Hearing the Whisper

Almost Heaven

2011-11-24T07:52:00.002-05:00

Dad could not get home early enough on Thanksgiving Eve. I waited in great anticipation for his car to drive up, for him to change clothes and for the family to climb into the station wagon heading for West Virginia. We were off to Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house for Thanksgiving.

When we got there Jane, Jerry, Chuck and Doug were usually already there. We unloaded the car settled in and it was almost heaven. Everyone had their room assignments and we sat in the living room catching up on life. We eventually retired to our quarters for a great nights sleep in the quietness of Wayside, West Virginia, Almost heaven.

We slept upstairs (Chuck, Doug and Me) which was great because Paw Paw kept the house so hot with the wood burning stove the temperature was closer to hell than heaven. At least upstairs was cooler during the night. If only we could experience the comfort of that heat again.

Chuck always got up before the sun and got ready by flashlight for a day of hunting. Doug and I, we slept in until we could smell sausage cooking. What an alarm to wake up to--sausage in the frying pan. We ate and then we headed for the woods for a couple hours of deer hunting. Adolescents with high powered rifles and shot guns, by themselves in the woods. Unbelievable, I know. It's West Virginia, guns are a part of life.

We never killed anything that I remember but it was fun being in the woods in hopes to get a shot off.

We would come in when they called for us. It was time for Thanksgiving Dinner. To this day I don't know how all of us sat around the same table in the kitchen. When I sit at that table today, I remember all of us gathering around that table eating: Canned green beans, canned pickled beets, Frozen sweet corn not from the store but from a summer of Oscar and Hazel spending time in the garden. And Maw Maw and Jane spending time canning and freezing.

One year Paw Paw had killed a turkey and we had that for Thanksgiving Dinner. Along with mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, gravy, homemade rolls and did I mention gravy. We laughed and had fellowship around a meal together. We never really talked about it but I believe we were all thankful that God had brought us together for another year, Almost Heaven.

After dinner there was the pie. Wow! I do not know where my grandmother found the time. Doug and I would cut a pumpkin pie in half and we shared a pie together. No whipped cream--it didn't need it--this was heaven.

I woke up this morning thinking about this day. Today I am thankful for the family I grew up with and I am thankful for the family I have to spend the day with now.

But if there was one experience I could relive it would be that day--in that house-- in that place--Wayside, West Virginia--with all those people--Almost Heaven!

I am Thankful to have had that expereince.

Where's Phil Today?

2011-11-09T09:48:00.004-05:00

In a selfish world it is so nice to go and hang out at the Starbucks on Howe Rd. I had read about the community that is built in a Starbucks but this is amazing. The Baristas are getting to know what I order and are starting to call me by name. But it is deeper than just the workers, it is the people who come in on a regular basis. The regulars are starting to call each other by name and introducing each other to new friends they meet.

Every time Roland drives up people stop what they are doing to serve him. Someone always gets up and opens a door for him. He goes to the counter gets the same donut, same cup of coffee and sits down. The Baristas bring his donut and coffee out to him and sometimes the locals hand him the jumble to do from the newspaper. I don't know how old Roland is because I was always taught it is rude to ask someone there age.
When he leaves he leaves his dishes and someone cleans them up for him. He drives from the middle of Akron to be here about 20 minutes away. You know why? He says that he comes because of the people. He is just looking for community in the middle of a lonely day.

(side note) Hey Starbucks, I know you don't do commercials on T.V. and you don't have to, but this is a story that needs to be documented by your company.

Then there is the age old question I hear every time I am here and he isn't. Not Roland but Phil. Phil is in sales, he actually goes to Northwest and Starbucks is his office. When he is in town he is here working and making an impact on this small community. He knows everybody.

All the Barista's know him by name. He knows the local policemen who come in and they always stop to talk to him. He knows Roland of course and is the primary jumble provider. He holds the door open for people who have their hands full. He knows the retired couple that comes in regularly. He has introduced me to so many people I get confused with the names.

I have to say, this place is not the same without him. He is missed when he is not here.

Oh, I did not reveal the age old question yet did I?

"Where's Phil today?"

Just this morning I heard this question from a guy I have yet to meet, but Phil has and he has made an impact in this man's life.

The dynamic of Starbucks on Howe Rd. has a great atmosphere and one of the reasons is Phil. That is why I like Phil greeting people at Northwest when they come through the door.

A selfless servant who truly loves people and he makes a difference. To those who have a local hangout, you can make a difference if you walk in to serve rather than to be served.

Hey Church!!! This is what we need to be when ever we gather-- a community of people who have two things in common: 1) They love Jesus and want to be like Him 2) They love people and want to intorduce them to their friends, including Jesus.

May we all have a place where people miss us when we are not there!

Posting on My Wall

2011-08-31T09:48:00.003-04:00

I have this big blank wall I sit in front of in my office. It is a sandy color and as I am looking around writing this I think it is time to give it a new look. Do you have any color suggestions?

Now that I decided that let me get back to what I was about to say. I have this blank wall in front of me I look at almost everyday. I just started to change the face of the wall a couple weeks ago. I decided that instead of putting up a picture or a work board I was going to write scripture on my wall. Not any scripture but scripture that means something to me at the moment.

I know, when we were kids we were told to never write on the wall. I have told my kids the same thing. My kids even aksed me when they first saw it, "Did you write on your wall? Are you suppose to do that?" I had to tell them I could always paint over it. They are old enough now to know how easy that really can be. And if they write on the wall now they are also old enough to paint.

I would like to share the first scripture (and only scripture at this point) I wrote on my wall. I pulled out a sharpie and I wrote:

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See I am doing a new thing!
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the waste land.
Isaiah 43:18-19

Then in pencil I wrote the date I posted it.

Sometimes life and ministry is hard. And the enemy has a way of making us look at the past and dwell on things we can never change or fix. Sometimes we feel like we are walking through a desert or a waste land.

God says stop dwelling on the past and look to the future. Look to Him. It does not matter what your past looks like, God is a forgiving God and does not dwell on our past. All he asks from us is to trust Him.

"See I am doing a new thing!" There is a freshness that comes in this promise from God. We need to focus on what God is doing--not dwell on the past.

Since this has been posted on my wall, and I don't mean facebook, I have often prayed asking God to show me the new thing he is doing and wants to do in my life and in the life of Northwest. The next step is to trust Him.

God in the Marketplace

2011-08-18T11:03:00.003-04:00

Can worship happen outside of a church building in unexpected places? Of course! When we read the Bible God shows up in some of the most unlikely places. On the side of a mountain, on the sea, in a jail, in a fiery furnace--you get the picture. Our problem is we limit God to a building on Sunday morning.

I don't know what you think about U2, but in 2009 when they did their 360 Tour I believe for a moment worship took place. In "Launching Missional Communities" Alex Absalom describes going to the concert like this, "The presence of God was so tangible. Even if people didn't yet know the name of the God who was there, they were being drawn into his presence and having their hearts softened by the Holy Spirit."

The recognition of the presence of God is worship. We need more of it in the marketplace. Honestly, we need more of it on Sunday mornings in the building we call church.

Pause for a moment. Look around you and recognize his presence. There you will find peace.

Sing along as you watch U2 lead people in the chorus of Amazing Grace recognizing the presence of God.

Us/Them

2011-08-17T10:19:00.002-04:00

I have been doing a series called "US/THEM." It was developed out of seeing books being written about "Them." The church has a problem connecting with the world and part of the reason is the Us/Them mentality which exists both in the world and in the church.

Both Us and Them are looking for safety. For Us safety is found in the church. As long as we are hanging out with people who are like us and validate our opinions we feel safe. For Them, safety comes in wealth, addictions, jobs and etc. One thing I have noticed though is some of the same things They find safety in, We find safety in as well.

Both Us and Them are right. At least We think We are right and They are wrong or They think They are right and We are wrong. Our rightness comes from what the Bible teaches. Their rightness comes from experience or how they feel. As long as they are happy it must be right, right? I have also noticed that We live by the same rightness but ours comes in the name of God. There are so many times Our rightness has nothing to do with what the Bible teaches, but with our own personal preferences.

Both Us and Them are self-absorbed. Our being self-absorbed is justified--it is done in the name of religion. Their self-absorbed attitude has to do with Them. Ours has a greater purpose theirs is self-centered. Really? I have found in myself and other followers the tendency to be self-absorbed to the point that everything is about "Them." Not what Jesus wants, but what We want.

Truly there is no Us/Them. There is just Us. Mankind. People we pass by everyday whether on foot or in our car. Us. God's creation. While we separate ourselves between Us and Them God looks at just Us. On judgment day there will be a separation. That is for God to determine. For now we are just Us. And as we can see We are not very different.

The only difference is one knows God and His grace and the other lives without God and knowledge of His grace.

First question: Where do you fall? Are you trying to walk with God or walk apart from God?

Second question: If there is just Us how does that change the way you live?

Blah Blah Blah

2011-08-10T16:32:00.003-04:00

The political seasons is starting. As I watch all of these politicians all I hear is talk. The only thing we hear any more are speeches. As far as I am concerned it is all talk. It is to the point where I feel like I am watching a Charlie Brown episode listening to his teahcer speak: "Whah whah whah whah . . . whah whah."

I am more concerned with the church though. We continue to hear people talk about their faith. But the world does not need more talk about God, they need to see God. They need to see the people of God reflecting His character in their life. No more talk.

It boils down to authenticity. Ask yourself this question, "Do people see God's character in the way I live my life?" A honest look at this one question could change someone's perception about God.

Never Been to Church

2011-05-19T09:57:00.005-04:00

There was a time in our culture when we could assume people had heard basic stories from the Bible. Stories like David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lions Den, Jonah and the Whale (even though it is called a big fish in the Bible). This is not true anymore. It is becoming more common to meet people who have never heard these stories.

It is common now to meet people who have never been to church in their life. They have no idea what to expect when they walk into a worship service for the first time. It has to be intimidating.

For those of you like me who grew up going to church walking into a worship service is somewhat natural. Yeah services may be different, but for the most part they all have something in common.

There are more people today who make assumptions about church based on the people they have met who go to church and what they have heard about church. The pop culture has influenced these assumptions as well. For a large portion of our culture walking into a worship service is like walking into a foreign country. They don't know the language or the customs. They don't want to do something or say something wrong so they look foolish or draw attention to themselves. It is a real fear people have when they go to church for the first time.

The great thing is they don't come with their own agendas. If they build up the courage to enter into this foreign land they are most likely there because they are searching to know more about God. It is quite refreshing to meet people who are searching to know more about God. There is an innocent excitement in the questions they ask and their attentive spirit.

If you are reading this and you grew up in the church my question to you is this: How do you relate to a person who has no church background? Do you try to teach them about God or do you make them think you are better than them? This is not the time to show off your Bible knowledge, that is what a Pharisee would do. And Pharisees are the ones they are a afraid of most.

This is no time for judgement--It is all about grace and mercy.

When a person is a guest in another country the people they are the guest of show a high level of hospitality. The goal is to make them feel comfortable in their country. They explain customs in detail. They interpret the language explain what a phrase or word may mean in their culture. They become the teacher and the guest becomes the student, but not in an authoritative way though. They try to protect you from doing something stupid and when you do they laugh with you not at you.

If you have not been brought up in the church and you want to know more about the stories that exist in the Bible that most church goers know let me give you this piece of advice, and I say this with all the respect in the world--Buy a children's Bible and read through it. Find the same story in a big persons Bible and read it there also. These are foundational, basic stories most people who grew up in the church know.

I had one lady I made an assistant children's Sunday School teacher. She loved it. She would constantly talk to me about some of the stories "the children" were learning. She eventually became a follower of Jesus and probably is teaching children to this day. Notice she was helping before she even became a Christian. She was actually being discipled by a mature believer for one hour a week.

As church leaders we have to address this issue. How are we going to relate to those who are coming to us that have no church background? It is a reality that is becoming more common in our culture today. For me, it is an exciting reality! It is refreshing to find people who are hungry to know more about God and how to live for Him.

Ready Or Not, Here I Come!

2011-05-16T15:09:00.006-04:00

There is a billboard not far from my house on the interstate that is sharing to those who pass--"Judgement Day is May 21, 2011."

I have to say I am quite cynical of the whole predicting the second coming thing. I mean how many times has a date come and gone just like every other day when it was deemed the day of judgement. I am also not a fan of trying to predict how the second coming will go down, you know all the pre, post and amillennial stuff. I like what someone once told me, "I am a 'pan'millennialist. Everything is going to pan out in the end."

Seriously, trying to predict how and when the second coming of Jesus is going to happen is like trying to predict when and where lightning will strike next.

The disciples were standing looking up into the sky when Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9). He had just told them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8).

Yet they still stood there gazing into the sky waiting for Jesus to come back. "Waiting" is a word that defines most Christians. It is a sedentary word which shows no action. We "wait" for those who are far from God to show up at church on Sunday morning hoping the service will attract them to be a part of our club. We "wait" on God to provide the necessary resources before we step out on faith and trust Him where he may be leading us. Then when the resources do not appear we claim God shut the door.

There just is not a sense of urgency within the western Christian world. We stand and wait to much. We look for when Jesus is going to come back and this becomes our sense of urgency? Not the fact that there are people going to hell all around us?

Jesus never told us to figure out the day he was coming and warn people about that day. The message is not a message of judgement it is a message opposite of judgement, it is a message of grace.

Look, Jesus is coming someday that is truth. But even he said he would come as a thief in the night. Our sense of urgency as followers of Jesus should not be tied into the truth that he is coming to gather his followers someday. It should not create a complacent attitude. And it surely should not make us feel comfortable.

Our sense of urgency should be tied into the truth there are people who will miss out on grace if we do not take serious our mission and call to make disciples of all nations. We should be willing to give up our own wants, desires and comforts for so that people can know the grace Jesus wants to extend to all people.

Selfishly I want Jesus to come back on May 21, 2011 or even before. But if he does there are people I know that have yet to become followers of Jesus. My love for them compels me to hope Jesus does not come until they understand His grace and what He has done for them. The longer he waits the more people there will be in His presence forever. That describes the heart of God.

As the disciples stood there it says "they were looking 'intently' up into the sky" when two men dressed in white asked them what they are doing. The two men explained Jesus would return the same way they saw him go into heaven. It must have been said in a way that the disciples understood it was not going to be immediate. It must of reminded them of their calling.

They left. Not long after that the Spirit came on them as promised and they went into the world telling people about Jesus. Their urgency to be His witnesses launched the church. They told people of his grace, mercy and love. Did they mention the second coming? Of course. But they never said when it was going to happen, they only taught that it would happen someday.

The hope is that people will be ready for the day Jesus comes for those who call him Lord.

Below is a song written in the sixties by Larry Norman. It is redone in the 90's by DC Talk. Larry Norman's message is that he hopes everyone will be ready when that day comes.

Kingdom Synergy Partnership (KSP)

2011-05-06T10:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I was at a KSP meeting in Columbus. I love going to KSP meetings because they are so rewarding in so many ways.

KSP was a dream a friend had to "Make it Hard to Go to Hell in Ohio." When it started about 6 years ago there were four churches and two church planting organizations that began to meet regularly to dream about starting a church. It has grown from a meeting where five people came together to now over 100. There are 18 churches that have been planted or are in process. Many churches and networks are working together in Ohio watching God do some amazing things in the world of church planting. And now there are four churches being planted in Ecuador.

One of the coolest things about each of the church plants is the diversity. There are churches from the suburbs to the inner city. All the churches together are reaching such a diverse group of people and when they come together they cheer one another on--it truly is a modern day picture of the church as a movement. It is a picture of a church reaching "all nations."

The core values are simple, yet truly define the culture of KSP.

Authenticity- No image management is allowed. It does not matter who gets the credit everyone is working together for one cause.

Collaberation- KSP brings people and churches together to plant churches, share ideas, encourage and complete the mission.

Generosity- KSP churhes and leaders share anything with each other from resources to time.

Urgency- There are people going to hell all around us and there is an urgent call from God to reach these people.

KSP has truly become a movement that is impacting Ohio and the World. I am blessed to be able to participate in something God is doing which is bigger than anyone person or one church.

What a great ride!

Just a Thought

2011-05-04T22:46:00.003-04:00

What would happen if we, the church, believers--those who call themselves followers of Jesus took seriously the command to make disciples? Churches would begin to look more like Jesus, communities would be transformed, lives would be changed and more people would go to heaven.

Is Easter Really that Important?

2011-04-21T14:12:00.003-04:00

It is Thursday and I am sitting in Starbucks watching people. Some are working while others are doing life together. Some are just enjoying their favorite beverage. Music is playing in the background of pots being washed and coffee being ground. It is just another normal day at Starbucks.

As people walk in and out I wonder if they are thinking about what I am thinking about? Easter is three days away. The biggest day for a church, right? Less than two thousand years ago Jesus was spending his last day with his disciples today. He had spent the last couple years with these guys teaching them to make disciples. People who would live like him. Not just for their generation but for generation after generation which brings me back to Starbucks.

Were the people in Jerusalem just going through another day like the people I am watching? Were they facing another religious festival they had to endure again like they do every year whether it is Passover or Easter?

Which leads me to this question, Is Easter just another religious festival only this time Christians claim it as their most important religious holiday. Without sounding sacrilegious is Easter really that important? When I say that, I mean the day, the Sunday once a year where we buy a new outfit, go to a specially designed service and eat a big dinner with family or friends. A Sunday in the spring when there is no Nascar!

I have to believe that when Jesus sat down with his disciples for that last Passover meal there was something more significant to Him than just another religious holiday. It was reflective for him as a human, the day God redeemed a group of people who would one day be the nation that would produce Him--the Messiah. He sat there as the fulfillment of a plan God began when death passed over the Israelites.

It was significant because when he left that room with his disciples it would end with God's will being fulfilled so that we could be redeemed. The disciples just saw it as another Passover meal with Jesus. This was their third with him.

They walked with him in the garden a journey they had taken with Jesus many times. Their friend Judas rejoins them, but this time with a crowd of soldiers and he greeted Jesus with a kiss. The kiss of death which began Jesus' journey to the cross.

It got chaotic for the disciples they scattered not willing to stand with Jesus in this journey that led to the grave. Jesus did not try to stop them because he knew this was not their journey, this was not why he had spent the last couple years with them. They had a different purpose. He groomed them to make disciples and lead the church. He did not expect them to hang around, it was not their time.

Can you imagine seeing your best friend dying an agonizing death thinking maybe you should have done something about it? Have you ever lost a friend to death? A childhood friend of mine died last year. We were close but not best friends. I sat up one night thinking about all the things we had done together. He lived in my neighborhood and was my best friends brother. We had been camping together, gone to movies together, played ball together--I had not seen him in years but started to miss him.

The disciples probably sat in the upper room reflecting back on their friend remembering everything they had done together. They had fished together, eaten meals together, traveled together--can you imagine the stories they were telling as they remembered their friend.

As they were telling these stories Jesus showed up. Their first reaction had to be disbelief. Then as they grasped the reality of what happened joy would be an understatement. Maybe they begged for forgiveness since they did not stand up for Jesus. I am sure he was quick to tell them they couldn't because it was not yet their time.

If someone who was close to me showed up after I had seen them put in the grave I would be beside myself with joy. Even if we were not the best of friends I would be telling everyone with unbridled excitement.

Easter is three days away. What is our normal response? Is it to see this Sunday as just another Easter to get through with little or no thought about what really happened. Some will see it as something they have to endure, others will ignore it all together. What about you? How will you celebrate this Sunday? Will it be just another Easter or will it have significant meaning? Will you see it as the day Jesus slammed the door on death so we could experience His undeserved grace?

I guess Easter really is important if we allow ourselves to experience the importance of Jesus' resurrection. It all depends on how we look at.

Have a great Easter Everyone!

Bake

7 Mile Memory

2011-04-05T00:16:00.004-04:00

Growing up in Salem, Va. was special. Not only is it a great place to call home it is close to one of the most scenic places on the Appalachian Trail. Macafee Knob is one of those places that I have had the privilege of seeing several times in my life. Each time it was unforgettable. Not because it is one of the most beautiful places on earth, but each time it was special because of the people I got to experience it with.

I believe it was a Sunday afternoon in the late seventies or early eighty's when I first looked over the Blue Ridge Mountains. My father asked me to going hiking with him. I had no idea where we were going, I just new I was going to be on the Appalachian trail for the first time.

Dad and I drove to the top of Catawba Mountain, parked the car, crossed route 311 and began our journey to Macafee Knob. It is about 3.5 mile walk each way on the trail. I was reminded by my dad recently that I complained a lot of the way to the top and back down. But, it was a place I always remembered. I have often looked up pictures on the Internet and even written about standing on the knob looking out across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

As much as I did not like the hike I never forgot it. I never forgot it for two reasons. First it was a journey my dad and I did together. It was a memory we shared together and as I look back it is something I have never forgotten. Second, it was one of those moments where I got to see what my Heavenly Father created for His Creation to experience. A place that a Psalm could easily be written about explaining the splendor of God.

Two weeks ago I was standing on that same rock protruding out in what seems like midair. I never thought I would be there again.

This time I was not there with my dad but I got to go as a dad. Eli, Cole and Seth all were with me at Macafee Knob. It was special because it reminded me of being there with dad and now I was there with my sons.

I have to say, God is great for many reasons and I have been blessed in so many ways. That day I got to remember spending time with dad knowing that I was raised in a great family. I got to spend that day with my kids duplicating what my dad taught me about being a father. I realized how much my kids are like me--Eli complained all the way up and all the way down.

But most of all I got to see the splendor of God in what he created--my dad, my kids and the rock called Macafee Knob.

Sin, Religion and Grace (part 2)

2011-02-04T17:20:00.004-05:00

Here are some more thoughts from Timothy Keller's book, "The Reason for God":

"Religion operates on this principle 'I obey--therefore I am accepted by God.' But the operating principle of the gospel is 'I am accepted by God through what Christ has done--therefore I obey.' Two people living their lives on the basis of these two different principles may sit next to each other in the church pew." - Timothy Keller

"The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me." - Timothy Keller

There is a distinct difference between someone who goes to church because it is their religion and someone who is a part of the church because of grace. The former goes to church because they feel like they have to in order to please God and show everyone they are a Christian. The later participates as a part of the church because they get to as a child of God.

The difference is how we view our relationship with God. Once we get grasp the reality that we are his children and we are accepted by Him despite our flaws we live our lives differently in relation to Him. We obey not out of obligation but because we serve a God who loves and values us because we are His.

Religion crushes the spirit, grace brings life.

Sin, Religion and Grace

2011-02-03T10:51:00.002-05:00

Just finished Timothy Keller's book, "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism." I have to say he does a great job of explaining why God makes sense and why we need him.

Toward the end he gets into some basic theological issues including Sin, Religion and Grace. Here are some quotes and thoughts on sin, religion and grace:

Sin: "Lewis (referring to C.S. Lewis) works from Kierkegaard's definition of sin. Sin is not simply doing bad things, it is putting good things in the place of God. So the only solution is not simply to change our behaviour, but to reorient and center the entire heart and life on God."

"Remember this--if you don't live for Jesus you will live for something else."

"Everybody has to live for something. Whatever that something is becomes the 'Lord of your life,' whether you think of it that way or not."

What Keller is saying is that sin is not just doing bad things. The root of our sin is putting something else before God. If money is your lord it can drive you to do things that are sinful. Someone with the drive to have money may be a workaholic and neglect not just God, but their family. Maybe they will cheat on their taxes or deal unethical with others. Maybe it will cause someone to steal from someone else. All of these actions are just a result of money being in the place of God.

Maybe it is alcohol, drugs or sex that has become your lord and as a result, your actions show what "the" sin is you struggle with most. Jesus taught about the root of our actions in the Sermon on the Mount on several occasions. One place he said, "You have heard that it was said . . . do not murder . . . but I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement" (Matthew 5:21-22). What Jesus is saying is that murder is the result of a deeper issue--anger. It is at anger you have crossed the line of sin.

When I used to travel for Kentucky Christian University to various camps sometimes I would have to teach on sex to students. The question that was always asked was "How far can you go before it is to far?"

I had always been taught that you can go as far as you can without it leading to the deed (if you know what I mean). But that is not what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).

So "lust" is the problem. Adultery is just the result of lust. So, what is this person's lord?

Sin is as simple as putting something else before God. In the example of the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve put their independence before God. They wanted to be like God. So they ate from the wrong tree.

Really all sin boils down to Adam and Eves sin--independence from our Lord. Everything other sin is just the result of our desire to be independent from God.

(Religion and Grace continued tomorrow)

Check Engine

2011-02-02T08:56:00.004-05:00

We bought a car for Eli in August and the check engine light is on. Just recently Rhonda came in and said a strange warning light is on in the van. Yep, the check engine light. Rhonda came in another day after driving my car, you guessed it--check engine.

I was not feeling well yesterday. My heart was racing so I went to the Doctor. As I was laying there getting an EKG I thought to myself, "My check engine light is on." I'm fine, just have what they are calling "lone atrial fibrillation." It stopped on it's own. I did not have to get shocked to put my heart back into rhythm which was a possibility. I actually thought about doing it myself with a fork and an electrical socket. When I joked with the doctor about it he said it may have worked, but was not in favor of it.

Anyway, with all the check engine lights on in my life it got me thinking. When a check engine light comes on you have to do a diagnostic test to find out what is wrong. What about our spiritual life? Is your walk with God somewhat stalled? Would you say that your check engine light is on? What does a diagnostic test look like for your spiritual walk with God?

Maybe you need to spend some quiet time reflecting on your relationship with God. Maybe you need to sit down with a friend you trust and can share anything with to coach you through your evaluation. Maybe your doing well with your faith.

Here is what Paul tells followers in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test."

Life Change

2011-01-28T12:59:00.003-05:00

I was reading an article in Christian Standard a friend of mine wrote about Small Groups. Read it here.

In it Brian Jones talks about the effectiveness of small groups. I agree with the point he was making because small groups for the sake of church growth is a bunch of hoo-hoo. The tension we have at Northwest is trying to create Life Groups where life change happens and having a home Bible Study.

I am all for studying the Bible but if it is not making a difference in your life then all you have obtained is Bible knowledge. I heard Mike Breaux say one time, "There are a lot of people who have marked up their Bibles but have never let their Bibles mark up them." What he is saying is that there are many people who can tell you what the Bible says but do not live what the Bible says.

There were a lot of responses to Brian's article (you can read those at the link above also) because he challenged people to rethink the value of small groups. He wrote a response himself and this quote from his response nailed it:

"Small groups began (and I’m dating myself here) as a church growth tool. They are awesome at making people feel connected. But feeling connected isn’t the point. I’m sick of people who are super-connected in the church having affairs, watching porn, stealing money from work, and treating their kids like they are orphans. No doubt small groups help people feel connected. But do people emerged changed after spending a year or two spending 1.5 hours a week, every other week (excluding holidays and summertime) with other people in these groups?"

Life Change should be the end result of Worship, Sunday School, small groups and any other program in the church designed to get people connected. Being connected does not mean you have a bunch of friends you hang out with occasionally. We can do that at any of the many local clubs in town.

Jesus called it making disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20 we are always quick to say this means we are to evangelize the world. But that is not the whole truth. Jesus said to go make disciples who observe what he taught.

The word "observe" (tereo) in the Greek means, "to attend to carefully." We are to make disciples who carefully follow the ways of Jesus.

A changed life that resembles the life of Jesus is what the church was created to accomplish. It is not a place to gather people, whether in large groups or small groups, who call themselves Christians. It was created to make authentic followers of Jesus.

The Gathering

2011-01-25T10:04:00.002-05:00

Sunday Morning "church," what is the purpose for it? Why do we gather on a Sunday morning? Teaching is obviously a reason we come together. Worship is also a reason to gather. But what is the deeper reason for gathering on a Sunday morning.

Some people say you can follow Jesus without going to the gathering. While there is truth in that statement neglecting the gathering is not encouraged in scripture.

Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing . . ." So why is it important to gather?

This passage in Hebrews says so we can "encourage" one another, so we can "spur" one another on in love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24-25). The word "spur" in the Greek means, "a sudden violent emotion or action." I instantly think of the word "inspire." The gathering should inspire people to be more like Jesus.

We can go to a church any Sunday morning and see singing, teaching, praying, the Lord's supper. Some seem to have a different spirit and feel to them. They do the same things, but they don't have the same impact. The difference is do they inspire people to live more like Jesus.

Those who inspire people to love and good deeds--to be more like Jesus may not even be the larger churches. But they can make a larger impact in the kingdom.

Here is a question for you: why do you go to the gathering? Or maybe you don't so the question for you is: why don't you go to the gathering?

2010-12-28T11:27:00.002-05:00

I have watched this twice now. I found it on Dave Fergusons blog and had to share it.

Christmas Traditions

2010-12-08T10:05:00.005-05:00

Growing up Christmas was a big deal. Not as much for presents, although we got presents and we usually got what we wanted. Every year the JC Penney Christmas catalogue came out. My sister and my self would spend hours going through it and circling the things we wanted for Christmas.

Most of the pages we spent our time in were in the toy section. Sometimes we may venture over into the electronics section if we wanted a stereo system with an 8-track player.

Man, I am old. A lot of you have never experienced an 8 track player, much less a JC Penney Christmas catalogue.

But here is where we’re alike, there was not much time spent in the clothes section of the JC Penney catalogue, unless it was a jersey of my favorite team.

That was not the thing I remember most about Christmas. Of course I remember some of the toys I got, but I will never forget the family time together. At the time there were some things I hated, but would relive in a heartbeat if I could, like stringing pop corn and cranberries to decorate the tree. Or sticking whole cloves in an orange changing its look and texture, it did smell good though. I know all these ideas came from mom’s Christmas edition of Southern Living magazine.

I loved the baking that was done--fudge, butter and pecan cookies, orange blossoms, peanut butter balls (in Ohio they call them buckeyes and they don’t cover the whole ball with chocolate), applesauce cake and other seasonal snacks that filled the pantry. I remember giving it to people as gifts. The great thing about giving baked items as gifts is you usually got some back—fudge, butter and pecan cookies, peanut butter balls . . .

I loved going to Aunt Jesse’s house for Christmas Eve dinner. Uncle Frank sitting in the same chair, Garth joking around with us kids, the kids table at dinner time and Jesse’s homemade rolls—you can’t forget the rolls. The kids table was fun and you never graduated from it. When some of the older cousins had graduated and were even in college—they still had a place at the kids table. None of us really cared though because we were at Jesse’s for Christmas Eve. I think it was at Jesse’s I ate 13 deviled eggs—a Baker’s dozen.

Then there was Christmas morning. Getting up at 8 am to see what you got from Santa—It was really more like 4 am for me, I had to test all the stuff before everyone else. I remember dad coming down and telling me I had to go back to bed because I was waking everyone up playing toss-a-cross, a bean bag game of tic-tac-toe.

When we all were finally up we would make toast from fresh cinnamon bread Delores Crouch made for us every year. She was one of the few adult friends mom and dad had that I could call by their first name. That toast was soooo good.

Then came breakfast or brunch, it wasn’t much but it seem to never end. It consisted of ham biscuits. Virginia salt cured ham on what I would call more of a roll with butter wrapped in foil and baked until the butter had melted. Uncle Bill usually made it over by the time we were eating ham biscuits to check out the stuff we got and just hang out for the day.

Sometime during the day Lewis Barker, my best friend who lived across the street would come over to see what I got. Then I would go over to his house to see the stuff he got.

The greatest thing about Christmas was hanging out with family and friends. That is what I remember most. I do remember the food, but with food came family and friends something that makes the Christmas season Christmas.

We get to celebrate the birth of a relational God who brings people together. So when you are with friends and family over this holiday season remember it is just part of God’s plan to bring people together not just to celebrate Jesus but to enjoy the company of each other.

Merry Christmas!

Sinner Saved By Grace

2010-11-10T14:16:00.002-05:00

I just changed my facebook religious view to: "Sinner Saved by Grace." I was eating lunch with a friend this afternoon and we talked about life, God and the church. She was describing how she went through the process of recording her religious view on facebook. "Christian" can mean so many things. It can turn the stomachs of some who are not followers and turn the nose up of some followers because of the elitism which exists in so many churches.

Everyone likes to use the phrase "Jesus follower" or "Christ follower" but that comes with a lot of pressure. None of us, not one will ever follow Jesus perfectly. We are going to mess up and the accountability that goes along with being a Jesus follower is to much for any body to achieve. I am not saying we shouldn't try to live like Jesus, I'm just saying you can't perfectly.

Since we're not perfect, since we are all sinners and need God's grace I decided to call it as it is--"Hi, my name is Scott and I am a 'sinner saved by grace.'" This statement means so much more to me. It is not a badge I wear proudly but without it I may not fully comprehend the love God has for me.

Here is what it says about me: 1) I am not perfect, 2) I deeply matter to God and 3) without Jesus I am nothing.

I have made a conscious decision about this title change. When someone tells me they are a Christian, I am going to try to correct them by saying, "You mean a sinner saved by grace, so am I!" (While putting my hand above my head looking for acceptance with a high five).

You see I think we have missed the chance to truly share the hope of the gospel by labeling ourselves Christians. The word Christian is used three times in the New Testament and twice it is used by those who are not followers to describe someone who imitates Jesus. The third time it was used in context of suffering. It was mostly used by the outside world to describe someone they saw as a follower.

Paul never used it to describe himself, but he often referred to himself as a sinner, not only a sinner, but the worst of sinners. Then he talked about grace. There is so much authenticity when we first see ourselves as sinners. It makes us not better than the world, but like the world when it comes to our condition before God. There is not a difference between me and the pagan on the other side of town when it comes to the penalty I deserve because of my sin.

The difference comes when I realize 1) I am not perfect, 2) I deeply matter to God and 3) without Jesus I am nothing.

That is the message the world needs to hear. They don't need to know that I am a Christian, they need to know I am like them and the only difference is that I understand those three things about myself. And because of that I am not just a sinner, "I am a sinner saved by grace."

Should We Be On Mission?

2010-10-11T09:28:00.002-04:00

I was sent an article to read about the missional church by a friend on facebook (read article here).

Below is one of the responses I read on the facebook article:

"I admire those who devote their LIVES to missions and evangelism. However, I am not one of them and that does not set well with my Southern Bapt church. When I read Matt 28 and Luke 24, I see Christ speaking to the eleven, not me. My place ...in the body is more geared toward praise and worship, or taking care of the church building, or visiting sick members...common purposes. I wasn't meant for noble ones, and I'm okay with that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I will give a reason for why I believe to anyone WILLING to hear. I think I would be labeled a hyper Calvinist."

Here are some thoughts:

1) Matthew 28 and Luke 24 is Jesus speaking only to the eleven? What other passages would we have to consider only for the eleven. John 13-16 come to mind right off the top of my head. Jesus is teaching the disciples during the Last Supper and then on his way to the garden to be arrested. He talks to them about being a servant, loving one another, trusting God, being led by the Spirit and some other things. I guess we would have to eliminate those teachings as well.

2) There is nothing wrong with leading worship, visiting the sick and other noble causes, they are Biblical. But taking care of the building? Where were we told to do that as followers of Jesus?

3) I believe the guy is not ashamed of the gospel, I think? I mean I believe he would share something with someone wanting to know more about Jesus, but I wonder if it could be considered the gospel (the good news). It would probably be some hyped up denominational sales pitch about grace, but for me it would be hard to believe coming from someone who is not sold out to the gospel themselves.

4) I do however understand where the guy is coming from, he says it in his response. He said "I think I would be labeled a hyper Calvinist." I thought our goal was to be labeled followers of Jesus, not any other man. This explains why the guy would not follow the words of Jesus, because he trusts the words of another man above the words of "The" Man.

What can we learn from this? We learn that we must be careful who we place our trust in because whether it is intentional or not the truth will be revealed. I don't think for a moment that this guy does not think he loves Jesus, I just think his understanding of Jesus is somewhat cloudy.

It is a battle we all have to fight everyday as we grow closer to Jesus.

It Happened (continued)

2010-09-24T09:55:00.007-04:00

I will try to get through this post without losing my focus. Although, the two post relate to each other very well.

I met a guy Thursday morning at Starbucks for coffee. While we were there we talked about God and the kingdom. We talked about how to live as kingdom people where we are at the time. We really had a good discussion about God stuff.

He got up to leave and I was going to stay and check my email. As soon as he got up a guy approached. I was wearing a tee-shirt from my trip to Zimbabwe last fall. The front of it says, "Acts 29." He asked me, "What's with the shirt. There's not an Acts 29." Obviously he knew his Bible. Most people who carry the Christian cup (to understand the cup thing, read the previous post) don't realize there is no Acts 29, its a Hezekiah 3 type of thing.

I explained to him that it means the story continues, the Acts of disciples should not have stopped in Acts 28. We still have a purpose in God's kingdom today. He told me he had seen that image before. I explained there was a church planting group called Acts 29. He was familiar with it because he had seen it on the Internet.

Then he asked me if I was familiar with Frances Chan. This guy was obviously someone who did not just carry a cup. So I asked him the obvious question, "Do you go to church?" I know better than to go right for that question but I wanted to know where he got his coffee.

He looked in the air, trying to decide how he wanted to answer the question. He said, "I don't." Then he went on to explain why, "There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians that are going to hell." What he was saying is there are a lot of people who just like to carry the cup.

It happened, in Starbucks I met a person I keep reading about. Someone who is disenfranchised with the church. About 30 minutes later I packed up my stuff and headed out the door. The guy was coming down the sidewalk. He stopped me again and asked me my name. He also asked me what church I was with and wanted to know where it was. He did tell me he was a member of a church but he did not want to talk bad about it because he is good friends with the pastor.

He did end our conversation by telling me "Frances Chan has it right you know." We are only told to do two things: Follow Jesus and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to teach them everything Jesus has taught us (the great commision).

It happened, I met a person who doesn't just carry the cup. I met a guy who knows what it means to be on mission for Jesus. You know where he drinks his coffee? Jesus.

Where do you drink yours?

It Happened

2010-09-24T09:31:00.003-04:00

I met someone for coffee yesterday in Starbucks. Yes, I said coffee. For those who don't know I am not much of a coffee drinker, but I always wanted to carry a Starbucks cup like a lot of the trendy world does. It is more of a status symbol or your club card. I am in now because I found something I like or at least can tolerate.

I am not proud of my usual but I have manned up and do get an extra shot of espresso. I am sure you want to know the manly drink I prefer. It is a "Triple Skinny (because I am trying to lose some weight) Carmel Latte." There I said it. I guess I will have to post another manly question on Facebook. But if you want it you will have to take it from me (if getting physical over a latte is even possible). It doesn't matter what I drink, I am in the club, I carry the cup to prove it.

Sounds like our Christian life doesn't it. We can carry a Bible, go to church and even have a Jesus fish on the back of our car but nobody really knows who we are on the inside. We can promote ourselves on the outside and still have a lot of crap on the inside. I mean nobody knows what I am drinking when they see me carry a Starbucks cup unless of course you are one of those ice coffee kind of people. I just never could see John Wayne out on the range or in a fox hole drinking ice coffee. Is ice and coffee really suppose to go together?

So it happened, I am kind of drinking coffee now. But that is not what I really wanted to blog about, but this one is getting to long so . . . I will have to continue tomorrow.

But think about it, if you are a follower of Jesus, are you really following him or are you just carrying the cup?

Costly Grace

2010-09-09T15:43:00.002-04:00

I have been wanting to read "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer for a long time. His first chapter is called "Costly Grace." I love reading about God's grace but I have to admit this time it is making me a little uncomfortable. I know it has because I have brought it up in discussions twice in the last two days and I am even going to teach on it Sunday.

His point is that there are two types of grace the church teaches. Cheap grace which is taught mostly he says "is the deadly enemy of the church." Cheap grace requires nothing from the one receiving grace. He says "Cheap Grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner."

I have noticed lately followers of Jesus want to justify their sin without accountability. When held accountable they play the judgement card and say, "you don't understand." They call for grace but they want it at a discount. What I mean is they want the benefits of grace but don't want it to cost them anything.

The problem is that many churches and church leaders today teach this type of grace. The messages are designed to make people feel good about themselves with little or no accountability. This may be the reason so many church leaders are now evaluating the churches they lead and finding out they have done a poor job of discipling followers of Jesus. Bonhoeffer makes the point that "Cheap Grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."

This is the grace we like. This is the grace that is a bargain because there is little or no cost.

Costly grace on the other hand is something we don't want think about. The reason is this grace cost us something. It calls for accountability and sacrifice. In some places in the world this grace can even cost people their lives.

Jesus teaches this type of grace. He tells the rich young ruler to sell everything he owns and give it to the poor and then he will have treasures in heaven. He tells those who want to follow him things like, "If you follow me, remember I don't know where I am going to sleep tonight" or "If you follow me you will have to leave your family." He even warns his disciples on the night he was arrested that they should expect persecution and even death.

So the question I want to ask is "How costly is your grace?"

Remember Grace is costly, it should cost us something considering it cost God is one and only Son.

Living for God

2010-08-16T14:47:00.005-04:00

You may have heard that recently there was a group of people who were killed in Afghanistan. They were there on humanitarian efforts performing medical and dental services. I may have crossed paths with one of the ladies who lost their life that day.

I was an associate minister at a church in Kenmore (Akron) and her grandfather was one of the elders. Earl Beckett was a great man. He loved God and he loved people. His son Charles grew up and became a minister in the Christian Church/Church of Christ. I can not remember if I ever met Charles and his family, but I may have. I figure that Cheryl would have been about 12 at the time, if our paths ever crossed. If I didn't meet her, I know her grandfather must of talked about her one of the many times we played golf together. At that time no one would have known this day would have come.

When I watched Charles talk about her and how she loved the Afghan people it struck me how God is so amazing. God created within Cheryl a passion to love people who Americans find it hard to love. All Cheryl was doing was living the way God designed her to live. She was living for God.

I read some of the responses to an article written about Cheryl. Most people were very supportive of the family and the humanitarian efforts by this group. Some however were less sensitive. Then I read a response that went something like this: "Why would someone have to risk their lives to help people so far away when there are people in the United States that could use the same kind of help?"

While you may cheer that response or even ask the same question here is the answer why: Because God created within Cheryl a love for the Afghan people. A love so great that she was willing to risk her life for people God cares deeply about. While she was not over there as a missionary or to tell people about Jesus, she was living as Jesus would have her live. She was wrapping a towel around her waste and washing the feet of people who we have quickly learned to have a hatred toward. I learned through her life God loves all people and finds a way for everyone on earth to experience His love through those devoted to Him.

My question to you, especially if you wonder why would she would go there if there was so much work to do here is this: What are you doing here to make a difference in the lives of those you think Cheryl or others should stay and help? There are plenty of people who say they are following Jesus here who can be the hands and feet of Jesus, but there are few God has called to love people in remote parts of the earth.

But when he calls, we can only be obedient and go.

My prayer goes out to the Becketts as they mourn and celebrate the life of their daughter who showed us how to love God and love people and was willing to give her life for the cause of the kingdom.

My Rant about Facebook

2010-07-20T09:48:00.005-04:00

I have been thinking alot about my facebook account.

I love the fact that I have reconnected with some of my high school and college friends. I love it that my kids grandparents can keep in contact with their grand children. I love some of the funny things that friends post. I think it is funny that I can post a manly question and it gets so many responses immediately (it is the old "Seinfeld" truth that people really want to just talk about nothing).

What drives me crazy about facebook are all posts about what you are doing every minute of the day-- like everyone really cares. It drives me crazy when someone posts, "Having a bad day :(" --because you know everyone wants to know why your day is so bad and you put a frowny face up. It drives me crazy that people are becoming fans of everything under the sun, especially the becoming the fan of stuff that is a paragraph long. And seriously, your not in a real mafia, have a real farm, own a cafe and there is no such thing as festive fish (I am embarassed to say that I have learned this from my own experience). I wish I could really make the money I have made being in a mafia, raising produce, owning a cafe and raising fish. I keep waiting for the facebook version of churchville so we can see how many people we can pile into a building on the corner of Main and Prospect.

Here is what I really hate about facebook and why I am thinking about ditching the whole thing:

I hate the fact that people are bold enough to say things to people they would never say to someones face. I hate the fact that people bring all their drama to their wall. I hate the fact that the divorce rate has gone up as people are rekindling old high school and college romances. I hate the fact that it has become another avenue for gossip and a place that promotes half truths. Random thoughts were never meant to be made public, we should be slow to speak because when we post exactly what we are thinking things are taken out of context, people get hurt and we become more divided.

With all that said, I will continue to have a Facebook page, I will just be more selective in how I engage on the social network.

The King! And I Don't Mean James!

2010-07-09T11:19:00.002-04:00

As I left for the office this morning I passed a pile of Lebron James posters torn up lying on the floor beside the garbage can. Last night I went up the street to see a neighbor who was burning a Lebron James t-shirt. The emotions in Northeast Ohio are high. For those who do not live in Northeast Ohio this is one of the most sport crazed places I have ever lived. I don't understand it because it is not very often that Northeast Ohio has a lot to cheer about (I call our Browns Backers at the church the "Browns Backer Support Group").

I have been by Lebron, I mean really close on several occasions. The closest I was ever to him was on the field at an Ohio State/Penn State game. As he walked by I called his name and tried to get him to shake my hand. One of my friends, a coach at Ohio State said, "He's just a man." I pulled back almost embarrassed because he was right and I had gotten caught up in the frenzy (today I would want to get close to him, not to shake his hand but to . . . tell him to pull his britches up, they were down almost to his knees). You thought I was going to say something else didn't you?

The attention this whole betrayal is getting is nuts. As we have been going through the book of John on Suunday mornings there have been several times the theme for the day has been fitting for what is going on around us. This Sunday is no different.

We are in John 12 where Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. He comes in riding on a donkey and people gather around him and call him the "King." He is a man, but he is more than a man. He is the Messiah, the redeemer and the one who will bring salvation. He deserves the worship that is presented to him as he comes to fulfill his mission for the world.

That is the point here--worship. Man is has never been created to be worshipped, but to worship. We were created to lift our hands to, bow before, dance before and shout out the name of Jesus! He is the only King that deserves such a frenzy.

His decision should be noted as "The Decision." He decided to come, to die and be resurrected so we could have life.

I love one of the things Dan Gilbert wrote in his letter to the fans of Cleveland after Lebron decided to leave for Miami: "Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. Sorry, but that is simply not how it works."

To get to heaven there has to be death. Jesus had to come and die the way he did so we can experience life. But not only that, we must die to ourselves and not desire to be worshipped but to humbly fall before our "King" and worship him with all our hearts, souls and minds.

Lebron is just a man who plays basketball really good. A man who will be around until another superstar takes his place.

Jesus, the real King will be around forever, he is the one who deserves to be worshipped. Everybody else is just a man--including me and you.

Seriously Lebron?

2010-07-07T09:17:00.006-04:00

What in the world is going on? Lebron James is going to do an hour long show on ESPN just to announce where he is going to play next year. ESPN is giving him an hour of primetime (9 pm) and he is going to raise money for the "Boys and Girls Club of America."

Seriously Lebron, do you think the world is going to stop and watch this self-glorifying announcement hidden behind raising money for the Boys and Girls club of America? How about doing us a favor, just tweet everybody with your new twitter account and donate some of the cash your going to get from this huge contract to the Girls and Boys.

As a Cavs fan and Lebron fan I wish you had played up to the level in the play-offs that would warrant this type of announcement. Is this just the way you want to draw attention to yourself because you laid an egg in the play-offs? Does this make you feel better about yourself and the way you played in May?

Seriously Lebron, I would rather pay to go to an Indians game than sit at home and watch your version of "The American Idol."

Seriously Lebron, if you leave Cleveland, your home town team, you will never be the superstar that you believe you are, you will just be another player who couldn't get it done on his own and had to go somewhere else and ride the coat tails of another superstar.

Now I feel better, thanks for letting me rant.

Bake

The Purpose of the Bible- John 5:31-47

2010-07-06T11:21:00.005-04:00

The other day Rhonda wanted me to hang a curtain rod in the kitchen. I got my drill out and the hardware contained in the packaging. I drilled the holes and started to push the plastic screw anchors in the newly drilled holes. One of them was not going in as easy so I began to search for the hammer. I could not find it, but I did find a pipe wrench.

You may be wondering what I needed a pipe wrench for when hanging a curtain rod. Simple, I used the back of it to drive in my screw anchors. Then I used a butter knife to screw in one of the screws until it bent the tip of the butter knife. I finally found a flat head screw driver to finish the job but I never found the hammer.

Life is much easier when we use tools the way they were designed to be used. What about the Bible? How is it supposed to be used? Is it a tool to point out how much better you are than the pagan down the street? Hammering away at their sin quoting Bible verses to show that they are going to burn in hell. No, that's not the purpose. That is like using a pipe wrench for a hammer.

Is it a tool to manipulate someone to do something that you want? Do you twist scripture to fit your own personal desires? No, that's not the purpose either. That is like using a butter knife as a screwdriver.

What then is the purpose of the Bible/scripture? Look at what Jesus said: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40).

He is telling the religious leaders you have it all wrong. You are looking at scripture as a tool for living under the law. You look at it as a bunch of "do's" and "dont's." You think that righteousness is found in how you live by these "do's" and "dont's."

Scripture is not about "law" it is about "grace." They testify concerning Jesus who came so that we could find righteousness through him. He came to testify how we should live in relationship with God the Father so we could experience grace, mercy and love.

Look, your pagan neighbor does not need to hear about how much of a sinner he is. The church has done a good job letting the world know about sin(the law). What the Church has done a poor job of is telling those far from God about grace, mercy and love. We have not used the Bible as a testimony about Jesus. We have used it as a way make ourselves look better than the pagan down the street.

We all need to do a better job of living like Jesus. This will happen more often if we read the Bible the way it was intended to be read. We need to use it as a tool to testify about Jesus not as a tool to point out sin.

By the way, the cutains look great in the kitchen.

July 4th 1776

2010-07-01T15:48:00.002-04:00

I just finished my teaching for Sunday. I plan to read part of the Declaration of Independence. I am not sure I have really read it before, I am sure I have but I don't remember when. The last line before 56 men signed may be the most powerful words ever written in our nations history. When I read this last line it allowed me to understand why the men who founded this great nation could win against the powerful British.

"And for the support of the Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

What would happen if followers of Jesus would have the same tenacity as these 56 men who put into motion a revolution for the ages? What if the leaders of the church could come together and pledge to Jesus their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor?

It tell you what would happen. The kingdom of God would advance and the gates of hell would not stand a chance. People who are far from God would know God. Lives that are on the brink of destruction would be transformed. It would not be an easy battle but victory would be inevitable!

Because like these 56 men we would live with the same firm reliance that brought this great country into existence. This reliance would not be on ourselves. It would not consist of our own power or position. It would be a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence. It would be founded on the mission God has given the church and although difficult the war would be won--the war has been won!

Jesus has already been victorious!

So when we come together and celebrate the fourth, the birth of this nation, let's not forget the passion this country was founded on and let's apply it to our faith and the church.

Finding Peace in a Complicated World

2010-06-01T14:24:00.003-04:00

I got out unlocked the gate and walked down to the house. Rhonda followed along behind me in the van. As I approached the house I noticed the outside light was not on. I unlocked the door and turned on the light--nothing. We had just driven five and a half hours only to find out the electricity was off.

Not knowing where any flashlights were and not wanting to try to unpack in darkness we got back in the van and decided to find a place to stay for the night. I told Rhonda I thought Lewisburg was our best bet. After driving an hour we found out there was no room in the inn(s).

So we called ahead and found one room in Princeton, West Virginia. An hour and fifteen minutes later we were heading to our room for a good night sleep.

You know, life was much easier when it was simple. Now that it is complicated we take things for granted. We show up expecting everything to be perfect. That is not always the case. In the last few years my trips to the farm in Wayside have had a few surprises. I remember walking into the house after the furnace had blown soot everywhere. We have gotten there on different occasions to find no heat, no water and now no electricity. There has been times when family can't get along while we are there or even when were not. Life is just complicated sometimes.

It doesn't keep us away though. There is a peacefulness there that is like nothing else. Unplugged from the world you are able to enjoy the company of the people around you. Cell phone usage is hit or miss at best. There is no internet and no facebook but all is good.

It is a good Sabbath place. It is good to just be there with family and with God.

I have learned that we let things that complicate life get in the way of really experiencing the presence of God. When the Sabbath approaches, those who practice Judaism put aside the things that make life complicated. Some households even have what is called a Sabbath box. When you enter for the Sabbath meal you put anything that gets in the way into the box--Cell phone, computer or ipod.

Then you spend time with family putting aside your differences so there is real peace. You share a meal together remembering the place from where you have come. You remember those before you who taught you values and how to live at peace with one another.

That is what the world needs, it needs more peace. This is why God told us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. He wanted us to unplugged from those things that make make life complicated so we could experience his presence.

That is why we go back to Wayside from time to time even when it seems hard. We do it to get away from the world and experience what God has blessed us with--the places, the family and simplicity in a complicated world.

God, help us learn to unplug from that which is complicated so we can experience you more often.

Spring Gobbler Season

2010-05-19T11:30:00.003-04:00

There is nothing like being in the woods early in the morning as everything begins to wake up. The sound of birds and rustling leaves, the sun beginning to peak over the horizon and the sound of dew dropping from the leaves on the trees. It is one of the most peaceful experiences in the world.

The first gobble really gets your blood flowing and the hopes to entice a gobbler close enough to shoot gets more intense as the gobble gets closer. The goal is to prey on a the Turkey's greatest weakness in the spring. The desire to find a willing hen is overwhelming for a gobbler this time of year. Sometimes you use decoys to make the romantic moment seem more real to this dominant bird of the forest. You can even put a gobbler decoy out to make the aggression pour from the strutting bird. Then it gets within range and as the hunter you slowly pull the trigger and down the bird goes.

At least that is the way they show it on T.V. It doesn't always happen that way. But the hopes of having a hunt like that is why I get up at sometimes at 3:30 am to go into the woods.

I relate Spring Gobbler hunting to our spiritual lives. The hunter is the devil who uses our weaknesses in hopes to devour us. It reminds me of 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . ."

You know why turkey hunting is so hard? It is because of how self-controlled and alert a turkey lives life. Even though they are being preyed upon at a specific time by a specific weakness they approach the sound of a willing hen with caution. They approach decoys with alertness. The ones who become thanksgiving dinner are the ones who let their guard down and let their emotions get the best of them.

The enemy wants to prey on your weaknesses but we have to be alert and self-controlled everyday, standing firm on our faith in Jesus.

Here are a few highlights of my spring turkey season:

1. Hunting with a new partner- Cole (my middle son), He is going to be quite the hunter some day. I just wish he would have gotten a shot at a bird. He saw a lot, but none close enough.

2. I got a shot, but missed. I will never live that one down, Cole reminds me often.

3. We saw and heard the bear. At our family farm in West Virginia Cole heard the bear growl ending the turkeys journey to his blind. We then saw it in the field that evening as we were coming from the farm. Maybe our next hunt this fall or winter will be bear. A bear skin rug would look great in front of our fire place.

4. Just being in God's creation. I love seeing what he has given us to enjoy while we are here on this earth. I can't wait to see what he has in store for heaven.

Stirring Things Up

2010-05-18T08:55:00.002-04:00

When someone is known to stir things up we usually jump to the conclusion that it is a bad thing. But that is not always true.

When I make chili I saute some peppers, onion and garlic. I dump them in the crock-pot. Then I brown some ground round and put it in the crock pot as well. I add a can of tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, two cans of kidney beans, chili powder, salt and pepper. Then I turn the crock-pot on low and leave it for the day.

How is that chili going to turn out? It is going to be awful because I did not "stir" it. Stirring things up can be a good thing. You can have all the ingredients in place but if it is not properly stirred it never becomes what it can be. I stir my chili through out the day so it gets properly mixed together so that it can be the best chili on the face of the earth (by the way it is).

In John 5:1-30 Jesus comes into Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles. There is a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years and Jesus heals him. He tells him to get up, pick up his mat and go home. The problem is this happened on the Sabbath. It was against the oral law to carry a mat on the Sabbath.

The religious leaders criticized the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. Instead of noticing the man was walking after thirty-eight years they notice he is carrying his mat. Instead of rejoicing in what God had done they frown on what the man was doing.

Then when Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders about telling this man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, he tells them he does what his Father tells him to do. Now they are mad because he make himself equal with God by calling Him his Father. John says this mad them try all the harder to kill him.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our traditions and oral laws that we miss opportunities to live like Jesus. No wonder most churches are struggling to make an impact in the kingdom. They are afraid to stir things up and be more like Jesus. They hold on to things that do not matter and wonder why God is not blessing what they are doing week to week.

If you feel like your relationship with God is a little stale--Do something different! Stir things up a little bit. The ingredients are all in place all you need to do is "Stir!"

Taking Jesus at His Word (John 4:43-54)

2010-05-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

A royal official traveled 15-20 miles to ask Jesus to heal his son who was about to die. Jesus looks at the man and says, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe."

The man does not flinch. He looks at Jesus and says, "Sir, come down before my son dies."

Jesus must have seen something different about this man. He was not just wanting to see a miraculous sign, he was desperately seeking a way for his son to live. He must have heard about Jesus. He had a sure confidence that Jesus could heal his son. Jesus must of seen the faith this Gentile had in the Jewish carpenter from Galilee because Jesus said, "You may go, your son will live."

John recorded this reaction by the man: "He took Jesus at his word and departed." He did not say, "Are you sure?" He could have stayed and insisted that Jesus would come back to Capernaum with him to make sure his son would be alright, but he didn't. He took Jesus at his word and left for the long journey back home.

If only we could have the same faith as the royal official. How many times do we try to live on our own independent from Jesus? How many times do we look at how Jesus teaches us to live only to think we have a better idea?

Here is the question we all need to ask ourselves, "Do we take Jesus at his word?"

The royal official is on his way home when a servant comes running up to him. As the servant approaches he knows there is some kind of news he is about to receive. In anticipation he waits for the news. He heard that his son is better and that he will live. I think he already knew what the news was going to be because he took Jesus at his word.

Taking Jesus at his word can be the difference between life and death.

The Well (John 4:1-38)

2010-05-04T10:39:00.003-04:00

People don't die of thirst, they die of dehydration. Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids that it needs. The symptoms are: dry mouth, sweating stops, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting and light headedness. Your body begins to shut down and eventually you can die. So we have to drink water.

What about spiritual dehydration? What does this mean? It means we need more Jesus! In John 4 Jesus goes to a well and a woman approaches at the sixth hour. She does not come at the first hour because she is an outcast and really doesn't want to take the ridicule. On top of that, she is a Samaritan and Jews did not associate with their kind.

Jesus looks beyond all of this and asks her for a drink of water. It leads into a discussion where Jesus tells the woman that he can give her a water where she will thirst no more. He wasn't talking physically he was talking spiritually. He is the living water which leads to eternal life.

He then says that there is a time when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. True worshipers are those who go to the well and drink the living water (Jesus). True worshipers live like Jesus because he was the one who showed us how to worship the Father in Spirit and truth.

After that he let's her know he is the Messiah. She believed and it changed her life. She left her jar and told everyone about Jesus. Finally the people she told said they did not need her to tell them about Jesus because they had met him themselves.

Look. Jesus changes everything. He can give life to that which is dead or about to die.

Our problem is that we can become spiritually dehydrated when we do not give Jesus room to live in us.

Here is the challenge for today. Try to add Jesus to everything you do and see if it does not make a difference. He is "The Well" from which we need to draw living water.

Miss Maxwell

2010-04-25T23:14:00.010-04:00

Friday I was in Salem, Virginia. Salem is my hometown and in my opinion is the greatest city in the country. One of the things that makes Salem so great is that it is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is beautiful.

But the greatest thing about Salem is the people. I grew up in an awesome neighborhood. There is a small valley on Broad Street that had a mix of people who truly loved doing life together.

When one of my best friends heard I was coming in town he and his mother orchestrated a luncheon with some of the women from that neighborhood. They were known as the "Broad Street Broads" of which my mother belonged. They had t-shirts made up and wore them proudly even though the name may be condescending to some. They didn't care though because it was the association with each other that was the most important thing.

It was great seeing them all because they are all people who helped shape me into the person I am today.

There was a surprise that day also. When Lewis (the best friend I was referring to earlier) told me that our 1st and 3rd grade teacher was coming to lunch I got tears in my eyes.

Miss Maxwell, the greatest teacher I ever had. When I have driven by the old Academy Street School I always thing about her. She influenced all of us in some way. She will be 94 this week and is the same person now that she was then. I first met her in 1971. She reminded Friday that I was not fond of going to school that first week. My mother used to have to drag me in crying because I didn't want to be there. It quickly changed because Miss Maxwell made it easy for me to adapt to this new adventure.

Miss Maxwell taught me how to read and write. She helped mold both Lewis and me into the people we are today. One of the things I remember most about her class is her boldness. Even though it was looked down on in many schools and would never be done today, she would read the Christmas story every day before we started our studies. Each of us would take turns acting out the Christmas story. Some of us would be angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph. The left overs got to chose to be animals like sheep, cows, chickens and even pigs.

We all left 3rd grade knowing the real meaning of Christmas. We all left being able to read, write and do math.

The thing that struck me on Friday is that she still has the heart of a teacher. I believe she would still be able to control a class of 1st graders and make them feel like they were the most important people in the world.

Today I want to thank her for all she has meant to so many of us. I also want to thank the Broad Street Broads for being there then and even today. I want to thank Lewis for being a life long friend.

Most of all I want to thank God for putting these people in my life. He dealt me a great hand of cards even when things didn't always go the way I would want them.

Man, I love Salem, Virginia!

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - Church in the U.S. Capitol

2010-04-09T14:04:00.003-04:00

I was watching Glenn Beck last night. I never watch him, but I could not get one of the boys to join me in a game of Call and Duty. He had David Barton, a historian on the show talking about the faith of the founding fathers. Below is an article about how in the beginning of our history church was held at the Capitol Building. That's right, our founding fathers, early presidents attended church in the Capitol.

2000 people attended church in the Capitol (one of the first mega churches). Yet now, we interpret separation of church and state quite differently than what was intended.

Read the article and tell me what you think.

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - Church in the U.S. Capitol

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"Move" John 3:22-36

2010-04-09T13:28:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been riding up a crowded escalator and the person in front of you stops as if there is no one behind them. When we had season tickets to the Cavs a couple years ago I had to ride the escalator up to the second level. It never failed. With people on every step on the way up someone would stop right at the top with 200 people getting ready to be pushed right up their back. Eventually you would hear several people saying "Move!" (I was always one of them.)

The person would turn around, look at everyone as if to say, "What's your problem?"

John the Baptist did not have to be told to "move." He knew exactly who was behind him. He knew that the time had come for him to "move" out of the way so people could see Jesus.

He said this, "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

We need to "move" out of the way and have the same attitude as JB. We need to "move" so Jesus can become greater and we take a lesser place. As followers of Jesus if we do not move out of the way people may never see and know Jesus.

We need to stop putting our own desires first and learn to seek first the kingdom of God. It becomes less about style and preference. It becomes all about Jesus. His desires become our desires and we live out our faith authentically.

Have you been getting in the way of people seeing Jesus? Are you standing in the way of people who are trying to move toward Jesus? If you answer yes to these questions then let me say something to you: MOOOOOVE!

"Born" John 3:1-21

2010-04-08T11:13:00.002-04:00

There are three days I will never forget. The births of Eli, Cole and Seth each have their own story, but the result was the same--"New Life." I cried when I held them for the first time. I was overwhelmed with the miracle of life I got to witness. Seriously, for nine months they had been growing in the womb and now I am holding them in my arms. Wow!

This passage in John is about being "Born" again. A religious leader by the name of Nicodemus approaches Jesus. He is told, "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." How can this be Nicodemus asks? How can a person enter into his mothers womb for a second time?

Then Jesus said, "no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit." Nicodemus was still confused, but he shouldn't be. Within Judaism there was a practice for Gentiles who would convert to Judaism. They would be baptized (immersed) to become ceremonially clean. Converts to Judaism were said to become "as newborn children."

Nicodemus should have gotten what Jesus was saying. Maybe he missed it because in his mind there would not be a need for a Jewish person to go through such a ritual. This was one of the things that the religious leaders questioned when they saw so many Jews going to the desert to be baptized by John the baptist.

I had the opportunity to baptize a single father about a week ago. He brought his four children. They sat in the front seats of the worship center as we went up to the baptistery. Before his baptism we were standing in the water together and his six year old began to ask questions. She wanted to know why he was doing this. He explained to her that he wanted to start a "new life." A life devoted to following God.

She then asked him why he changed clothes. He said, "Because God does not want to see me naked." You know he's right. When Adam and Eve hid in the garden, they hid because they were ashamed of their nakedness. When we sin our weaknesses are exposed. When we are naked--everything is exposed and it is not pretty.

After God explained the consequences to Adam and Eve, that they would experience death and then he kicked them out of the garden he did something else. He made clothes for them to cover up their nakedness. He did something about the shame they were experiencing. He showed grace and mercy which gave them new life.

He has done the same for us. We stand exposed before God as unrighteous, but he provided new life through Jesus. Through Jesus' sacrifice, our sins were paid for so we can have new life. Paul says in Romans 6 about baptism: "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4).

I will never forget two other days. The day my two oldest boys decided they wanted to have "new life." Each has it's own story, one was baptized at church during a service, the other was baptized in the Alantic Ocean while on vacation. Both were born again. Again I had tears in my eyes because they both made the decision on their own that they need Jesus to cover their nakedness. They both decided to be united with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection which is what they need most to have life.

This is the point Jesuse was trying to get across to Nicodemus. The story is still the same for us today.

"Temple" John 2:12-25

2010-04-07T10:05:00.003-04:00

Jesus walked into the temple, the most magnificent building in his time. It was the place people came to worship and have access to God. It was divided in different courts. There was a place where only the priest could go. There was a court for Jewish men, a court for Jewish women, a court for Nazarites, a court for lepers and a court for Gentiles who had converted to Judaism.

The court of the Gentiles was just outside of the temple building. When Jesus came to the temple the Gentile court had been turned into a marketplace. It was loud. You could hear bartering going on. You could hear coins being passed back and forth. There was the sound of livestock bellowing as they were being sold for sacrifice. It just was not the best place to have to worship.

Then there were the inflated prices being offered for those who had come to the temple without an animal to be sacrificed. It was a crazy scene and Jesus made it a little crazier. Jesus made a whip out of cords and began driving the animals out of the temple area. Then he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. It was quite the scene.

He said, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a marketplace!"

The problem was not as much the selling, the problem was how the Jewish leaders looked down on the worship of the Gentiles. They looked at the Gentiles as if their worship of God was of lesser importance than the worship of the Jews. Their was an arrogance that existed within the temple area. It was so segregated that it it gave the appearance that depending on who you were your worship was of greater value.

It still exists today, not just within Judaism, but within Christianity. There are times people will say, "The church just is not very friendly." Maybe that is not exactly what is meant. Maybe what people sense or feel is this arrogance that we are more spiritual than someone who has not been here as long. There is a spiritual posturing that goes one within. I think it is mostly subconscious, although I am sure sometimes it is deliberate. But that does not make it right.

As followers of Jesus we need to practice humility. We need not think to highly of ourselves. We are all sinners saved by God's grace through Jesus.

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance to the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3

"Spring Holiday"

2010-03-30T09:52:00.005-04:00

Davenport, Iowa made the decision this week to officially change "Good Friday" to "Spring Holiday" (Read Article here). The Davenport Civil Rights Commission recommended the name to be changed. Seriously, don't they have better things to do other than attack Christianity?

Think about it, a lot of the holidays we have in our country are motivated by Christianity. Don't they understand it is a paid day off? Look if you seriously do not want to celebrate Good Friday that's fine, then go to work. And when there is a Christmas bonus, give it back. I did think it is funny that the unions were upset because their contracts give them "Good Friday" off, but not "Spring Holiday." The sad thing is this would be the first thing many Christians would think of also.

Enough with the Political Correctness already. The more we try to become politically correct the more ridiculous we look. How can anybody take the civil rights commission seriously anymore? And what about the anti-religious movement that does not believe in God? You want to come off as intelligent and in touch with culture yet you lack creativity and logic.

I know you look at the Westboro Baptist Church as the example of how bad Christians are, but they are as anti-Jesus as you. I read "God is Not Great" by Hitchens and have to agree with the premise of the book--in the name of religion many horrible things have been done throughout the history of the world. It was in fact religion that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus and why we are even having this discussion about Good Friday. But Jesus did not come to start a religion, he came to show us the best way to live as followers of God.

At least if you are going to attack Christianity at every turn come up with a viable option. "Spring Holiday?" There were a lot of creative juices flowing when you came up with that alternative. And even if you are going to use that name, why wouldn't it be on the first day of spring? I guess I shouldn't expect a lot though, it is the same movement that came up with the logical argument of the "Spaghetti Monster' and the "orbiting teapot" to prove God does not exist.

I am not trying to make you believe in God. I want you to believe in God, but I am not trying to force you to believe nor do I think I can. All I ask is for you to be considerate to my beliefs and the beliefs of billions of others. So to all who read this--enjoy Good Friday and pause to remember this is the day Jesus paid your penalty of sin so that when this world comes to an end, just as he was resurrected to live forever, you can live forever with Him!

"Mother" John 2:1-11

2010-03-25T10:19:00.003-04:00

There was never a doubt in my mind that my mother was proud of me and always wanted me to do well. When I played football in high school she sat in the same place and watched the game intently hoping that I would do well. I am pretty sure she never really understood the game completely because she never watched football on T.V. with dad and me. So she probably cheered for the wrong things sometimes.

"Holding, number 63 for Salem," the announcer would say.

"Yeah, Scott, that's my boy," mom would say.

It is in those moments if I were there I would say, "Mommmmmm!"

She probably said things like, "Doesn't he really look cute in his outfit."

First it is a uniform not an outfit. Second football players do not want to look cute they want to look tough and intimidating.

She loved watching me play, even if she may not have completely understood the game. My senior year when she was sick, I brought home the films so she could watch my games. She died on a Thursday morning, Tuesday evening she was watching the film until she got to tired.

I am fortunate to have a mother that was easy to respect and honor. I know it is difficult for some. But as a follower of Jesus we have to find a way to live by the
5th command in the 10 commandments. "Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land of the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). As a follower of Jesus we need to learn to live by all the teachings of God.

Jesus, even though he was God, had to fulfill the law perfectly. He was not exempt from the very law he created. In John 2, he is at a wedding feast. They run out of wine for the feast. It was going to be a moment of embarrassment for the groom. Mary, Jesus' mother goes to him telling her son they don't have any more wine (some speculate this may be a relatives wedding because of Mary's concern for the groom).

Jesus said to her, "Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." It is almost like he is saying, "Mommmmmm!" as he roles his eyes. He gives us a glimpse of his divinity by saying "his time had not yet come." But his human side comes out as he lives by the 5th command and honors his mothers wishes.

Like any proud mother who wants to give praise to her son she begins to tell the servants to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. Like any good son Jesus gives them directions and he turns water into wine, saving the day just like his mother knew he could.

Mary may not have completely understood the mission her son had come to accomplish, but she was proud of him and knew he had the ability to take care of the problem at the wedding feast.

So what does this mean for us? Jesus came to teach us how to live as followers of God. Being a follower of God means we obey what he teaches us to do in scripture. Obedience to God always takes precedent over whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Obeying God's commands will make what we are trying to accomlish easier. Jesus came for a greater mission and purpose than changing water to wine. Yet when his mother involved him, he honored her request.

Our problem is that we have a tendency to rationalize why we should not follow a certain teaching. Jesus had a good excuse here to rationalize why he should not get involved, but he didn't. Why do we think we get a pass when Jesus doesn't?

John says this was Jesus' first miracle in Galilee and it revealed his glory and his disciples put his trust in him. See,obedience to God's teaching actually helped Jesus in his mission.

If we trust him, we will live like him in every way.

The Rabbi

2010-03-24T09:25:00.003-04:00

I have gotten behind on posting lately. I am going to catch up on the series in John I have been doing. As I have been studying for this series I am learning so much about the difference between Jesus and the religious culture. Living like Jesus is counter to the religious culture not only in his day, but also today. While it is hard to live like Jesus because of the criticism from the religious culture, it is more appealing to those who are true followers and to the unchurched world. I would describe striving to live like Jesus as freeing, exciting and refreshing.

In John 1:35-51 we have Jesus calling some men to become his disciples. In Rob Bell's book, "Velvet Elvis," he describes how Rabbi's would look for the best of the best young men to become their disciples. A young man may apply to a Rabbi by saying to a rabbi, "I want to become one of your disciples."

The rabbi would then begin the interview the young man to find out if he was capable of becoming like the Rabbi in every way. Once the Rabbi decided a young man was worthy to be one of his disciples he would simply say, "Follow me." From that day forward that young man would walk behind that Rabbi learning how to be exactly like the rabbi.

This has great significance for Christians today. Jesus has asked all of us to follow him and to become one of his disciples. We need to study diligently the life and ways of Jesus and then live like him. It is not a religion, but a way to live as true worshippers of God. Living like Jesus is counter cultural to the religious community, it always has been and always will be.

Religion happens when we stop focusing on living like Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus we begin to focus on ourselves. We live by the law or rules and regulations created by man. We (our religion) becomes greater and Jesus becomes less.

Look either we are going to follow THE RABBI or we are going to do something else. Who or what are you following?

Which Strategy Works Best?

2010-02-26T09:33:00.002-05:00

I was reading Seth Godin's blog this morning catching up on some of his past posts. All his posts are short, to the point and give fantastic insight that can be applied to most organizations.

This was his question in a post called "Once in a Lifetime" (read the entire blog here).

"Should your product or service be very good, meet spec and be above reproach or should it be remarkable, memorable, over the top, a tell your friends event?"

He says you can't be both, you have to be one or the other. So here is my question: "Which goal would be better for the church?"

At first glance I thought it is best to be remarkable, memorable, over the top, a tell your friends event. Then I thought this is to much of an attractional attitude. Jesus had events that were all of this and people just wanted more. There were people who wanted to come and see what Jesus would do next. The feeding of the five thousand comes to mind. They knew of him, but did not really know him.

Then I started to think about it. A church that is very good at what it does, meets the spec of being like Jesus and is above reproach carries with it a sense of authenticity. It is not as concerned with just having a lot of people, it is concerned with seeing lives changed.

Jesus accomplished more with eleven changed lives than five thousand men he fed with two fish and five loaves of bread.

What are your thoughts?

Safe Mode

2010-02-23T15:44:00.003-05:00

I was playing "Call of Duty" the other day, doing a special ops. I played for one hour and five minutes and was almost done with the operation when I got surrounded and taken out. I threw the paddle down disgusted. I was so close. I took my time and methodically moved through the operation only to get to the end and lose.

When my Jr. High son got home I said I think we can beat this special ops mode together. It has become somewhat of a bonding time for me and Cole. We work good together. The only problem I have with Cole is he does not play in "safe mode." He moves fast trying to get through in record time. So I have to come and save him several times during the operation. That has become my role. At the end he will have 30 kills I will have 3 but I have saved his but numerous times.

Together we beat the special ops, that took me an hour and five minutes to lose, in just under eight minutes. We gave each other a high five and turned the game off.

I know it is just a game, but playing in "safe mode" is not the way to go. It takes more time with the same results. It is really kind of boring. And it is not the most effective way. Playing in "safe mode" is not playing to win, it is playing not to lose.

When I think back on times I have played to win rather than not to lose the results are usually good. We were Florida visiting my dad. We parked outside the Yankees training facility to just walk around. There was a gate open and I said, "Let's go!" My dad, playing "safe mode" said, "Were not suppose to go through there."

I was a grown up so I decided not to listen to dad that day and the boys, my cousin and myself proceeded through the gate. So dad reluctantly followed. I know he was uncomfortable, but I also knew he loved baseball. It was like leading a dog through a maze with a strip of bacon. It was hard, but he overcame "safe mode." I told him the worst they would do is tell us to leave.

As we walked down the fenced hallway we saw Bernie Williams taking batting practice. He had just had surgery and was in rehab. Before long we came to a concession stand and it was open. I started talking to the guy, he had a strong NY accent which gave away he was a true blue Yankee fan (I hate the Yankees). He told us there was a minor league scrimmage about to happen against the Blue Jays. That was great, but there was better news. The Yankees wanted Mike Mussina to get some innings in before they went to Japan to open the season. The only catcher Mussina uses is Jorge Posada.

We stood on the fence and saw 1/3 of the starting Yankees line-up as close as you could ever get. We saw Don Mattingly the batting coach. The Blue Jays walked by us giving the kids high five. It was awesome!

Afterward as we were walking back to the car my dad said, "You know, I never would have never walked through that gate on my own." You know why dad? (I know you will read this) Because you were living in "safe mode" that day. Now things don't always work out that way, but that day they did.

You know what the problem is with most Christians and churches? They operate in "safe mode." That is why they are not as effective. It becomes boring sometimes because we do the same old things and so it takes a long time for kingdom progress.

The men of faith in the Bible did not operate in "safe mode." The reason is they trusted God. It took them places that were uncomfortable--lions den, fiery furnace, before Pharaoh, in a fight with a giant, to the cross--but they encountered things and experienced God in ways they never would have imagined.

Let's make a decision together today--no more "safe mode' when it comes to our faith. Let's put the burden on God to give us the journey of our life.

Next time I play Call of Duty--NO MORE SAFE MODE!

Lamb of God

2010-02-18T10:48:00.002-05:00

In John 1:19-28, John the Baptist is questioned by the religious leaders as to who he is. He tells them he is not the Christ, he is not Elijah and he is not the prophet like Moses. They come because they are anticipating and waiting for the Christ to come. They are looking for a redeemer that will be like Moses who will free them from Roman rule--like Moses did when they were freed from Egypt.

The next day, while they were still there, John the Baptist sees his cousin walking towards them. Someone he had played with as a child. Someone he had been to family gatherings with. All the time while they were growing up, I believe John the Baptist did not know who Jesus really was. ("I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God" John 1:32-34).

This time when his cousin approaches, John the Baptist gets to do what he came to do. He had lived for this moment, not because this was a relative, but because he came to prepare the way and announce the Christ. He had told the religious leaders that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'"

His cousin is in view and John the Baptist points to him and proclaims, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"

Have you ever thought about what that meant to the Jewish people who there? Maybe they thought of the lamb that was slaughtered at Passover (Exodus 11-12). Remember the households that took the blood of the lamb and put it around their door would be spared the death of their firstborn as death passed over Egypt.

Maybe they thought of the Lamb that was slaughtered for the sin offering in Leviticus 4:32-35: “If he brings the lamb as his sin offering . . .He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. . .In this way the priest will make atonement for him, for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven."

Maybe it was the Lamb described in Isaiah 53:7,11: “He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth; he was like a lamb led to slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth . . .After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”

Think about John the Baptist's proclamation and what it meant for the Jewish people present that day. Think about what it means for us today. He is the Lamb that has come so that we can overcome death. He is the Lamb that has come so our sins can be forgiven. He is the Lamb who's soul suffered so we could be justified and our iniquities could be paid for.

Never forget what John the Baptist lived for--the moment he could point to Jesus and tell the world he is "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

What Church Would Jesus go to?

2010-02-17T09:32:00.002-05:00

I just started reading "The Intangible Kingdom" by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. In the second chapter they are talking about not being anti-church but pro-church, "the type of church Jesus would go to, the type he died to give flight to." This made me start thinking about what that church would look like.

I posted the question on my Facebook page and hope to get some responses. I am not sure I want to answer this question because I am afraid it would be to much about "me." What I would like to see the church become. To really answer this question one really needs to get into the heart of Jesus and listen to his heartbeat.

I do not want to answer this question because I am afraid. I am afraid of what it might reveal about myself and the church I serve at.

I do not want to answer this question because it may be to hard. Not hard to answer, but hard to become that church. Too many paradigms to change and people who would get upset. It is easier just being the church which has lost its voice and influence in our culture.

I want to answer it because I love the church and I love Jesus and what both are suppose to represent. I want to answer it because then Jesus becomes the focus and he becomes the draw. It is no longer about buildings, budgets and programs, it is about life, a life lived out to please Jesus and fulfill His mission. I want to answer this question because it would be refreshing to be a part of a movement like this.

What about you? What would the church Jesus would go to look like? Any thoughts?

Incarnation

2010-02-15T21:39:00.002-05:00

The incarnation simply means Jesus was both God and man. This is such a difficult theology to understand. John starts his gospel bringing this teaching to the forefront (John 1:1-18). This is such a hard teaching for us because it is difficult to believe Jesus is both divine and human.

Maybe the problem we have is that we look at it backwards. When we think about man becoming God it is an impossible concept. But when we think about God becoming man, it becomes very possible. Because the abilities of God are limitless.

Have you ever thought about what it meant for Jesus to become a man? Philippians 2:5-8 points out that Jesus gave up "equality with God." He became a man, but more than that he "made himself nothing taking on the very nature of a servant." He was obedient to God, which led to his death on a cross.

Jesus gave up his position beside the Father. He had anything he wanted and what he did not have he could speak into existence. He limited His divine nature living as a human being. Even within His humanity he chose a lesser position. He could have come to a wealthy family within the Pharisees. He could have had the riches of the earth yet he came as the child of a carpenter. He grew up in a small town called Nazareth. A place which Nathaniel asked the question, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

Here is something else to think about. Jesus took part in creating the law that was handed down to Moses. When he came to earth as a man he was now living under the law he created. Just because he was the creator of it he did not have special privileges. He lived under the law better than any man who has ever lived. He fulfilled it perfectly. Maybe he did because as the creator of the law and knew it was the better way to live. He avoided the consequences of living outside the law. And as a man he had the most incredible relationship with the Father that a human could have.

When he gave up everything to become a man he also knew where that would lead him. He knew before he came that he would have to die like everyone else. He also knew when he would die and how he would die. He lived so he could be beaten and nailed to a cross, dying a humiliating death.

That is what the incarnation meant for Jesus. When God became a man. We get caught up in trying to explain the incarnation without really focusing on what it meant for Jesus. It is in this that we see the story of love and grace.

While we chase after things that do not matter, wealth, fame and position in society, Jesus gave all that up. He gave up more than we can imagine. Why? Because there was something that mattered more to Him.

You . . . Me . . . all of humanity.

He did it so that we could have what he understood, what he left behind. He did it so we could be restored into an authentic relationship with the Father. So we could have eternal life in the presence of the Father forever.

This is what the incarnation means for us.

Who got the better end of the meaning of incarnation?

Is the church just a Giant Hairball?

2010-02-04T20:28:00.006-05:00

I had an elder ask me yesterday if all the churches were struggling to reach people far from God? I have been thinking about this question ever since. My first thought was that people are not big fans of the church anymore. Somewhere through life they have come to dislike the church. That response blames the wrong people.

I do know of some churches that are doing well. Rivertree Christian in Jackson, Ohio. Velocity Christian and Momentum in Cleveland, new church plants, are seeing people who are far from God find room for God in their lives.

Some churches are growing numerically, but their growth is not necessarily kingdom growth. Their growth comes mostly from people moving from one church to another. There are a few people making Jesus Lord for the first time in their life.

So why is the church struggling to reach people far from God? The main reason is that most churches do not make it a priority. Churches will say they are about reaching people far from God, but their actions say otherwise.

Gordon MacKenzie, a graphic designer for Hallmark wrote a cool little book called, "Orbiting the Giant Hairball." His point is that every organization has a giant hairball. The hairball is the organizations bureaucratic structure. The goal is to not get sucked into the bureaucracy of the organization but to orbit on the outside. The outside is where you can make the difference.

The hairball is what's unattractive to those who are far from God. Most of us are guilty of getting caught in the giant hairball. I fight it all the time and lose the fight often. The key is to orbit on the outside and not become a part of the institution that is loathed by so many. Orbiting the hairball places us in a position to rub shoulders with those who are far from God.

Jesus orbited the hairball. He stayed on the outside of the religious establishment. He rubbed shoulders with sinners and tax collectors. He also got criticized for it. You know you are orbiting the hairball when people criticize you for not participating in what the hairball represents.

If churches, followers of Jesus, are going to be serious about reaching people far from God, they are going to have to be willing to break the rules of tradition. They are going to have to break ties with the Church growth movement (a giant hairball). They are going to have to stop being seeker sensitive and become a seeker.

How about you? Are you ready to take seriously the mission of the church which is to reach people who are far from God. It is time to give up the hairball. You know what a hairball is good for? Choking.

John-- The Disciple Jesus Loved

2010-01-28T22:51:00.002-05:00

Alright, I have to start by saying, Dominos is better than it was, but it is not good enough that I crave it. The crust was great and the toppings were good, but overall it is an average Pizza.

Now let's get to what is on my mind. I have not blogged for a while because I have been writing a study guide for the next teaching series we are doing this year. It is a study through the gospel of John. It will last until December of 2010. My goal is to post the weekly study every week throughout the year.

Sunday is just an introduction to the gospel of John. About 15 years ago I was blessed to hear Brennan Manning speak at a Youth Specialties Convention. I have never forgotten the picture he painted of a relationship Jesus had with one of his disciples. The disciple was John and the relationship caused John to refer to himself as the disciple who Jesus loved.

Jesus has just told them someone is going to betray him. John 13:23-25 says this, "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, 'Ask him which one he means.' Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, 'Lord who is it?'"

In Brennan Manning's book, "Abba's Child" he calls John's encounter with Jesus a defining moment in John's life. He feels so comfortable around Jesus that he reclines back with his head against Jesus' chest. Do you know what he heard? He heard the heartbeat of Jesus.

How many times have you gotten close enough to someone to listen to their heartbeat? John is close enough to Jesus that he gets to hear the heartbeat of his Messiah. The disciple whom Jesus loves writes about his encounter with Jesus. He does not write as a historian. He does not write for his own gain. He writes the gospel of John so that we can know his best friend. He writes so that we can fall in love with our lord. He is in tune with the heartbeat of Jesus.

Spend some time reading through John. Discover the testimony one man gives of his encounter with Jesus. As you read you will begin to realize John is not the only. We all have the opportunity to call ourselves the "disciple whom Jesus loves." Let's all get in tune with the heartbeat of our Lord. It is time we recline aginast the breast of Jesus and hear his heartbeat.

Ordering Pizza Later

2010-01-14T09:35:00.004-05:00

I consider myself an expert on Pizza. I love Pizza, it is one of my favorite foods. If I am in a new city or town and I have a chance to choose the style of food for dinner, I will often ask, "What is the best pizza in town? I don't want a chain, I want some local place that is considered the best pizza."

My favorites from around the country are:

Myles Pizza in Bowling Green, Ohio
Ginos East in Chicago (stuffed pizza of course)
Mac and Bob's Pub in Salem, Virginia
Baldo's Brick Oven Pizza in Greenpoint (Brooklyn), NY
Moma Santas in Little Italy, Cleveland, Ohio
Giovonis Pizza in Grayson, Ky.
Gioninos Pizza in Northeast, Ohio (Tallmadge)
La Rossa's Pizza in Cincinnati, Ohio

I would love to hear some of your favorites.

The reason I am talking about Pizza though is because of a commercial I saw the other day. It was a Dominos commercial. I personally have not had a Dominos pizza forever. You know why? Because their "crust taste like cardboard and their sauce taste like ketchup." This is what people were saying about Dominos.

Now Dominos took a risk and decided to change everything. Watch this video:

Now what if the church would be this serious? What if we listened to what people were saying about the church and why they did not see the church as an important or effective part of their life? Would we be able to accept the brutal facts and present Jesus in an authentic way so that the world would fall in love with him once again?

Is it worth the risk to allow people to see the real Jesus or are we better off staying the same?

I'm ordering Dominos later. I will let you know what I think.

Is this all there is to following Jesus?

2010-01-11T14:10:00.003-05:00

I logged on to Facebook and noticed an update from a friend. The statement prompted the question: "Is this all there is to following Jesus?" This is it? Christianity defined by this moment in the week?

The statement is a sign of why we (Christians) are being defined as a religion and out of touch with the real world. I have to be honest if this is all there was to following Jesus, I am not sure I would participate.

I have to fight everyday this being the only motivation for doing what I do. Mainly because it is not very motivating. Yet everyday people try to drag me back into the game of just doing church the same way it has been done for the last century or more.

Jesus taught us to do much more than this, he taught us to be the church. He taught us how to live in an authentic relationship with God outside the confines of tradition, a building or even a common place. He showed us how to be the church hanging out with real people who have real issues and are searching for an abundant life, something better than what they are experiencing now.

I am not being critical of my friend, I think in ministry it is something which needs to be done. I am not bashing it, I am just rethinking what the main thing for a follower of Jesus may be.

OK, here is the status post: "Monday.....the start of our march toward SUNDAY....and another day of fellowship and worship."

Any thoughts?

Spectator or Participant?

2010-01-07T16:06:00.002-05:00

As people are trying to decide to call it "twenty-ten" or "two thousand ten" I am trying to decide what 2010 is going to look like. I know that we can't predict the future, be we can make choices that influence the future.

If you are like me, I am tired of the status quo. I sometime sit back and wait for God to change things. I pray for God to change my heart to be more like His. There are moments I feel like God is really about to do something big. Then the time passes and nothing big really happens.

I think it is because I have a habit of being a spectator of God rather than participating with God. It is easy sitting back and asking God to move, but when you don't move with Him don't expect any grand results.

Let me give you an example. I pray for God to help me with weight loss. It is one of those things I truly commit to prayer often. I just seem to get fatter. What is the deal? The deal is that I do not rely on Him to help me, I just want him to take the weight off. If it was that easy I guess there would be millions of people who would jump on that weight loss plan.

I can ask Him for encouragement, conviction through the Spirit and discipline. But I still have to move myself. So I set a goal of losing 2 lbs a week. I am going to journal about it and make God a big part of my lifestyle change.

We have to stop asking God for help and then do nothing. We have to stop just watching God and we have to start participating with God.

What things have you been asking God to help you with lately? Are you spectating or participating? Let me know.

The Gift of Relationship

2009-12-15T09:48:00.004-05:00

I was getting ready to preach at one of the revivals in Zimbabwe and I asked my interpreter Max if they celebrate Christmas. He told me they did. I then asked him if it included gift giving. Again he told it did. I was surprised that gift giving was a part of their culture. I mean, with an unemployment rate of close to 85% what kind of gift can be given (That is the spoiled American side coming out in me).

He told me the gift may be a piece of clothing or something they could use for school. Sometimes the gift was bought, sometimes it was made but all the gifts had a purpose. The gift was usually something they needed. You mean there are no game systems, toys or ipods? (American side again)

We live in a culture where most of our gifts consist of things we want, not things we need. Think about your Christmas list does it consist of only things you wanted or are there some things you need.

Think about gift giving. Does it feel better to give someone something they need or something they want? Sometimes in our arrogance we stray from the list someone gives us to give them something we want to give them. We give them something we have always wanted but they could care less about. That gift usually ends up on a shelf or in a closet only to be regifted at a latter date. These gifts are not very relational gifts are they? Everytime it snows and I get my snowblower out I am thankful Barb and Fred got me a snow blower for Christmas last year. Since I could not get Rhonda to shovel the driveway the snow blower was something I needed.

Max went on to tell me that the best thing about Christmas was the family coming together. He said people love to see brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. This to him was the best thing about Christmas. Why? Because God has created us to long for those types of relationships. When you don't have wealth, you begin to cherish the things that matter most, Family and Friends. You know I have great memories of past Christmas' but very seldom remember the gifts I recieved. I do however remember the people. Some who are still with us and some who are not. I would much rather have the people who are no longer with us, then the gift they gave me at the time.

Christmas is about the gift of relationship. First, it is the story of a relational God who sent his Son to die for us so we can have an eternal relationship with Him. There is no greater gift. Then it is about the relationships God has given us here on this earth, our family and our friends. Yeah, we may give a gift or two, but what we really long for is the gift of relationship.

So even if you don't have a present to give someone, maybe you should at the very least contact those you care most about during the Christmas season. Sometimes those are the gifts that go a lot farther than the present which is wrapped and placed under a tree.

So, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone of my relatives and friend a Merry Christmas! I wish we could all be together. I know when Jesus comes again that will be possible, but until then MERRY CHRSITMAS!

Please Pray for the Bakers

2009-12-04T00:10:00.005-05:00

We have entered into a new era of raising children. Eli just recently got his learners permit. He is driving now. Check out the videos of our journey to Walmart.

Zimbabwe Day 5

2009-11-17T09:09:00.004-05:00

These two videos are a part of the journey to Mukazi. Mukazi is about 25 km from the homestead. It is in the Lower terrain of Zimbabwe which is the the driest and hottest region.

The people in this region of Zim were different from the people in some of the other villages. There was a nervousness that existed with our presence. It is an area that is closely watched by the government. After the revival one of the leaders of the area made it clear that what had happened that day was about Bible teaching.

The great thing about being here is that they want a church in their region. The team from Westerville took a small group to Mukazi to get permission from the leaders for people to come to the school. We took a larger team and did a VBS and a revival.

The school at Mukazi used to be the home of a white farmer. It sat on the top of a large hill that overlooked the plains. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We thought there were only going to be a couple hundred students but there were over five hundred. After I would teach the lesson I would tell the children they could ask me about anything. They would ask me about my family. One girl asked me how many children I had. I told her three and she followed up by asking why not 13 like families there. I asked them what they did when they got home from school. They responded with things like: gather fire wood, get water, clean or gather cattle.

The revival here was smaller because this is such a new region for the church. There were 29 decisions on this day. Again, God showed up in a big way as we took the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Below is a video of the children singing as a welcome.

Zimbabwe Day 4

2009-11-16T09:13:00.006-05:00

We went to Chiremwaremwa on Tuesday. Don't ask me how to pronounce the name of this village, I do know it means "bat." So we can just call it the "bat village." We went to the school there and did Vacation Bible School. The video is from one of the classes singing before we did the lesson for the day.

After the Vacation Bible School we did another revival where 140 people made a decision to follow Jesus. It was another great day!

After the revival we went to the church in the village where they held a dedication service for the church and a new preacher. This was really cool because a little
over a year ago Rhonda and I bought a bike for Solomon to get to this village and get the church started. I have the name of this village written in the front of my Bible (which has been there for over a year) so that I would remember to pray for this church. It was awesome to get to sit in this dedication service.

This may have been one of the coolest things for me personally knowing that this was a place on the outer edges of the world I had committed to prayer. I can only thank God for this experience. Below are some pictures of the church.

Zimbabwe Day 3

2009-11-10T09:12:00.002-05:00

Here is a video of the children singing at the school. The first is in the classroom and the second is in the courtyard of the buildings that house the classes.

Zimbabwe Day 3

2009-11-09T23:55:00.004-05:00

We were in Neguve doing a Vacation Bible School which was followed by a revival. The video is a preacher in the area leading singing prior to Danny and me getting up and speaking about the church and the gift of grace. The music this day was awesome, both at the school and at the revival. As you can see the preacher leading the singing was very energetic. It was such a great day. These people really loved to sing and love God. After Danny and me spoke 195 people came forward to give their lives to Jesus. It was yet another overwhelming moment when God moved in a very powerful way. I loved being able to speak outside. I can only imagine what people in the village around us were thinking when they heard 700 plus people singing together. It is one of those times I thought about what it must have been like in the book of Acts when the first century church met where ever people would gather. What a testimony to how awesome the God is we serve.

Zimbabwe Day 2

2009-11-07T18:27:00.002-05:00

I woke at 6:30 in the morning to singing. By the time I got my video camera they had stopped singing, but these women were walking through the village praying and singing. They would stop at different huts and pray. Then they headed for the church where we had a teaching time at 10 and then a church service at 11.

It was amazing to see these women committed enough to get up early and prepare for worship. The worship service was fun, there was a lot of energy in the singing. We took communion and they took up an offering. I was a little surprised they took up and offering considering the average income is about $1200 a year, but people still gave.

I got to preach that morning. It was really cool. I talked about the wondering cattle that are in the village. Since it is dry, people let their cattle (pronounced "kettle") wonder. At the end of the day they go and gather their cattle to come home. While I was talking about the wondering cattle we had a cow and some goats wonder by (we joked that it was my 3-d power point). I compared it to the lost sheep and lost coin. I challenged the church to go out and gather those who are wondering through the village without God.

During announcements after the message, a lady turned in an announcment about a lost goat she hoped people could help her find. I bet none of you have heard that announced in a church service before.

Later in the day I got to see the community gardens and the houses that are being built for the preachers. From there we went to the Moshoko Christian Hospital started by the Pruets in 1958. I will blog on this later.

Zimababwe Day One

2009-11-06T10:10:00.004-05:00

After getting to the village at 5 am on Saturday Morning we unpacked and got to bed about 5:30am. We were up at 7:30 getting showers and eating breakfast. At about 9:30 we headed to the church where we were greeted by an enormous crowd of children. When I stepped off the bus children surrounded me wanting to shake my hand and say, "Hi, how are you?" It was an overwhelming experience.

During the children's event I was talking to Blessing (one of the young men helping with the Mushayamunda Trust)and he shared with me that 70-80 percent of the children in attendance were without a father and a mother. They may live with a relative, but they have no parents. Some of the children in the video walked up to 20 miles to be at the event.

There were about 2200 present that afternoon and at the end we offered a decision time where over 300 present made a decision to follow Jesus.

One of the highlight came later in the day when a 12 year old boy, who has nothing, came up to me and shook my hand. As he shook my hand he said, "Jesus loves you."

How can people who have so little understand the love of Christ? I believe it comes from having to trust Him for everything and seeing Him provide everyday.

Do you have Censorship?

2009-11-03T10:36:00.002-05:00

This is the first blog about my trip to Zimbabwe. It was an awesome trip and I am thankful for all the people who prayed for our team while we were gone. I am also thankful for a church that supported my journey.

There is so much to share that is life changing, I will share some things this Sunday with some pictures and video.

We did Vacation Bible School at different villages throughout the week. We would go to a local school in a village where they would allow us to take time out of their regular day to share about God.

I was the one who told the Bible story for the VBS. After I was done I would tell the children they could ask me any question about my life they wanted. We were in the village of Mukazi. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. The school meets in what used to be the homestead of a white farmer. It sat on the top of a mountain that overlooked the plains. It was run down, with broken windows and dirty walls. It was obviously a magnificent home at one time.

Mukazi is in an area that is very oppressed by the government of Zimbabwe. When I asked the third grade class if they had any questions about the United States a girl asked me, "Do you have censorship in your country like we do?"

You have to be careful talking about politics in Zimbabwe, but obviously this third grade girl wanted to know about the freedom we have in the United States. The first answer which popped into my head was, "No." But I stopped and remembered where I was and answered, "Sometimes."

We could never do in our schools what we were doing in Zimbabwe. The impact that was made for the kingdom in Zimbabwe in that week were amazing. I wonder what it would be like if we had the same freedom in the schools here that they have in Zimbabwe.

Christianity in Decline

2009-10-08T11:57:00.002-04:00

When I logged on to the Internet this morning the headline on my homepage stated that 25% of the world is now Muslim. Below the headline there was another headline discussing the decline of Christianity (you can read it here

Here are a couple statements from the Fox News article by Bruce Feller:

"In the coming months, America will become a minority Protestant nation for the first time since the pilgrims."

"The number of Christians has declined 12% since 1990, and is now 76%, the lowest percentage in American History."

"The growth of non-believers has come largely from men. Twenty percent of men express no religious affiliation."

"Young People are fleeing faith. Nearly a quarter of Americans in their 20's profess no organized religion."

"Americans are interested in God, but they don't think existing institutions are helping them draw closer to God."

When is "the" church going to pay attention to what is happening in our culture? When are we going to really take seriously our call to make disciples instead of just growing a church? People are growing farther and farther from God and the church does not seem to get it.

What are your thoughts? I would love to here them.

Down at the River

2009-10-06T09:39:00.003-04:00

On Monday morning I had the opportunity to walk into the chilled waters of the Kent River, not to fish, but to baptize Lori. As a baby her parents had her baptized, which is a tribute to them because of their desire to see her grow up knowing Jesus. After a few years of praying about being immersed, Lori decided this is something she wanted to do and I got to participate.

Lori did not want to be baptized in the traditional setting. She decided that she wanted to do it outside in a more natural setting. So she picked a place on the Kent River. It was awesome for several reasons. First, it was a place in which God provided the setting and the water. Maybe this was the more traditional setting. In the book of Acts they used whatever water was available at the time. This baptism took me back in time when baptism was not just a ritual, but had a deeper meaning.

Another reason this was meaningful was because of the public witness. While we were praying a group of people were walking on a nearby path. They stopped and asked if they could watch. Think about it. We make baptism a closed event for the most part. We may invite people to come to church when someone gets baptized. But the witnesses are mostly believers. But outside there are no barriers as to who may witness the story of Jesus' death burial and resurrection. I'm thinking we should baptize people in public places more often. What a perfect way to take the church out to the culture. Which is the goal of becoming a missional church.

Finally, whenever someone is immersed and united with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection it just tells the greatest story of all time. Remember when you were a child and you had your parents read the same story every night? It never got old. This story does not get old either. The story of what Jesus did for us never gets old because it's personal. This story includes you and me. This story is about how Jesus loved us enough that he paid our penalty of sin so we can be with him forever.

It really does not matter where the story is told. The important thing is that the story is told. Thanks Lori for letting me share in that story with you on Monday.

KSP Reggie McNeal

2009-09-29T09:23:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday we (the leadership team) went down to Columbus for a Kingdom Synergy Partnership (KSP) meeting. It was a pretty exciting day. A new network was formed to plant another church in Cleveland and a Network from Kentucky wants to fully fund another plant in Cleveland. For a city that was once lacking in Restoration churches it is getting ready to have four. Wow! What an impact for the kingdom in a city that desperately needs some resurrection.

We also had the privilege to listen to Reggie McNeal. Reggie McNeal is a church consultant that really has a pulse on the shifts churches need to make in order to become God led. He really stressed the importance of changing the scorecard. Typically the churches scorecard looks at attendance of church activities as success. That the destination for people is the church, not Jesus or the abundant life.

Jesus came to give people life both physical and eternal. We have the tendency see the church as the destination when the Biblical truth is that Jesus is the destination.

As church leaders we need to determine what our scorecard is going to look like. For example, Northwest could decide that their scorecard is going to include church planting. So we decide how many church plants we are going to be involved in over the next ten years. We may decide we are going to bring some life to a low income housing area, which can change the complexion of our city.

The idea is to take the church to the streets rather than asking people to go to church. The destination becomes Jesus, not the church. The truth of this strategy is that the church will begin to grow as it focuses on bringing Jesus to the world.

Bricks for the Preachers House

2009-09-16T14:20:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple photos I recieved today of the men making bricks for the preachers house I was talking about yesterday. They need 15000 for each house.

Preacher's House

2009-09-15T11:40:00.004-04:00

When I go to Zimbabwe next month one of the things our team is going to do is work on a house for the preacher at a new church plant. I just recieved a list of some of the things we need to raise money for in order to build this house. I am posting part of the list and asking if you would like to contribute you can send a check made out to "Northwest Ave. Church of Christ." Send it to Northwest, c/o Scott Baker, 737 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio, 44278. When you send the check, make sure you mark what it is you want to purchase for the house. The total cost to build a house in Zimbabwe is . . . are you ready for this? . . . anywhere from $5122 to $6422, depending on the type of roofing.

Here is part of the list of the items needed which will be purchased in Zimbabwe:

68 50lb. cement bags @ $10 a bag
30 litres of exterior undercoat @ $3 a litre
40 litres of exterior paint finish @ $3 a litre
40 litres of interior undercoat @ $3 a litre
60 litres of interior paint @ $3 a litre
10 litres of Roof & Stoep black @ $3 a litre
3 windows @ $55 a window
3 windows @ $65 a window
2 windows @ $75 a window
2 door frames @ $90 each
3 door frames @ $45 each
3 flash doors @ $25 each
1 stable door @ $55
1 hardwood door @ $50
2 B.I.C. doors @ $20 each
1 Wash hand basin @ $110
1 single stainless steel sink @ $65
10 rafters @ $20 each
3 Wall plates @ $20 each
10 brandering @ $5 each

And by the way, it is going to take 15000 farm bricks that the villagers are going to mould.

If you can help please try to get it in by Oct. 4

Christianity is Messed Up

2009-09-02T09:23:00.002-04:00

Christianity is messed up. I hesitate saying this because by definition Christianity is about following Christ. So some could say (and I am sure they will) that I am saying following Christ is messed up. That's not what I am saying. What I am saying is the religion of Christianity is messed up.

Why? Because we have stopped following Christ. There, I said it! We have gotten away from studying the Bible to gain better understanding. We would rather hold on to traditions and interpretations by man rather than seeing what God says. When we do hear something that is different than what we believe we are in the habit of saying things like: "Well that's your interpretation," "I don't believe that," or "That's wrong."

I was in a discussion just recently with someone about a certain topic. I quoted a Bible verse to a question that really speaks for itself. The person said, "Why do you always go to that verse?" The reason is because God's word spells it out quite clearly.

My question is if there is something in the Bible that does not line up with what you believe, "Why aren't you trying to figure out why it does not line up?" Our pride will not let us examine it because we may have to admit we are wrong. I would rather admit that I was wrong than live in wrongness all my life. And you know what, I have been wrong many times.

But there is one thing I will do. In my pursuit to live like Jesus I will study the Bible striving to get as close as I can to the way Jesus would want me to live. Even if I have to challenge what I have always been taught growing up in the Restoration Movement, the independent Christian church/church or Christ. My great grandfather was a preacher and my grandfather was an elder in the church of Christ. They would disagree with a lot of what I believe from the Bible.

I blame my dad. He taught me to study for myself and challenge in places that do not line up with the Bible. But I thank my dad because I have a better understanding of who Jesus wants me to be rather than what the church I grew up in wants me to be. I learn stuff all the time that is different from what I use to believe and every time I do, I seem to grow a little closer to Jesus.

Why Can't We Just Be A Church?

2009-09-01T09:26:00.006-04:00

Growing up in a the Independent Church of Christ/Christian church has been a blessing and a curse. It has been a blessing because I am a part of the Restoration Movement. A movement which truly started out to restore the church to first century form. A movement which strives to drop man made creeds and get back to Jesus. It strives to simplify Christianity rather than complicate it with so many divisions. It tries to make it easy for people to follow Jesus rather than have a bunch of man made traditional hoops for people to jump through to become a member of a specific church or denomination.

The curse is that it is hard to explain to people that we are nondenominational. When people see a title like Church of Christ or Christian church they assume there is a loyalty to a bigger organization. It is the Restoration Movements fault though. When you read early documents written in the Restoration Movement they will refer to the church as: Christian church or church of Christ. Notice that the word "church" is not capitalized. Why is that? Because the goal of the Restoration Movement was to be a "church" that followed Christ. It was never meant to be a title. The goal was to just be a "church" that followed Jesus. When we started capitalizing the word "church" we started to give the perception we were a denomination.

The hope is that we get back to the basic intention of the Restoration Movement. It is the hope that we just get back to following Jesus rather than man made creeds whether they are written out or just understood.

Why can't we just be a church?

Blast from the Past

2009-08-13T11:18:00.004-04:00

Last night I was watching my normal evening line-up on Fox News when the phone rang. I answered it and a guy asked if this was the Scott Baker from Salem, Virginia. When I confirmed to him it was he said, "This may be a blast from the past, but do you remember Darryl A." I knew who he was immediately. We sat by each other in home room at Salem High School. He had played tackle on the offensive line that I was the center.

He is now living in Oklahoma and tracked down my number through a mutual friend that I have on facebook. This friend we have in common told Darryl where I lived and he tracked me down. I know some people do not like facebook, but this is a reason that the social network is amazing and can be life changing.

Darryl called me because he has two sons in the military. One of them is in Iraq and the other is headed to Afghanistan. He called me to see if I would pray for them. We prayed on the phone together and then we talked for a little while. Darryl proceeded to tell me about his life after high school. He told me he had made some bad choices in his life. It turned out to almost be a confessional. I was able to talk to him about Jesus, how much Jesus loves him and grace.

It has been 26 years since he has talked to me. We really weren't the closes friends when we were in school. We knew each other but never really hung out. He tracked me down he said because he always knew I was a man of God (I know some would beg to differ). What a compliment. You never know who is paying attention as you try to walk with God.

I would like for everyone who reads this to pray for Darryl and his two sons: Preston and Mark. Pray that the boys will be protected and that Darryl will be healed spiritually and physically. Then pray for some Darryl's from your past.

Conversation with a Hindu (4)

2009-08-06T09:40:00.003-04:00

Last night I had a conversation with my Hindu friend. He has invited me to go to a meditation class he leads next week. This led into a discussion on prayer. I told him if I were to go, I would take that time to focus on God. I would take the time to pray and listen to God.

He explained to me the idea of meditation. That the goal was to remove your thoughts from the conscious (10% of the brain we use) and move to the subconscious part of our mind. He said the deeper we get into our subconscious the closer we get to becoming one with god (meaning we become god).

Here is the thing though, I learned something about prayer. Many times we pray intellectually. What I mean by that is we pray within the 10% of our brain we use to reason. There is something to be said of clearing our minds of our thoughts and focusing on God. Paul tells us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions" (Ephesians 6:18). I am not saying we need to go into a subconscious state of mind(there is a danger in relying on our subconsciousness to lead us), but we do need to clear our minds of fleshly things so we can engage in a authentic conversation with God rather than a surface conversation.

The second thing we talked about was Jesus. The enlightened master my friend is a disciple of speaks of Jesus as an enlightened master. My friend would consider Jesus as an enlightened master as well. My Hindu friend said that his perception of Christianity is that it is anti-christ.

Why would he say such a thing? He has studied the teachings and life of Jesus. As a matter of fact he knows the Bible pretty well for not being a follower. So he looks at the life of Jesus and compares it to the lives of those who profess to be Christians and sees two different lifestyles.

We can be angry that he would say such a thing and react in one of two ways. 1) We could blow off his statement and not believe it, continuing to live our life the way we always have. 2) We could listen to what he says, look at the life of Jesus and examine ourselves to see if we really are following Jesus. The Bible tells us, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5)

I believe we all need to examine ourselves to see how we are doing when it comes to following Jesus. The problem is we will most likely need to make some life adjustments. We may need to take some unpopular stances within our church. We may be seen as a radical or revolutionary. If this is the case chances are you are on your way to following Jesus.

Preparing for Zimbabwe

2009-08-04T22:20:00.004-04:00

I am preparing to go to Zimbabwe this fall. I will be traveling with Pinedale Christian Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina. A good friend of mine from college, Danny Spainhour will be leading the trip. I am going to be doing some leadership training and preaching in a new village they are going to plant a church. We have already purchased transportation (a bike) and the preacher (Solomom) is ready to go.

I am trying to raise $1500 for the trip. Anything I raise over that will go to help purchase nutritional drink for children and malaria tablets. If you can help send a check made out to Northwest Ave Church of Christ. You can send it to:

Northwest Church, c/o Scott Baker, 737 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio 44278.

I have attached a video I just received that shows some of the nutritional drink Northwest purchased from it's Christmas offering. If you have any questions about the trip feel free to ask.

I'm Back

2009-08-03T13:41:00.002-04:00

I am back in the office after a long but moving week. I spoke at Velocity, the church plant we have partnered with other churches to start. What an experience. The church is 15 weeks old and already has about 160 people coming regularly. The worship was fantastic. The people who serve are amazing. They have already had close to if not more than 15 baptisms. What a fabulous Sunday morning experience.

Then I had the privilege to be a part of a Bill Bondurant's funeral. There are two people through my life that I would say have walked with God. Bill was one of them. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. His children all spoke at the funeral which really allowed people to see the kind of man Bill was. I know where he is right now, but it will be difficult not having this servant around, he was a very special man.

Finally, I just got back from Basketball camp at Round Lake (our Christian Camp). It was one of the best weeks of camp I have been a part of. The students were awesome. They really took the theme to heart--"Pay the Price." Coop and Palmer did another fantastic job putting the week together.

Next, I prepare to go to Zimbabwe in Oct. Please pray for our trip and the new church we will be starting while we are there.

What's Missing?

2009-07-16T09:39:00.003-04:00

Everyday over the last week I have passed a sign a couple times a day. The sign reads, "Amazing Vacation Church School" and then gives a date. Growing up in the church I am very familiar with what is typically known as "Vacation Bible School." Many of you have been to a VBS, most churches do them some don't.

This sign struck me because something was missing. I had never seen a heard of anything called Vacation Church School. So what do you learn at VCS? Do you learn the history of the church going back to the apostles and early church fathers, working your way through the Reformation until you get to the modern church? Or do you learn how to behave at church? Maybe it is about church etiquette. What do you learn at VCS?

When I try to figure out what Church School is I come to the conclusion I have no idea. I do however know what's missing. The Bible is missing. No this does amaze me, but I don;t think that is what they mean by "Amazing Vacation Church School. This "church" which is putting on VCS happens to be a Unity church. They believe in more than just the Bible. They accept other religion's thoughts and philosophies. Which is fine, they have every right to do so. But it is so confusing when a group tries to be a church without the Bible.

The reason I know this, is because I know of churches that place more emphasis on things out side the Bible than the Bible itself. When this happens, it is hard to see the church as anything other than a club that meets once a week. There are some churches that do Vacation Bible School and the only motivation for the VBS is to see how many kids they can get to come. They might as well call their summer event a Vacation Church School also, because the motivation has little to do in teaching kids the Bible.

Now here is my question. Can a church really call itself a church if the Bible is not at the foundation of it's existence? Let me know what you think.

Loving God

2009-07-15T09:47:00.003-04:00

I read a quote yesterday that has stuck with me. I am reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" and he said, "When I look at my relationship with God as a chore, a sacrifice, then I am getting the glory--not God."

Those who go into full-time ministry have a tendency to look at what they do as a sacrifice and a chore. While there are sacrifices that take place let's be honest, we need to drop the martyr syndrome here. I am guilty of this. That's why this quote stuck with me over the last day.

Those who are not in full-time ministry this quote applies to you also. I am going to say something that a lot of people will disagree with, even some professors I have had in college. Why do we have to show all this appreciation to volunteers for their service in the church? There was a time appreciation was not shown and there was not a problem with getting volunteers, people just served. Don't get me wrong I think it's good to show appreciation to volunteers, the problem comes when those who serve expect it and get upset when they don't get recognized for their good deed.

When we expect recognition it's a sign of a shallow relationship with God. A relationship that is based on personal incentives. Our attitude should be the same as the apostles who considered it a privaledge to be beaten up for the sake of Christ. Our motivation to serve becomes love not reward or a self pity party.

Maybe this is one of the problems with the church today, it is filled with people who decided when they are willing to make a sacrifice and when they are going to live an independent life from God. Good thing this was not the attitude of Jesus.

Conversaton with a Hindu (3)

2009-07-09T09:16:00.004-04:00

I met with my Hindu friend last night. We are going to set up a time to go eat Indian Food together. I want him to show me what to order. There is nothing like sharing a meal together.

Last night we talked about Genesis, particularly Adam, Eve and the fall. When Ram got there he said he wanted to talk about Genesis. I saw this as a moment of God's providence because I too was feeling led to talk about Genesis.

He asked me about the forbidden tree, the tree of "knowledge." He wanted me to define "knowledge." I knew where he was going because in the Hindu way of life, knowledge is important. There is a point in which we reach a level of enlightenment. I believe this is true in Christianity as well. Although our points of enlightenment are different.

I explained to him I have often wondered why God placed a tree in the garden, pointed it out and said "don't eat the fruit from this tree." It is like telling a child not to play with something. The child probably wouldn't have messed with "whatever," if you had not drawn attention to it. I told him that the purpose of the tree was to provide a way for man to "choose" to follow God with "free will."

But there is another part to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We have to understand good and evil in order to truly be enlightened to God's love for people. This enlightenment revolves around grace. Grace is the point of enlightenment for a Christian. It goes beyond just using the word "grace." It's the point in which we realize we do not deserve God's love, we can not buy God's love and we can not earn God's love. God freely gives us grace because of our condition due to sin. It is freeing when we realize we are no longer bound by a law system.

Another thing I am finding out about the Hindu way of life is that they are trying to achieve a point where they become one with God. So are we as Christians aren't we? Now it is a much different way of thinking than Christianity, but the goal is the same. I asked Ram how do you reach the goal of being one with God? He told me this is where meditation becomes important.

I told him Christians desire oneness with God also. Our oneness though is an eternal relationship with God, in His presence. This oneness comes through grace. Our grace comes only through Jesus. We have to believe in Jesus, who did not deserve to die. He chose to die and pay our penalty for sin. He was buired and resurrected. All of which happened so our penalty could be paid in full.

At one point in the conversation he did say he believed in Jesus. I need to talk to him further on that comment. Next time he is going to talk about the importance of meditation for a Hindu and how that brings us into oneness the Brahman. I am going to talk about becoming one with Jesus' death, burial and Resurrection through Christian baptism. Which again tells the story of Grace.

Keep praying God leads this discussion. Less of me, more of God.

Tax Collectors and Prostitutes

2009-07-07T14:31:00.002-04:00

I was reading in Matthew 21 this morning and something Jesus said caught my attention: "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you" (Matthew 21:31).

Who is the "you?" Because whoever it is, tax collectors and prostitutes have a better place in the kingdom of God. Right now I do not have much good to say about our tax collectors in the United States and I completely understand why the Bible puts them in the same class as prostitutes. This still doesn't answer the "you" question though.

Who is the "you?" "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them" (Matthew 21:45). The "you" are religious people. Not just religious people, but pious religious people. People who just don't get it.

The "you" are those who are unwilling to follow Jesus. They prefer to stay focused on what they know and are not easily persuaded. They are people who just want to go to church, not be the church. They have wrapped themselves around tradition, rituals and the law. They may talk about grace, but they don't live by grace.

Jesus also says about the "you" and their refusal to buy in, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from "you" and given to people who will produce fruit" (Matthew 21:43). Wow! If you are not going to follow the way of the Father, the kingdom of God will be passed on to those who will follow. In this case, he is talking about tax collectors and prostitutes who surrender themselves to the mission of God, giving up the ways of their past.

While we as the church keep looking at the tax collectors and prostitutes of the world with judgement, God is using them to advance His kingdom.

Francis Chan asks this question in "Crazy Love" (I read this this morning also), "I wonder how many church doors God wants to shut today?"

How does God look at "you?" Is it the same way Jesus looked at the most pious and religious or is it like the tax collectors and prostitutes?

Conversation with a Hindu (2)

2009-06-25T10:32:00.002-04:00

Tuesday evening I spent some time with a new friend,Ram (pronounced Rahm). He is from India working in the United States until the end of the year. He shared with me the Hindu's understanding of Heaven and Hell. It was quite interesting listening to the concepts of Eastern Religion.

The great thing about Ram is his willingness to listen to me talk about Jesus. He's not anti-Jesus, he sees Jesus as one of the great masters (teachers). The thing he does not want to talk about is religion. He has shared with me on several occasions that Hinduism isn't a religion, it is a way of life. That's alright with me, because I believe that Christianity isn't a religion, it is a way of life. We both agree that religion has produced so pretty bad and inauthentic results.

The reason I bring this part of our discussion up is that it is so important for Christ followers to see our relationship with Jesus as a way of life. Ram explained to me people who live east of the Sindhu River in Pakistan are known as Hindu. Hindu defines a specific location and people group like those who live in European countries are known as European. There are certain lifestyles that label someone a European.

To be know as a Christian is not about being a part of a religion, it is an identity based one how you live. When Christ followers were first called Christians, it had nothing to do with how religious they were, they were identified as being people who followed Jesus.

Here is a question? How would you be identified based on how you live?

Conversation with a Hindu

2009-06-23T15:52:00.003-04:00

I am in the middle of a series called, "Things I wish Jesus Never Said." We have been looking at some tough and maybe controversial things that Jesus said when he walked this earth. Literally you could probably do several years of teachings of things you wish Jesus never said.

For what I am about to tell you it is important to tell you that the sign in front of the church simply gives the title of our series, not the topic of the day. This past Sunday the teaching was on: "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The issue we are addressing is whether Christianity is the only way to God or not. According to Jesus' statement here, Christianity is the only way.

According to a report put out by "religion.pewforum" 65% of self-identified Christians believe people can obtain eternal life through a non-Christian belief system. (Read more at Ed Stetzers blog)(Check out the May 11, 2009 entry)

Sundays teaching was not about bashing other world religions, it was about teaching why Christianity was unique compared to other world religions. I even shared some of the world religions I personally thought promoted a positive message, minus the hope of salvation through grace of course.

At the end of the second service a man walked in and sat down for the last 15 minutes of the service. I could tell he was from India right away. My first thought was, "Who called this man after first service to come and confront me on the teaching of the day." I prayed he would not stand up and make a scene when I was done.

After closing prayer I was looking for this man to explain to him what the message was about. He was looking for me as well. We went to my office and spent the next 30 minutes talking about the Hindu way of life. We are meeting again tonight to talk further. He wants to know more about Christianity.

There are a couple things amazing about this encounter: 1) He came because of the sign, 2) He is only in the United States until the end of the year and 3) He wants to know more about Christianity.

Pray that I can share with him the hope that only comes through Jesus. That what I say describes a lifestyle, not a religion.

I know the Spirit is involved, because of all days he chooses to show up, the teaching is on the difference between Christianity and other religions. I am excited to see what God does with this conversation.

God of Power

2009-06-12T14:59:00.002-04:00

Last night we didn't get to go fishing in the evening. We were not able to experience God's peace. God showed up with power last evening. We had a massive storm move through. Same spot different result. We all sat on the back porch which overlooks the lake. It rained so hard the mountain range which creates a beautiful back drop disappeared.

The great thing about a storm on Smith Mountain Lake is that you are in the mountains and the clouds seem so low you could reach out an touch them. The lightening looks like it is dancing on the water as it bolts from the sky.

In Noah's day two things happened. It rained for the first time and it was the start of the boating industry. When it rains as hard as it did last night, it can be frightening. If it rained that hard in Noah's day they had to be in awe and fearful at the same time.

Proverbs tells us that the beginning of all knowledge is the fear of God. When you see the power of God like we saw the power of God last night, it brings upon a person a healthy fear of God's power.

I am glad I serve a God who is both peaceful and powerful.

God of Peace

2009-06-11T08:48:00.002-04:00

Right before dark last night I took the boys fishing out on Smith Mountain Lake. We had planned to go earlier but a summer storm moved through. When we went out, there was nobody on the lake. Just two hours before the lake had white caps on it, now it was calm. We were at the base of the mountain and it was so quiet and peaceful.

I love these moments when you are away from everything and you are able to soak in what God created. Even though you feel like you are alone you're not. God is everywhere, especially in the quietness. I kept pointing out to the boys how quiet it was. One of them pointed out the sun set off to the west as it came across the lake. In the stillness and quietness of the world it is hard not to experience God's presence.

I wonder what it was like for Adam and Eve living in the garden with the God of peace all around them. How could they desire more than what they had and eat from the only tree God told them not to eat from? They took what God had given them for granted. They stopped looking around and seeing God. They began to look at what they did not have instead of all that they had. And in that moment they lost it all.

On the lake, I could not stop looking at everything around me. I love the peacefulness of God. I can't wait to go out again this evening to experience His peace. I just hope we catch a few fish. But if we don't, it doesn't matter I got to fish with my heavenly Father.

Survival (Part 2)

2009-05-28T09:18:00.005-04:00

I left off yesterday talking about adaptive leadership. Today I want to go further in the thoughts of yesterday. As I continued my blog reading I went to Ed Stetzer's blog. I read Stetzer's blog because he interviews great church leaders, has a lot of research on what is happening within Christianity and has a grasp on the missional church. He wrote a blog about a discussion he had for USA Today about "Is there one way to heaven?" (Read the article here). If you read the article be sure to read the comments that follow.

I was amazed at the number of Christians who think there is more than one way to get to heaven. Could this be one of the reasons so few people go to church on a given Sunday? For the adaptive leader this is just another brutal fact in our culture when it comes to Christianity and the church.

Is it possible we have gotten so caught up in church growth and being seeker sensitive that we have failed to promote even the basics of the gospel?

Reading Stetzer here reminded me that I needed to finish a study we are doing as a staff. It is a small group study written by Stetzer called "Sent." Currently we are having all our life groups go through the study. This study is kicking our butt! I have never done a study that asks some of the most thought provoking questions about some of the things we take for granted. If you want to order a copy go here.

I finished the last section after reading Stetzer's blog. In the last section he pointed out that 56% of people think about their eternal destiny. Another current reality for the adaptive leader. This is an opportunity to engage people in a discussion about their eternal destiny. But, as Stetzer points out, this goes beyond inviting people to church. He says, "Sure, it's easier to tell people to come to church and live a good life, but that's not the gospel. . . To share Christ, we have to go beyond formulas that fit on napkins."

This is another challenge for the adaptive leader and adaptive Christ followers. It requires leaders and the people they lead to develop authentic relationships with other people. At some point in the relationship the opportunity may arise (don't force the issue) to talk about eternal destiny.

We have moved beyond just teaching people to bring people to church. We need to lead be to be the church everywhere they go and with everyone they meet. Stetzer sums it up like this, "What, after all, are missional churches except gatherings of missional individuals?"

The sad reality of all this is that all we are talkning about here is living and being the church that is described in Acts. It is not something new, it is something we have got to get back to doing. Then the church (gathering of missional individuals) will begin to reach people and answer their questions about their eternal destiny.

So let's all commit to living missional lives, Loving God, Loving People and being authentic in our relationships to both.

Adapting in order to Survive

2009-05-27T10:11:00.005-04:00

I usually take a morning a week and read through blogs of people I think have something to say about the missional church, connecting with people and just life in general. This morning was the morning I chose to catch up on some blog reading. Here is where it led me:

I started with Vince Antonucci's blog . I love his blog because he really has a way of looking at scripture and has a heart for reaching lost people. Vince is currently starting a church on the Vegas strip. I can't wait for the stories that emerge from that journey. Anyway he posted a map of the number of people who go to church on a given weekend from 2000 (view map).

What I learned from this map is there is a lot of work to do. I Ohio there are only 20.3% of the population that attend church on a given weekend. Two things: 1) As a church we need to see the need for us to become more missional and 2) We need to continue to be involved in church planting (the most effective way of reaching lost people).

Next I read Alan Hirsch's blog. Alan Hirsch has a real grasp on the church and the decline it is in world wide. He is committed to helping churches find their way again. Two of his books, "The Forgotten Ways" and "ReJesus" should be read by every church leader. This morning two of his blog posts made me think about the role of a leader in the church. It is a four part post summarizing his thoughts on a book called "Surfing the Edge of Chaos." It is about adaptive leadership and how adaptive leadership can create a church with "spiritual energy."

He quotes a law of cybernetics (I had to look this one up) called the "Law of Requisite Variety." This law states, ". . . that the survival of any organism depends on its capacity to cultivate (not just tolerate) variety in its internal structure. Failure to do so results in the inability to cope successfully with 'variety' when it is introduced from an external source."

It simply means there are external factors that effect an organization or organism. The ability to adapt to the external factors will determine the rate of survival. The role of an adaptive leader is to disturb the organization enough so that it has to adapt to it's surroundings.

Combine this thought with the chart from Vince Antonucci and we see the need for the church to adapt in order for it to survive. There is a problem that we need to address and as church leaders we need to cultivate variety into our internal structure. This is when we begin to become a missional church.

Any thoughts?

(to be continued)

Blue or White Collar Jesus?

2009-05-26T14:43:00.003-04:00

I was driving in the car the other day and heard a discussion about blue collar workers and white collar workers. I had never really thought about it before but when we study the life of Jesus where would he fall, blue or white collar?

To answer this question we really need to understand what is meant by the term blue collar and white collar. A white collar worker is a person who is in the work force in the role of management or administration. Blue collar workers would be more manual labor. White collar workers would have more of a formal education. Blue collar would be more skilled labor.

So, what would Jesus be, white collar or blue collar? Without any formal education Jesus worked a trade as a carpenter. In religious circles he was far from the upper management team. He was more of a common worker within his Father's line of work. He did not tell people what they were to do while sitting back and watching to see if the tasks were carried out. He worked on the ground level showing people how to serve at a very high level.

I would say Jesus was more of a blue collar worker in the business of the Father. On the other hand, the religious leaders were carrying themselves as upper management. They touted their formal education and made those who were a part of the organization walk a narrow path.

This very easily carries over to today and the church. We have become a movement made up of mostly white collar workers. We come together and worship touting our formal church education. We look down on those who have not had the same church background as ourselves. We do this even though Jesus taught us to live as blue collar workers in His kingdom.

Jesus lived as a labor worker in the kingdom. If Jesus lived that way shouldn't we? Or do we like the status of being a white collar Christian with all its perks?

If Jesus worked in the kingdom as a blue collar worker, that is good enough for me. It is time we stop touting our formal church education and start to do the labor required to build His kingdom. Even if we have to get our hands dirty.

Any thoughts?

Which Flavor is the Best?

2009-05-19T09:27:00.003-04:00

I always have a hard time when I go to a Ice Cream place like "Graeters," "Handles" or "Cold Stone Creamery." I can never decide which flavor is the best. Sometimes I get lucky and I am craving a certain kind of ice Cream, other times I am at loss as to what I need. There are times I feel adventurous and will try something new. Usually I choose something with berries or nuts in it because that is my favorite.

What about church? What flavor is the best? In our culture today there are so many different flavors to choose from that it is confusing for people. The questions that come up are: "Does it have contemporary music or traditional?" "Is the 'dress code' dress-up, casual or it doesn't matter?" "Is there a lot of multi-media or not?" "Do they have Sunday School or ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship)?" "Is it a megachurch or is it a small family type of church?"

While all these are questions may matter when it comes to preference, these are not the right questions? These questions do not make a church a church. There is one thing for certain. When I go and get ice cream, which I do not do very often, I sometimes decide I am going to be healthy. I will get sugar free or fat-free. Every time, I am never satisfied. Why? Because it is not real ice cream.

Whoever invented ice cream never intended it to be free from sugar and heavy cream (thus the name ice "cream"). Anything else is just an impostor. When God created the church he had something very specific in mind. The church would be a body of believers who: 1) Were in love with Jesus and His mission, 2) Loved people who were far from God, 3) Lead those who were far from God into a relationship with Jesus, 4) Lead people to be more like Jesus in every part of their life, and 5) Lead people to lead others far from God into a relationship with Jesus.

There are other things like authentic community, prayer and service. My point is, when we look at churches we judge the flavor on things that really don't matter. The most important thing when it comes to the best flavor of church is that it is fulfilling the mission of a church, that it is a real church. Any time I have gotten ice cream and it is real ice cream I have never been disappointed.

Is Taking Ten Ibuprofen Bad?

2009-05-18T15:11:00.003-04:00

Not if they're Junior Strength. I had this horrible headache this morning after our staff meeting. So on our way to lunch we stopped by the store to get some ibuprofen. I ran in and grab the generic brand off the shelf without looking at the package. While walking out the store I began to open the ibuprofen.

Hmmm. "These are rather large for me to swallow," I thought to myself. Then I read the word chewable. No problem other than they taste horrible. I had hoped they would taste like baby aspirin when I was a kid. No such luck. So I took the normal three when I have a headache of that magnitude.

After I choked those three down I read a little further on the bottle, "Junior Strength." Crap! I haven't been the size of a junior since I was in first grade. So I looked on the back of the bottle- "72-95 lbs., three tablets." I can't remember the last time I weighed under 100 lbs. So I had to do the math. So I rounded it off and took an even ten.

The good thing is that my headache is gone.

The lesson learned, other than reading the bottle before you purchase, is a quote I have on my white board:

"It is more important that we do the right things than we do things right." Dave Browning

2009-05-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

I love being in the Woods

2009-05-13T12:11:00.002-04:00

I went Turkey Hunting for a little while this morning. This is the last week of Spring Gobbler season in Ohio. While I still haven't "caught anything," as our student minister puts it, I have enjoyed being in the woods.

if you have never done it, you need to try it. Even if you don't hunt. But you have to go before the sun comes up. It is incredible to hear the woods wake up in the morning. The birds start chirping, you hear the rustling of leaves as squirrels and chipmunks begin their day. The dew is still on the grass. No gobbles this morning though.

I did see ten deer. They are fun to watch. They could smell me, but could not see me. They looked hard, but never knew where I was.

You know, God is awesome! A morning in the woods, by yourself, with God . . . Life is good!

Inspiring Day @ KSP

2009-05-07T22:27:00.006-04:00

Several years ago a friend of mine asked if Northwest would be a part of a dream of his. The dream was(is) to make it hard to go to hell in the state of Ohio. The idea is to create networks of churches that will partner together with Stadia to plant 50 churches in the next 10 years. Today we determined we are currently in year 3. There are 7 plants that are either in the works or have birthed and the network for the
8th is being developed.

The stories that are coming from the churches that have currently been started are amazing.

The first, Momentum Christian Church, led by Dan Smith taught us about the kingdom today. For years churches have been territorial, not Momentum. They have sent about 30 people to be a part of the second church plant, Velocity which is in it's 6th week. Not only that, but Momentum announced today it was ready to commit $50,000 to a new church plant in Cleveland. Momentum is only 3 years old.

Second, Scott Pugh from Velocity spoke about Jesus an how he said if we want to be great we need to learn how to serve others. This is a major part of Velocity's DNA. As a matter of fact Scott did not begin his report by telling everyone how many people were at Velocity in it's 5th week (which was 190). He started by talking about how Velocity was becoming a great church by serving the community. When Velocity speaks of "service" they are not talking about what happens on Sunday morning. Serving others is so much of Velocity's DNA that every staff person is required to serve in some way one hour a week.

Finally, there was a report given of a inner city church in Canton. There were two stories of homeless people desiring to give. One guy wanted to put money in an offering. The other bought a bag of food to feed someone who was in need. Rivertree Christian has partnered to see this church happen. Greg Nettle pointed out that when you see homeless people give sacrificially it makes you more accountable as to how you spend your yearly budget as a church staff person.

Wow! What a day of stories about God. How He moves when people are obedient to the leading of the Spirit. People who are far from God are coming to know Him. This just confirms in my spirit that church planting can change the world. Spend some time praying for Momentum, Velocity and Kingdom Synergy Partnership. For people who are far from God and for church planters that can make an impact wherever God may lead them.

Authentic Family Community

2009-05-05T09:57:00.004-04:00

I was in Wayside, West Virginia for a few days last week. It is Spring Gobbler season and I always try to get away for a few days to hunt at the farm. I did not stay at our place. We are still cleaning from a furnace problem a few years back. I stayed with my great uncle and aunt.

This is one of the things I love about my dads side of the family. There is a closeness that goes beyond generations. I discovered the reason why this last week. My grandmother was one of 10 children, one of them is the uncle I stayed with. Their family placed a high emphasis on education. I found out that all of them were teachers at some point in their life.

Here is the amazing thing though. Aunt Emma, once she was out of college, helped pay for her next sibling down to go to college. Then once they were out they began helping other siblings pay for college. This family grew up putting a high emphasis on being a family that works together.

The Houchins family, while not perfect (I could tell you some stories), did live with an understanding that they were not individuals. They lived not just for themselves but for each other. If anyone had a need they were there to help each other out. This culture that existed in their home is why they were and are so close to each other.

Look, I know there are other families that are like this, but I do not think it is normal today. Maybe that is why it is so amazing to me.

Here is the thing, this family operated by the same principles that we find in the book of Acts when the early church is described. They had everything in common, there were no needy among them and they met together regularly.

What if we really began to apply these principles to the church? How about your own family?

Maybe we would become what God intended for us to be. Maybe the church would reclaim it's identity. And maybe our families would be transformed into something that would create lasting memories. Churches and families doing life together, what could be better than that?

How to Create a Movement

2009-04-25T09:49:00.003-04:00

I often read Seth Godin's Blog. It has a lot of short but insightful posts. I read one a couple weeks ago called "First, ten." You can read it yourself here.

Although, it is insightful, it's not ground breaking. Jesus did it, but he started with twelve which ended up to be eleven until they added another and it was back to twelve again. The fact is it does work if . . . the "first, ten" are sold out to the cause. Whether the concept is right or wrong, good or bad, it works if there is buy in.

The success of blogs rely on the idea. Jesus began a movement. Amway built an international company. We are in a War on Terror fighting against radicals who use the tactic to their advantage. The secularist movement is growing. The church in China is exploding because of the concept. But what about the church in America? How are we doing with the "first, ten?" Some do well, but most don't.

Godin points out "you can no longer market to the anonymous masses. They're not anonymous and they're not masses. You can only market to people who are willing participants." The truth is, the American church is still stuck in marketing to the anonymous masses. In the process we have lost the Rabbi's comission to make disciples.

So how can we change the American church and create a movement that sweeps our nation and the world? It is simple. If you believe with all your heart in Jesus, find ten people who as Godin says, "trust you/respect you/need you/listen to you... Those ten people need what you have to sell, or want it. And if they love it, you win."

The challenge is on . . . pick your "first, ten."

Miss California went for "The" Crown

2009-04-22T10:18:00.003-04:00

Miss California set the example for every follower of Jesus. The example is to stand up for your values and beliefs even if it may cost you an earthly crown. I was thinking about what she did at the Miss America Pageant and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 came to mind:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners (or beauty pageant contestants) run (or walk down the runway), but only one gets the prize. Everyone who competes in the games (or pageant) goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last (one for a year in this case); but we (Christ followers) do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly (or walk like a contestant without good posture); I do not fight like a man beating the air (or answer a question without being honest). No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Miss California, thanks for being honest and standing up for what you believe. Thanks for representing the state of California, where a majority of the people believe the same way you do (as well as most of the country). You said the same thing Barack Obama said in an interview with Rick Warren. You stood up for the definition of marriage that has lasted since the existence of man and woman.

Most of all you stood by what God ordained from the beginning. You stood for absolute truth.

You did it in a very loving way, not condemning those who may oppose your view or the homosexual community.

Thanks for being real, honest and authentic. Even though you may have lost something you have been training for your whole life, you took a stand for something more important and something you will have for eternity.

You seized the day and took advantage of the position you were in to make a difference.

This reminds me of another woman who went through a beauty pageant of sorts. Esther was found to be the most beautiful woman by the king. She became his wife and this was said about her later when there was an attack being levied against God's people: "And who knows but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?"

Miss California, maybe it was God's providence for you to be in such a position as this so that you could stand for God's kingdom. Thanks for seizing the moment.

Are we a Christian Nation?

2009-04-14T10:32:00.002-04:00

There has been a lot of talk lately after President Obama said we are not a Christian Nation during a speech in Turkey. Personally, I think he was trying to say something quite different than what some on the "right" are making it out to be. He is speaking in a country which does not tolerate any other religion other than Muslim. I believe the point he was trying to make is that in the United States a person has the freedom to whatever religion. He just said it poorly.

Regardless, it has made me think about the United States being a Christian Nation. I am not sure I want the world to look at us as a Christian Nation. Think about the consequences of being known as a Christian Nation by the world.

The world sees what comes out of the United States from leaders, media and Hollywood that are not of the highest moral standard. Then the world hears us call the United States a Christian Nation. The perception of Christianity the world gets from the U.S. is a false description of what Jesus calls us to be.

The perception of Christianity may look like this to the rest of the world based on what they see coming out of the United States:

Christians Pursue wealth at any cost allowing greed to drive them to the point of corruption and enormous dept. Christians are pro-homosexuality, pro-choice and pro-sexual promiscuity. Christians are arrogant and self-seeking. Christianity has no boundaries-"believe what you want to believe because there are no absolute truths." Christianity is about power and prestige and very self-promoting.

So, do we really want to be known as a Christian Nation?

Only if it looks like Jesus. Being a Christian or Christian Nation is more than just making that proclamation. The first time the word "Christian" was used it carried a lot of meaning. It described people who followed the way of Jesus. It did not describe a religion or people who went to church. It was descriptive of the people who made up the church.

Instead of self-proclaiming ourselves or our nation as Christian, let's start living like Jesus and the description will follow.

I'm Not Worthy

2009-04-03T09:04:00.004-04:00

When going to Kentucky Christian College I grew to dislike Ohio State Football. It had nothing to do with them not being good, it was the fans. The arogance was unbearable. I got tired of hearing that Ohio State was the "Mecca" of College Football.

My dislike grew into a dislike for Ohio. I remember making the statement that I would never live in in Ohio nor marry anyone from Ohio. Now look at me. I not only married someone from Ohio, I live in Ohio and my children have all been born in Ohio. Is this some sick joke from God, me being sentenced to Ohio? Or is Ohio in such a desperate situation it needs missionaries?

Now, I have crossed the threshold that I have lived in Ohio longer than any other state. Great.

Last Saturday I got to experience something every true Ohio State fan would love to experience. I would say I am sorry, but I'm not because it was awesome! As a true college football fan, I was like me in a Krispy Kreme donut shop.

A friend of mine, Greg G. is a recruiter for OSU Football. I have come to a conclusion he is trying to convert me to become an Ohio State Football fan. I have to admit, it is much easier with a coaches like Tressel and Greg who have a tremendous ammount of integrity and a strong belief in God. I actully will cheer for OSU against most teams. Growing up in Virginia, I will always stay loyal to the Hookies of VT.

The things I saw and experienced were incredible. I got my picture taken with my hand on one of the Heisman Trophies Archie Griffin recieved. I got to see the team rooms where the teams meet with the coaches. I got to go into the locker room both in the Woody Hayes center and at the Horseshoe. One of the most amazing things I got to see was a chalk board that Woody Hayes was outlining a book that was never written. I got to see the weight room, the players lounge and spend some time throwing football at the Horseshoe with my boys.

If I was a recruit-- I would have to say, "I'm going to Ohio State!" What a place with such a rich tradition. A place that honors the acheivements of its players in such a way they are never forgotten. A place that does not need the approval of others, a place that stands on it's own accomplishments. This was one of my top three sports experiences and I never saw a game played. I walked on hallowed ground. I am not Worthy.

Loving Dennis Rodman

2009-03-31T10:01:00.004-04:00

Don't laugh or judge me, but I got hooked on Celebrity Apprentice a couple weeks ago. I even DVR it (I can't believe I just said that). This past week Dennis Rodman was the project manager. A lot of you are turned off by Dennis Rodman because of his radical look and take on life ( I am not a fan either). I have to admit, he is different, but he is still a person, a child of God.

I know a lot of the reality shows are edited to get the story they are looking for and I know they did the same with this episode, but it got really intense in the board room. Jesse James, confronted Dennis Rodman about his drinking problem.

The show took a turn, it became less about the show and more about a person who has a serious problem. It became as Joan Rivers said an intervention. The women's team agreed with everything that was said about Rodman.

His defense turned to the fact that he was a great athlete and had won five championships. Herschel Walker said that is the past, what matters is today. Who are you today is all that matters.

The point of me blogging about this today is that some times we have to look past our initial judgements of a person to love them. We have to see people where theymay be struggling and have the courageous love to tell them the truth about themselves.

Sometimes we have to realize that what we are doing at the moment, needs to be redirected in order to love people (looking past the show, to a person who has a problem).

I am going to embed the last 9 minutes of the episode. I hesitated doing so because there is some language that may offend some. I am asking you to look past it to learn a valuable lesson on loving people. Then let me know what you think.

What a great time of Year!

2009-03-19T16:18:00.001-04:00

It's started! The NCAA Mens basketball Tournament! I love it!

My Final Four: Lousiville, UConn, Carolina and Duke.

Finals: Carolina over Louisville in one of the best finals of all time!

What's your picks?

The Biggest Enemy

2009-03-17T15:00:00.003-04:00

I am reading a book right now called "Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement." It is written by a Jewish atheist who travels around the country spending time with various Christian Movements. As a secularist, the author, Lauren Sandler tries to expose a movement, made up of many movements, that is threat to the secularist movement.

I think she tries to reveal what is wrong with Christianity, pointing to some pretty messed up versions of Christianity. There are times I have cringed while reading her descriptions of some Christian movements. Then there are times, she has been really moved by the authenticity of some of the people she has met. Like Sandler, the thing I am finding out is that authenticity makes the difference when living as a representative of Jesus.

One of the groups she spends time with is a Christian Hip Hop band named Goodside. One of the guys involved with Goodside is Gaudscent. He told Sandler this, "The biggest enemy to Christianity is the misrepresentation of Christianity."

Think about that statement for a while and ask yourself this question, "How do I misrepresent Jesus as a follower and what are the consequneces of that misrepresentation?"

Wandering Sheep

2009-03-06T12:43:00.002-05:00

Staying with the idea of the lost sheep of Israel, I want look at Matthew 18. Everyone tries to position themselves to be in a place of power and influence. We see it in our government, we see it in our families and we see it in the church. So it is not unusual to see it among Jesus' disciples.

Jesus' disciples ask him this question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" I am not sure what answer they were really looking for, but I think they were surprised by the eventual answer. Maybe they looked at the religious system with all its prestige and thought that was normal. Those closes to Jesus would be considered the greatest. Maybe they were jockeying for position amongst themselves.

Regardless of what they were looking for Jesus called to a child and had him stand among the disciples. Jesus then said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

I don't believe this story is about children.

Place yourself in that childs position. The child comes and stands among thirteen adult men. It would be a pretty intimidating position. Mature men standing over a small child. And Jesus then says, you need to be like this child. You need to put yourself in a place of humility, not thinking to highly of yourself.

When a child is standing in a crowd of adults, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. When I take Seth, my soon to be nine year old to a Cavs game, it has to be intimidating walking through the crowd. He can not see over everybody, people can not see him very well and it is hard for him to discern where we are headed. When we are at that game, Seth, Cole or Eli get the greatest attention in my kingdom.

In the church, we sometimes carry an attitude about us. We see ourselves as spiritually mature, having this great knowledge. When a person who is not as mature as us, physically and spiritually, we often times stand over them like the twelve who stood over this child. We get caught up in our mature conversations, talking about the business of the church. As we talk, we show our biblical knowledge, posturing for the highest position, because that is what it is all about. Sometimes this posturing has to do with the longevity of being a member of this particular institution.

I mean, that's what it is all about isn't it?

Church Planting: Zimbabwe Style

2009-03-03T00:12:00.011-05:00

Last summer our family invested $100 in a new bike. The bike has been delivered to Zimbabwe! I am so pumped to see this picture! This bike will be used to start a new church in the Chiremwaremwa (I can't pronounce it either) area of Zimbabwe. An initial investment $100 will go a long way in this part of the world. There are people who long for the gospel and the story of Jesus. In such a hopeless part of the world, this bike will bring hope to people who desperately need hope.

This is a picture of Solomon who is the lead planter. He will use it to travel to the Chiremwaremwa area teaching people about Jesus. People who have been asking to know more about Jesus. As Derek (my friend from Zimbabwe) said in an email, "As you can see he is overjoyed." He is not overjoyed because he has a new bike, he is overjoyed because now he gets to experience the joy of seeing people know Jesus.
Please pray for Solomon and the Chiremwaremwa area. You know the enemy will do all he can to discourage this servant of God.

If you want to know how you can get involved in supporting this church plant in Zimbabwe let me know in a comment. It will take about $60-80 a month to support Solomon and his mission to tell people about Jesus.

Lost Sheep of Israel

2009-02-28T00:10:00.006-05:00

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9:36-37).

Keep in mind how Matthew described the people Jesus saw, "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." When I read that I think of people wandering looking for a place to settle. The people Jesus is looking at are people who have become disenfranchised from Judaism. They have been harassed because they are not devout followers of Judaism. They are helpless because the most religious have harassed them to the point they feel like God is so far away.

Maybe they are believers in God, but not sold out to the institution. The yoke has become so heavy they feel like there is no way they can live up to the standards placed upon them by the most religious. They live their daily lives believing, but not participating in the religion of the day. Jesus looked upon them and had compassion on them. He includes them in the harvest that is plentiful. He is looking for workers to go into this harvest field, giving them hope in God.

Matthew 10 starts with Jesus gathering his disciples and sending them out with instructions to gather the wandering sheep. The instructions begin with Jesus saying, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 10:5-6).

Who are these "lost sheep of Israel"? They are the same people Jesus has compassion on, the "harassed and helpless." Those who are not a part of the religious institution. The religious leaders call them sinners, "people of the land." Jesus calls them important worth leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one (Matthew 18:10-14).

How does this apply today? After reading books like "Revolution" (Barna), "Essential Church" (Rainer), "They Like Jesus but not the Church" (Kimball) and others, there are people who believe but are tired of the institution. I am hesitant to call them lost because they believe, but they are wandering looking for something authentic, something real.

Look, I am not trying to bash the church here, I have been a part of the institution all my life. I love the church. But as church leaders we have to admit there is something really wrong with the institutional church. We have become more like the religious leaders in Jesus' day than Jesus himself. The caution for every church, even new churches, is to be careful not to become an institution. This seems to be the tendency of every church at some point in its life.

Jesus changed his strategy during the last part of his ministry on earth. He was trying to build something that would last. So he instructed his disciples to go after a harvest that had the most potential of producing a large crop. It was not the most religious. It was not the Gentiles, those who were farthest from God. He went after the sheep who were wandering. People who knew God and wanted a relationship with God. People who were harassed by the institution.

As church leaders we need to change or strategy. Churches are in decline because of our unwillingness to change our strategy. The strategy Jesus instructs his disciples to have is the same strategy that would work best today in our culture. We need to leave the ninety-nine and pursue the lost sheep of the church.

When we reach the point of becoming an institution, protecting and sustaining the institution, people begin to wander.

More on this later.