustomed. The "Church Box" way of doing church keeps us busy and wearied by so much religious activity. What would church outside of the box look like?

Imagine with me a different way of doing church in which the small group is the emphasis. Rather than fill our Sundays with activities that busy us, Sunday would be the time to gather the small groups into a single worship experience. The church would offer ever how many services were needed in order to accomodate the small groups of the church. For instance, if there were 600 people in small groups and the sanctuary would only hold 200, then three services would be needed. The services would be the same, but offered at three different times. While these services were taking place, children's classes would be offered. Once the three offerings of the same service were completed, that would conclude the activities for the day and give people an opportunity for a true "sabbath" experience - one where families got to visit with one another and worshippers could re-focus and refresh themselves for the upcoming week.

Once the day of worship was completed, small groups would meet all around the community at different times in order to accomplish two main things. The first of the main things would be Bible study. Small groups provide the perfect opportunity for people to learn from God's Word. The second of the main things would be service. Small groups provide the perfect blend of accountability and flexibility in order to get people out of the building and into the marketplace with the Gospel. Of course, small group leaders would be integral for the success of this type of "Church Box". The small group leader would initiate visits, follow-up with class members and lead the way in creating more small groups. Of course, in the midst of the week, the church would offer a worship experience.

In this "Church Box" there are not centralized activities that constitute church. Rather, there is flexibility and accountability in order to mobilize the volunteer base. Everyone would attend at least one worship service (pick the one that is most convenient because on Sunday they are all three the same); everyone would participate in a small group (pick the one closest to you and most important to you); and, everyone would find meaningful avenues of service through their small group (no more pew packers and non-participating members!). How cool would it be if every member of church was in at least one worship experience a week, one bible study a week and involved in some type of service at least once a week? That wouldn't be just cool, that would be church outside the box!

Small Groups Yield Big Results

2008-09-23T08:41:00.003-04:00

Every church that takes seriously the Great Commission of the Lord to make disciples has to wrestle with the concept of maintaining unity and fellowship in the wake of a growing church. To state that another way, as the church becomes larger, leaders often struggle with how to maintain closeness and identity. The simple answer is in the small group. Unfortunately, most churches fill there calendars with endless meetings and schedule never-ending activities and usually work the same people to the bone in an effort to maintain their schedules. A much simpler approach would be to entrust faithful men and women with leadership in small groups.

These leaders become the influencers of the church and communicate the truths of scripture, the needs of the body and the schedule of events. When these three things are done through the small group, the worship services are free from endless announcements, the church is streamlined so as to promote effectiveness and people get to know one another around the two key components of discipleship - learning / studying and doing. If a church expects every member to participate in small group and every member avails himself of that opportunity, the spiritual climate of the church will change and change for the better. Souls will be saved. Lives will be transformed. God will be glorified.

Thinking about Bible Study and Fellowship

2008-09-22T09:43:00.003-04:00

Perhaps the greatest binding force in the life of the church is the shared belief we have in the teachings of the Bible. People from diverse backgrounds and different perspectives often enjoy warm and abiding fellowship in church because they share common belief. Since Christians are united around Christ, it makes sense to build fellowship units in the church around the Bible - hence the importance of Bible Study.

When people engage one another around the study of Scripture, there is supernatural bonding that takes place. The Holy Spirit, who wrote Scripture and indwells every beleiver, manifests himself in such a way as to promote openness and honesty in the students. That transparency, then, promotes fellowship and intimacy among those in the study. Ultimately, they gain knoweldge and community and, from that, the power they need to live as Christians in a world that is marked by darkness. Bible study is the backbone of the church. Have you been in bible study with others this week?

What Color is God?

2008-09-17T08:08:00.004-04:00

I was walking my second son into his class yesterday and he was telling me about some of the people in his class. He's beginning to notice that people are different shades of color and he was wondering why. He told me about the little brown girl and the red boy. He told me about the white boy and the yellow girl. And then he asked me the question I pose to you: What color is God?

I don't know about you, but I've heard this question before and seen the answers people give to it. God is white and if you don't beleive it, look at the picture of Jesus on the wall at the church. He's got fair skin, light brown hair and blue eyes. That works if you're in a white church. Others might say God is black and if you don't believe it, look at the picture of Jesus on the wall at the church. He's got dark skin, dark, curly hair and black eyes. That works if you're in a black church. On it goes. I've seen portrayals of God as an old white man with the big white beard. I've seen images of Jesus stained with blood. I've even seen Native American depictions of God. So....what color is God?

Admittedly, I often miss such teachable moments, but praise God I didn't miss this one. When he asked me what color God was, I didn't miss a beat and told him that God is the creator of color and that he is a little bit of every color. That's why in the Bible (Revelation 5:9-10) people of every color from every nation, tribe and language group will gather in heaven and praise God. So...what color do you think God is?

The Shema and Thunderstorms

2008-09-16T08:31:00.003-04:00

The Shema (pronounced: she-ma) is the Hebrew word for hear or listen. It is the first word of that famous passage in Deuteronomy where the Lord says, "Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one..." (Deut. 6:4-9). It is in this passage where the Lord commands His people to speak to their children about the Lord when they go out, when they come in, when they lie down and when they rise up. In short, they were to speak to their children about the Lord all the time. The passage is still sound for today and those who wish to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Parents should teach their children about the Lord.

So...we're at my oldest son's first football game. (He made an amazing tackle at the very beginnig of the game and made his old man proud and roused the whole stand with his amazing athletic ability.) About six plays or so into the game the thunderstorm that had been off in the distance made it's way to the field where we were playing and promptly shut down our football experience for the day. Once the game was finally called and rescheduled the collective whine of every 7 and 8 year old boy could be heard over the thunder. "Why can't we play?" "It's just rain?" "We shouldn't have to stop?" etc.... I saw parents dragging children away. I saw parents and children running for their lives to escape the rain. I saw all manner of response to the calling of the game (not to mention every manner of response to the calling in the game).

What I didn't see a lot of was a Deuteronomy 6 response to the calling of the game. Admittedly, it was until we were well away from the field and the press of the moment that I realized the Deuteronomy 6 potential of our precipitious fortune. So what's the point? The point is to LISTEN. God speaks to us from His Word. God speaks to us by His Spirit. God speaks to us through His creation. God speaks! Are we listening? Better yet...are we teaching our children to listen?

Shrimping for Jesus

2008-09-15T11:39:00.005-04:00

I had the wonderful privilege of participating in a shrimping expedition sponsored by IronMan Outdoors Ministry. You can check out their website at www.ironmanoutdoors.org. There were 11 guys from various places around the southeastern US who converged on Charleston Harbor and Bulls Bay for two days of outstanding shrimping. Other than catching almost a four boat limit on shrimp, we enjoyed God's creation and fellowship with one another. We shrimped the harbor on Friday night. Can I tell you how beautiful the full moon reflecting on the undulating waves of the harbor was? There was a steady breeze that kept the skitters at bay and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the lights of the Battery in Charleston off in the distance. We shrimped Bulls Bay on Saturday and saw porpoises, shrimp, fish, thunderstorms in the distance and shrimp trawls in the sea. We had a wonderful trip.

The thing I like about IronMan Outdoors is this: They do what God made them to do and glorify God through out the whole process. These are men who love to hunt and enjoy the creation. I know a lot of guys who hunt and fish, but they never acknowledge God in the pursuit of game or outdoor recreation. These guys at IronMan are great at taking men into the adventure of wilderness and pointing them (not beating them up, mind you) toward God. Truly, I experienced an adventure (I nearly sunk a man's boat!!!!!!!) and I experienced God. What more could a guy want?

Young Minds and the Power of Words

2008-09-09T10:24:00.003-04:00

My oldest son is playing recreation leauge football. He'll be 8 in a couple of weeks. Last night at the practice, the coach told the defensive line to do whatever they had to do in order to stop that football. So...when the quarterback yelled hike, my son took off for this player and when he got right to him jumped up in the air, kicked him in the stomach, grabbed his facemask and threw him to the ground. I've never seen anything like it! In a strange way, I was proud. We corrected him and let him know that he couldn't kick anyone in the stomach to which he replied, "The coach said do whatever to stop the ball." With more experience, my son will be able to stop the ball in the appropriate way.

Could you imagine what the church would be like if all God's children took Him at His Word and did what he said. It's true! We might have people getting kicked in the stomach, but with the experience gained from engaging in the game of life, we could become a mighty force for the Kingdom. SO...Let's get out there and do whatever it takes to stop the devil (minus kicking people, of course)!

Acts of God and Prayer

2008-09-08T10:31:00.003-04:00

On your homeowners policy you probably have an exception or stipulation concerning what insurance companies call acts of God. These are things like tornados, hurricanes, floods, etc... There really is no way an insurance company can categorize acts of God as anything other than what they are - Acts of God. Isn't it interesting that in the wake of so many storms that people debate whether or not God is responsible for the devestating effects that lie in the wake. Theologically we could say that the world is fallen and under the curse of sin and these things happen. This is true. We could also say that God sends or allows these things as punishment for sin or in His providential care He knows what is best to reveal his glory and bring people to himself. All of these are true. The question I've always pondered, though, is how to pray when threatened by hurricanes.

Right, wrong or indifferent, this is how I pray when faced with acts of God. I pray that God would be glorified. Regardless of the outcome and the effects of the storm, my prayer is that God receives the glory for it. I pray that God would diminish the storm (not send it to Mexico or Texas) and that its effects would be minimal and the loss of life would be minimal. I pray that God would teach us humility and create within us as a people a dependence upon him. Finally, I pray that God would walk through the storm with the people that even in the midst of calamity, folks might know that God is with them. How 'bout you....How do you pray when faced with acts of God?

Lives and Levees

2008-09-02T09:06:00.003-04:00

With all of the news focused on Gustav, my wife and I have been reliving our memories of surviving Katrina. While we didn't live in the city and were blessed to be on the weakest side of Katrina, the damage was significant and the memories still create emotional responses from us that still surprise us. Katrina was a life changing experience and has left a permanent mark on us as a family. Our prayers go out to the thousands who will be affected by Gustav.

I was watching the news last night and heard a reporter's interview with a FEMA representative. The FEMA guy said that one levee was being topped by water and that it was beginning to leak water through it. Usually when a levee is topped and begins to leak it is only a matter of time before it breaks. When conditions are normal the levees look fine and give the false impression that all is well and they can hold. When the pressure is turned on, though, the true nature of the levee is revealed. Such is the case with us Christians.

Christians are notorious for putting up facades and fronts that communicate to everyone who sees that things are fine when, often times, things are not fine. It is only a matter of time and pressure before whatever weaknesses you possess come to light. The New Testament has a great deal to say about being sincere, genuine and without hypocrisy (which literally means masking something or covering it up). As Christians we shouldn't attempt to hide or cover up our frustrations, faliures and fears. Rather, we should carry them to the Lord and allow him to help us. We can also carry them to faithful brothers and sisters who can also help us shoulder the load. Just like the national guard reinforcing those weakened levees, we can find reinforcement for our souls from God and God's people.

The Bible and Worship

2008-08-28T08:58:00.003-04:00

This may seem strange, but the Bible isn't to be worshipped. It is a tool to help us worship. Some commit what has been termed bible-alatry (a termed coined to communicate the sometimes unhealthy focus on a particular interpretation of the Bible) and worship what they think the Bible says instead of actually doing what the Bible really says. I have an aunt who used to tell me that you should never place anything on top of a Bible - not even another Bible! While I am all about honoring God's Word and giving due reverence to the Word of God, I have to say that I think there is a disconnect.

The Bible is God's Word. I believe it is without error and is profitable for our instruction and correction and is the self-disclosure of God to us. It should be read, memorized, studied, shared, distributed and whatever else is within the parameter of getting it out to people and then in to people. This is the disconnect. Most Christian people have Bibles and most do NOT read them. In reading the Bible, a reader comes face to face with the Author of the Bible. The reader learns about Him and comes to understand the love He has for creation and, in particular, humanity. It is in the Bible that we get the clearest picture of God and His plan for us. When we gather to meet with the Lord or when we set a time to meet with Him personally, you had better beleive that your worship experience will be much more meaningful and powerful if you come to it having been informed about the God you worship. One of the criticisms we see in the New Testament about the religious people is that they had zeal without knowledge. Isn't it a shame that we all we have learned and particularly all that we have revealed to us in the Bible, religious people can still be criticized for having zeal without knowledge? Have you read your Bible, today?

Motorcycles and Worship

2008-08-27T10:40:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was a great rainy day. The temperature stayed in the mid to upper seventies and the rain stayed at a constant drizzle for most of the day. SO...when the boys got home and finished their homework we hit the trail to go "mud-doggin'" (my 2 year old's pronunciation of "mud-boggin'). We had a blast and we were wet and filthy dirty when we got done! So what does that have to do with worship?

Worship is giving praise to God and honoring him as the supreme being and part of what that means is that we worship him as Creator and Sustainer. He created rain. Rain; therefore, is good and we should enjoy it. He sends rain to make crops grow which in turn sustain us in our lives; therefore, rain is good. My aunt passed away a few years ago after loosing her battle with ovarian cancer. She was known to say on a regular basis of rainy days, "Don't run from the rain. Feel the rain." In other words, experience the rain. In experiencing the rain, you can not help but experience the One who made the rain, the One who sent the rain and the One who wants you to enjoy the rain. Be sure I told the boys about the God who sends rain. The benefit to riding your ATV's on a rainy day is this: You get to thank God for washing your bike at the end of the day!

Children and Worship

2008-08-26T10:37:00.003-04:00

In Matthew 18 Jesus astonished those standing around him when he took a child and said to the people if you want to become great you have to become like a child. There is at least one instance in the Jesus' life when he rebukes his disciples for not allowing children to come to him. It is in the that episode that he says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." In contemporary English that means, "Let the children come to me." Those are good words for church leaders to hear. Let the children come to Jesus.

In our church we have activities, bible studies and worship experiences planned for children during the "Big Church" service. Our workers do a wonderful job of communicating the truths of the Scripture to the children in their own language and in meaningful ways so that the children experience God in a world that is friendly to them. There is something to be said for bringing children into the "Big Church" service, too. One of things that has troubled me for the last few years is the fact that compartmentalize the church into age groups and keep the groups separated from one another during their whole worship experience. Often we speak of Children's Church, the Youth Service, the Seniors' Class, etc...

At some point we have to realize (and then plan accordingly) that the church is made up of children, youth, adults, seniors etc... These individual groups are not churches unto themselves and neither are they factions within one church, but they are one and we are the church. Titus 2 has some amazing insight into inter-generational aspects about church; but, back to the children. I realize that some small children cause disturbances in church and I also realize that some older children (and even grown-ups) create disturbances in church. If we introduce our children to the "Big Church" at an early age, I can only see positive results for them and the church. I once heard an old preacher say this: The crying of the children isn't nearly as bothersome to me as the snoring of the saints!" What do you think?

Images and Worship

2008-08-25T08:36:00.003-04:00

The debate over art in worship has been in full swing for centuries. One has only to look at the ornate cathedrals of the eastern church or visit a Roman Catholic church to see a likeness of Jesus on the cross in order to experience art in places of worship. On my desk are two likenesses given to me by my sister. One is a likeness of Jesus carved into some kind of tree indigenous to Honduras. The other is a letter opener carved out of mahogany with a lion for a handle. This piece came from Africa. I'm just sitting here looking at those two things and I also have a portrait of the church I'm currently serving from one hundred years ago. There are all kinds of things in my office and around our church (from banners in the sanctuary to posters in the kids' classrooms) that constitute image in worship.

The question is whether or not decoration enhances or detracts from the worship experience. A sanctified common sense goes a long way in determining what is appropriate and what is not. I remember as a kid hearing about the lady who made a motion in the church business meeting to cover the pews in a leopard skin pattern. She didn't stay at the church long after that. Maybe that's a bit flashy for a house of worship, but one thing is for sure - most churches are no where close to being excessive in their adornment. Is there anyone else out there who is tired of the off white, labratory-styled hallways and sanctuaries?

Images depicting the stories of Scripture are often displayed in stained glass against plain white walls. More times than not, though, churches are just blah and provide nothing more than a sterile environment in which to meet God. I have a friend who serves in a church that has an art gallery in it. They took one of the unused Sunday School rooms and turned it into an art gallery for local college students (and church members) to display their religious art. The gallery is a wonderful addition to the church and a great outreach tool. I've been in churches where every hallway depicted some story of Scripture (from Daniel in the lion's den to Jesus' ascension). I think art / image in worship is great as long as it is tastefully done and points people to the great God we serve. What do you think?

Fasting and Prayer: Tools of Worship

2008-08-21T08:37:00.003-04:00

Perhaps the biggest indictment against American Christians is the busyness that keeps us from spending time with God. I've never been on an international mission trip, but I have many friends from different parts of the world and I have many friends who have traveled to different parts of the world and the stories they tell of people spending hours (yes hours!) in worship is vastly different from my own experiences. I've heard stories of people walking for days just to hear someone read the Bible. I've heard of people sitting for hours in the underground church of China taking notes and studying the Scriptures through the night. Here at home I've heard gripes and complaints when the service slides past noon and I've seen people with Tourette Syndrome-like movements shake a watch until the whole congregation can see it. There seems to be a profound difference. We are too busy for God and certainly too busy to spend time with him.

Enter fasting and prayer. Fasting and prayer are two spiritual practices the church has utilized for centuries and in recent days the two have fallen on hard times. Fundamental to the practice is the very simple fact that in order to fast and prayer, one has to dedicate the all-important time necessary for the practice. We have no problem spending a couple of hours deciding where to eat, eating and hanging out, but if we take that same time slot and fill it with things like bible reading, prayer and meditation, then we suddenly don't have time. The truth is, we make time for what is important to us. When we fast and pray, we are saying with our attitude and action that our relationship with God is important and he is worthy of my most precious commodity - TIME.

As you walk with the Lord, you might consider giving up a meal a day or every meal one day a week and dedicate that time to the Lord. We spend about 56 hours a week sleeping, 40 to 60 hours a week (or more) working, depending on your recreational habits another 20 or so hours playing and 20 or more hours a week eating. Don't you know God would speak to you if you spent one day's allotment for food (between two and six hours) in prayer and meditation with Him? Our problem isn't lack of knowledge about God. Our problem is that we don't really know the God we all know about. By spending some time fasting and praying, we can get to know the God who desires to make himself known to us. I hope you'll take the time to rekindle your relationship with the Lord, this week!