"But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety" (Philippians 2:25-28).
Many years ago my dad was speaking at a youth camp on the Oregon coast. I remember around the fire one night (back when you could still have fires!!), he spoke of the importance of remembering those who teach you, or lead you in your spiritual walk and to pray for them as you grow spiritually. Particularly, he shared that as we aged, it is always an encouragement to check in with those "older" folks that mentored you in your spiritual life. Well I did that today. While I was working on taping sheet rock joints in a minor remodel project at work today, I was listening vaguely with 1/2 my ears to a radio show, and on that show, the speaker reminded me of caring for or thanking your spiritual leaders from your childhood... made me think of my dad's fireside chat, and made me think of a youth pastor I had in a church in Dallas Oregon growing up.
My youth Pastors name was Bruce Morris. He and his wife Barbara were great people. Not so care free that they let you slide on not doing the right thing, but loving enough to correct, and guide you regardless if it was uncomfortable for them. They upheld biblical standards and taught to those in the youth group. Not until today did I think of them after 25 plus years of not being around them. So here it is, 12:00, lunch time... so what does a tech geek do at lunch when he is curious?? He googles of course. The first link returned at the top.. was the right one. Bruce is now a Pastor in Las Vegas of all places. I recognized his picture from the staff/pastor section, it has a contact link and phone number, so, I called. Amazing. We had a great 15 minute discussion on the past 25 years... It was a blessing to both of us and I am sure that he had as good of a laugh about remembering as I did.
Funny thing though, when I called, I was not sure if he would remember me, or if his passion for the Lord would have subsided after all these years. I called expecting to talk to a man of great faith who was flourishing in the ways of the Lord and that is exactly what I got when he answered his phone. It was a good thing to remember Bruce. He is a busy man of a BIG church in Vegas (check out their website at www.ccalv.org ). I feel like our conversation and in particular, my thanking him for his service and guidance to me all those years ago was an uplifting experience for him as well. We all know that those folks in full time ministry often mostly field complaints, criticism or problems... not a "I thought of you, I prayed for you, and Thank you" phone call.
Paul had established the Philippian church and had a rather rough time while there, being beaten and imprisoned during his short ministry tenure. He was then essentially run out of town; however he made an impact. (God's Word does not return void and any labor for the Lord is not in vain.) He wrote to encourage these young believers while he himself was imprisoned. Do you sense his earnestness in the opening verse? Scroll back to the verse at the top and and re-read it to get a fuller sense of the Biblical message today.
The Philippian believers were so troubled by Paul's imprisonment that they sent their dear friend, Epaphroditis, to care for his needs. Paul was very appreciative and indicates his sincere love for Epaphroditis by writing that he would have had sorrow upon sorrow if Epaphroditus had died from his near death experience. He is anxious to send Epaphroditus back to his own people "so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety."
In our present world so much of what we do is motivated by the following attitudes: "What's in it for me?" "How do I get ahead?" "You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours." Paul, Epaphroditis, and the Philippian believers' attitude is in stark contrast to the mindset of our own generation. Paul's eagerness to care for the needs of the Philippian believers exceeded his own personal needs to have a comforting, believing friend by his side in a prison cell where he was surrounded by discomfort and godlessness.
There are many who have made a spiritual impact on our lives, so much so, that our lives are greatly improved because of it. It has resulted in our making a spiritual impact on others as well. But perhaps we may also need to make a circular impact by giving back to those who initially invested in our lives. If possible let's tend to their needs (spiritual, emotional, physical, or otherwise), make a call, send a note/letter/email. Touch base; catch up with them and all the years. Let them know that their investment in you is still flourishing and producing spiritual fruit. You know what, it may be that they have a need and God has commissioned you to meet it!
My hour is up, it is now 1 PM, so God Bless you, have a safe memorial day weekend.
- Paul
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Critical of Leadership?
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. “(Hebrews 13:17).
These past few months, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a "leader" in a local church. My perspective is slightly warped on the subject for several reasons; the first being a preachers kid (PK) growing up, and the second is serving as an Elder in my current church, and a Board member in my last church home. Alright, there is also the fact that I have certain personality traits that automatically deem me 100% correct in everything I do or say (I know this is a fantasy... and not true), but more importantly, I am not always the best follower. That is a major issue! Jesus was the epitome of a perfect follower, even to his death on the cross.
Having attended church for 43 years, and been involved in various aspects of church leadership, for a total of about 16 years, I have developed an interesting perspective on pastoral (Elder)/lay relations, not always correct, but none the less interesting. As I thought about it this morning on my way to work, it was really a nagging feeling, and then when I read Proverbs 31 (daily reading), verse 2 nailed me in the center of my thoughts. It states "Where are you doing my son? " (Proverbs 31:2a). The whole first part was a real message to those in positions of Leadership of any kind. This made me think even more of my work with the other Elders at Immanuel Baptist Church.
As I processed my thoughts this morning and put my brain to it during a morning break, I reflected again on Proverbs 31, this time on verse 8 and 9; "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy".
Fast forward to 11 am, here I am plagued by these thoughts at lunch time and I need to get it off my chest. So, as I look into it, I fall into this passage in Hebrews 13. I am thinking to myself "yeah right on... OBEY/SUBMIT..." then I look at the latter portion of verse 17 "Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you". Ouch. I think that verse was meant for me... "with JOY and not with GROANING". Uhmmm, is there a camera secretly filming my reactions? I have been set up. I have been reading Proverbs as a day by day weekday devotional for years. YEARS... it never said that to me before. What is God trying to tell me here?
The verse I selected from title Scripture is a powerful description of the heart of an elder or church leader's ministry. One of the notes I just found in the Amplified Version states the first part of the phrase as; "they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare." That means me. I have a responsibility to keep watch and guard those that GOD entrusts to my care.
How can I do that if I don't reach out, or if I don't get involved, or if I don't know those in the church? Writing, radio, TV, recorded, and Internet/Email based ministries such as this one may be a helpful supplement in our Christian lives, but I believe it's God's plan for believers to meet together regularly in worship as they did in the very beginning. In fact I almost cringe or chafe at the term "home based churches", simply because that doesn't involve you getting out of your home to meet with other Christians or the big move now, is to set up a church over the internet seeking to simulate a local church. (There are 100's of great sermons you can here every week on the internet... Just ask some my wife, or her best friend!) I believe everyone calling themselves a Christian should be in regular association with other believers in a local church with Elder leadership and care. Within reason, I am aware that there are those who cannot attend services due to health, so there are caveats!
After being involved with leadership of all kinds in my brief years... One of the greatest sources of discouragement and grief for those who minister the gospel is dealing with criticism. I received my share of it during my years of organized elder ministry. I know all of my peers in ministry have as well. I know my dad dealt with it weekly for all the years he was a pastor. Last week I read an account on "The heart of a pastor" blog site by H.B. London (www.hblondon.org), a veteran pastor, who shared a perspective on this that I found fascinating. He stated “I know of one dedicated minister who had a very effective ministry in a church he had founded and served faithfully. But after he left there was division in the church and a group arose that criticized both his appearance and speaking ability."
Sound familiar? You may be a youth leader, a Sunday school teacher, an elder, a ordained pastor, a laymen in the church... or even a boss at your job. No one escapes it. NO ONE! Such criticism just goes with the job of being in front of people, or being a leader, but can still be very personally painful. Elders/Pastors are often criticized in ways that are mutually contradictory. From my brief experience in church leadership, I believe that most criticisms are merely personal preferences by members of the congregation. Style. Sure there are issues that come up, but I think predominately it is style, either there own personal style, or you are being compared to a former teacher/preacher/elder, or in the workplace, a former boss.
Let me ask you this simple question regarding your church leadership. Do your pastors/elders faithfully preach God's Word and teach sound doctrine? Are they faithful to their wife and family? Do they care for the flock of God? Do they manage the financial and business affairs of your church with honesty and integrity? If so you are blessed. Why don't you pray for your Elders and Pastors and let them know of your appreciation. If you're an Elder or a Pastor and you can honestly put yourself into those statements in a positive light... Keep up the good work.
By the way, before I forget, the dedicated minister that H.B. London referred to above who received painful criticism was the Apostle Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians he referenced this criticism made of his ministry gifts, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." (2 Corinthians 10:10). I sure bet those people feel foolish now! Choose today to be a great follower; it directly affects your ability to be a great leader at home, work or church!
Well, it is 11:30, time to get cracking again and be a good follower for my boss here at work. May God bless you guys as you do the same!
Paul
These past few months, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a "leader" in a local church. My perspective is slightly warped on the subject for several reasons; the first being a preachers kid (PK) growing up, and the second is serving as an Elder in my current church, and a Board member in my last church home. Alright, there is also the fact that I have certain personality traits that automatically deem me 100% correct in everything I do or say (I know this is a fantasy... and not true), but more importantly, I am not always the best follower. That is a major issue! Jesus was the epitome of a perfect follower, even to his death on the cross.
Having attended church for 43 years, and been involved in various aspects of church leadership, for a total of about 16 years, I have developed an interesting perspective on pastoral (Elder)/lay relations, not always correct, but none the less interesting. As I thought about it this morning on my way to work, it was really a nagging feeling, and then when I read Proverbs 31 (daily reading), verse 2 nailed me in the center of my thoughts. It states "Where are you doing my son? " (Proverbs 31:2a). The whole first part was a real message to those in positions of Leadership of any kind. This made me think even more of my work with the other Elders at Immanuel Baptist Church.
As I processed my thoughts this morning and put my brain to it during a morning break, I reflected again on Proverbs 31, this time on verse 8 and 9; "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy".
Fast forward to 11 am, here I am plagued by these thoughts at lunch time and I need to get it off my chest. So, as I look into it, I fall into this passage in Hebrews 13. I am thinking to myself "yeah right on... OBEY/SUBMIT..." then I look at the latter portion of verse 17 "Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you". Ouch. I think that verse was meant for me... "with JOY and not with GROANING". Uhmmm, is there a camera secretly filming my reactions? I have been set up. I have been reading Proverbs as a day by day weekday devotional for years. YEARS... it never said that to me before. What is God trying to tell me here?
The verse I selected from title Scripture is a powerful description of the heart of an elder or church leader's ministry. One of the notes I just found in the Amplified Version states the first part of the phrase as; "they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare." That means me. I have a responsibility to keep watch and guard those that GOD entrusts to my care.
How can I do that if I don't reach out, or if I don't get involved, or if I don't know those in the church? Writing, radio, TV, recorded, and Internet/Email based ministries such as this one may be a helpful supplement in our Christian lives, but I believe it's God's plan for believers to meet together regularly in worship as they did in the very beginning. In fact I almost cringe or chafe at the term "home based churches", simply because that doesn't involve you getting out of your home to meet with other Christians or the big move now, is to set up a church over the internet seeking to simulate a local church. (There are 100's of great sermons you can here every week on the internet... Just ask some my wife, or her best friend!) I believe everyone calling themselves a Christian should be in regular association with other believers in a local church with Elder leadership and care. Within reason, I am aware that there are those who cannot attend services due to health, so there are caveats!
After being involved with leadership of all kinds in my brief years... One of the greatest sources of discouragement and grief for those who minister the gospel is dealing with criticism. I received my share of it during my years of organized elder ministry. I know all of my peers in ministry have as well. I know my dad dealt with it weekly for all the years he was a pastor. Last week I read an account on "The heart of a pastor" blog site by H.B. London (www.hblondon.org), a veteran pastor, who shared a perspective on this that I found fascinating. He stated “I know of one dedicated minister who had a very effective ministry in a church he had founded and served faithfully. But after he left there was division in the church and a group arose that criticized both his appearance and speaking ability."
Sound familiar? You may be a youth leader, a Sunday school teacher, an elder, a ordained pastor, a laymen in the church... or even a boss at your job. No one escapes it. NO ONE! Such criticism just goes with the job of being in front of people, or being a leader, but can still be very personally painful. Elders/Pastors are often criticized in ways that are mutually contradictory. From my brief experience in church leadership, I believe that most criticisms are merely personal preferences by members of the congregation. Style. Sure there are issues that come up, but I think predominately it is style, either there own personal style, or you are being compared to a former teacher/preacher/elder, or in the workplace, a former boss.
Let me ask you this simple question regarding your church leadership. Do your pastors/elders faithfully preach God's Word and teach sound doctrine? Are they faithful to their wife and family? Do they care for the flock of God? Do they manage the financial and business affairs of your church with honesty and integrity? If so you are blessed. Why don't you pray for your Elders and Pastors and let them know of your appreciation. If you're an Elder or a Pastor and you can honestly put yourself into those statements in a positive light... Keep up the good work.
By the way, before I forget, the dedicated minister that H.B. London referred to above who received painful criticism was the Apostle Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians he referenced this criticism made of his ministry gifts, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." (2 Corinthians 10:10). I sure bet those people feel foolish now! Choose today to be a great follower; it directly affects your ability to be a great leader at home, work or church!
Well, it is 11:30, time to get cracking again and be a good follower for my boss here at work. May God bless you guys as you do the same!
Paul
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Acts 2:42 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
This is a slight diversion from my normal weekly devotional, in fact, other than the opening verse, this one is light on biblical study and high on application or example. In our Elder meetings we have been discussing our local church body, how to reach, how to invest, and how to nurture those that God has entrusted to us. Yes, we provide a place of worship and teaching from God's word... so we meet the first part of the subject verse.... Devoted to teaching, But how are we doing on fellowship and the breaking of bread together??
Last night on the way home from an Elder meeting, part of our discussion made me remember something that I had heard recently. While at a conference, I was speaking to a retired VP of a major company. In our conversation regarding "how things work at the church where he serves as an Elder at an Elder led church", our conversation edged towards the life of the church body and what "they" do during the week when not at church, and how they are accountable in such a huge church family. One of the things he pointed out that he had read was that increasingly one's place of employment is taking on a place of influence surpassing that of the family and church. Although he certainly was not seeing this as a positive trend, we all are only fooling ourselves if we think that this is not realistically the world we live in. People are less and less connected with the traditional, God-ordained institutions that nourish and support, namely the family and church. Sunday meals in the home are replaced by the ease of a restaurant... after all it limits the time you have to spend with people. I would venture to say that if your kids are in sports, you have more of the "sports family" in your home or spend more time with them, than the people in who you sit by in church. By not having people in your home, they will never know who you are, and conversely, without you being open to them knowing you, you will never know them. Broken marriages and homes are taking their predictable toll. And now, after almost 40 years of moving from the personal, to the "practical" so many are only casually connected to a church. I challenge each of you, reach out side of your self. Find the uncomfortable, invite them home. Serve them a home cooked meal... invest in them... nurture a relationship that they don't have with you or others in your church. While I don't necessarily always subscribe to Barna research in all areas, I have recently read that George Barna notes that in America some 10 million who claim to be Christian are unchurched. 10 MILLION.
That means that they don't know what being a Christian is all about, they don't understand the command to forsake not the gathering of believers, or quite possibly, they are not even really Christians in the true sense of the word. I think that this primary root level lack of connectedness that so many experience is both a tremendous obstacle and a great opportunity in sharing our faith with our fellow believers and slaves for Christ. We have been strategically planted to bear witness to God's plan and love for them. So what does this have to do with our witness and ministry in our homes or in the workplace?
It is imperative that we strengthen our own home and church life. These God-ordained institutions are not going to be replaced, although so many are disconnected from them in the complete crumbling of society as we know it. I guarantee that we will be weak and ineffective in our local church ministry if we are not receiving the support at home and at church. We must in both active and passive in ways we demonstrate our love for God, our family and our involvement in our local church. Without pride we must recognize the emptiness that they are experiencing (perhaps unknowingly) as they seek to find the fulfillment that only God offers in other ways. You my friends are truly instruments of God's work in our local church.
Open your heart, open your door, and seat someone you don't really know at your table. If we want to grow the ministry of our church, those "legacy" members need to have the same attention that we give to the new folks walking through the door for the first time. They need our love and concern expressed in a genuine friendship.
The legacy of a broken home is devastating, and in some ways a person never recovers fully, it changes them forever. This is the same for our church family. We all come from different places, times, experiences of "church". This spiritual home life is often "broken" just like a divorce or wrecked home life. There are trust issues, pesky sin issues, relationship issues in our church, just like in a home. Now I am certainly aware that some reading this are from a broken home themselves, either in your personal home life or spiritually. Be assured that God can use you in a very amazing way as you express your experience in the reconciliation process that only God can manage. Make yourself vulnerable, let people see the real you. Don't hide from the relationships, embrace the accountability.
As you read this, I know that some of you excel at having people over. Don't just eat and run, don't just fulfill this obligation I am pointing out to each of us (yes the finger points back at me as well!). Invest in the Kingdom of God by investing in his people. The rewards will be huge, I guarantee it!
Lunch is over, so have a great week,
Paul
This is a slight diversion from my normal weekly devotional, in fact, other than the opening verse, this one is light on biblical study and high on application or example. In our Elder meetings we have been discussing our local church body, how to reach, how to invest, and how to nurture those that God has entrusted to us. Yes, we provide a place of worship and teaching from God's word... so we meet the first part of the subject verse.... Devoted to teaching, But how are we doing on fellowship and the breaking of bread together??
Last night on the way home from an Elder meeting, part of our discussion made me remember something that I had heard recently. While at a conference, I was speaking to a retired VP of a major company. In our conversation regarding "how things work at the church where he serves as an Elder at an Elder led church", our conversation edged towards the life of the church body and what "they" do during the week when not at church, and how they are accountable in such a huge church family. One of the things he pointed out that he had read was that increasingly one's place of employment is taking on a place of influence surpassing that of the family and church. Although he certainly was not seeing this as a positive trend, we all are only fooling ourselves if we think that this is not realistically the world we live in. People are less and less connected with the traditional, God-ordained institutions that nourish and support, namely the family and church. Sunday meals in the home are replaced by the ease of a restaurant... after all it limits the time you have to spend with people. I would venture to say that if your kids are in sports, you have more of the "sports family" in your home or spend more time with them, than the people in who you sit by in church. By not having people in your home, they will never know who you are, and conversely, without you being open to them knowing you, you will never know them. Broken marriages and homes are taking their predictable toll. And now, after almost 40 years of moving from the personal, to the "practical" so many are only casually connected to a church. I challenge each of you, reach out side of your self. Find the uncomfortable, invite them home. Serve them a home cooked meal... invest in them... nurture a relationship that they don't have with you or others in your church. While I don't necessarily always subscribe to Barna research in all areas, I have recently read that George Barna notes that in America some 10 million who claim to be Christian are unchurched. 10 MILLION.
That means that they don't know what being a Christian is all about, they don't understand the command to forsake not the gathering of believers, or quite possibly, they are not even really Christians in the true sense of the word. I think that this primary root level lack of connectedness that so many experience is both a tremendous obstacle and a great opportunity in sharing our faith with our fellow believers and slaves for Christ. We have been strategically planted to bear witness to God's plan and love for them. So what does this have to do with our witness and ministry in our homes or in the workplace?
It is imperative that we strengthen our own home and church life. These God-ordained institutions are not going to be replaced, although so many are disconnected from them in the complete crumbling of society as we know it. I guarantee that we will be weak and ineffective in our local church ministry if we are not receiving the support at home and at church. We must in both active and passive in ways we demonstrate our love for God, our family and our involvement in our local church. Without pride we must recognize the emptiness that they are experiencing (perhaps unknowingly) as they seek to find the fulfillment that only God offers in other ways. You my friends are truly instruments of God's work in our local church.
Open your heart, open your door, and seat someone you don't really know at your table. If we want to grow the ministry of our church, those "legacy" members need to have the same attention that we give to the new folks walking through the door for the first time. They need our love and concern expressed in a genuine friendship.
The legacy of a broken home is devastating, and in some ways a person never recovers fully, it changes them forever. This is the same for our church family. We all come from different places, times, experiences of "church". This spiritual home life is often "broken" just like a divorce or wrecked home life. There are trust issues, pesky sin issues, relationship issues in our church, just like in a home. Now I am certainly aware that some reading this are from a broken home themselves, either in your personal home life or spiritually. Be assured that God can use you in a very amazing way as you express your experience in the reconciliation process that only God can manage. Make yourself vulnerable, let people see the real you. Don't hide from the relationships, embrace the accountability.
As you read this, I know that some of you excel at having people over. Don't just eat and run, don't just fulfill this obligation I am pointing out to each of us (yes the finger points back at me as well!). Invest in the Kingdom of God by investing in his people. The rewards will be huge, I guarantee it!
Lunch is over, so have a great week,
Paul
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Going with the flow and pleasing the crowd
Following this intro, is the weekly devotional I prepare for the men's biblestudy on Thursdays. I thought this was applicable, so here it is for general consumption.
- Paul
"You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice " (Exodus 23:2).
"But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!'" (Luke 3:18).
"So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified." (Mark 15:15).
Those are just 3 versus of many that deal with the pressures of pleasing people and placating the crowd. Proverbs packs several hard uppercut punches as well as you dig through all thirty one chapters. In fact if you start in Genesis and work your way through God's word you can't escape the lessons concerning not following the ways of the world. Unfortunately, mankind has always struggled with a need to please the crowd. As it relates to teens we refer to it as "peer pressure." Yet peer pressure can affect more than just teens. In the Law, God spoke through Moses and warned the people against following the crowd in doing wrong. There's a powerful incitement to side with the crowd and God calls this a perversion of justice.
As I have been thinking about Easter and the story or Christ's "trial" and crucifixion, it becomes very apparent that this was the ultimate expression of peer pressure or being a crowd pleaser. This is plainly visible down through the ages. A few weeks ago, while I was in L.A., I was looking at some small books in the Christian bookstore. I picked up and browsed one concerning the Apostolic Creed. I read on the back cover that this text was used by many of the reformed churches, and kids memorize it in Sunday school. This morning on the way to work I remembered one of the lines that I read and it states Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate." What a way to be known and be remembered by millions each week all around the world!
The public officials of Jesus' day were no different than many we have in front of us today during this election year. Pilate was a crowd pleaser and the quintessential politician. He had neither courage nor conviction. On this particular day the crowd had made their wishes well known. Notice the phrase in Mark 15:15, and see Pilate's motive in his decision making: "wishing to satisfy the crowd." The author Warren Wiersbe wrote this comment: "Pilate knew what was right, but refused to do anything about it. Judas yielded to the devil in his great sin; Peter yielded to the flesh when he denied his Lord; but Pilate yielded to the world and listened to the
crowd. Pilate looked for the easy way, not the right way." Pilate had the opportunity to do the right thing and a careful reading of the Gospel indicates he certainly knew what the right thing was. He was deeply troubled within and though his wife expressed a spiritual sensitivity and sensibility he refused to listen to her. When he faced the pressure of the crowd who
cried out "Crucify Him" Pilate's cowardly lack of convictions became his defining moment in history.
All of us have and will continue to face this pressure in so many situations in our daily lives. It doesn't matter if it is our family, our friends, our school, our work, or the church body you are leading, doing the right thing in spite of public opinion or pressure is never easy. We all deal with "the crowd" and have a natural compulsion to please with the intent of getting along with others. Standing up against the crowd can have severe consequences, of course pleasing the crowd can have severe consequences as well. Are there not some characteristics of Pilate in each of us? I pray that God would help us all to be courageous and to stand by our convictions today whether it pleases the crowd or not, regardless of the consequences.
Guess what... You just may be called to do that today!
- Paul
"You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice " (Exodus 23:2).
"But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!'" (Luke 3:18).
"So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified." (Mark 15:15).
Those are just 3 versus of many that deal with the pressures of pleasing people and placating the crowd. Proverbs packs several hard uppercut punches as well as you dig through all thirty one chapters. In fact if you start in Genesis and work your way through God's word you can't escape the lessons concerning not following the ways of the world. Unfortunately, mankind has always struggled with a need to please the crowd. As it relates to teens we refer to it as "peer pressure." Yet peer pressure can affect more than just teens. In the Law, God spoke through Moses and warned the people against following the crowd in doing wrong. There's a powerful incitement to side with the crowd and God calls this a perversion of justice.
As I have been thinking about Easter and the story or Christ's "trial" and crucifixion, it becomes very apparent that this was the ultimate expression of peer pressure or being a crowd pleaser. This is plainly visible down through the ages. A few weeks ago, while I was in L.A., I was looking at some small books in the Christian bookstore. I picked up and browsed one concerning the Apostolic Creed. I read on the back cover that this text was used by many of the reformed churches, and kids memorize it in Sunday school. This morning on the way to work I remembered one of the lines that I read and it states Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate." What a way to be known and be remembered by millions each week all around the world!
The public officials of Jesus' day were no different than many we have in front of us today during this election year. Pilate was a crowd pleaser and the quintessential politician. He had neither courage nor conviction. On this particular day the crowd had made their wishes well known. Notice the phrase in Mark 15:15, and see Pilate's motive in his decision making: "wishing to satisfy the crowd." The author Warren Wiersbe wrote this comment: "Pilate knew what was right, but refused to do anything about it. Judas yielded to the devil in his great sin; Peter yielded to the flesh when he denied his Lord; but Pilate yielded to the world and listened to the
crowd. Pilate looked for the easy way, not the right way." Pilate had the opportunity to do the right thing and a careful reading of the Gospel indicates he certainly knew what the right thing was. He was deeply troubled within and though his wife expressed a spiritual sensitivity and sensibility he refused to listen to her. When he faced the pressure of the crowd who
cried out "Crucify Him" Pilate's cowardly lack of convictions became his defining moment in history.
All of us have and will continue to face this pressure in so many situations in our daily lives. It doesn't matter if it is our family, our friends, our school, our work, or the church body you are leading, doing the right thing in spite of public opinion or pressure is never easy. We all deal with "the crowd" and have a natural compulsion to please with the intent of getting along with others. Standing up against the crowd can have severe consequences, of course pleasing the crowd can have severe consequences as well. Are there not some characteristics of Pilate in each of us? I pray that God would help us all to be courageous and to stand by our convictions today whether it pleases the crowd or not, regardless of the consequences.
Guess what... You just may be called to do that today!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Resting on the promises of God
Assurance in Christ, in spite of ourselves.... Over the past several days here at work, I have been using my break time to think through some leftover nagging thoughts from my travels last week. That is the danger of listening to great teaching.... It hurts! Take a couple of minutes and read through this, I think it will make sense and possibly even help you as it did to me as I thought it through and prepared this. I kept thinking of what Tom Pennington stated last week..... "When you study the word of God, apply yourself to the text, then apply the text to yourself" OUCH!
So here is my band aid and mental salve for what ails my mind over the past couple of days... "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything" (1 John 3:19-20).
What are you aspiring for today? This question is haunting my mind since my attendance at the Shepherds Conference last week. It was obvious from the speakers that addressed both the main sessions and the seminars that their aspiration was for furthering the truth of God's word and remaining faithful to their calling. These were high caliber teachers, reducing themselves to a first name basis with a mere elder from a tiny church in Klamath Falls Oregon. There was no pretense of greatness, nor were they lording their theological prowess over the masses... (3500+ men in attendance). Observing the world, there are many pursuits people crave for such as wealth, fame, possessions and a flood of material appealing to our base instincts. Just one look at the "mass appeal" methods of the emerging church in its search for relevance to people, and you will find a disappointing effort to bring God to people instead of people to God, all because we don't want to be comfortable, entertained, or coddled by our worldly comforts. John describes such thinking with the following summary: "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does." But none of these meet our deepest and greatest need. This touched my heart and has plagued my conscience since my return. What are my motives with my family at home, or at work or in the ministry to our local church?
King David sums up what our life's highest aspiration should be in Psalm 27:4: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple." To gaze or meditate upon the beauty of the Lord brings peace and assurance as one who has been forgiven and placed in right relationship with God.
Prior to anyone of us coming to faith in Christ we are all under God's condemnation, we are slaves to sin (thanks to John Mac for pointing out the slavery issue!). His condemnation of us is absolutely just and completely consistent with the nature of a sinless, holy God. At the cross, the repentant thief speaks not just for himself, but for the entire human race in the final minutes before his death: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41).
This condemnation is the result of the universal human condition of sin; "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But when we believe in Christ and come into the truth a marvelous transaction takes place. One of the most liberating truths of Scripture I constantly have to remind myself of is in Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
John makes a statement in this portion of Scripture that describes the human condition of self-condemnation. He describes it in a way that I can identify with when he uses the phrase "our hearts condemn us." I've experienced this occasionally and I'm certain that many of you have as well. I don't believe John is speaking of the healthy Holy Spirit-prompted conviction of sin that leads us to repentance. Rather, I think he speaks of self-condemnation that can afflict all us, God's children, robbing them of the peace and assurance that God has provided through the sacrificial death of His Son.
During my break time this morning, when looking at the online study Bible, I found the following comments on this portion of Scripture "our hearts condemn us." "An oversensitive conscience can be quieted by the knowledge that God Himself has declared active love to be an evidence of salvation. He knows the hearts of all - whether, in spite of shortcomings, they have been born of Him." What this is saying is that it is more than words that we utter at the "alter" or a prayer we repeat. It is the condition of your heart, and the actions you take as a physical evidence of the saving grace of God in your life. Ask yourself these questions; What is my motive in service to God...What do people see when they look at you... What will people remember when they weigh your actions and words against your profession of faith in Christ? Are your actions consistent with your words?
Two truths need to be deeply acknowledged from text in 1 John 3:19-20, these are: 1) "God is greater than our hearts", and 2) "He knows all things"
Today I really want to encourage you all to rest in a deep assurance of God's love and acceptance. Sometimes we all struggle with self-condemnation, which Satan, the enemy of our soul delights in. He will use that to create self-doubt, worthlessness, and tempt you to admit defeat and walk away from God; God who has not left us in our condemned state but who has provided His mercy and grace. Accept the truth of God, who is greater than our hearts, and humbly realize that indeed He knows all things, even those things which we cannot fully understand.
- Paul
So here is my band aid and mental salve for what ails my mind over the past couple of days... "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything" (1 John 3:19-20).
What are you aspiring for today? This question is haunting my mind since my attendance at the Shepherds Conference last week. It was obvious from the speakers that addressed both the main sessions and the seminars that their aspiration was for furthering the truth of God's word and remaining faithful to their calling. These were high caliber teachers, reducing themselves to a first name basis with a mere elder from a tiny church in Klamath Falls Oregon. There was no pretense of greatness, nor were they lording their theological prowess over the masses... (3500+ men in attendance). Observing the world, there are many pursuits people crave for such as wealth, fame, possessions and a flood of material appealing to our base instincts. Just one look at the "mass appeal" methods of the emerging church in its search for relevance to people, and you will find a disappointing effort to bring God to people instead of people to God, all because we don't want to be comfortable, entertained, or coddled by our worldly comforts. John describes such thinking with the following summary: "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does." But none of these meet our deepest and greatest need. This touched my heart and has plagued my conscience since my return. What are my motives with my family at home, or at work or in the ministry to our local church?
King David sums up what our life's highest aspiration should be in Psalm 27:4: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple." To gaze or meditate upon the beauty of the Lord brings peace and assurance as one who has been forgiven and placed in right relationship with God.
Prior to anyone of us coming to faith in Christ we are all under God's condemnation, we are slaves to sin (thanks to John Mac for pointing out the slavery issue!). His condemnation of us is absolutely just and completely consistent with the nature of a sinless, holy God. At the cross, the repentant thief speaks not just for himself, but for the entire human race in the final minutes before his death: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41).
This condemnation is the result of the universal human condition of sin; "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But when we believe in Christ and come into the truth a marvelous transaction takes place. One of the most liberating truths of Scripture I constantly have to remind myself of is in Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
John makes a statement in this portion of Scripture that describes the human condition of self-condemnation. He describes it in a way that I can identify with when he uses the phrase "our hearts condemn us." I've experienced this occasionally and I'm certain that many of you have as well. I don't believe John is speaking of the healthy Holy Spirit-prompted conviction of sin that leads us to repentance. Rather, I think he speaks of self-condemnation that can afflict all us, God's children, robbing them of the peace and assurance that God has provided through the sacrificial death of His Son.
During my break time this morning, when looking at the online study Bible, I found the following comments on this portion of Scripture "our hearts condemn us." "An oversensitive conscience can be quieted by the knowledge that God Himself has declared active love to be an evidence of salvation. He knows the hearts of all - whether, in spite of shortcomings, they have been born of Him." What this is saying is that it is more than words that we utter at the "alter" or a prayer we repeat. It is the condition of your heart, and the actions you take as a physical evidence of the saving grace of God in your life. Ask yourself these questions; What is my motive in service to God...What do people see when they look at you... What will people remember when they weigh your actions and words against your profession of faith in Christ? Are your actions consistent with your words?
Two truths need to be deeply acknowledged from text in 1 John 3:19-20, these are: 1) "God is greater than our hearts", and 2) "He knows all things"
Today I really want to encourage you all to rest in a deep assurance of God's love and acceptance. Sometimes we all struggle with self-condemnation, which Satan, the enemy of our soul delights in. He will use that to create self-doubt, worthlessness, and tempt you to admit defeat and walk away from God; God who has not left us in our condemned state but who has provided His mercy and grace. Accept the truth of God, who is greater than our hearts, and humbly realize that indeed He knows all things, even those things which we cannot fully understand.
- Paul
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
As a matter of introduction
The purpose of this blog is to provide another way to communicate between the Elders of Immanual Baptist Church, (simply known as IBC for the purpose of this blog), and the church family @ IBC.
As this blog matures and we figure out what works and what doesn't we will make additional features available. For now, if you have questions about something one of the Elders posts, something that is going on at church or if you just have a question you would like answered, feel free to ask and we will get you an answer from who ever is the subject matter expert.
The next few posts will be an effort by us here at Elderworld to introduce who each Elder is and a little about what makes each of us tick and our areas of responsibility here at IBC. The current crop of Elders... Shelley Gale- Pastor/Teacher, Bob Morgan-Elder Chairman/Teacher, Craig Klems-Teacher/EAL (Elder at Large!), Damon Pollard -EAL, Paul Lyman-Treasurer/Teacher/blogger
So ask, comment or just enjoy. May God Richly bless you each day as you strive to serve him in every way.
- Paul Lyman, Elder blogger
Verse of the day: Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,and his mouth invites a beating.
As this blog matures and we figure out what works and what doesn't we will make additional features available. For now, if you have questions about something one of the Elders posts, something that is going on at church or if you just have a question you would like answered, feel free to ask and we will get you an answer from who ever is the subject matter expert.
The next few posts will be an effort by us here at Elderworld to introduce who each Elder is and a little about what makes each of us tick and our areas of responsibility here at IBC. The current crop of Elders... Shelley Gale- Pastor/Teacher, Bob Morgan-Elder Chairman/Teacher, Craig Klems-Teacher/EAL (Elder at Large!), Damon Pollard -EAL, Paul Lyman-Treasurer/Teacher/blogger
So ask, comment or just enjoy. May God Richly bless you each day as you strive to serve him in every way.
- Paul Lyman, Elder blogger
Verse of the day: Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,and his mouth invites a beating.
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