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Mountaintop

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

We all know life is a series of ups and downs.  Mountaintop.  Valley.  Plateau. Mountaintop. Valley.  Plateau.

You get the point.

In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the valleys we wouldn’t learn to appreciate the mountain tops.  And surprisingly, if wasn’t for the mountain tops we may not realize the need for the valley.   Plateaus.  Well, let’s just say that sometimes they are welcome respites, but not something to hang around in for very long.

Sunday was a mountain top.  If you read this post, you know that for 17 weeks we were renovating our church building to give us more space. Sunday was our first time back in our own building.  All I can say is

W-O-O-O-O-W!!!

The atmosphere was sort of electric.  And believe it or not, everything went off without a hitch.  No sound problem.  No music problem.  One Two slight Power Point errors.  Sermon problems but we won’t go there!  ;)   People excited to see the new place-most for the very first time.   AND it rained!  Significantly!  That is the first one for us in about 2-3 months.   Shoot, I have cut my grass more in the last 2 weeks than I have all summer.  Bad part: it cuts into my riding time.  :D

One thing I/we (leadership & Worship Team) try to be very aware of is not to allow “building worship” to take hold.  We are not interested in extravagant.  Our renovation is simple and plain.  We went for the “industrial look,” but even with that it is easy to be enamored with the building.   I stressed very hard to myself, and then to the Worship Team, that all eyes need to be focused on Jesus.   We sang two new songs: “10,000 Reasons” and “Facedown” .  If those songs don’t get a person focused I am not sure what will.  All in all the day went very well (that preacher might need some help though).

Now…for my point.  After every Mountaintop comes a lull, even a valley.  I don’t know if it will come immediately or sometime down the road after our Celebration (23rd).   We have probably all been there one time or another.  High leads to a low.  In some cases, a high leads to a crash.  Knowing it will come is half the battle.  Being prepared spiritually is the real answer.  Lots of prayer.  Time alone with God.  Reflection.  Worship.  Focus.   I would appreciate your prayers for me on that end.

Have you ever experienced the Mountaintop to Valley syndrome?  How did you do?  How did you handle it?  How can I pray for you?  Never hurts to have others on your side doing battle with you.

And to go along with this post, here is a moldy oldy from back in the 80s.

Posted in Christian living, Church, Just Wondering, Leadership, Prayer | 35 Responses »

Alone

Monday, June 11th, 2012

Say that word to many and it brings up ugly feelings.

Alone in a crowd

Alone in  a family

Alone in a church community

We will hear words like:

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”  

“I thought when I became a part of something I was becoming part of a team.” 

“I am more alone now than when I was living for myself and didn’t care what people thought or how I existed lived.”

Ever been there?  There now?  I feel for you.  Then again, I don’t really understand.  It is hard from me since I am a social creature.  God created me as an extrovert, so I have very few moments of being alone, or even of feeling alone.  I ride my bike alone a good part of the time, but even then, I am so aware of what is going on around me (listening for cars, etc) that I have very little time to suffer being alone.

BUT THERE IS ONE TIME BEING ALONE IS GOOD!!

That time is when it is just you and God.  There is a discussion on some of the blogs that shall remain nameless, not because they are right or wrong, but simply because I don’t think it is a big deal.  They don’t like the idea of calling a daily time with God a Quiet Time  (QT for short).  I really never gave it any thought until that post, so I began thinking: what could would  should I call it?   It got me thinking about the purpose of a daily time in the Word and prayer.  What do I want to accomplish?  Is it to get rid of the negative bird inside my head?  Is it to get rid of the legalistic nag inside my head that says, “A real Christ-follower spends time in Bible reading and prayer every day.”

Here is what I have come up with (for what it’s worth): What matters is not what you call it, but whether you take time to be with God.  My time alone with God is for me, and me alone.  It is not for sermon prep.  It is not so I can brag saying, “I  spent time alone with God today.”  It is not to silence that little accusing voice that wants to dog my tracks.  It is for me.  For my relationship with God.  It is for me, and here is what I have come to realize and call it:

ENCOUNTER TIME.

I want to encounter God.  I want to have an encounter with God.  I want God to encounter me…changing me, reworking me, challenging me, probing me, convicting me.  I want to encounter His holiness.   I am guessing by now you get my drift.  :)   So, from now on, it is no longer my Quiet Time.  I want it to be my

ENCOUNTER TIME.

I know this is miniscule. See why I didn’t link to any discussion of it?  But, I would like to know what you call your Quiet Alone Time.  Do you have one?  How important is it to you?

Posted in Christian living, Church, God, Jesus, Just Wondering, Prayer | 34 Responses »

Jay’sPlace

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

I normally don’t post twice in one day, but I have the honor of guest posting at Jay Cookingham’s blog, Soulfari, today.   Would you please head over that way and read the post?  While there, feel free to comment. While you are there, please check out Jay’s blog.  He will guest posting and telling his story in a few weeks.  Thanks.

http://soulfari.blogspot.com/2012/06/unbelief-guest-post.html

Posted in Christian living, Doctrine, God, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous, Prayer | 4 Responses »

Miracles

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

The year was 1982.  I seem to be able to remember it like it was yesterday.  We, as a family (girls age 7 and 3), had gone to a Christian family camp.  It was the first time we had ever camped in a tent.  That is a story in itself.  :)   The last day of the camp was Friday morning.  Late Thursday afternoon a storm came through (they say it was the tail end of a tornado).  We were in a session with adults and the girls were with the kids program, and had actually been separated for class.  After the storm passed (it was ugly), we made our way quickly to where the kids were and found Tami.  Ever the diligent older sister, she was crying because she couldn’t find Janna.  We took her hand and found Janna with some adults,  a little scared but safe.  We went back to our canvas tent to find it soaked.  We made due for the night and the next morning pulled away.  I had 1/2 tank of gas to get us home, and due to some unexpected expenses, we had enough money to grab a snack breakfast.  The camp was easily 3-4 hours away and I began to pray: “Lord, I have 1/2 tank of gas left; some young children; and no money.  Please get us home.”  I was driving a 1980 Chevy Citation, loaded to the gills, and we made it all the way home.  THE GAS GAUGE NEVER MOVED!  I know, I know.  Some will read that with skepticism, but it is true.  The gauge never moved.

BUT. OUR. MIRACLE. TIME. WAS. NOT. OVER.

We knew we would be coming home to empty cupboards.   We unloaded and then I checked the mail that had come while we were gone.  I saw an envelope from a pastor/friend in Ohio.  Remember: this is August.  Enclosed was a check for $100 with a note: “Bill, I just found out that we never paid you for speaking at our Prayer Breakfast.  Find that check enclosed.  Forgive me for forgetting.”

Did I tell you the check came in August? 

Did I also tell you that I spoke at the Prayer Breakfast in December? 

Ask me if I believe in luck, chance or coincidence.  You would be better off asking me if I believe in prayer.  Jeremiah 33:3 says,  “Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”   God was big into show-n-tell during that stretch of our lives.  He can do show-n-tell any time He wants!  :)

I used this story to close my sermon and the “Transformed by Prayer” series Sunday.  It is a lesson that I/we have never forgotten.  Have we worried since then?  Yes, I am ashamed to admit.  But God always pulls me back to that story.  He is in the “showing you great and hidden things” business.  How about you?  Has He done something amazing for you?  Why not share it with us? 

 

Posted in Christian living, Just Wondering, Prayer, Preaching, Sunday Meanderings | 64 Responses »

Knees

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Have you heard the story about the history of Levis?  David Jeremiah in his book Signs of Life tells it (edited for space):

Levi opened a textile mill in SanFran.  One day a gold miner walked into the shop and started in on him: ‘Look at these. I bought these 6 months ago, and they’re full of holes.’   When asked why the miner told him they worked on their knees most of the time.  Levi knew they needed stronger fabric for the knees, so he suggested canvas.  The rest is history, as they say.  Soon miners across the West were wearing Levi Strauss’ jeans.  (p.83)

It is said that James, Jesus’ brother, had the nickname “Camel Knees” because he spent so much time on his knees praying.  William Cowper, a poet and hymn writer , once said, “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”  All month long I have been focusing on “Transformed by Prayer.”   My sermon this week is on “Worn-out Knees.”   I am not saying this to garner any sighs or pities, but I truly don’t feel adequate in preaching on this subject.  I am very, no make that VERY aware, of my lack in the praying department.  Basketball and age have caught up with me so kneeling long-term is an almost physical impossibility.  But that is not what I am speaking about.  A person doesn’t have to physically kneel to pray; not if he has his heart kneeling.  A person doesn’t have to physically bow his head; not if he has his heart bowed in submission.  What does bother me is not the kneeling part, but the submission part.  And the practicing part…the doing part.

My Scripture for Sunday is Jeremiah 33:1-3.  There are some amazing truths in those 3 short verses.  We would do well to see and apply them.   Hudson Taylor once told a missionary couple who was getting ready to move to China: “You must move forward on your knees.”   That is my prayer for you…for me…for all Christ-followers.  I like the way the Christian rock group, Petra, once put it: “Get on your knees and fight like a man.”

I am showing this lyric video Sunday.   To see the original video that will stir your soul, check it out here.  I pray for a revolution to happen in my life, in the church I pastor, and in your life.  Are you praying that God will move in your heart?  Are you praying that God will do a revolution in your church?  Join me won’t you?

Thanks to Dan for an awesome banner this month.

Posted in Church, Prayer, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 36 Responses »

Children

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

This is going to be a two-pronged post.  Hopefully you will stay with me.  :)

This afternoon (Sunday) I did a memorial service for a couple whose little girl went to be with Jesus 20 minutes after birth.   I mentioned her  birth/death here.  She had actually been born January 4th.   Her brother is still doing well, although he is in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indy.  Being a pastor is sometimes fun. Sometimes it isn’t.  The latter is the case here.  However, it does offer one of the greatest times to give hope.  I have absolutely NO DOUBT where she is right now.  I was able to offer the parents/grandparents/friends that hope this afternoon.

I love that passage in Mark 10:13-16 where Jesus rebukes the disciples for shoving away the little children.  If there is ever a passage that shows the heart of Jesus toward children it is that one.  I have never experienced the loss of a child, so the last thing I would ever think of doing is saying, “I know how you feel.”  Not only is that a bold-faced lie, but unless one has been through that kind of loss, it is best to keep the trap shut.  Know what I mean?  Pastors…or any person…although well-meaning, can do unrepairable damage by pretending.  I would like to ask you to say a prayer for Joe & Erin and baby Joe.  We have prayed each week for them, and Joe told me they would like to come and visit.  Almost their whole day is spent at the hospital, so when Joe gets out (6 more weeks at least), maybe they will.  I sincerely hope so we can continue ministering to them.

****************************

In the interest of space (and word count), I’d like to just give you the Scripture I used for the questions/statements from the message. To see those questions/statements go here.   I will just give the number and the Scripture will follow.

#1:  Psalm 8:3-4;  139:13-18

#2: Matthew 7:7-11; Romans 8:28-29; Eccl. 3:11

#3: Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8  Jesus taught these two parables to teach men not to be discouraged in their prayer lives, not to bug God until He gets upset enough to finally grant our request.

#4: Romans 8:26-27; Jn.14:26-27

#5:  no Scripture directly.  I did say this: sometimes being a follower of Jesus puts us under greater trial so we can be a tribute to Him, so we can bring glory to His Name. 

#6: James 1:5-8  God wants us to ask Him, not for Him, but for us!

#7: No specific Scripture but two questions to consider: 1) Are you listening to God; and 2) Are you harboring anything against anyone?

To say I am a little spacy would be an understatement, to be honest.  :)    I look forward to putting my head on my pillow tonight.  :)   Thanks for your prayers for Joe & Erin.  Thanks for your prayers for me.  Say a prayer for Jason & Andrea as they are  in Japan adopting a little boy.  Keep praying for Dan, Ashley and Logan Black.  Anyone else you want to add to that list? 

Posted in Prayer, Sunday Meanderings | 40 Responses »

Answers

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Where do you go when you have a question?  Better yet, where do you go when you have a question AND need an answer?   I think we can be honest and admit that we all have questions.  Some are easy to answer, like “Daddy, who made God?”  You know…easy ones like that.  :P   Then there are the hard ones like, “Daddy, where do babies come from?”  The answer to that one is simple: “Go ask your mom.”

Just kidding, of course.  Tough questions are a parent’s worst nightmare… from the simple ones like “Who made God?” (Answer: I don’t know); to the really hard ones that test a parent’s moxie.  Jenn recently posted about a tough question Shiloh asked here, but I believe she answered it correctly.  How about this one: “Daddy/mommy, I heard “this word.”  What does it mean?”   What parent alive hasn’t had those uncomfortable moments?

I recently posed a challenge to the people of the church I pastor.  I also posed that same challenge to my readers here.  In case you are unable to do the “link thingy,” I asked the folks at the church (and you) to write down any question about prayer they/you may have for a sermon I was preparing for January.  This week is that sermon.   To be totally honest, I don’t fashion myself as some “Question Answer Man.”  I am a student myself with a ton of questions.  But I have taken the questions/statements and worked hard to answer them.  Here they are:

#1: I am too insignificant for God to even spend His time listening to me.

#2: The answer will be something I don’t want to hear or am not prepared to hear.

#3: I’ve prayed for this before and I think God is tired of hearing about it, or He’ll be mad that I keep asking.

#4: I don’t pray because sometimes I don’t know the words to say.

#5: It is easy to pray when things seem to be beyond my control, and I need to look to God for help and guidance.  We sometimes forget to pray when everything appears to be going well.

#6: God already knows what I am going to say; He already knows my needs; why should I pray?

#7: I am praying but it seems like either I am not getting an answer or God simply isn’t listening.

Whew!  Makes me sweat just typing them.  :)   Of course, you realize there are a ton more I could deal with.  I took the easy ones.  ;)   I am not naive enough to think I will be able to answer these questions to everyone’s satisfaction, but it is a start.  Hopefully it will be a start for dialogue and some good old-fashioned digging into the Word.

I’ll let you know Monday how it turned out.  Or you can listen to the podcast and let me know what you think.  Seriously, please pray for me.  It is a whole new approach for me.  Thanks ahead of time.  Do you have any questions about prayer? 

Posted in Doctrine, Prayer, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 44 Responses »

Power

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Two quotes to get you started out right this week.  (Okay so maybe they won’t change a thing about your week, but they will get you to think about this post).  :)

There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality (me: or church) that did not begin with united prayer.  A.T.Pierson

Following on the heels of that quote is this one  by  Bill Hybels:

When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works.

Those two quotes got me to thinking: could that be one of the reasons why we are not seeing a “move of God” in our churches today?  I realize there are exceptions to that, so if you know of one or are a part of one, then great!  Perhaps you can add to this discussion at the end.  However, many of us (myself included) often wonder why God’s Spirit is not moving in our churches.  Why do things seem humdrum?  Why are we not experiencing real changed lives?  Why are we not making a difference in our communities, in our churches, in our school?

Could it be…and I am thinking out loud here…that we have been trying to do too much of it on our own and in our own power?  Have we become so enamored by the “bigger is better” mentality (and I am not against large churches), that we have sacrificed passion for position or prestige?   Have we sacrificed prayer for programs?  I can remember once hearing a pastor tell about his visit to another country known for its packed prayer meetings.  He was so overwhelmed he asked the other pastor, “What’s your secret?  If we call a prayer meeting in America, we can meet in a phone booth.”

Maybe prayer will take on a whole new meaning if we realize anew that it is the most intimate time we can have with God.  Prayer is a channel for God’s power.  His power can change lives. His power can change circumstances and relationships.  His power can heal marriages.  His power can help us face daily struggles.  His power can heal psychological and physical problems.   His power can meet financial needs.  The skeptics will say, “Oh, those answers are only coincidences.”  It is amazing how many coincidences occur when a person begins to pray.

I don’t know about you, but if Jesus thought it was important enough to pray (Mark 1:35-39), how in the world can I think differently? 

So, here are some thoughts you can consider for your comments.  Do you agree with what I have said?  Why or why not?  Do you think we have substituted programs for prayer?  Does your church have a prayer ministry?  Do you take part in it?  ‘Course if you want to comment on some other idea this post drudged up, please feel free to do so.  Meanwhile, I am going to close this post and go do what I need to do…pray.  :)

Posted in Church, Just Wondering, Prayer, Sermon Series/Topic, Sunday Meanderings | 38 Responses »

Busy-ness

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

(Said in a whiny voice)  “AAAAHHHH DO I HAVE TO?”

Man, I would love to have a dollar for every time I said those words to my mother.  (I would also like to have a dollar for every time she applied the “hand of knowledge to the seat of the problem” when I got too rebellious while using that).   As a parent I would love to have a dollar for every time I heard that from my two angels (who never used that so I would be broke).   Cough cough!  :)

Make no mistake about it: prayer is often looked on in the same way.  From the put-the-hammer-down-lay-on-the-guilt-trip pastors to the apathetic church goer, prayer is a mystery.  For some it is a necessary evil.  For others it is their life-blood.  For some it is an add-on.  For others they wouldn’t even think of beginning their day without it.  The excuses/reasons for those views vary.  Some of it just plain comes down to “I don’t know how”, and don’t understand it.

Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.  Martin Luther

But I think one of the most common excuses reasons given is “I don’t have time.”   When growing up, it was ingrained in me to meet God in the morning.  I can remember mom getting up and we would meet in the living room for reading Our Daily Bread and prayer before I went off to school. Even then I was a morning person.  So, getting up early to have my Quiet Time (QT) is easy for me.  But nighttime?  Forget it!  A bed is made for sleeping, not reading (so my body tells me).   The mentality we have adopted is seen in this quote:

He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.”  John Bunyan

While I respect Bunyan (his Pilgrim’s Progress is a classic), I think he missed the boat here. It is in thinking that the morning is the only time to meet with God that people latch onto the whole I-am-too-busy-to-pray idea.   We miss that morning appointment and feel guilty. Then our day gets so busy that we don’t have time.  Evening comes and we zone out.  Next day: same song, second verse.

I want prayer to be exciting…for me…for others.  I don’t want it to feel like sludge in my life…or theirs…or yours.  Sunday is my attempt to talk about the simplicity of prayer.  I am stealing borrowing Bill Hybels’ book title, Too Busy Not To Pray, for my message.  I plan to share more on Monday’s blog about the “guts” of the message, but until then, do you have trouble not relegating prayer to a “have-to” state?  Do you find joy in it? 

Posted in Christian living, Church, Prayer, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 44 Responses »

REVOLUTION!

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

 HOW AWESOME IS THAT!

NO…………….

NOT THE BANNER!

THE TRUTH OF THE BANNER

Okay, let’s be honest.  How many of you thought I was talking about the banner when you saw my first statement?  I will get this out of the way: Dan did a bang up job on the banner.  I remember having lunch with him and giving him an idea.  He took my idea and improved it 100%.  WOW!

My theme for the year is “TRANSFORMED!”

I wrote about that here.  My theme for January is

TRANSFORMED BY PRAYER

If there is one spiritual discipline I fail regularly in it is prayer.  I find myself convicted on an almost regular basis about my lack of commitment to get-down-on-my-knees-and-cry-my-heart-out-to-God kind of prayer.  (I have trouble kneeling now anyway-the back, knees and shoulders all take a beating when I do).   But I digress.   The question I often ask myself…and am asking you…if prayer is so vital, why in the world am I so haphazard in its intensity?  Please don’t get me wrong.  I take time daily to pray.  Many of you are included in that prayer.  But I often find it not very “storm-the-gates-of-heaven”  type of praying.  Know what I mean?

Charles Spurgeon once said, “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”

Is there any doubt what he is suggesting there?  I think not.   Of all the things we teach in the church, prayer may be one of the most neglected.  Tithing?  Check.  Salvation? Check.  Baptism? Check.  God’s sovereignty? Check.  The list goes on and on.  But, I am sad to say, prayer is often relegated to the bottom of the list of “preaching ideas.”   I can count on one hand the number of times in 2011 I preached about prayer.  Maybe include 2010 in that.

I will not be preaching this Sunday.  Jon Graf, from Harvest Prayer Ministries, will be the guest speaker.  It is sometimes good to hear a different voice on a subject.   I am looking forward to a good kick-off to the month’s emphasis on prayer.  I have also encouraged the folks to pick up a booklet we are making available: Revolution With a Cause.  It is a 30 Day guide for praying.   Dan designed the cover for us.  The booklet is available from us (donation of $5) or you can order directly from HPM.  Drop me a note if you would like a copy at pastoratovcf.org.  Meanwhile, be praying for us, won’t you?

Question: how hard is it for you to have a concentrated, intense time of prayer?  Do you?  (That’s two).  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Posted in Church, Prayer, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 43 Responses »