March, 2013

...now browsing by month

 

Quitting

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

“I’m taking my ball and going home!”

“If you can’t play by my rules then fine.  I’m done!”

We have all heard them.  We probably played with a few of them.  Shoot, those very words may have come out of our mouths.   But those are minor compared to these:

“I can’t trust God.  I quit.”

“I can’t believe in all the chaos and junk that there is really a God who cares.  I am done with Him.”

“I am tired of the whole church thing.  Time for me to check out.”

Unfortunately, we have all probably heard those somewhere along the line as well.  After just celebrating the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, it seems unfathomable to me that we can use those excuses for turning our  backs, i.e. quitting.  But it happens.  I am ashamed of the times I have wanted to throw my hands up in despair because God’s answer was not immediately forthcoming.  G-r-r-r-r.

I. FEEL. LIKE. QUITTING.

Then I remember the goodness of God and how He has never let me down.  On time.  Slow time.  Hesitation time. But never late time.

You may have heard the story of Polycarp, the pastor of the church in Smyrna during the time Marcus Aurelius was ruling Rome.  He found out they were coming for him he fixed the soldiers breakfast.  He then asked for an hour to pray, and the story says they were so moved by his prayer they apologized for arresting him. 

Brought before the proconsul, he was found guilty and sentenced to be executed by being burned at the stake.  At his inquisition, the proconsul offered freedom if he would denounce Christ. 

Polycarp is said to have answered, “Eighty and six years have I served Him and He has never wronged me.  How can I blaspheme by king?”  When they staked him to the “tree” to be burned, they tied his hands instead of nailing him because he assured them he would not try escape.  The fire formed a ring around him, but would not burn HIM, so the executioner put a spear into him.  The blood was so much it put out the fire.  Eventually the Jews made sure his body was burned.  Source: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Quitting was not an option for Polycarp.  Quitting was not an option for many of the early Christ-followers.  Quitting should not be an option for me.  For you. For anyone.   The Easter story reminds us quitting should not be part of our vocabulary.  The cross couldn’t stop Jesus.   The grave couldn’t hold Him.

AND IN KEEPING WITH MONDAY’S “HISTORY”…THAT IS NO FOOL’S STORY

Hope you had a blessed Easter and found renewed hope for your journey.  What lesson did you take away from your weekend?

Posted in Christian living, Church, Easter, Monday "I Needed That" Moment, Sunday Meanderings | 19 Responses »

Victory!

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

reclaimedbanner_600w

 QUESTION:  What do you say that no one has either said before or won’t say this weekend? 

ANSWER: Not a thing.  Not one new thing. 

I’m not even going to pretend to have any original thought for this post.  I would be lying to myself and trying to fake you out, so it isn’t worth it.  However,  I will lay claim to this one unquestionable truth:

EASTER BRINGS HOPE

My sermon for Sunday is from John 11, the story of Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.   When Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die,” He was offering hope.  To them, the death of Lazarus was devastating and could have been prevented.  To Jesus, it was another chance to glorify His Father.  To them death seemed cruel, harsh, and final. To Him it was another opportunity for God’s power to be shown.  Hint: He won.  🙂

Easter…Resurrection Sunday…whatever you want to call it, is just one more way to be made aware of the power of God displayed in the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave.  We live with an undying hope of a forever future…courtesy of the Risen One.

Enjoy celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus this weekend.  We have two services this Sunday: 9:00 and 10:45.  I would appreciate your prayers for both services- for me as I bring a message of hope, and the folks as they listen.  Thanks.

This is an older song but well worth  being repeated.

Posted in Easter, Jesus, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 18 Responses »

Persecution

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

The Apostle Paul

Polycarp

John Hus

Watchman Nee

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Saeed Abedini

 

Those names, and more, are pretty familiar to those who follow the church, especially the persecuted church. For more on modern day Saeed Abedini, go here. (Under news stories type in his name)  I have something more pressing I ask every time I read of a past martyr or a present martyr for the cause of Christ.

One Question haunts me:  Could I take the stand these and thousands of others have?  If I was arrested for my faith, put under intense scrutiny, suffering extreme persecution, could I would I be able to remain strong?

My answer?  I hope so.  But really, how would I know?  I won’t until or unless I come under that type of fire!

Enter Captive in Iran, a book by two Iranian ladies who became followers of Jesus and were arrested for their faith.   Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh converted to Christ from Islam; met at a theology school in Turkey in 2005; then decided to work together by returning to Iran in order to share Jesus. All was going well until one day they were arrested for promoting Christianity.  The charges were for apostasy, anti-government activity, and blasphemy, for which they faced execution by hanging.  They languished in a detention camp enduring endless questioning and impossible conditions, until being transferred to the dreaded Evin Prison (ironically a prison they could see from their apartment window).  They then endured 259 days in Evin while awaiting their “day in court.”  They were pawns in a very broken and biased court system.  Their case garnered international attention thanks to the internet and other media.  Appeals were being made by all corners of the world (except the Muslim world) for their freedom.  Finally, their freedom became a reality. Eventually, the two moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

This is a story of a faith that haunts me with the questions I asked above.  They made it through totally deplorable conditions only by the strength and grace of God.  Along the way, they show their faith is more than words. They befriend women of all ilk, status, political persuasion, and beliefs.  Some are hostile, but most come to them for prayer, encouragement, help, and friendship.  Even guards and government people realize there is something that holds these two together.  Their faith moved from the streets of Iran to the prison of Iran.

While I had a few minor issues concerning beliefs, that would not stop me from recommending this book. I learned of two women whose faith was tested and found real under horrendous circumstances.  Along the way, I learned a lot more about Islam, its beliefs, the lopsided court system, and the oppressive regime many believers languish under.  It is well worth your read.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.  I was not required to give a good review.

Posted in Book Review, Church | 22 Responses »

Tornado

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

No our area has not experienced one of these recently, even with the crazy “Spring” weather we are “enjoying.”   I am referring to tornadoes of the human variety.  Specifically, the 6-year old male species-type.   Saturday our oldest daughter brought our grandson to the house after swinging through Columbus, OH to pick him up.  Two words:

HOLY.  MACKEREL! 

After eating out for lunch (a drive of 30 minutes that had him thinking we were out in Egypt), we came home to watch a movie (his pick was Tranformers 3 and I didn’t argue  🙂 ).  That didn’t last too long before he was an Autobot fighting the Decepticons.   Sunday after church we ate lunch, and afterwards they went home while I went to the office.  When I got home he wanted to watch CARS and The Avengers.  Monday we took him to see The Croods (thoughts following) and then Jo & Tami took him home while I did some work at the office.  When I got home I found him playing basketball (he is an Ohio State fan) and practicing his slam dunks.  I think the score was 900-something in OSU’s favor.  He slowed down a tad to eat and watch some of Captain America.  Emphasis on some since he was soon fighting bad guys.  Today (Tuesday) Jo and I took him back to Ohio so Tami could head straight home.

CAN. ANYONE. BRING. ME. OXYGEN. AND. SOME. ENERGY. PILLS?

The youthful exuberance.  The energy. The seemingly indefatigable “go.”  I now know why kids are given to younger parents.  Why Jo & I would not think of adopting or becoming foster parents of anyone but babies.   Now…lest you think I am complaining…not in the slightest. His visits are too seldom and too far in between.  But then again, if they were any closer I don’t think I would have time to recuperate.  🙂  A-A-N-N-N-N-D I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything in the world.  They sure do remind me I am getting old though.

Three words about the movie (The Croods): GO. SEE. IT!!  It is a good family-friendly animated film from the Dreamworks studio.  Nothing crude 🙂 about it.  Braden loved it.  He laughed.  Sat quietly through some emotional scenes involving the father/daughter (I felt some water leaking from somewhere).  There were moments of spiritual application; of following your dreams; of not being confined by fear; of how rules can control our lives; and just some good action. I read one review that said something about Eep’s (the daughter) short dress and “low” top (think of a modern Wilma & Betty); and Guy (the orphan boy) being shirtless, but come on people!  It is an animated flick.   You will see more revealing garbage in magazines and commercials.  More can be said with more space, but suffice it to say I think it would be worth seeing.

There you have a capsule of my last few days.  I am going to close now to take a nap.  Meanwhile, how do you react when your routine is upset? 

Posted in Family, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous | 21 Responses »

Acceptance

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Well, the snow hit that I wrote about in this post.  But fortunately, it was a wet snow that accumulated on cars as they sat or on the grass, but the roads were doable and there didn’t seem to be a hardship for anyone (that I know of).   We dodged a bullet because if this had been a month or so ago, holy mackerel!

I was reading Craveable Monday morning (yes, I am still working my way through it), when I ran across this statement:

I don’t know of anything more powerful and feeding to the life of another person than unconditional love and acceptance-the kind of love and acceptance that doesn’t judge or juke, the authentic love and acceptance that invests and gives and doesn’t put a ‘return to sender’ sticker on it.  (p.107)

Without a doubt people love to be loved.  I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t want to be loved unconditionally.  Now…you put conditions on that “love” and the person will automatically be suspect of whatever is coming.  The real crux of the matter is as Artie further discusses, and what has been discussed on this blog and others as well: this whole idea of acceptance.

Acceptance does not mean approval.  There is a  huge difference between the two.  Jesus loved and accepted “out of bounds” people.  The woman at the well  and Zacchaeus are examples of that.  From “go tell your husband” and “You have had five, and the one you’re currently living with is not your husband,” Jesus extended the welcome mat.  He told Zacchaeus He was going to his house that day, but I can guarantee Jesus was disapproving of his lying and cheating.  Jesus may have accepted these two (and others), but He did not approve of their lifestyle or choices.

WE. NEED. TO. TAKE. OUR. CUE. FROM. JESUS.

Recently a former prominent pastor of controversial books/beliefs has gone public in his acceptance AND approval of the gay lifestyle and marriage.  I know this is a touchy/controversial subject for some, but while acceptance can be extended to them, approval of their lifestyle can not.   I believe in the No Perfect People Allowed approach.  I preach it.  I try to practice it.  But that does not mean approval of the lifestyle.  And keep in mind, I am only using that as an example.  Throw in promiscuous,  stealing, lying, gossipy,  etc to add to that list.

At the same time I must have to remember I am fallible also.  So a judgmental, hateful, hate-filled approach is not in the cards either.  Remembering that should bring me to a loving acceptance of others as people loved by God.

I know I am only touching the hem of the garment of this discussion.  But I would like to know what your thoughts are on acceptance and approval.  This is an open forum but please be respectful.  Anything less will not be approved. 

Posted in Christian living, Church, Friendship, Just Wondering, Leadership, Legalism | 22 Responses »

Learning

Sunday, March 24th, 2013

First, I want to issue an apology.  As many of you know, I was out of town last week for Catalyst OneDay in Lexington, KY with two others.  I mentioned it here.   My apology is to you who read this blog and also write one. When I opened up my computer on Friday morning (my day off) there were close to 50 blogs waiting for me in my Google Reader.  It would have taken me forever to read and comment on them, so I read them that evening after I had settled in for the night, but chose to comment on none of them.  Please don’t be offended because I did not comment (I’m a people-pleaser after all). 🙂

Second, I thought about calling this post Anticipation since we are under a snow warning.  Fortunately Unfortunately the weather channel can’t make up its mind how much snow we are to receive.  As Doc Brown says, “Since when can the weather man predict the weather?” (Back to the Future for the uninitiated)  🙂  We are to receive anywhere between 1-8″ of snow (How’s that for accuracy?).  It was 51 degrees Saturday.  I rode 18 miles on Friday.  It does seem to be the winter that keeps on giving.

The Catalyst OneDay was a good experience for the two guys I took, and also for me. We talked all the way home (does that surprise you?) about what we learned, heard, and implementing what we learned.  We also had some great ideas tossed around.  I thought I would share a couple of thoughts from Catalyst in this post.

Craig Groeschel:

Healthy cultures never happen by accident. They are created. 

What we value determines what we do.

Those who don’t know don’t know they don’t know.

We as leaders have a limitless capacity for self-deception.

The more convinced I’m right, the more likely I am wrong.

Andy Stanley:

Mutual submission is a game-changer.

Don’t confuse giftedness with anointing.   (Andy gets pretty “heated” over “being anointed” and special favors). 

Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.

Drop the term loyalty from your vocabulary.  If you have to ask for it, demand it, or have people sign a document pledging it, YOU are the one who lacks it.

Do not allow an organizational chart to determine the tasks. 

So much more.  It was a rich day filled with tons of good stuff.  But I have to honestly say the trip home and the discussion/bantering of ideas was worth its weight in gold.  This is not meant to be a commercial for Catalyst OneDay, but if you or your staff or a group of friends have a chance to go, make the time.  You won’t regret it.   The worship and music were top-notch as well.

What quote stood out to you the most?  Oh yeah. If you tweet or repeat any of the quotes, make sure you give Craig and Andy the credit.

Posted in Christian living, Church, Leadership, Miscellaneous, Sunday Meanderings | 21 Responses »

Secretive

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

reclaimedbanner_600w

As I mentioned in my last post, Ryan (our youth pastor); Peter, a young man from the church; and I were attending Catalyst OneDay in Lexington, KY.  If this is like the other ones I attended and taught by Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley, it will be well worth it.  As you notice, I am writing this in future tense, so I am writing this ahead of time and setting a time for it to publish.

Whenever you study the Scriptures, it is not unusual to learn new things, no matter how many times you have read it.  When we read the accounts of the crucifixion, it is not unusual to highlight Jesus (for obvious reasons); his seven last sayings; or even the people around the cross (John, Mary, the centurion, the thief).  We often leave out two significant characters who played a major role in Jesus’ burial.  They are almost treated as appendages to the story.  They are my two “Reclaimed characters” this week: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

One of the reasons, I think, we treat them as we do is because up until crunch time-until push came to shove- they both were content with remaining in the background.  For lack of a better word we might call them “secret disciples.”  And that would be accurate because that is exactly the way John  describes them in chapter 19.

There are times secrecy is good.  If someone tells you a secret and trusts you with information, keeping a secret is vital.  To not do so is betrayal of the worst kind.  To be part of a secret celebration of some kind relies on, well…secrecy.  When it comes to  being a disciple of Jesus, secrecy is not good.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the follower of Jesus who took a stand against Hitler and died just days before Hitler did, once wrote, “When Jesus calls a man, He bids him come and die.”  Nothing secret about that.  Half-hearted people need not apply.   A follower of Jesus is not one who simply buys “fire insurance,” and “accepts Christ” to avoid hell.  True followers express their faith in submission and obedience.  “Stealth commitment” is not what is called for.

Joseph and Nicodemus finally put aside their religious cloak and found boldness.  They stepped forward to take down Jesus’ body from the cross and put him in Joseph’s tomb.  I don’t know, but I seriously doubt their lives were ever the same.  Neither will ours.

The challenge this Sunday is to Step Out and Step Up.  Be bold. Get rid of a stealth “religion” and get in the game.  How do you handle those who believe “I won’t say anything.  I’ll just live it?”  I’d like to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Posted in Christian living, Easter, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 20 Responses »

Builder

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

My grandson is six years old.  He is (and has been) in that magical age of fantasy and hyperactivity associated with it.  He is also a sports fan(atic).  I am extremely disappointed in his choice of teams, especially for baseball.  His father has brainwashed him to be a Reds fan, so my hopes of having a fellow Pirate fan are slim to none.   He amuses himself with constant motion of hitting, fielding, pitching, throwing, and sliding as though he is the star.  (He is in my eyes, but that’s another story).

He is also into the magical world of SuperHeroes.  The dude never stops.  We sit down to watch a movie, be it Tranformers, Iron Man, Captain America, Spiderman, Batman, or (you fill in the blank), he watches it for a short period of time and then he says, “Grandpa, I’m going to get down and watch it on the floor.”  Yeah, sure.  He then “becomes” whatever SuperHero we are watching.  It is hilarious to watch and listen to his banter, his “boy sounds,” and his actions.   Oh…those were the days!!

I have to admit that I am unashamedly thrilled that he has not gotten into Bob the Builder, Wreck-it Ralph, or Diego whatever-his-name-is.  I’m certainly glad Dora is not on his radar.  🙂  Maybe it is because I am not much of a builder…of anything.   I admire those who do, but these hands were not blessed for the intricate work of “measure twice, cut once,” or sowing, or cooking.  I do dishes, laundry, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, but it doesn’t take much skill to do those.  🙂

I also admire those who can build bridges between people.  Between cultures.  At 60, I find I can bring some wisdom to the discussion, but I am an old fogie to many of those I call the “young bucks.”  I understand-I was much the same way “back in the day’.  I do read a lot and know that many of today’s generation of pastors tend to go-it-alone.   That is a dangerous practice.  Very dangerous.  It is a bog frothing with snakes of all kinds.

One of the men who seems to have crossed the barrier of age and been able to relate to many pastors is Greg Laurie.  Ryan (our new youth pastor); Peter (one of our young men and one of the finest tile men I have ever met); and I will be attending Catalyst OneDay in Lexington, KY on Thursday.  Since I will be mostly incommunicado, I thought I would give you two of Pastor Greg’s latest daily devotions that “rang my bell.”  Here is the one for March 18th, and here is the one for March 19th.  They are short and won’t even take you five minutes to read.  Please take a few moments to link to them.  Then consider having his devotion delivered to your inbox.

I will have my phone so will approve comments, but won’t have time to respond.  But I would still love to hear your thoughts on Greg’s words.

Posted in Christian living, Church, Friendship, Just Wondering, Leadership | 16 Responses »

Appendix

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

41gjkkbSICL._AA160_

No…not that kind!  Maybe Epilogue would have been better to use, but you gotta admit, seeing Appendix as a title is a little more eye-catching than Epilogue.  🙂  This is the final week of the shared book discussion with Jon “Stretched” Stolpe about the book Love Works by Joel Manby.  My plan today is simply give a short recap of the principles of this book.    If you look at the calendar on the right of my blog and start at Jan 8th to the present date, you will be able to read each post I wrote about the book (or wait until the end).

Several people have given their endorsement of this book.

“A must-read for leaders who care.”  Joe Kennedy, CEO & President, Pandora Radio

“Love is not a word heard in many business school classes. but if you read Joel’s book, you’ll see that leading with love can transform a company’s culture. It’s about lifting up each other as well as the bottom line.  You can have it both ways.”  Jim Apple, President & CEO, Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.

“Joel Manby is the ‘real deal’ leader-the boss we all longed to work for.  I wish I had read this book early in my career.”  Rick Woolworth, Former Managing Director, Morgan Stanley

“There has never been a leadership book that has so impressed me and so touched me as deeply as Love Works.  Whether a pastor, a CEO, a church planter, or a director in some office, the principles in Love Works work.  These seven leadership principles will revolutionize and transform where you spend a good part of your day.”   Bill Grandi, Lead Pastor of Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, Spencer, IN.

Yeah, that is wrong!  🙂  But it it true!  The seven principles of Leadership by Love are as follows:

PATIENT: Having self-control

KIND: Showing encouragement

TRUSTING: Placing confidence in people

UNSELFISH: Thinking less of yourself

TRUTHFUL:  Being honest as individuals and as a company

FORGIVING: Releasing the grip of the grudge

DEDICATED: Sticking to your values

The final week I talked about choice-how each of us has to make a choice as to how we will treat others and how we will act.   I simply cannot minimize its effect upon me and my leadership.  I still have a long way to go, I know, but these principles will help make my remaining years (however long or short) effective ones.

The ultimate compliment: OVCF is hosting “Owen After Hours,” a gathering of local business people from our community.  We are giving away 25 copies to the first 25 companies who ask for one.  Check out Jon’s blog for his recap.  Meanwhile, may I ask you to share one thing, one principle, that meant the most to you? 

Thanks for joining in these past 2 months. I appreciate it.

 

Posted in Book Discussion, Church, Leadership | 33 Responses »

Ships

Monday, March 18th, 2013

I’m b-a-a-a-a-ck!  You missed me I know.  😀  While I did not go on vacation, I did take a day away (more like a night) from Spencer.  I am not asking for sympathy, believe me, but it was needed.  I have been blessed with a gentle (but sometimes firm) wife who understands the demands placed upon my time as a pastor.  For almost 40 years (June 16) we have been married and ministering together.  While the past year or so has been fun as I have watched God do some amazing things in our church family, I am ashamed to admit I have allowed my marriage to take a back seat from time to time.  I’m not proud of that…AT ALL.  Combine that with family stuff; work-related garbage (hers); a renovation project at the church that lasted all last summer;  more family stuff; and it sort of “just happened.”  We have been, for way too long, like ships passing in the night.

God has been blessing the church I pastor abundantly.  You can see the renovation project on the church web site if you haven’t already seen it.  We started working toward that in the Fall of 2011 and watched it come to fruition in the Summer of 2012.  Since then it has been a wild ride.  AND I AM NOT COMPLAINING.  God has blessed us in countless ways.

Paying cash for the renovation.

Hiring Ryan as our full-time youth pastor.  (Something we had been working and praying for close to 2 years).

Watching a newly renovated facility become full (which requires talk of two services and/or a new building). 

Reveling in new people attending, and older attendees becoming more active and more excited.

Meeting with members of the Building Team to put together a Master Plan for our 5 acre campus. 

Mentoring and spending time with Ryan, as well as others.

Studying, reading, counseling, preaching, teaching, etc.  (All part of the job so I am not complaining).

Trying to coordinate everything with a very efficient secretary (whose efficiency will put me to shame).  🙂

But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the one person who means more to me on earth than anyone else. The woman who goes to work at the BMV (yeah the person you love to hate); puts up with more c**p than any one person ought to; all to make sure we have insurance (especially pricey since we are “old”).  I am also ashamed to admit that getting away was not my idea…it was hers…said in a text of her frustration with me and my lack of time.

So we got away…only for a night, but it was a start. We attended a church we enjoy; heard Kerry & Chris Shook (a total surprise); and then took our time coming back to town Monday.

Nothing meaty in today’s text, just a warning/encouragement.  Take time for each other.  Don’t allow yourselves to get “lost.”  If you are a pastor’s family, MAKE TIME.  Encourage your pastor to make time.  We are not (in spite of what we think) invulnerable. And you don’t have to be a pastor’s family to heed this message.

 

Posted in Family, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous | 28 Responses »

« Older Entries