Life Beyond The Pale

Stages of Goal Setting

2010-01-29T22:41:00.015-05:00

......Purpose
Mission and Vision > Goals > Objectives > Implementation Steps

Mission............... What Does God Want Us To Do?

Vision................. What Is The Mental Picture of Future Imparted by God?

Goals.................. What Needs To Happen For The Vision To Be Realized?

Objectives........... What Do We Need To Do To Achieve Each Goal?

Strategic Plan... Who Is Accountable And What Resources To Accomplish Objectives?

What is Extradimensional Leadership? ©

2009-07-03T00:21:00.004-04:00

Particle physics theories argue for the existence of extra dimensions to explain the invisible forces and matter of our universe.

In theology, scholars wrestle with man’s limitations in visualizing a God that moves outside the dimensions of his own confinement. For God to design and create our universe, perform miracles, and attend to countless prayers, He must exist and govern in a realm that is extradimensional.

Extradimensional leadership involves moving above the vista of things routine, urgent, and conventional. Extra-d leaders reach into a realm where wisdom, purpose, and vision exist in mystical orbit. It is within that extradimensional realm where the genius of leadership is created and gifted upon a community.

Extradimension leadership describes the role of men and women who courageously tap into the intangible dimensions of our existence; the realm where the ageless wisdom of God collides with the call and undertaking of man.

Elvis has left the Building

2009-05-25T23:38:00.010-04:00

Back in the day when Elvis was King of Rock and Roll, fans would lose all composure at the thought of personally meeting the King. After concerts, during news conferences, or following rare public appearances, eager fans madly flocked to where rumor last had him sited.

Frenzied crowds would clog building corridors; rumors of his whereabouts would incite riots as people scrambled in response to the latest rumor (living without cell phones). Public safety concerns required promoters to make public announcements to disperse unruly crowds. After Elvis concerts it was customary to hear a public address system confirm: “ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.” So prevalent and popular were the Elvis departure announcements that similar proclamations are still jokingly used to poke fun at those who carry an air of self-importance (e.g. Used in The Frazier Crane Show).

Groupthink and collective behavior phenomena can dictate how we worship at our many churches. Believers can become so preoccupied with the hottest worship style, spiritual manifestation, or established church liturgy that God’s presence is no longer essential or even relevant to them. It is the group (crowd) experience or sacred liturgy they yearn for and it stands paramount; the fact that God was once-upon-a-time present somehow validates their actions. They recall an event or scenario when He showed Himself powerful and they venerate those methods and traditions. Specific religious crowd behavior becomes the central point, not the truth “of and about” God. With recreated (and sometimes bizarre) episodes, frantic (or stoic) worshipers act out routines and liturgies based only upon a past God-siting.

As noted in scripture, God’s desire is for believers to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Methods and modes that intellectually or emotionally rally believers outside biblical truth or Spiritual unction may inspire people, but history has shown it is not beneficial to the work of the Kingdom of God.

For the sake of God’s Kingdom and the spiritual welfare of believers, it may be necessary to make the familiar Elvis announcement at some of our Sunday services. With a slight spiritual twist we could announce: “ladies and gentlemen, it is possible that God has left the building.” It might be prudent to inform people that their presumptuous religious activities may very well lack the presence and affirmation of the one they name in worship.

Give Me A Break!

2009-05-06T00:32:00.002-04:00

Hey man, give me a break!

It’s a pretty common request; most of us have probably used it numerous times. Sometimes we say it under our breath with embarrassment; sometimes we loudly appeal to those impacted by our failure.

All of us have let our family, co-workers, or teammates down at one time or another. With our request for a break we are in essence saying, “I messed up; please extend favor to me even though I don’t deserve it.” People who love and care about us cheerfully extend that sought after break.

Have you ever thought about saying that to God? Please! Give me a break. In many ways God’s break is being extended to us every day. Even though we don’t merit anything from God he gives us a break; He shows us favor we don’t deserve. The Bible calls that grace. Salvation is by grace. His many answers to prayer and His everyday presence in our lives are only experienced by His grace. Because He loves us and took the penalty for our sins and failures, He is able to say, “You have my blessing.”

Spiritual Truth: Because God shows us favor, we have the freedom to show favor to others; we can give them a break.

Organization Is Spiritual

2009-04-18T22:55:00.002-04:00

“And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.’ And they did so, and made them all sit down” (Luke 9:14, 15). Luke provides a very administrative view of Jesus and the disciples feeding thousands without the necessary supplies. It was a miracle to be sure; however, there is a very non-miraculous element to what happened. In the midst of Luke’s story he reveals that Jesus not only multiplied the food, but planned the logistics as well. It appears that He organized the work to be done, assigned specific tasks, and guided the overall project. Organization was important enough to garner Jesus’ leadership. If Jesus took time to organize His ministry, we should diligently organize that which God is asking us to accomplish.

Building Codes

2009-04-03T11:09:00.003-04:00

At a recent conference the well-respected theologian and pastor, R.C. Sproul, shared what he considered to be the scariest passage in the Bible. As he read the words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit settled them uneasily in my mind; the implication was painful and left its mark on my soul. The message recorded in Matthew 7: 21-23 is an unambiguous judgment; not upon evil emperors, adulterers, and thieves, but on preachers.

It appears the final judgment will include many ministers standing as strangers before Jesus; some will tout outstanding resumes with name recognition. Others will have long lists of accomplishments, decades of ministry, signs and wonders, great songs, teachings, deliverances, and prophetic words. Evidently, a significant number will be shocked and dismayed as they are ordered to depart from the presence of Jesus Christ.

Immediately following this somber unveiling, Jesus continues to unpack the passage by guiding His listeners through some basic building codes everyone understood. A summary might read something like: If you don’t build on a solid foundation your building will fall down and cause no small catastrophe.

Jesus is linking two fundamental truths: the collapse of an unstable building may cause physical injury and death; how much greater the spiritual implications when ministers disregard Kingdom building codes? To quote Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:27, “…great will be the fall.”

The human and spiritual carnage resulting from substandard ministry foundations has been evident and often over the last few decades. Can we understand what is happening? With careful inspection, using scriptural forensics, the damaging evidence emerges and cries out for our verdict. The foundations were flawed.

Go For the Best

2009-04-01T13:56:00.006-04:00

To Solomon, the most skilled and competent king, wisdom was his most valuable possession. He saw wisdom as a must for success in life and meticulously recorded his life principles in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s prompting. The first Book of Kings informs us that Solomon spoke 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs.

Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs is a kind of personal journal chronicling his intriguing romance with this mystical woman of charm, influence and power. So enamored was Solomon with wisdom that His only request from God was for a greater measure. What a choice! I wonder how many Christian leaders would have the insight and understanding to make that qualilty seletion?

The English word wisdom is from the Hebrew word “hokmah.” It has to do with skill in living. Wisdom was not merely an intellectual philosophical exercise, it was practical. In the western world we usually think of wisdom as primarily cerebral--the Hebrew understanding had a handy dimension; it was very blue collar.

Why did Solomon view wisdom as such a treasure?

* Someone with hokmah had a leg up on others.
* A man or woman with hokmah honored God with their lives.
* A man with hokmah had good relationships within his community.
* Hokmah shaped all of life’s experiences.
* Hokmah had moral and ethical implications.

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom."
(Proverbs 4:7)

Get Wisdom

2009-03-14T17:03:00.007-04:00

Solomon wrote of the power and value of wisdom. He said that respect and reverence for God marks the beginning of wisdom. So we realize that knowing and communing with God is indeed the pathway to wisdom; once on the pathway wisdom becomes our quest.

Consider the following reflection.

One day I wandered past the spring fed pond,
Stopping to reflect on its bubbling water and endless stream.
From the edge its source was not apparent;
But I heard the water speak and summon me.

So I drew close and let its coolness touch my feet,
What of its depth, I wondered aloud.
The water beckoned me in;
So I dove until covered in its treasure.

Colors encircled me;
Blues and greens with light shafting through.
A voice below called me deeper;
I swam immersed in its richness and peace.

I thought not a moment of air or breathing;
No memories of the edge where I once stood.
The profound called to me louder;
I dove deeper and farther.

Qualms of morning and evening,
Fears of tomorrow and yesterday float above,
Bobbing at the edge of the spring fed pond;
While vivid colors encircle me.
© JR Allebach

Perhaps you may see yourself standing at the edge of God’s spring fed pond. Consider what you need to do to plunge into the ways and wisdom of God. What fears are keeping you standing on the edge, or keeping you from diving deeper?

2009-03-05T18:29:00.001-05:00

Everybody Needs Love

There is a unique and unparalleled quality found in a father’s love. Perhaps it is the most valued of all human relationships, yet it lingers as something a little beyond our ability to fully understand or explain. Many never live as true sons or daughters; too often a father is remote and indifferent. Unavailable human fathers can lead us to believe that God is also aloof, unconcerned, and uninvolved in the daily cares of our world. How are we to understand our Heavenly Father? An earthly story may provide spiritual insights.

Each week Brian took the field with the rest of his Little League team. To the knowledgeable fan Brian was at best a marginal first baseman and an inconsistent hitter—on a good day an average player. In the classroom Brian was the leader of the pack, accustomed to admiration and respect; on the ball field, the brunt of criticism and hurtful remarks.

But Brian loved baseball and twice a week he and dad would arrive at the field just a bit early for extra practice. Minutes before the game the two would huddle together; dad encouraging Brian to get his head in the game, going over his hitting stance, and reviewing the nuances of playing first base.

For Brian and every player the game started with the same emotional tension: the umpire barking out the familiar “Play ball!” Then came the strike outs… a misplay at first base… one could see the determination drain from the young ball player. With the final out came the familiar scene--a sulking and demoralized boy overcome with a sense of his failure.

The coach knew the post-game routine by heart; the family ritual was always the same. Brian’s dad was transformed into Brian’s loving father. With hastened steps fatherhood stepped out of the bleachers and strode confidently to greet his son. With an arm around his neck and with lively words of affirmation and enthusiasm, fatherhood spoke about winning and losing, overcoming pain and failure, and the possibilities of next week’s game.

Our Heavenly Father is watching our lives; our successes, struggles, and failures move his heart. His steps are always toward us, wanting to meet us at our moment of need. A strong arm is prepared to support and encourage; loving words can be heard when we listen. In the midst of adversity and pain God’s love brings peace.

The Nexus

2008-05-23T13:33:00.004-04:00

A pastor’s prime enemy is the dreaded rut. I don’t mean the weekly routine or the order-of-service rut -- I mean a preaching rut. This insidious adversary usually feeds on weary minds given to tired thought patterns and all-to-familiar clever phrases. What could be worse then a bored Sunday morning congregation powerless to escape the preacher’s rut?

If we are good preachers we work hard at staying out of the preaching rut. We search for fresh ways to approach important topics and dig for unique expressions and words that can deliver life-changing truths and biblical principles.

Perhaps our quest for that creative marker moves us to hedge our sermons a bit when it comes to preaching about the cross; often the events and terminology associated with Calvary are viewed as gloomy, outdated, and unimaginative -- it’s not a feel-good topic. The emotional weight of the crucifixion usually relegates the topic to a once a year solemn Good Friday service.

The cross certainly has the ability to deliver a moving and heartbreaking message, but of greater importance is its theological significance. In all of our preaching the cross should be positioned as the nexus for every topic we preach. If our people merely view Calvary as the sad precursor to Resurrection Sunday they are living in a sad state of spiritual poverty. In reality the cross stands alone as the single most important and exciting event in the history of humanity -- all of history and Christian theology find quintessence at the cross.

We all need to visit Mount Moriah--not the geographic site of the cross, rather to the spiritual place where the destiny of all mankind was salvaged and redirected. So crucial is the cross that Paul said he would not preach anything but Jesus Christ crucified, not because he lacked creativity or intellect, but because he understood the cosmic significance of that event.

Paul wasn’t a Johnny-one-note preacher. He preached the broadest possible implication of Christian expression and life in the Spirit. But no matter the theme, no matter the battle, no matter the situation, he saw all his spiritual insights, ministry accomplishments, wisdom, and apostolic authority tethered to a crude and tortuous cross erected atop Golgotha.

The challenge is to explore, meditate, and apply the message of the cross to every dimension of our ministry, as we do, fresh insights will continue to stream from that one historic event -- the moment when all wisdom and glory found their place on a God-forsaken cross.

Authentic Christianity

2008-05-21T13:16:00.001-04:00

The scientific theory of evolution is viewed as an abomination in the majority of Christian circles. The theological objections are primarily based on the clear biblical declaration that mankind is a unique creation who carries intrinsic divine traits not found in our fellow creatures. Without question scripture views animals and man as distinctly different and that God’s desire for saving humanity in no way implies a redemptive concern for the primate.

Firmly persuaded of our theological convictions, we have organized to combat evolution in the laboratory as well as the pulpit. The school classroom has become a major battleground pitting evolutionary theory against the account of intelligent design. It is difficult to abandon the message that God is mankind’s creator and savior.

Evolutionary thinking can transcend science laboratories and the study of our origin; it can also be present in our thoughts about God and our view of what the Bible teaches. Doctrinal evolution is often heard from Sunday morning pulpits and weekday evening television as clever preachers give skewed and exaggerated presentations -- teachings and doctrines based on mutated exegesis and self-serving ambitions. Strangely, I’ve observed hesitancy by leaders to judge this kind of theological evolution, yet they scream in horror at the scientific variety. I wonder if God’s response is somewhat different.

It seems we may have moved quite a distance from the gospel Paul meticulously communicates through his thirteen epistles -- the gospel he personally received from Jesus. Many of our revered beliefs and worship expressions would be alien in the churches Paul planted -- yet they were able to change the entire world. In Paul’s day embezzlers were carried out of the church lifeless, the result of being slain in the spirit; false prophets were identified and excommunicated, while revival meetings were so named because a city was turned upside down, not because believers were falling down. In Antioch Christians were named for their manner of living -- very much like Jesus. Humility and service to others stood as the hallmark of greatness, not ill-gotten bank accounts and over-the-top celebrity life styles.

Recently a television minister suggested that the Christian symbol should be a crown rather than the cross. While his insight rightly speaks of who we are in Christ, his choice of words may reveal a focus somewhat skewed. Could the evolution of Christian doctrine have brought us to the place where everything is about us: about what we get, about who we are, and all the benefits and privileges - the glory stuff?

The message of the cross is the crux of authentic Christianity. The cross requires a lifestyle like Jesus -- loving and honest relationships. It implies servant leadership where authority and influence are for the benefit of others. While evolutionary Christian concerns itself with ruling and wealth, New Testament Christianity gains its unction at the foot of the cross where believers lay aside all the glory of the crown.

Embrace the Process

2008-04-21T13:41:00.002-04:00

Those of us living for more than a few decades have a special appreciation for modern technology. For example: the television remote control, digital cameras, and the microwave. Hardly a week goes by that I don't say, "What the heck did we do without these things?"

A much appreciated convenience is the ability to "fast forward" past unwanted information on our electronic media. Whether data, music, voice, or video, we have the ability to instantly fast forward past the parts we don't particularly care to see or hear. Just hit the fast-forward button and presto, we're by the tedious stuff.

I was prompted to seriously think about this subject the other night as Linda and I were watching a favorite TV program. At the close of the episode, a teaser was presented about the following week's program. Intrigued by the promotion, I turned and jokingly asked Linda, "Can we fast forward to next week?" As soon as I heard the words I recognized that my off-the-cuff comment had expressed more than idle conversation about not waiting to see the next episode of a show. The fact is, I often search for ways to "fast forward" past the yucky areas of my life – get to the parts of interest or intrigue.

The poet wrote, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." To the non-believer that maxim might ring true, but for the Christian what happens on the way becomes tantamount to the "destination” itself. Life's unexpected hurdles are much more than obstacles blocking destiny's doorway. The process of life is vitally important... it transforms us into people "of" God, rather than people "for" God. The process allows us to radiate the plan, not merely carry it.

For those who lead, the process becomes all the more significant. Christians hesitate to follow men or women whose lives don't reflect the destiny of which they speak. When "who" a leader is stands in contrast to "where" he is going, people will tend to step back and watch rather than follow. It is often a subtle reality, but it holds true.

Consider the "process" encountered by the heroes of scripture. Joseph reached his full potential as a leader only after he survived the incredibly difficult process in his life – the dreadful pit and a trip to Egypt. David became the divine template for Israel's monarchy after a most arduous journey – twenty years on the run from a foolish king. All the treachery and evil endured by these two young men transformed them into powerful leaders capable of changing the world.

So hey! Don't even think about hitting that "fast forward" button. Hang in there and pay attention. Life is better lived as we allow our uncomfortable "today's" to change us into people who can fully grasp hold of our exciting tomorrows.

Painting Outside The Lines

2007-06-27T16:33:00.000-04:00

In the opening chapter of Rob Bell’s provocative book, Velvet Elvis, the author relates a story about a piece of art he purchased several decades ago – a rendering of Elvis Presley on velvet. You’ve seen them displayed at those classy road-side markets I’m sure.

Bell describes his treasure in detail and identifies the artist as someone using a simple signature stroke – the letter “R” He confesses the piece no longer hangs anywhere in his home; it was long ago moved to the basement, stored behind some old boxes and shelving. The art has lost its appeal and it clashes with the home’s contemporary décor.

He poses an intriguing question in regard the Elvis masterpiece: What if, upon completion of the Velvet Elvis, “R” insisted that no one else could paint another image of Elvis? His velvet Elvis would stand as the consummate portrayal of the singer; his rendering would be the official expression of the entertaining legend.

The matter for all of us to consider has do do with our eccleseastical Velvet Elvis creations. Are we sometimes guilty of obstructing new expressions of the presence and power of Jesus Christ, as well as innovative methods of ministry and outreach? The question becomes: does “our way” adequately express the fullness of Jesus Christ, or does the task necessitate innovation and diversity?

I’m sure we all agree that Elvis was far too large a personality to be defined by a single artist’s rendering. The inexhaustible inventory of Elvis memorabilia suggests there are still unexplored aspects of his personality and career – people want to know more about “the king.” On the other hand, maybe “R” was the real deal and he captured the true Elvis mystique once and for all. No one else should ever try.

Does the world sometimes view our expression of church in the same manner we might judge Rob Bell’s musty old Velvet Elvis – stale and outdated? Do we regard our demonstration of the Lord’s church as the decisive work, our methods anointed? Is our not so subtle message, “don’t even think about painting outside the lines?”

For the church to complete the mission of reaching the world with the Kingdom message – it may well be necessary to paint outside the lines drawn by previous generations. We rightly perceive that our culture is shifting rapidly, but ignore the task of clearly conversing with it. A call is going forth… a call for creative and innovative expression to be released within the church.

The Book of Acts announces the Holy Spirit as the divine companion who enables believers to be effective witnesses – that means “communicate” not “maintain.” The former requires imagination; the latter control. Is the church missing divine opportunities to witness for the sake of maintaining ancient tradition? Will future generations view our impact as marginal -- might someone say of us, “They were out of touch -- one dimensional and irrelevant?

It is likely that every generation walks with a certain degree of ecclesiastical arrogance, convinced their expression of worship and their concept of mission embodies the plan and purpose of God. Over the centuries that perspective has tainted the church’s integrity and hindered her mission.

By every testimony, God has called us to bold and courageous acts of service. Our creative and imaginative God is asking us to unshackle and release His creative and innovative presence within the church. Ministers are called to commission believers to creatively paint with bold strokes of inspired imagination. Yes, for heaven’s sake, even paint outside those familiar lines!

Beyond All Reason

2007-03-27T14:10:00.000-04:00

They were close friends of our family. As a child I can recall many visits to their farm, a beautiful sprawling homestead with a variety of buildings and animals – a place where kids could uncover or create bushels of adventure and fun. Mischief was readily found as well, as I recall. I can easily recapture our family’s time there. During the holidays there were great meals, and of course they began with prayer around the giant table. These folk confessed Jesus as savior and were part of a local fellowship of believers. They regularly attended church for worship. They were good people with an unblemished reputation in the neighborhood. As with most young couples, the children soon came – there were seven. Friends and family saw God’s blessing with each new arrival -- a joy to the home, future heirs to the family farming business.

In a brief twenty minute drive east lived a different sort of family. They owned a beautifully restored historic- type home that was framed by finely manicured grounds. It was graced with an elegant entrance and a winding drive that swept past a horse stable and disappeared into lush landscaping. It was an estate worth a fortune and it provided the neighborhood with a glimpse of elegance and luxury few could imagine. The lady of the house spent her days caring for the property, playing tennis, or entertaining friends. The two young children were popular and regularly invited classmates to share in their good fortune. S o leisurely was the environment, that even the family parrot found its value by sounding the by-word for life on this estate. All visitors were greeted with a squawking, “tennis anyone?’ By almost any standard these folks lived the good life and certainly they were making the most of it.

Two families… two pathways… two worlds, yet both seemed to have a firm grasp on the proverbial gold ring. The future was bright for both. I would think that most of us are just a bit uneasy with that - the righteous and ungodly prospering side by side. Likely we have reconciled it all and found some scriptures that counsel us. Certainly, the blessings of God will overtake those who honor Him, and the godless will one day drink of the bitter wine they brew. It’s neat. It’s concise. It’s theology with which we can comfortably live.

With all that settled, let’s revisit the families introduced earlier. How did their lives unfold as they took the stage some forty years ago? I’m unsure where or how the trendy family is living today, but by all accounts things worked out quite well. The kids finished college, the family stayed intact, and the traditions and lifestyle modeled by their parents continue on today. The fate of the parrot -- no one seems to know.

The story of our family’s close friends – the seven children, the sprawling homestead and the budding family business, how did it go for them? I have images of their home etched deeply in my mind – I recall scenes that continue to mold my life. The excitement and energy that young children always bring to a home were strangely absent. Instead of incessant chatter and laughter, a rare genetic disorder stole the family’s most precious possession, leaving its lethal mark of infirmity and mental disability. The first son arrived, a few years after the disease took its toll. The same occurred with another child, and then came the twins…then a son, then another son – five became invalids within their first few years and of the seven, only one lived to raise a family and carry on the family’s name and Christian heritage.

Is it possible to quantify the pain endured by the parents? No doubt with Job they lamented: If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas …” I have few answers to the easy questions of life… I can’t marshal the capacity to even consider the issues with which our friends must have struggled.

But I must reconcile it all; here is my conclusion. One day at heaven’s gate the enormous crowd will step aside and watch breathlessly as these parents eagerly search for the six children death stole from them. I have no doubt they will find them somewhere near the throne of Jesus, and what an indescribable day of celebration that will be!

Christ In The Shadows

2006-12-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

Christianity has come a long way since the Apostle Paul’s ministry team kicked up dust along the road leading them to their next meeting. We are farther still from the time more than a million people fearfully camped around a smoking thunderous mountain known as Sinai – a place God chose to tangibly manifest His presence. It was at Sinai that He gathered the chosen so He could begin to show them how to live in harmony with Him and one another.

The smoke, thunder, and fire of Sinai carried a visual and audible message. The commandments on tablets of stone, the newly introduced laws for religious and communal living, communicated a message about their God and what He intended to do. In 1450 B.C. the mountain manifestation of Yahweh resulted in frayed nerves and stinging, smoke-filled eyes; the event instituted a way of living that was by any measure complicated and largely unachievable. Can we even imagine the impact of that astounding mountain experience?

Today Christians gather to worship their God in lavish facilities where the air is filtered, heated or cooled, and the sound is reproduced for clarity and comfort. Our expressions of worship use sophisticated musical instruments and arrangements, choreographed dances, and in-depth biblical exegesis. For the most part we manage our experiences with God – the time, location, style -- we even get to choose the methods. It is a far cry from the out-of-control mountain turmoil where our belief system began to take shape.

Though vastly different worship experiences, the 1450 B.C. and 2007 A.D. occurrences both reveal important truths about God and His desire to live among us. We know that God hasn’t changed over the centuries, so the record of Sinai and all that went on during that period is significant in our quest to know him. We could go so far as to say that without a clear understanding of the foundational and elemental truths that cascaded down the cliffs of Sinai, our understanding of God is incomplete. Surely the Pentateuch survived centuries of upheaval and disaster for reasons beyond the preservation of a historical record. There must be a significant revelation of God residing just beneath the legalism and ceremony that He preserved for us in scripture.

If we carefully browse amidst the smoke, thunder, and bloody sacrifices, if we examine the many facets of Levitic worship and Israelite communal living, a clear image will come into focus. There in the midst of the smoke and fire we’ll see the figure of a man. In the shadows of the Old Covenant story we can see the image that links all of history and scripture; there in the shadows we will discover Jesus Christ. He is there waiting for the signal -- preparing for that long appointed journey to the hill we call Golgotha.

A Compelling Reason

2006-11-20T16:33:00.000-05:00

One of the important issues for the preacher is to adequately understand those in her audience. Jesus was a master at this… He consistently told stories that intimately connected His spiritual message with the daily experiences of those listening to Him. He used weddings, war preparation, coin collecting, rebelling children, criminal activity, lost sheep, farming, and even dead fruit trees to convey life-changing spiritual truths to his audience. Virtually every sermon had a memorable story embedded somewhere in the message.

While some may insist the Gospel transcends culture, and preachers simply need to preach the word, Jesus’ consistent use of practical and poignant illustrations suggests that good preaching requires more than simply laying out the facts. While the spiritual needs of mankind are rooted in the same soil of sin and rebellion, gaining access to individual hearts and minds requires careful and deliberate words and actions. The good minister creates a bond that will sustain and guide the flow of truth -- perhaps that’s part of our discomfort with prison ministry. We may recall how close our anger brought us to illegal activity? Before Christ, we likely used illegal substances, drank ourselves crazy, or drove under the influence.

While we may not specifically think about relating to our audience, those of us who teach and preach inherently understand the issue. It is that knowledge that can push us away from preaching to people we believe can’t understand or relate to us. In large part, short-term missionaries can effectively skirt the issue of connecting with their audience, as they cling closely to the interpreter -- someone who can take their message and make it understandable. With an interpreter, short-term missionaries can stand tall in the pulpit, confident that their message will be given relevant explanation and expression.

The issue of connecting and relating to our audience is exactly what keeps so many from prison ministry. Oh, that the cultural chasm between us and the inmate was only language… if all we needed was a good interpreter. We would probably go to prison in mass. But ministry to inmates involves bridging issues more complex than languages barriers. It has much more to do with unfounded stereotypes and unrealistic fears. The prison population is much more like us than we care to admit. Many of those in prison were convicted of activities we have done, or thought about doing. Talking to prisoners can be traumatic, as we are confronted with who we once were, or possibly some darkness with which we still struggle.

Paul opened up this unsettling can worms as he instructs the Corinthian church regarding immoral living. In chapter six of his first letter, he lists all the sins that get people in trouble, stating that such people will not be part of the Kingdom of God. The following verse stirs the emotions a bit as he suggests that people in the church were “just like that.” The difference came because they were made right through their faith in Jesus.

In the light of Paul’s assessment, it would appear that if God somehow removed his grace from our lives, the Sunday morning congregation would look surprising similar to the county prison population across town. Conversely, if the grace of God would somehow visit our prison population, it would look remarkably similar to our Sunday morning gatherings. Maybe I’m not thinking straight here, but could we conclude that the gospel is the only difference between the two groups? If so, we have a very compelling reason to take it to prison!

Risking Rejection

2006-11-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

What is it that motivates you to roll out of bed in the morning? What incentive pushes you to tolerate and even embrace the routine and boring activities of most days? What is your grand purpose and what activities satisfy your quest as God’s creation?

Paul made an interesting comment regarding those issues of motivation during a sermon delivered at Antioch, Pisidia. The brief remark is a minor part of his main point, but it accentuates a divine perspective about our everyday lives and the decades we spend here on earth. Paul said, “…after David had served his generation, according to the will of God, he died…” (Act 13:36) This short and obscure summary of Israel’s most celebrated king speaks clearly. I hear Paul suggesting several things: 1) David’s purpose was ordained by God, 2) It was all about serving others, 3) The mission determined everything. As we read through the Old Testament it is easy to detect the failures of the Kings following David… it seems their collapse came after loosing sight of those three life-guiding principles. The church has often failed for the very same reasons.

As I studied the messages to the seven churches, I was frustrated by my inability to precisely discern the issues that were weighing them down. Certainly, each of the churches understood exactly what Jesus was saying to them at the time, but from our vantage point today the details are cloudy. As I wrestled with the scriptures, I was prompted to view the Revelation passage through the light of Paul’s comments about David’s life. Is it possible that the unhealthy spiritual climate in those churches was somehow connected to a lack understanding of those life-guiding principles? Could their struggles with love, persecution, false teaching, rebellion, perseverance, and lethargy all have roots in a fundamental misunderstanding of their identity, motivation, and mission? Consider this irrefutable truth: when a church looses its grip on those foundational issues of Christian living, strife and decline soon follows.

Pastor Rick Warren has changed the face of church ministry in North America by high-lighting the “power of purpose” in ministry. Could I suggest that “lack of purpose” was the major problem in the Laodicea church? Did Jesus characterize them as lukewarm because of their lack of passion, or lack of purpose? Let’s reflect on His figurative language of hot, cold, and lukewarm water -- a subject uniquely familiar to their city.

They were situated close to the famed therapeutic Hot Springs of Hieropolis. As steaming water flowed from the Hot Springs toward Laodicea it cooled and arrived there lukewarm -- too cool for medicinal purposes and too warm for refreshment. As the water continued to run toward Colosse it cooled and became a refreshing resource for that city. Given that background, it is evident that Jesus was addressing the Laodicean’s works – their failure to impact their community; their brand of Christianity didn’t benefit anyone – it wasn’t therapeutic or refreshing. Christ’s admonition was an effort to motivate them: be hot or cold, not lukewarm like the useless water that flows through your city!

This figure of speech brilliantly illustrates the value God places on ministry outreach. He has given every fellowship a specific purpose and mission, and from this passage we learn that He is prepared to measure and pass judgement on its execution. Can we dare risk His rejection as did the Laodiceans?

Let’s renew our efforts to lead life-giving churches, investing His power and wisdom in the mission assigned to us. The church is empowered to change the spiritual and social fabric of the community and world. The issue that often bogs us down has to do with our course of action. One guiding principle seems to be evident in all of this… whatever we serve should be piping hot or icy cold; lukewarm just won’t pass the muster.

Vision's Twin Sister

2006-11-17T10:03:00.000-05:00

Over the last decade or so the topic of Christian leadership has held its place near the top of the “most requested” list of conference themes. For many it stands as an energizing concept, a strategic component of their ministry.

On the other side, it can be unsettling to the folks who are comfortable with the way things are. While scripture does not present any specific tutorial for leaders, it is hard to escape the significant role they have played throughout history. God always appointed men and women to talk and walk in His stead when He stepped across heaven’s threshold to guide His people. Each of the sixty-six books of scripture illustrates the divine process of leadership appointment.

In reading through the life of Joshua, I came across a sermon he preached to Israel near the end of his years. He reviewed their covenant with God and reminded them of their responsibilities. We often quote the challenge he set before the nation: "Choose this day whom you will serve." Joshua's intent was to confront God's people with the issues that could separate them from the land He had promised to their families.

After reviewing the covenant and hearing Israel passionately decide for God, chapter twenty-four records Joshua's final, and likely most rewarding action as Israel's leader. The passage reads: "Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance." It is a statement bursting with implications. Every Israelite had fought and endured the ravages of war; they had wrestled with the pain of both personal and community failures, and it was all in pursuit of the vision God had given to Moses. Suddenly, in this defining moment of their 40 year journey, they were told they could reach out and grasp hold of it. I’m sure for most the idea was a bit scary. No longer was this about a community or national achievement -- it became intensely personal, and there were untold risks involved. Joshua gave each person an opportunity to stake claim to their family’s unique destiny.

Destiny is vision's twin sister; they are inseparable - share the same DNA. For decades, Moses cast the vision of the Promised Land before God’s people, but with Joshua's leadership the vision moved more clearly into focus. It became an individual matter. Now there were family names and geographical boundaries attached – a personal destination with tangible benefits. It was no longer simply a promise, but location with street addresses and zip codes. It was a distinct place to live and prosper. It was their destiny.

There are some believers who remain unstirred by vision's beauty. On occasion they may bask in her glow or bow in wonder, but their quiet and conventional lives remain untouched by her charm. Somehow they remain blinded, unable to recognize the splendor of God’s plan for their lives. It is for such a time and person the leader was born.

The Christian leader’s vision is intensely personal, yet it is never given for the leader. The vision is imparted by God for the benefit of those who will dare to fight and follow. It is an inheritance not only found on heaven’s distant side, but a destiny waiting here amidst the pain and sweat as we fight to conquer Canaan.

Having Your Cake and Eating it Too

2006-05-30T20:27:00.000-04:00

The “man on the street” poll can present a confusing look at what people really believe. Opinions concerning everything from political issues to the dynamics of church leadership fluctuate wildly, depending upon how a specific issue touches a person’s life. Most think taxes should be cut, however the majority also oppose reducing government entitlements and programs. In regard to church activities, many think the expenses of additional church staff is unnecessary, however they also clamor for more bible studies, better music, and elaborate and exciting youth and children’s departments. As a rule, issues never seem important unless they somehow personally touch us. This duplicity can be attributed to the horrible “having your cake and eat it too” syndrome (HCET)

It has occurred to me, as a non-professional, that the American Psychiatric Association should identify and name this dreaded disease so it can be treated. Perhaps giving it a clinical name, such as HCET, could be a first step for government funding -- setting up treatment centers in all major U.S. cities. Imagine the difficulties in treating this insidious disease: HCET patients requiring medication refuse to ingest it because of the yucky taste; they seek counseling, but won't talk about it; make appointments for treatment, but ignore doctor’s orders. This horrific situation cries for medical and government intervention!

The work of ministry often falls victim to the dreaded HCET rationale. There is only one cure that seems credible to me – accurate information about the church and its mission. Christ’s charge to disciple people requires a very personal analysis and involvement. Churches in every part of the world share the responsibility. Christians do not have the option of celebrating the call one day, then refusing to get involved the next. The divine mission of the church is our raison d'être – it is making disciples.

The great cause of discipleship is often maligned by Johnny-one-notes -- vocal and narrow thinking believers that see “foreign missions” to be the only discipelship focus. A balanced perspective sees Global outreach as part of our service to God, but there are also compelling reasons to focus on local ministry. The church needs to impact its own community before it dare think it can be effective elsewhere. The local church should be about the business of raising up leaders, teaching and training them to be good citizens of this kingdom, as well as heaven’s. If the process isn’t there, neither will evidence of authentic outreach exist at home or overseas.

The entirety of Jesus ministry was focused on preparing his congregation (disciples) for turning the world upside down. The key to His success can be found in His process of preparation - pouring his life into those few that would carry on the work after his departure. Paul understood the process clearly. He instructs Timothy in his second letter to the young minister: “Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.”

As you read this article, you may have recognized your own unique case of HCET syndrome – areas of your leadership may be listless and unproductive. HCET may have even ravaged your entire family and church. There is help and healing. If we boldly embrace the purpose and mission for our lives as leaders, God will miraculously treat our debilitating malady. As we courageously embark on the journey, faith will administer its own healing and energizing power. HCET syndrome - be gone!

Possess the Land

2006-05-18T19:05:00.000-04:00

The descendents of Joseph came to Joshua with a complaint. It went something like this: "we need more room for our families, do something about our problem."

Joshua took their issue under consideration and came back with a solution. He recommended that since they were such a vast and prosperous people, they should go ahead and drive out the inhabitants and expand their boundaries. Ignoring the challenge, they came back again with the same complaint: "We are not powerful enough to do that... give us more land."

So in an act of conciliation and wise leadership, Joshua gave them an incentive to become warriors - he designated more territory as officially theirs. The catch was that they still needed to clear the heavily wooded areas and drive out the inhabitants that lived there.

It was the Valley of Jezreel that they really wanted - it was their destiny. It was a fertile land at the base of the mountains in which they were living. But Joshua refused to rally the army of Israel to clear that area of the enemy for them. The prospering clans of Ephraim and Manasseh would need to rise to the occasion and get it done on their own.

The unfortunate story is that they never had the courage to fully embrace their destiny - they were content to live in the mountains. It wasn't until David's monarchy that Israel finally realized the bounty of the fertile area God had given to Israel.

The lesson seems to speak to us as Christian leaders. We can not be content to merely hack out an existence in the mountains - spend our energy clearing trees and brush. The fertile valley awaits our cultivation, but we are required to embrace our destiny with courage and resolve. We must become warriors!

Our families, our communities, indeed the world is watching and waiting to see us bring the bounty of God's kingdom to our world. It is not the bounty of a physical inheritance as with Israel, but the delightful and fulfilling fruit the Spirit grows within the soil of the human heart, a land in desperate need of cultivation. (Joshua 17:14-17)

Worship with Excellence

2006-05-04T15:39:00.000-04:00

Responding to God is our worship, whether it be in song, speech, or action. It may be the result of a fresh revelation, unexpected blessing, or simply acknowledging His lordship in our lives; worship is nothing more or less than our personal response to God.

For Christian leaders, worship takes on a unique dynamic. Standing in the pulpit, overseeing a staff of ministers, writing, ministering to others.... it is all a response to some level of revelation about God's plan and calling for those they are leading. For the minister, worship comes through communicating the epiphany he has received - an incredible privilege and responsibility.

For more than anyone else, a leader is called to express worship with humility and excellence. It must be with humility because of the revelation's divine origin, and with excellence because the message or action must exactly replicate what was received. Every event in the leader's day can be a powerful opportuinty for worship. Even church business meetings can become quite sacred - a time to explore and communicate "the plan and strategy" for establishing God's Kingdom on earth.

In reading 1 Chronicles, I was inspired by the ministry descriptions given to the priests and other members of the Levi family. The various family groups were called and commissioned to present a facet of the sacrificial worship experience to Israel, and they wholly committed themselves to the highest possible level of perfection. It was not a "who would like to do this or that for God." The delegated task, whether priestly, managerial, musical, or military was viewed as an act of worship and approached with nothing less than extensive training, coupled with a passion for excellence.

The musical expression of worship wasn't lead by mediocre musicians... the singing wasn't directed by "someone" who enjoyed music. The musicians were all highly trained professionals (1Chronicles 25:7). The gatekeepers weren't folks who just happened to be hanging out near the tabernacle entrance area - gatekeepers were highly trained with expertise and passion for doing whatever gatekeepers did at the house of the Lord (1Chronicles 26:12-19).

Given Christianity's roots in Judaism, I doubt that Paul settled for anything less than excellence from those he placed in leadership in his churches. He recognized that giftedness and effectiveness go hand in hand, and Paul was adamant about the need for people to understand and walk in their gifts.

It is a challenge for everyone in leadership. Are we still passionate about communicating the epiphany that once captured and inspired us? Is our staff passionate about excellence in ministry? Do our sermons, teachings, business meetings, and leadership opportunities exhibit anything less than our greatest and grandest efforts in worship?

Destiny's Children

2006-04-18T12:04:00.000-04:00

The topic of vision has been hot within Christian think tanks for some time. It stands as a foundational concept for those desiring to build more effective leaders -probably an irritant to those happy with the status quo. I love discussions about the power of vision, and I'm on board with those who proclaim its value for leaders.

I was reading in the book of Joshua and came across his sermon to Israel near the close of his life. He reviewed their covenant with God and reminded them of their responsibilities. We often quote the challenge he set before them: "Choose this day whom you will serve." Joshua's intent was to confront God's people with the issues that carried the power to separate them from the land God had promised to their families.

After reviewing the covenant and hearing Israel passionately respond for God, chapter twenty-four records Joshua's final, and likely very rewarding action as Israel's leader. The passage reads: "Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance." Every Israelite had fought and endured the ravages of war and the pain of personal failures - all in pursuit of the vision. At this moment in Israel's journey they were individually commissioned to live the vision. It was a fresh understanding - they had become people of destiny.

Destiny is vision's twin sister; they are inseperable - share the same DNA. For decades Moses cast the vision of the Promised Land before them, but with Joshua's leadership the vision became very personal. Now there were family names and geographical boundaries associated with the vision. Each Israelite suddenly saw the vision as a personal destination with very individual benefits. No longer was it only a land of promise, there were names and street addresses attached - it was a place to live and prosper.

For some, vision's beauty hasn't been enough to stir them into action - not changed their lives. On occasion, they may bask in its glow or give verbal assent, but their quiet and quaint life has never been energized. The warrior is still hiding somewhere within them. Perhaps it is because the brilliant face of destiny has yet to be seen.

The most passionate battles are fought by those who have a personal stake in the outcome. It seems to me that if leaders could more carefully communicate the personal destiny awaiting every believer, if they would proclaim a quality of life far beyond present existence, it would cause God's army to grow more rapidly and live more passionately.

People should understand the vision we carry as leaders is not for us and our family. The journey is not about benefiting the leader, it has to do with a destination with every person's zip code and address attached. An inheritance not only on heavens side, but a destiny for each one of us living here in Canaan.

Buy A Sword

2006-04-10T09:40:00.000-04:00

The conventional thinking about Christian leaders depicts them being quiet, passive, and certainly non-violent. The "turn the other cheek" and "give him your shirt also" passages stand as the benchmark for any minister of the gospel. But I wonder if we have forced the passive mentality of ministers a bit further than Jesus intended.

While we certainly should live in peace with all men to the best of our ability (Romans 12:18), Jesus recognized the need for a pragmatic relationship between ministry and efforts for peace. What prompted me to consider all this came as I was reading through the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Luke records a conversation (Luke 22:26,37) wherein Jesus alerts the disciples that a totally new environment for ministry was about to commence.

In their previous ministry trips (the sending of the twelve and seventy) Jesus instructed them to take neither money or baggage. But the future would look quite different, and they would need to change their ways. Jesus clearly instructs the disciples to raise finances and organize their ministry trips. The most alarming part of this passage requires ministers to purchase swords (dagger might be a better translation) for protection. It appears that with Jesus' crucifixion and ascension the whole climate for ministry was about to change. A new mindset would be needed.

There isn't universal agreement on what Jesus was communicating here. We have only two options: the swords Jesus mentions are figurative, or Jesus literally saw swords as necessary for the disciples' future ministry trips. Regardless how we decide to interpret the passage, one thing is clear - times were about to change and the disciples were going to have to shift their ministry mentality. While walking with Jesus, He insured the disciples' personal safety, but in the future they would not have the same level of protection. If Jesus was killed, it would also be open season on those who preached in His name.

So, as the church goes forth into all the world, we need to recognize that logistical or political climates are constantly changing. What brought revival in the USA in the fifties may very well be inadequate today. What transformed an entire nation in Asia in the seventies may be impotent in awakening contemporary Europe. Some scenarios may require a minister to pack a weapon for protection, in other settings doing so could be catastrophic. These two verses raise the inevitable scenario all leaders face - a different world. We must be alert and aware of the times and seasons in our communities and nation. We should always be asking questions about how God is tuning the ear of a nation or people.

Let's be servants who rightly discern the seasons; be among those who wisely plan and walk out the call. Of one thing we can be sure... no matter the situation encountered, He will be with us always, even to the far reaches of the earth.

Entitlement vs. Accomplishment

2006-04-02T18:27:00.000-04:00

Training a new employee involves a lot of hands on attention. All businesses have procedures and policies that guide what happens within their organization, and it's important that new employees catch hold of them early on. Workers will sometimes disregard existing procedures and attempt to impose their own. If left unchecked, confusion and chaos will cascade through the organization like flood waters.
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One day Jesus took some time to highlight one of His kingdom's core values - humility. He was watching as banquet goers jockeyed for the more important positions at the table. They wanted everyone to recognized their greatness. The need for recognition motivated them to behave in ways detrimental to the kingdom He was building. What Jesus told the attendees was something like this, "Don't promote yourself. If you do, you'll only embarrass yourself." There is a better way.

He said, do this instead: "Don't seek a place at the head table, sit near the back of the room. Then, if those in charge recognize you as important, they will invite you to sit in the front. In that way, those in attendance will have the opportunity to properly honor you, and you won't risk embarrassing yourself."

The world is full of those convinced of their own importance. Go to any banquet and you'll find a head table filled with important people. The error is not with having a head table for important people, the problem could be with how those folks obtained or hold their seat. Is it a place earned or a position of entitlement? In the kingdom of God there are no places of entitlement... everyone is equal as persons. There are no categories defined by race, gender, finances, or social status. The greatest serves others and the servant becomes great.

Notice how greatness is gained -- by activity. If it is true that entitlement positions don't exist in the Kingdom of God, our level of greatness can be enhanced in only one way - as we serve others. Jesus was making it as simple as possible. But out of that simplicity comes the main point. Greatness comes through pursuing the mission, not status. Yes, our mission has everything to do with people, but it goes much further. Jesus' washing of the disciples feet had nothing to do with personal hygiene and everything to do with enabling them to become men who would change the world.

A lack of understanding about entitlement and service has filled Boardrooms with men and women lounging upon seats of entitlement - they may have once served others, but no longer. They may have once contributed to the mission, but they have lost their passion. Christian businesses or ministries that embrace entitlement over accomplishment have ignored the very fabric of what makes the Kingdom of God unique. It is sad to see how the entitlement mentality has hamstrung otherwise fine denominations and ministries.

If the church is going to turn the world upside down, we need to first allow the kingdom message to turn our own world around. On this one point concerning humility and service, Jesus' larger message must penetrate our understanding of what it means to become a servant, and how believers can righteously aspire to greatness in the Kingdom of God. We are in dire need of a few more great men! Luke 14:7-9

Lightning In our Hands

2006-03-26T18:14:00.001-05:00

There's nothing more awesome than watching lightning streak across the summer sky, then waiting for the ensuing crash of thunder to announce what we try to forget -- the overwhelming power and destruction of nature's forces.

Lighting strikes have been observed by man since Noah led his procession from the ark on majestic Mount Ararat. To the ancients who knew little about science, lightning spoke specifically of the unseen spiritual world around them. It was a constant reminder that mankind was part of something much larger than themselves - there was a world of unseen forces that were active, and apparently warring, in the heavens.

Certainly, when Jesus walked the earth lightning cast a strong mystical shadow on those living in Palestine. When lightning lit up the Jerusalem skies it probably reminded Jews of the judgment that God was capable of pronouncing. During violent storms parents would likely calm their children with stories of how lightning reminded everyone of God's presence and power in the heavens, and how lightning accompanied Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai. In the minds of first century believers, lightning carried a definite connection with the spiritual realm.

This background is important as we read Luke chapter 10 - the account of Jesus sending the 72 disciples to prepare villages for His ministry. When they returned and gave their ministry report, Jesus became emotional as he heard of their exploits. He illustrated (as He did most teachings) their earthly ministry activities as something akin to lightning flashing in the heavens, then in the same exchange, as Satan somehow falling amidst that lightning

In the ministry of the seventy-two, Jesus could see an escalation of the battle in the heavens -- a new onslaught against the evil spiritual world. As lightning cuts through a quiet sky, neutralizing oppositely charged cloud formations, the ministry of the disciples was likewise piercing through the devil's dark strongholds on earth. Satan's deception of the nations was being attacked with new power and strategies.

The excitement (joy) Jesus expressed came as He witnessed how His divine plan of redemption gathered human warriors for the battle - men and women commissioned to assault evil in His name. Our mission as believers is to carry the commission given the twelve, the seventy-two, and the one hundred and twenty. As we go to war in His name armed with varied methods, strategies, and doctrinal perspectives, we will be as lightning in the dark sky... discharging and destroying a long standing evil charge in our world. As we go in His name, it is as though we carry the very awesome power of lightning in our hands.
(Luke 10:17-20)

Magnetism

2006-03-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

I was sitting at the breakfast table with Linda (my wife) chatting about a variety of topics. Somehow we landed on the subject of effective communication from behind the pulpit. We talked at length, covering everything from preaching style to the variety of giftings. At one point one of us brought up natural charisma and the incredible power those so gifted can wield. I observed that most believers are confused about charisma, and have trouble differentiating between the natural and spiritual kind. We concluded that it must be a difficult journey for those having natural charisma - possessing the ability to move people toward virtually any goal - godly or ungodly.

That caused me to think about magnetism... It is a force field created by the presence of an A.C. voltage. If electrical conductors (wires) are configured in a certain pattern and electrical current travels through them, it will create a force field which will attract or repel most metals. That is the basic science behind electric motors - it is all about magnetism.

Christian leaders must become magnets. Leadership will not occur unless a magnetic individual creates a force field that attracts people, moving them toward the leader and a mutually accepted destination. Paul taught this in 1 Corinthians chapter eleven. He wrote,"follow me as I follow Christ." He desired people to move toward him and his vision of reaching the world.

Leadership is stepping into a room and creating a magnetic field that not only draws people to God, but to the vision given to that leader. If the person identified as leader draws people's eyes only toward God, that community of people will soon splinter and disintegrate (Proverbs 29:16). There must be the presence of a magnetic vision that keeps people focused - not on a man, but on God's mission. If leaders want their people to stay and fight alongside one another, it must be based upon a clear cause, not their care for the leader. The leader will make mistakes and mess up regularly - it will be the vision that keeps everyone battling, despite the barrage of weapons leveled against them.

Electrical magnetism requires three things: electrical conductors, an electromotive force (voltage), and a completed circuit. All three of these will vary depending on the circuit design and application. As leaders, we need to endeavor to be good conductors, use the maximum available electromotive force, and refrain from resisting the methods and strategies required for moving a community of believers.

Methods Matter

2006-03-15T14:28:00.000-05:00

For a multitude of rational and well-intentioned reasons, church leaders have often chosen to approach missions with little regard for the biblical pattern provided within scripture. If New Testament principles were adopted and applied today, bringing closure to the Great Commission would truly be within the reach of this generation; the power and results would more closely parallel the pages of Acts.

Questions begging for attention ask: Do conventional “missionary” endeavors and projects supported by evangelical churches around the world compare with the methods and principles set forth in scripture? How does the fruit of contemporary missionary work (considering financial and human investment) compare with that in the first three centuries? The answers to such questions may be discussed and debated in academic circles, but seldom do church missions boards and leaders busy themselves with resolving the conflicts raised by their methodology. Consequently, money, energy, and people are too often invested in ill-advised and unproductive missions ventures.

Church leaders pat themselves on the back as they tally up the thousands of dollars given to the many misguided projects. It would be humorous (if unsaved people were not in the balance) to listen as church leaders measure their missions efforts in terms of dollars spent rather than kingdom results. Would it not be imprudent for a business to measure success in “dollars invested” rather than return on the dollar? Could we say it is often true for cross-cultural ministry as well?

Over the centuries God has unquestionably honored the vision and commitment of those called to foreign lands and people. Great exploits have been accomplished by men and women who sacrificed families and fortunes for the sake of winning pagan people isolated from the gospel message. The excellent work by Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, provides a biographical history of those God used to reshape the world. With awe and gratefulness we stand upon their shoulders to see and understand God’s revelation for this generation, the generation of missionaries that may actually usher in the second coming of Jesus.

Over the last half-century, a multitude of men and women have been called by God to rethink the entire scope of mission theology and strategy. The voices of men such as Donald McGavern, Melvin Hodges, Ralph Winter, Don Richardson, and Peter Wagner have clearly impacted the process and methods of missionaries worldwide.

Let’s continue to identify and embrace new wineskins along with our new wine. The old days are gone and the future is here – days that demand powerful, strategic, and relevant messengers of the Kingdom.

Purveyors of Light

2006-02-27T22:59:00.000-05:00

"All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" Jesus could not have rankled religous leaders any worse than with His perceived laissez-faire approach to people who sinned. Try to place yourself among the onlookers as the Rabbi took time from His busy schedule to defend a woman caught in adultery - then releasing her without a word of condemnation.

On another occasion a woman interrupted Jesus' teaching, poured perfume on His feet and then wiped them with her hair - an act bursting with all kinds of inappropriate connotations. From a purely religious perspective, how could any God-fearing person not question such behavior? The scriptures are replete with examples of Jesus accepting sinners: tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritans, and the like. The dregs of society were comfortable with Jesus, and most confounding, Jesus was comfortable with them - he did not attempt to curse their darkness

On occasion, I'll try to navigate through my dark garage after I close the overhead door. I know where the cars are and I know where each item in the garage is located, yet I invariably bang into something or trip as I make my way across the room. I could become angry and curse or destroy the items that cause me injury, still the darkness would leave me vulnerable to nasty bumps and pain.

One thing about darkness, whether spiritual or natural, it's not a condition that can be corrected by darkness removal. The only antidote for darkness is light.

Jesus' ministry reveals that the remedy for mankind's darkness is not found in cursing, managing, or extracting it. The remedy for darkness is spiritual light. Jesus, as the light creator, knew its incredible effects upon both the natural and spiritual realms of existence. People stumbling, tripping, and injuring themselves are best served by light.

Consequently, Jesus spent time with the woman at the well, stooped to help the adulteress, and ate with the crooked tax-collectors. His focus was not in removing obstacles that tripped them, but in shining light into their lives so they could clearly see the path for their journey.

Our message to the world should echo the words of Jesus as he released the woman from her stoning: "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." (John 8:1-12)

It's All About Me!

2006-02-21T07:58:00.000-05:00

"Hey John, you know that preacher we met at lunch yesterday, he's starting to minister just like you. In fact, he's got his whole ministry team baptizing people. His meetings are starting to draw some pretty big crowds, perhaps we should rethink how we do ministry. This whole traveling on foot thing we're doing -- it's yesterday, man -- we need to move faster and speak to more people. How about we start raising money to travel by horseback - imagine how many more towns we could visit, how many more people could hear you speak."

At one time or another all Christian leaders wrestle with the issue brought by John the Baptist's staff -- self-preservation. Someone will emerge from obscurity and begin to move the spotlight. He may not preach better, but he is a new voice and it is distracting folk - the attention is no longer on us. When this happened to John, he made an unlikely decision about his ministry future.

John's life provides a portrait of a man with incredible spiritual depth and strength. He understood the role God had given him, and he understood God's plan was bigger than a single individual. In other words, it wasn't all about him. He may have been an unsophisticated and simple man, but he was a spiritual giant on the inside. He proved to be a powerful and captivating preacher; he single-handedly changed the spiritual landscape of his country, but he knew it was not all about him. He was comfortable in his skin and secure in who he was. He didn't have to push others down in order to look taller.

As we read about John's ministry transition, it's easy to take the ministry competition incident for granted. We assume it was natural for him, but my observation of human nature tells me otherwise. The Bible is filled with Godly men who didn't properly discern the seasons of God. Too often we hear of ministers whose image becomes tarnished in their later years. As men and women grow older, they sometimes wage an ego-driven war to maintain their power and prestige.

I recently read about the last years of famed Azusa Street pastor, William Seymour. In 1909 the revival at his Azusa Street church had waned, with only a hundred or so people attending the weekly meetings. While traveling to minister, Seymour invited Evangelist Charles Durham to fill the pulpit during his time away. As Durham ministered, many were healed and baptised in the Holy Spirit. Thousands of people began pouring back into the church each week. When Seymour heard about the meetings he rushed back to Los Angeles and promptly pad-locked the door so Durham couldn't preach. Durham moved his meetings to another site, and Seymour was left with a scant 20 people.

The remaining years of Seymour's life were reduced to welcoming tourists to his Apostolic Faith Mission, the site of the Azusa Street revival. His ministry entailed little more than telling visitors about how things used to be.

John the Baptist's words to his staff speak volumes to leaders today: "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." It seems we all have a choice to make in the area of self-preservation. We can fight to maintain our small niche of power and prestige, or we can discern the seasons of God, diligently lifting others to their place for tomorrow. In so doing, God can continue to bless us while accomplishing His plans for the coming season. (John 3:30)

Fig Tree Experiences

2006-02-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

It seems almost incidental.... Jesus meets a young man and they have a brief discussion about a private moment in his life. When Philip introduced Nathanael, Jesus said, " I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."

The temptation is to hurriedly read past the exchange and discover the more compelling outcome with Jesus. But the brief conversation calls out to us. Though it is hidden, we sense a profound moment. The reader is drawn back to search for clues as to what may have happened to Nathanael under that fig tree. But we are not allowed to know - it's private. God provides no details and we are left to wonder about the disciple's personal life.

We don't know whether it was the "experience" under the tree or the "revelation" given by Jesus that impacted Nathanial so profoundly. But, we can easily detect a major shift in how Nathanial perceived this new Rabbi. What happened under the tree? Was it a prayer Nathanial had prayed? Was it a passionate request asked of God? Was it an "under the fig tree" business decision?. Perhaps it was moment of rededication, maybe a life dominating sin finally overcome.

During His lifetime, Jesus called and enabled men and women for leadership roles - he continues raising up leaders today. Whether those called attain or experience all that God has prepared may very well hinge on those "fig tree" experiences -- monumental private moments about which no one else will ever know.

In my life, the most decisive moments have been ones few people know about. The irony carries the lesson well: what occurs in privacy under the fig tree, may very well define the call and scope of our ministry in public. Fig tree experiences determine whether leaders will achieve their destiny and lead, or join the rank and file - content to follow? (John 1:45-51)

Who's Drinking the Wine

2006-02-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

In his gospel, John clearly states the purpose for the biography; he wrote it so readers would believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and in believing, gain new life. To fully appreciate John's story we should pay careful attention to the message Christ's actions communicate. Aside from proof that Jesus could do miracles, how do the "signs" recorded by John instruct us about His mission and spiritual kingdom?

The Gospel of John tells of the day when Mary, Jesus, and some of the disciples attended a marriage ceremony in Galilee. The festivities were well into the week-long event when things suddenly came to a screeching halt. To the host's surprise, all the wine had been consumed, and some of the folks were unhappy and ready to pack things up and leave.

Those of you with any level of experience in long celebrations understand the importance of wine at a party. We may cringe a bit to think that Jesus was part of such an environment, but we need to remember that Jesus lived before the modern American fundamentalist movement. Jesus seems to be a comfortable participant in his culture, knowing that his kingdom was not of meat and drink.

You know the story... Jesus saved the day for the bride and groom. Through his miraculous intervention, about 150 gallons of water were turned into wine, ensuring that the celebration would continue with all the frivolity the host intended.

But this story isn't simply about Jesus turning water into wine. While it may show concern and commitment to the people of His community, John included this miracle for its prophetic and figurative implications. The life and ministry of Jesus was about spiritual wine... about serving humanity a libation far more intoxicating than fermented grapes.

Through this miracle we see the true mission of Jesus portrayed. As He instructs the servants to fill stone pots with water, we can appreciate an underlying message. It is a metaphor that points to the coming birth of His church; Ordinary vessels filled with supernatural drink. The miracle directs our attention to our divine mission -- His people serving those downcast and sad, those poor in spirit. The new wine is much better than the old, for all who drink of it will gain a new kind of life.

The wine of His making is not for spiritual self-indulgence, nor to fuel spiritual egos; it is not for displaying in elaborate man-made wine racks. His new wine is to be ladled into our communities. It is to be refreshment and remedy for all those folks looking for that good stiff drink; it is to help and heal the needy -- enlarging the kingdom of God on earth.

Well, if that's the case, let's plan a big party. Let the celebration begin! (John 2:1-12)

Things That Go Bump In The Night

2006-01-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

It had been a frustrating week at the office... A staffing situation was unsettled and the help I had been counting on during the most hectic season of the year was out because of health problems. I was in the midst of a 60 hour week and I was beat, ready for a long night of rest.

But last Thursday morning at around 4 o'clock I awoke out of a dead sleep and the Lord began speaking to me for a couple hours. Lest you think I'm some kind of nutty mystic, this is not something normal for me. I can be a night person and study long into the morning, but once I hit the sheets I'm wasted until after my morning shower - not so on Thursday. It was the kind of awakening that comes when you hear something go bump in the night.

During this early morning meeting, He addressed some personal issues I had been concerned about, but most inspiring were the teachings given about two unrelated passages. I had not read them in the previous week, and to the best of my recollection, had not entertained any discussion or thought about them. The communication was so explicit that I was compelled to go to my desk and take notes -- almost two pages. The Lord even asked me a question about what I thought about a particular verse. Mind you now, it wasn't an audible voice, it was a mind thing, but a heart thumping experience non-the-less.

I'm hoping that this initiated a new phase in my relationship with God. Generally, he speaks during sermon preparation, while listening to a sermon, or during prayer. This was definitely a bonus session for me!

So, it's getting close to my bedtime now -- time to enter the land of crazy dreams and the friendly Sandman. I will admit the early morning session prompted me to make some changes to my sleeping habits. Now I turn down the volume of my sound machine quite a bit. You see, I want to be sure it doesn't drown out the noise of anything that might go bump in the night. (I Samuel 3:10)

Apostles -- Foundational and Strategic

2006-01-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

After a two week sabbatical, I am back at the keyboard and will resume the weekly postings on our Life Beyond the Pale blog. I return to the topic of five-fold ministries, and the divine energy God calls them to infuse into the church today.

The word apostle is a transliteration of the Greek word apostolis, which carries the thought of being sent forth. In secular Greek (from which the word was borrowed) it had a military connotation: sent forth to achieve a military objective. I think it an injustice to dumb down the the biblical definition of apostle to simply: one sent. It seems to me that in so doing we drastically diminish its spiritual role within the five-fold listing. If the only criteria for apostleship was being sent forth, everyone reading the Great Commission would meet the qualifications for apostleship.

Several interesting facts about New Testament apostleship may guide us to a fuller understanding of the apostle: 1) There were in Paul's stable of ministers, a group (including at least one woman) that he designated apostles, 2) their role was much more strategic than simply being sent forth, 3) they were given a special "grace" that enabled them to carry out a unique ministry (i.e. their function [office] prompted the title apostle).

Aside from a purely arbitrary "cessation" approach to the Spirit's activity in the church today, there is no scriptural evidence that suggests any of the five-fold ministry gifts were somehow targeted for removal from the church after the first century. Given that understanding of scripture, the question becomes, what does an apostle bring to the church and how can we honor and embrace that ministry?

It is hard to deny that New Testament apostles carried an anointing and authority for building. Paul states that he was given the "grace" to be a wise master builder. Consequently, we can logically conclude that those he identifies as apostles were likewise gifted to partner with him for bringing order and structure to the work of ministry (wise master builders).

Apostles are those appointed and anointed by God for bringing form and strategy to the church. Throughout history apostolic ministers have emerged, powerfully launching new initiatives and redefining traditional church polity. What often resulted from their ministry was a denomination bearing their name, created to carry the movement to the next generation. But institutions are not what God designed for bringing form and initiative to the church - it is gifted men and women. Consequently, denominations have largely failed to maintain any level of spiritual vitality and vision - many becoming relics of glorious days past.

As we look around our cities today, we note a growing number of large ministries that are labeled megachurches. The reason for their ability to rapidly grow can be found when we identify the ministry gift of the leader of that church. He may be called Senior Pastor, but it is his apostolic gift that provides the impetus and structure for reaching and accommodating his grand vision. He is a networker, strategist, and carries a vision for his city and the world.

So, maybe we should muster up the courage and call such folks apostles rather than pastors. Those so gifted can be easily identified by their immense vision, ability to raise up spiritual sons, and the entourage of gifted ministers who work together to guide the organization and effectively carry the ministry load. (Ephesians 4:11)

Teachers - Uncovering Gems from Scripture

2006-01-03T06:38:00.000-05:00

Some years ago I was assembling a team to teach at a gathering of national leaders in Central America. In addition to a few teachers, the team included several pastors who were interested in learning more about the missions work.

I knew the pastors were hoping to preach, but I needed to limit their pulpit ministry so the invited teachers would have ample time to develop their topics. During preparation, someone commented to me: "Pastors should be able to teach, why limit their involvement?" The question revealed a dangerous oversight in respect to the specific role of the teaching ministry gift in the church. While it is true that all pastors teach, they are not all teachers.

I know many people who enjoy playing music, but only a handful could be considered musicians -- the difference is quite easy to recognize. The one creates a melody, the other a work of art. Likewise, many can teach from the scriptures, but few are graced with the ministry gift. Teachers are anointed to communicate profound biblical insights that challenge and captivate the heart -- they confront us with truth.

Those graced with the teacher ministry gift have no need to delve into questionable theology or twist established doctrine. Like a miner digging into the mountain of scripture, time and time again the teacher will return from his work with radiant gems to share with the church. His messages correct wrong thinking and debilitating attitudes -- they keep the church on a proper course. While all ministers are called to teach and disciple those in their care, sitting at the feet of a teacher transports the student to the deep places in God.

There are many warnings in scripture about teachers who forsake the truth and teach doctrines alien to God's word. The church must be cautious in rightly perceiving the role and ministry of its teachers, not mistaking cleverness for biblical insight. The men and women who uncover, cut, and polish the life-changing gems from scripture are essential to building strong and world-changing churches.

Let's keep our ears tuned and pulpits open to the ministry of the teacher. They may lack the bling of the four complementing gifts, but if we listen closely we'll find ourselves inspired and on the right course with God.

The Pastor - Tending the Flock

2005-12-28T18:20:00.000-05:00

I have vivid memories of churches that misunderstood the role of Pastoral gifting. In those fellowships there were good reasons for effective ministry and growth, yet to everyone's surprise and in the face of all the efforts, things always drifted into uneasy and destructive currents.

In each situation, senior leaders would spent time and effort in making the fix -- bringing the ship into more quiet waters. But every well-intentioned course correction couldn't straighten the listing vessel. The crew, as hard as they tried, never seemed to perceive or understand how to properly implement the necessary corrections.

Let's apply a borrowed and reworked Mark Twain quote: "Everyone talks about pastoring, but no one does anything about it." The clever Twain noticed how people talked a lot about things of which they had little control or understanding. The whole issue of pastoring may be the most misunderstood of all the ministry gifts, primarily because our culture has secularized and redefined it. We talk endlessly about pastoring, but have limited insight into its intended meaning or anointing.

The Greek word rendered "pastor" is mentioned once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11), and the Hebrew word likewise translated is used only a handful of times in the Old Testament. So Paul's understanding of such a gifting would have its roots in Old Testament thought accompanied by divine insight. While God didn't give Paul a textbook definintion, his efforts in church planting reveal God's intentions. For Paul, pastor didn't suggest executive, visionary, or senior leader responsibilities. Perhaps it could, if the person was wired just right, but pastor isn't synonymous with leader.

Hearkening back to my opening description of several church leadership situations, in each case there were individuals in place with the title of Senior Pastor, but the name didn't make it so. Each of the struggling churches had gifted men in the senior position, the problem was that they were unable to effectively pastor the people in the pews. Whatever was necessary for building community and healthy relationships within the fellowships, they lacked -- that is the essence of Pastoral gifting. The New Testament indicates that a foundational part of ministry is to guide and nurture believers - tend the flock. We often think that feeding is the pastor's role, but it is only a part of the tending process.

Elders are identified because they have been graced with one or more of the five-fold ministry gifts. Teachers can feed, but may struggle with guiding, prophets can speak forth a powerful word, but lack any nurturing abilities; similar observations can made about the other ministry giftings. The power of the pastor lies in his ability to foster and maintain an atmosphere where healthy relationships can grow - a spiritual and emotional place where believers can mature spiritually and peacefully do life together.

The Evangelist - Insightful and Persuasive

2005-12-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

In the last several entries we endeavored to step back and catch an objective view of the church as it functions in our world today. This is the second in a series probing the five-fold ministry offices that Christ gave to mature and motivate the church for its mission. The first on our docket was the New Testament Prophet. Today we'll explore the more well-known Evangelist ministry gift.

Near the end of Paul's life, and perhaps in his very last letter to his spiritual son, he alludes to the value of the ministry gift of evangelist. The letter was no doubt written to leave a lasting impression on Timothy, and near the closing Paul gives final instructions to the young minister. He makes four specific points: 1) keep a clear mind, 2) don't be afraid, 3) do the work of an Evangelist, and 4) complete the mission given to you (2Timothy 4:5). The first two points deal with Timothy's state of mind, the last two deal with the state of his mission. We'll deal with the latter.

Aside from the passage above, The Greek word translated evangelist is used only two other times in the New Testament. It is used in Acts 21, in describing Philip the Evangelist, and in the Ephesians passage where Paul delineates the five-fold ministry gifts. In light of very sparse information defining this gift, it would stand that there must have been an obvious and common sense understanding of the gifting. I would speculate that people so gifted were always looking outside the church, concerned about those still waiting to be touched by the gospel.

Paul nudged Timothy to do the work of an evangelist because he knew him very well. Left on his own, Paul suspected that Timothy's ministry gifts could render his focus too narrow - consumed with taking care of the believers and not engaging the community outside the church. That concern is certainly applicable for today's leaders as well.

The evangelist is given a unique ability and passion to move people toward God. We see this in God's selection of Philip to sit one-on-one with the Ethiopian eunuch and lead him to the point of baptism (Acts 8:26). Contrary to popular belief, the Evangelist ministry gift doesn't describe an activity, it is an impartation that enables insightful and persuasive interaction with those still ignorant of the gospel. It is the exact opposite of brazen and confrontational preaching (note the very persuasive ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham).

In observing Philip's ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:18), the evangelist's narrow ministry perspective can be seen. Philip had turned Simon the sorcerer from his evil ways, and he became a helper to Philip, following him and assisting him in ministry. When Peter was sent to check out the revival in Samaria, he soon identified areas of Simon's Christian life that were not yet in order. Philip evidently had not detected the immaturity, or perhaps was too busy winning the world to do the mentoring that was needed.

The wise church leaders will identify and embrace the evangelist ministry gift; it should be a respected part of the inner circle of leadership. In turn, the evangelist will benefit from the influence of pastoral and teaching gifts, and the evangelist's contributions will ensure an outward looking focus - motivating and training people for the mission.

What is a Prophet?

2005-12-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

Following up on the previous "What the Heck Is It" blog, let's look at a snapshot of how the ancient church functioned as God's newly formed community. The Rabbi no longer spoke with spiritual authority, and the synagogue was no longer central to the gathering of God's people. For a variety of reasons, believers gathered in smaller venues where spiritually gifted men were appointed as elders and leaders. (Some scholars suggest the groups were approximately 100 people in number.)

In Jerusalem the church leadership positions were initially filled by the twelve, and they appointed others who were recognized as spiritually gifted for the role (they were identified as apostles and elders). In the later church plants around the world the Apostles served as overseers, appointing elders to lead at the local level.

It is valuable to remember that the five-fold ministry gifts delineated by Paul in Ephesians were not clearly identified for almost 30 years after the church was conceived. It was as Paul went about his ministry of planting and nurturing churches that God began revealing more of the intricacies of the church's divine leadership structure, and so he penned the Ephesians 4:11 passage. It is also important to recall that Paul's teaching was interpreted in the context of the above Jewish leadership concepts, not those of our twenty-first century.

For example, very early church leaders were loosely categorized--apostles, teachers, prophets, and elders--it was an inspired organizational development rooted in prevailing cultural and theological concepts. There were the founding twelve apostles, then additional men who were able to instruct new converts, then prophets (primarily preachers) emerged to inspire and challenge the believers, and the elders who oversaw church community life

In Acts 15, the role of Prophet is defined as one with the ability to minister orally ("they spoke encouragement and strengthened believers in their faith"), and in Acts 11, one of the prophets (Agabus) proclaimed supernatural insight concerning the future. This fore-telling incident is sometimes cited by teachers to support an overly narrow view of the prophetic ministry role.

In reality, the fore-telling (or directional) element is simply one aspect of the prophetic minister's larger role -- preaching the message of God. A clearer definition of a prophet emerges when considering the explicit definition given to false prophets. A false prophet teaches a message contrary to that of the apostles. (The ministry gift of prophet should not be confused with the spiritual gift of prophecy.)

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Our more contemporary definition of the prophet's ministry has caused present-day church leaders considerable angst as they attempt to release five-fold ministry gifts within the church. The widespread teaching that God has gifted prophets to function primarily as seers has moved some leaders to attempt to walk in that ministry focus, while others look to them for direction. The result is unreliable and inconsistent messages, as well as paralyzed and confused local church leaders. The mistake has brought suspicion upon the whole topic of five-fold ministry gifting.

As discussed earlier (previous blog entry), the church's ministry is very dependent upon a clear understanding of what the church should look like in our world. Tantamount to that are the more complex issues of how it should work. As we clearly see in God's awesome natural creation, form closely follows function. It is likewise true with those called into fellowship under His lordship -- the Church. (Ephesians 4:11)

What the Heck is It?

2005-12-14T13:54:00.000-05:00

It was weird looking, unlike anything I'd ever seen. The longer I examined the strange contraption, the more convinced I became that its design rendered it useless.

That was the draw of this particular segment of the popular Antique Road Show. The host would showcase some ancient device and challenge the viewers to figure out what it was. I was never able to successfully identify any of the old gadgets. The reason... I couldn't relate to the needs of the homemaker or businessman living generations ago. My connection to the item was from a remote 21st century perspective, and it was difficult for me to perceive its value back then.

Timeless truths, not cultural traditions, are the "spiritual batons" that should be passed to our neighbors and communities. The truth of God's word will become more potent as we shine it unobstructed onto the facets of our freshly cut culture. Divine perspective will gain new life as teachers and ministers take the time to carefully peel truth from its ancient culture and present it within the story of today.

Perhaps that is why I get frustrated when well-meaning believers attempt to graft aspects of ancient Jewish culture into our worship. Certainly we can glean spiritual insights as we consider how God spoke through His people, but the culture itself had no intrinsic value - it was simply the vehicle. It's all about the message, not the media. The church must focus on the task of shining God's truth on the culture in which she finds herself. In so doing, God will speak as distinctly and forcefully as He did millenniums ago.

The purpose of church liturgy, whether Episcopal, Baptist, or Pentecostal, has no sacred function, save its communicative role in expressing truth as His people understand or experience it. If Christ's church chooses to wrap herself in the culture or liturgy of decades ago, she will lose her voice and value in the world today.

I've got to believe it hurts the heart of Jesus when those He loves and died for look at His church and ask, "What the heck is it?" (2Timothy 4:17)

Getting To Oz

2005-12-09T18:05:00.000-05:00

Over the years I've had many opportunities to observe the ways of a leader. Leading people is an intricate and highly technical role - some can do it naturally, others acquire skills through experience and training. Though many men and women are successful in life, few understand or function as leaders. The entrepreneur, businessman, scientist, athlete, orator, or musician can all be effective in their work without a clue about leading others. They may inspire, but seldom do they lead. As we look back in history, it seems that God always had a man or women waiting in the wings, prepared for that critical time when leadership must step forward. We can be confident that our future will be no different.

As Dorothy found out in her quest to see the wizard, leading others on their journey to Oz can be filled with frustration and struggles. People without heart, courage, and wisdom will invariably weigh us down and make us crazy, not to mention the menacing villains flying pell-mell in and out of our lives.

In my journey spanning a handful of decades, I've been able to identify four principles that may help the Dorothy's of our church world safely navigate the yellow brick road to their land of Oz.

Four Christian Leadership Principles

Embrace the Validity of Your Call

God calls and anoints leaders in a variety of ways.

Gideon experienced God's miraculous call -- Judges 6:20 -22.
Samuel was asked to grow into God's call -- I Sam. 3:19 .
Timothy was required to walk out God's --Acts 16:1,5.

Cast Your Vision

A primary role of leadership is to identify the destination.
Where Is the leader going -- What is our destination?
Why shuld we follow him -- Do we want to go there?
What role will each have -- Will we find fulfillment as we follow?

Manage Your Vision

The secondary role of a leader:
Keeping everyone involved.
Keeping everyone informed.

Keeping everyone inspired.

Keeping everyone in community.

Be a Person of Integrity

Be honest before God -- Gideon was authentic.
In contrast, Saul had two 2 personas -- public and private (1sam. 15:1-3; 7-9)

Be Honest before others.

Keep your promises.
Keep your hands out of the till.
Don't manipulate people.
Work harder than anyone else.

Time Is On Our Side

2005-12-04T22:57:00.000-05:00

Is time a friend or foe? We often spend our day bemoaning our lack of it, never having enough to complete a particular task or project. Time is a commodity of enormous value, like money, most of us can't get enough to do what we really want. But, unlike money, we can never collect or save time for a future day.

Our God transcends time. His existence and activity are never held in subjection to time's earthly constraints, yet it was God who thought to create it. Time is a divine concept, initiated to support and propagate the creation of Genesis. So it's not surprising to note that throughout history every divine manifestation and intervention was in some way shaped by time. In fact, scriptures show us that God is very much a clock watcher, making reference to time at nearly a thousand different places.

His creation was accomplished and explained within the context of a specific timetable. Virtually every passage reveals His cognizance of time and the force it exerts upon creation. The Bible is replete with scriptures that speak of the passing of generations, often detailing the exact life spans of people who served Him. God understands time better than any of us, for His words spun the earth and set the whole time continuum in motion.

God comfortably works within the context of human time constraints. The Acts twelve account of Peter's miraculous release from prison places God squarely within the context of mankind's time crunch. What strikes me in the passage is how the angel awakened a sleeping Peter who was chained and guarded by Roman soldiers. The first word uttered by the angel dealt with the element of time; he jarred Peter from his sleep with: "Quick! Get up!"

In considering this passage, we might ask the question, Why was time an issue here? Did the angel have another mission scheduled for that night? Was the angel afraid of more soldiers arriving? Perhaps the angel was aware of those praying for Peter and wanted to promptly answer their prayer. There was a reason for his sense of urgency and the intensity of his words.

While I can't be certain, I propose the angel's concern for "quickness" was rooted in his desire to connect with Peter's human dilemma. Conventional wisdom has always been: when escaping prison, do it quickly! God's hand in freeing Peter was carried out in a manner consistent with the circumstances surrounding his plight as a prisoner.

God is continually at work in our lives... He sees time as our ally, not our adversary. It is a force conceived to motivate and guide us in our journey with Him. As we watch His universe meticulously click through its revolutions and orbits, we can see a God desirous to move through the calendars and timepieces that govern us.

Time reminds us of our mortality and His eternality. Though His existence is untouched by time and space, we can take comfort in the knowledge that His words created them. Our daily schedules should anticipate His presence and power, for certainly He is a God aware and active in the times and seasons of our lives. (Acts 12:6-17)

Things I Can't Control

2005-11-30T07:44:00.000-05:00

The little issues of life can be frustrating and even life altering. The insignificant pot holes and hurdles we encounter each day have the power to pull us into an emotional funk and bog us down.

How we deal with the small stuff is important. On the surface the poky driver, inept co-worker, or squeaky windshield wiper might seem trivial, but beware. We all know how little issues can set our attitude for the whole day. As Solomon notes in his Song of Songs, it's the little foxes that ruin the vineyards. The little things running through our lives can steal any hope of having a productive day. They sneak up and catch us unaware.

We have virtually no control over the small stuff, they're just little "life events" that randomly run past us or play awhile at our feet. Like foxes, they are visible for only an instant, but they disrupt and damage our fruit-bearing vines. They zip in for split second, then vanish.

I encountered a little fox the other day as I was making my way through the vineyard. I had stopped at Wendy's and ordered a serving of their wonderful Chicken Tenders. Driving off with my nearly two gallon container of soda and small chicken order, I carefully balanced the bag between my knees and unpacked the much awaited crunchy chicken... whoops, did anyone see that? A little fox ran by; he jumped out of my lunch bag! As I removed the food from its wrapping I discovered my "to go" order had been carelessly packed, for there in my hand was some kind of burger!

I was burning... I mean how hard is it? I didn't have time to go back, and was not really in the mood for a burger. I fumed for quite some time as I drove. However, on this occasion I managed to catch that little fox and toss him out of my vineyard. I have no idea how that rascally fellow got in my car that day, I was simply going about my daily business.

Keeping focused on the important goals for our day, and staying true to the God of our affection will scare those pesky foxes away. As Solomon wrote in his romantic poem, "Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely." (Song of Songs 2:14,15)

Where Horses Run and Eagles Fly

2005-11-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

The instincts that rule and preserve the animal kingdom have inspired the imagination of both scientists and animal lovers alike. Watching animals eek out their simple and unpredictable existence has inspired folk lore, scientists, and movie makers. We are amazed that small-minded creatures can accomplish such incredible feats; educated as we are, we're still baffled by their natural abilities. In awe we watch as: dogs herd sheep, pigeons fly home, bats navigate blind, and salmon swim upstream. They make us say wow!

Because of our love and appreciation for animals, we've gone to great lengths to domesticate them. We teach parrots to talk, horses to jump, and dogs to roll over, but it's not their natural behavior. No matter how we train our pets, when left alone or faced with survival, horses won't jump, they'll run; dogs won't roll over, they'll hunt; parrots won't talk, they'll sing.

In both the natural and spiritual realms, people are much the same. We have endowed gifts and abilities that make us tick as individuals - they motivate us and bring fulfillment. But like the world of domesticated pets, society often requires people to function in areas they aren't gifted. People are asked to jump when they would much rather run, roll over when instincts call for the hunt.

And so the church... God has provided His people with a wide array of gifts and abilities... but we have somehow concluded that the most sacred worship expression is the pulpit kind - music and oratory. Those so graced sit as (a kind of) nobility in our Christian world, viewed as the ultimate expression of God's gifting. Our focus is tuned to events on stage and large gatherings. We speak about "gathering to worship," and "attending worship services." In many cases, the church disappears between regularly scheduled meetings, embracing the notion that with our individual lives we can't worship and honor God.

Unwittingly perhaps, we have communicated that contributions made inside the church walls matter, while activities outside the walls do not. We have asked people to conform to the customary or group model. Individuality and creativity are deemed too costly, and viewed as a hindrance to the greater corporate vision.

God is desiring His church to recognize the individual giftings and abilities of believers, not only to build the local fellowship, but to make His name famous and captivate our cities for God. His vision is for a church that expresses creative and imaginative living that honors His name. He is longing for a culture where men and women like Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael flood the land with creations that take our breath and stir imaginations. He desires a generation of builders and craftsmen who glorify Him through intricate design and flawless construction. He is watching for businessmen that sign a fair deal and deliver the goods.

The church footprint should be much larger than weekly gatherings. We must be believers who honor him with our vocations as well as songs and sermons. Our neighbors are watching for a church that is not only alive behind walls, but powerful and relevant where they live and work - in the marketplace and cultural centers around the world.

Where are the artisans, renowned businessmen, architects, and craftsmen whose work draws our eye heavenward? Perhaps like our pets, we have domesticated them - trained them to work and function in our customary ways. We may be forcing them into our church molds, seeking behavior that is inconsistent with who they are -- devaluing their God given gifts and creativity.

Experience clearly teaches that the glory of man will never be reflected upon the walls of man-made systems, confining organizations, or thought-stifling oppression. Man's gifting, passion, and creativity will shine where love and freedom reign -- a place where horses run and eagles fly.

A Matter of Timing

2005-11-20T00:29:00.000-05:00

We've all heard it said, "Timing is everything." From harvesting our garden's produce to requesting a salary increase at work, timing will in large part determine the results.

Timing is important for evangelism as well. There are many Christians who have lost the concept of timing in regard to sharing their faith. They see evangelism as an event planned and perpetrated on their terms, at the location and time they choose.

But should evangelism be an event or an ongoing conversation? Often we hear about ministry teams going out to evangelize their community. That usually means walking around the neighborhood confronting people with the gospel -- telling folks about Jesus. After a couple of hours on the street everyone returns to the church to share their story, eat cake and ice cream, and then home to bed feeling pretty good about themselves.

Certainly, preaching to people can be an effective method for delivering the gospel - especially in a large group setting. However, preaching to individuals one-on-one, or forcing the gospel into unnatural situations will, with rare exception, do little more than alienate them from the lifechanging news they need to hear.

The gospel (good news) will not be perceived by unbelievers as good news unless they are at a place in life where they are seeking such news. You and I rarely respond to people who barge uninvited into our lives - why do we think that our neighbors or those strolling in the park are any different?

Consider Philip's ministry recorded in Acts. He had been holding large group meetings in Samaria with great success. People were coming to Christ in large numbers as a result of his preaching and healing ministry. But when God set up a personal meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch, He gave Philip an entirely new strategy for ministry - different than the outdoor crusade template that worked so well. He sent Philip with explicit instructions: "Go over and walk alongside the carriage." Another version puts it this way: "Go to that Chariot and stay near it."

God sent Philip to be near the chariot, not set up a road block to stop it. God's intent was for Philip to be nearby when the eunuch encountered a life situation that he couldn't understand or handle. We don't know how long Philip walked beside the chariot, chatting from time to time, getting to know his unusual new friend. It could have been several days, given the long journey back to Ethiopia. The important point is that one day God moved upon the eunuch and he began a search for truth. By God's design, Philip was there ready to share the good news with him.

The turning point of this story occurs when the eunuch requested that Philip "Come up into the chariot and sit with me." I've got to believe that when Philip heard that invitation, the time spent walking that dusty wilderness road was all but forgotten. From the moment he first spotted the chariot, he knew the eunuch's conversion was just a matter of time. (Act 9:26-31)

The Winking Eye

2005-11-16T19:45:00.000-05:00

Solomon had a unique ability to probe the core issues of successful living. His poetry quietly calms the unsuspecting soul, then slyly and doggedly tugs at the roots of apathy and self-deception. At first reading, many of his short and simple statements seem benign and shallow. But upon meditation, they will uproot life's troublesome briars and brambles.

Consider his seemingly simple statement: "People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace." On first reading, one might visualize the practical joker conjuring up a humorous prank while bystanders wink a complicitous eye. In western culture, the wink is a good-natured gesture that denotes acceptance of mischievous, but innocent behavior.

The wisdom of this proverb burrows much deeper than the superficial white lie or youthful mischief. Solomon's "winking eye" confronts our tendency for indifference to wrong - so long as it doesn't affect us. The wink could be a willingness to overlook wrongdoing for personal gain, or the result of a "peace at any cost" viewpoint. At times, people in power will wink as other leaders break the trust of those they govern - rallying to protect one another.

No matter the wrong, Solomon identifies the winking eye as a poker that stirs up the flames of turmoil and trouble. To the winker the wrong may seem insignificant - glossing over it may seem like the easy path. In reality, the wink serves to fuel its victim's discontent. The winking eye communicates a disregard for justice; it robs its victims of self-esteem and hope. For the high-minded peace lover, Solomon points to the eventual hostility that such a mindset breeds.

The leader who winks at wrong may gain some short-term peace and prosperity. But with the moral high ground lost, he best prepare himself to fight a fierce and unholy battle sometime in the not too distant future. (Proverbs 10:10)

Embrace The Process

2005-11-15T15:31:00.000-05:00

Those of us living for more than a few decades have a special appreciation for modern technology. For example: the television remote control, digital cameras, the microwave - hardly a week goes by that I don't say to myself, "what did we do without these things?"

A much appreciated convenience is the ability to "fast forward" past unwanted information on our electronic media. Whether data, voice, or video recorders, we have the ability to easily fast forward past the parts we don't particularly care to see or hear. Just hit the fast-forward button and presto, we're past the boring stuff.

I was prompted to seriously think about this subject the other night as Linda and I were watching a favorite TV program. At the close of the episode, a teaser was presented about the following week's program. Intrigued by the promotion, I turned and asked Linda, "can we fast forward to next week?" As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I recognized the off-the-cuff comment had expressed more than idle conversation. The fact is, we all have the desire to "fast forward" past the yucky areas of life and get to the parts of interest or intrigue.

The poet wrote, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." To the non- believer that maxim might ring true, but for the Christian, "what happens" becomes tantamount to the "plan" itself -- life's events are much more than obstacles blocking destiny's doorway. The process of life is vitally important... it transforms us into people "of" God, rather than people "for" God. It allows us to radiate the plan, not merely carry it.

For those who lead, the process becomes increasingly valuable. Christians are hesitant to follow men or women whose lives don't reflect the destiny of which they speak. When "who" a leader is stands in contrast to "where" he is going, people will tend to step back and watch rather than follow.

Consider the "process" encountered by the heroes of scripture. Joseph reached his full potential as a leader only after he survived the difficult process in his life. David became the divine template for Israel's monarchy as a result of his arduous process. All the treachery and evil endured by these young men transformed them into powerful leaders for both the kingdoms of heaven and earth.

So hey! Don't even think about hitting that "fast forward" button. Hang in there and pay attention. Life is better lived as we allow our uncomfortable "today's" to change us into people who can thoroughly embrace the exciting tomorrows. (Genesis 45: 4-8)

Principles That Make a Difference

2005-11-09T19:30:00.000-05:00

Consider the following passage from the prophet Habakkuk, "Then the LORD said to me, write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." (Habakkuk 2:2,3)

Habakkuk was aware of God's plan for rebellious Judah, but he had some issues with His rationale - how God could justify using sinful Babylon to destroy Israel. The above passage prefaces God's answer to the prophet. It provides instruction to those called to speak for God - preachers, teachers, and Christian leaders everywhere.

Nine Biblical Leadership Principles Emerge From The Passage:

Communicate the message clearly.
Communicate in relevant ways.
It takes a team.
Be strategic.
Impart the message to key leaders tasked to echo it.
Get everyone on the same page.
Be patient and allow the Holy Spirit to work.
Encourage people to trust God.
It's a journey not an event.

Embrace the message and vision God has given to you. Proclaim it using the guidelines given to the prophet around 600 BC. They're timeless truths from an eternal God. (Habakkuk 2: 2,3)

The Power of Discussion

2005-11-04T21:30:00.000-05:00

It was resurrection day. Soon after sunrise, Jesus' followers scattered across the Judean countryside were beginning to hear the first rumors about Jesus missing from his tomb. Some later reports out of Jerusalem were even suggesting he was alive again!

That morning, a confused and distraught Cleopas began the seven mile trip back home to Emmaus. Accompanied by his friend, the two hour walk was little more than a backdrop for the tragedy that had devastated them two days earlier in Jerusalem. They witnessed the senseless murder of a prophet and absorbed a death blow to their religious hopes and dreams.

All that was left was discussion and debate. The "what ifs" and the "what could have beens" were flowing freely as they reached the halfway point of their journey. Luke tells us that in the midst of their "deep discussion," the risen Lord joined them. That struck me as a significant detail to consider. Jesus was not offended by their doubts, fears, and passionate discourse. The facts show that He specifically found that environment favorable for His arrival and intervention.

Rarely do our church leadership meetings reflect the serene "one accord" climate we've come to expect at our gatherings. More often, intense discussion and diverse opinions reverberate off the walls, similar to the passionate ad hoc Emmaus Road meeting held 2000 years ago.

So can we depend on God's presence at our elder and deacon meetings? Or, because of our doubt and debate, feel unprepared for His company? Should we look outward and wait for the prophet to knock on the board room door or stand in our midst and speak the much needed word from the Lord?

We can be confident of the Holy Spirit's presence as we pray, discuss, and deliberate. He will arrive, just as He did with Cleopas and friend. The first century church was very aware of the power of discussion, it routinely and effectively guided the young church's ministry. That leadership model can be observed in both the Jerusalem and Antioch churches.

Were there times when prophets appeared and pointed the way? Yes, but prophets appeared rarely and randomly, even in the first century. A scriptural template for the ministry gift of prophet is obscure at best, so wisdom would insist that like other 5-fold ministry gifts, the prophet generally functions within our church leadership teams, his influence imparted in harmony with the other four - in the midst of deep discussion with God and man.

So, go ahead pastor. Tee up the next topic. Seek God; engage your fellow elders in debate and discussion. You can be sure that God will join with you on the journey. Like Cleopas, you might not immediately recognize His presence. But when you reach your destination, you will in wonder say, " didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as He spoke."
(Luke 24:13-34)

The Flying Rip Quiz

2005-10-31T09:01:00.000-05:00

"You may think that a church that cares for lost people is normal. The average church on the corner of Elm and Vine doesn't give a flying rip about people far from God. They're an annoyance. They use bad words. They sleep in the wrong bed. They drink too much booze. They're an annoyance."

That's what a noted pastor and Christian leader recently announced to hundreds of evangelical pastors at a leadership conference. While we may wince at the statement, let's not be too hasty in dismissing it as convenient conference rhetoric. Can we find any evidence to support such an inflammatory assertion? Well, let's go to work and do some research. Take the LBTP "Flying Rip Quiz" and see how your church fares.

LBTP Flying Rip Quiz

Does the Senior Pastor regularly encourage members to build close relationships with the people in their neighborhoods?

Do congregation members feel equipped and motivated to share their story with others in a meaningful way?

If visiting for the first time, would outsiders say your church is user friendly?

Do congregation members often bring friends to church?

Does the senior leadership team regularly spend time planning and praying for church wide outreach projects?

Is there a designated or paid staff member tasked with leading outreach projects?

Has someone measured the church's effectiveness in reaching the community?

Take a moment and tally your score on the quiz. If you had more than two "no" answers, you may very well fall into the "no flying rip" category mentioned in the first paragraph. If you did score low, take courage and action! Find both spiritual and practical resources to change the course of your church and ministry. Become a church that gives a flying rip!

What's Your Agenda?

2005-10-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

"Hey, you're pushing your agenda!" Has anyone ever thrown down that gauntlet before you, thinking that in shame you would fess up to the charge and sulk away humiliated?

Those who are leaders will be confronted with the accusation at one time or another. Mainly because their lives are governed by exactly that, an agenda. For Christian leaders, the agenda is hopefully not their own, but one God has planted within them. It's like a prism embedded in their brain, a filter covering their eyes. Everything they experience travels through the lens of the projected reality.

Accusing a leader of having an agenda is akin to bemoaning the musician's inclination to make music. Leaders are acutely aware of their agenda... it's what keeps them awake late at night, and it's what pushes them out of bed early in the morning. What the critics label as an agenda, the leader sees as a divine mission. It's a cause far more important than personal comfort or acclaim. The call to complete their mission is their raison d'etre.

In his book, Jesus on Leadership, C. Gene Wilkes relates a personal story from his early days as pastor. He was endeavoring to implement some changes and one of the elders confronted him at a business meeting, accusing him of having an agenda. In humorous fashion, Pastor Wilkes relates the feeling of satisfaction he experienced after the intended rebuke. He had spent the previous year casting vision, now someone had finally caught hold of it!

Joseph experienced the accusatory rhetoric and hurtful actions of his brothers who misread him. They saw him as an agenda-driven prima donna. But it was Joseph's acute awareness and commitment to the future that would fuel him during the most barren season imaginable. His life was in servitude to the mission God ordained for him; a lesser man would not have survived the arduous journey to Egypt.

The day finally came when Joseph was able to step into the role he envisioned years before. The grace he was able to extend to all who had doubted him speaks volumes of the Godly character the years had instilled within him. From his youth he understood the call to rule, but it was only as his family willingly followed him to Egypt that he would realize his role as leader - a man who successfully ushered God's people to their appointment with destiny. (Genesis 37)

Apocalyptic Wonder

2005-10-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

To both the literary critic and disciple of Christ, the Bible stands as an intriguing and inspiring book. It contains an interesting variety of literary styles, and to devout believers, provides piercing and persuasive communiques from their God.

Its story begins in Genesis with an overview of how all things began by the will and word of God; it moves on to Exodus and then to the conquests of Joshua, followed by Psalms, and Solomon's books of wisdom. The writings of the prophets lead us forward to the New Testament, with its four opening biographies. They are followed by the Book of Acts, a history of a persecuted but victorious church, and thereafter by twenty-one inspired letters written to first century believers. Everywhere the eye falls, there are passages jam packed with insight, inspiration, and lessons for knowing and responding to God.

Then comes the dreaded book - Revelation; most all of us would avoid it if we could. That isn't an option, however. In chapter one verse three, we are told that the book should be read by everyone, and those that do so will be blessed. Even as a serious Bible student, I have often wondered about the "blessing" of this book - a genre of literature crafted by using bizarre images and strange symbols. To me, it seems ripe for wild and crazy interpretations.

To the Bible geeks -- those who revel in scriptural minutiae and obscurities, Revelation is their exegetical Super Bowl. The book has produced an endless playing field for unbelievably complicated and preposterous propositions that likely leave God Himself scratching his head in wonderment. Novices can be paralyzed by all the interpretive speculation, and many pastors hesitate to publicly wander through the maze, fearing the discussions that could emerge from such a study. For protection, many leaders default to the safety of their professor's Bible School explanation.

So, here is my challenge to those dazed and bedazzled by the book of Revelation: If your study has left you feeling confused and inadequate, may I suggest that your approach to the book of Revelation might be somewhat askew. As the Bible geeks assert their complicated and confusing matrix of information, take a chance and tune them out; allow the scriptures to project their own clear and simple message -- approach the book without their charts and graphs. After all, we can all agree that the Bible was never meant to be rocket science.

I've come to the conclusion that while speculative Bible interpretation can make for compelling conferences and best selling books, there does seem to be some doubt about the message contained beneath those attractive and clever titles. (Revelation 1:3)

Off The Edge

2005-10-23T20:00:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been pushed to the edge, been so stressed out by unyielding circumstances or unruly people that you were ready to do the the unthinkable? Our surroundings can somtimes push us to places we would never think of going - even off the edge.

At one time or another, all of us have been tempted to jettison the whole God thing. There are seasons when no matter where we look or what we do, evidence of divine intervention simply can't be observed or measured. It seems those who sneer at God are more prosperous and happy than those who worship Him.

Somewhere around the turn of the first millenium B.C., a musician and poet recorded his own struggles with the issue of God's presence in his world. Asaph, a worship leader for David, wrote about his episodes with depresson and despair. He wrote: "Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But for me, I came close to the edge of the cliff! My feet where slipping, and I was almost gone." What a great word picture. Likely, each of us was transported to our own moment in time - a past, or perhaps a present moment when we almost lost our footing; we were about to slip off the edge.

It is at those moments that God invaribly shows up, as we teeter at the edge of the abyss. Somehow, we miraculously find firm soil that halts the momentum of our slide; our hand mysteriously finds a crevice and our balance is re-established.

So we inch our way back into the mainstream... back to the laughter, joy, and pleasure of life, a place of confidence and fellowship with God. Then we are able to look back and see how bitter and jaded we had become and recognize the pain inflicted by what our eyes had seen.

If we reflect on our off-the-edge near miss a bit longer, we'll also see the Good Shepherd's loving presence in our lives. He was there on the cliff with his strong and loving hand poised to catch us, just in case our doubts and fears caused us to lose our footing and send us off the edge. (Psalms 73; John 15:4)

Be A Man!

2005-10-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

Accomplishing great exploits in the kingdom of God requires men and women with both a pure heart and the skills necessary for leadership. For each new city taken, new leaders will need to emerge. For every new spurt of church growth, new pastors will need to blossom. For every new outreach planned, young evangelists will need to sound the call, and for every new believers class, budding teachers will need to step behind the podium.

The maxim is true... everything rises and falls on leadership. Changing the world requires Godly and gifted leaders. As young men and women embrace their call to ministry, they need to be aware of the leadership qualities clearly extolled in God's word, lest they stumble and risk debilitating and painful injuries.

Effective churches will be lead by men and women who are committed to realizing both the qualities and possibilities found within their call. Believers are looking for clear direction regarding growth and movement; they are searching for a voice that will inspire and motivate them.

As a young man, David established a reputation that quickly ushered him into the corridors of influence and power. Consider the five reasons David was recruited for Saul's staff:
1) He distinguished himself -identified and developed the gifts God gave him.
2) He was a warrior - determined and relentless in accomplishing things.
3) He was prudent and discerning - decision making that was thoughtful and informed.
4) He looked and acted like a leader - a persona that was attractive and authentic.
5) He was anointed - depended upon God's power for results.

As David reached the close of his life and commissioned Solomon to build the temple, his instruction was for Solomon to "rise to the occasion." Aspiring leaders in every generation need to understand that times will often get difficult for the person in charge. Though David pretty much set up Solomon with all he needed for success, his concern was about Solomon's toughness for seeing the job through to the end. His challenge was short and to the point: "Be strong therefore and show yourself a man."

God desires his church to touch the whole world with the Good News. To walk in the fullness of that commission, we must "show ourselves as men" -- walking out our mission with skill, strength, and determination. (ISamuel 16:18)

The Fairness Test

2005-10-12T21:04:00.000-04:00

Both Ezra and Samuel were inspired to write the same powerful statement in summarizing the rule of King David. With divine sweeps of inspiration, they both left clear evidence he was a unique leader: "David reigned over all Israel and was fair to everyone."

Pretty impressive, wouldn't you say? A king with unlimited power... with every excuse and opportunity to use people for selfish reasons, characterized by others as a king who treated everyone fairly.

The two passages are posited in interesting points in David's story. In 1 Samuel, the comment follows a listing of military victories and immediately before his invitation for Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, to come live in his palace. The fairness statement is comfortably placed between David the mighty warrior, and David the servant, who stooped to care for the underprivileged and honor past friendships.

In 1 Chronicles the fairness statement is found following Ezra's remarks about David's military prowess, and immediately preceding an extensive list of people serving as David's staff, among whom were his sons.

What a challenge to business people and Christian leaders. Can we be fair as both warriors and advocates for the poor and underprivileged? Can we be known as fair-minded in the corporate board room and when we return to our office and support staff? How would others evaluate your fairness as a leader?

David's secret for inspiring leadership was his understanding that he was both king and servant. His power was not for self aggrandizement but rather to enable and assist others to achieve fulfillment and greatness in their life. Perhaps that is why Israel was so powerful during David's reign. All who interacted with David walked away from their meetings empowered and inspired -- staff and servants alike! Everyone stood ready to do battle for their fair-minded king. (2Samuel 23:3,4)

Tis the Season

2005-10-12T10:19:00.000-04:00

The magical time of year is fast approaching. Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and once the turkey is eaten, the holiday season will begin to daily rock our world. In a variety of ways the influence of Christmas has intensified over the years; it has become much more than one event at the end of December. With careful attention we can see that the sparkle of Christmas Day significantly brightens our entire year. Christmas, though afar off, impacts our lives even now in October.

During my childhood, the arrival of Christmas brought euphoric levels of expectation and excitement. Weeks before the celebration, the blessings of the day could be experienced. Baked goods, candy, relatives' visits, and times of good cheer all assured me of the coming of that special day when my wildest dreams of gift receiving would come to pass.

The Kingdom of God should be likewise understood. There is an "already," and a "not yet" dimension to the Kingdom of God. Many times Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as having already come -- at other times he spoke of it in the future. Paul likewise understood the coming of the Holy Spirit as evidence of God's kingdom on earth, but refers to Him as the "first fruits" of a future glory.

The giving of ministry and spiritual gifts to the church clearly suggests that the "already" of God's kingdom is one of partialness - "looking through a darkened glass." Supernatural events, such as healing and miracles, clearly indicate that the Kingdom of God is not fully here - thus the need for miracles. Yes, in one sense it is here and there is a clear supernatural dimension and expression. But on the other hand there is a "not yet" revelation of the Kingdom in the future. The effects of sin still remain in our world. Satan is falling, but is not yet completely bound. The glory and power of God's Kingdom is expanding, but will not be fully revealed until Jesus returns and sets up His new eternal Kingdom on earth.

So in this life we can anticipate many blessings related to our "sons and daughters" status. There are abundant blessings available during this "first fruit" season. We belong to him; He lives within us and is working through the church. As believers, we embrace God's purpose and plan...we endeavor to daily walk it out, and he confirms his presence with signs and wonders. But the day of full divine experience and revelation is not yet.

As a child, during the weeks leading up to Christmas day, I would diligently search for the presents that were hidden away. I would ask Dad and Mom to give me one or two in advance, appeal to their love for me as a son - all to no avail. They reminded me that the Christmas season brought many privileges and blessings, but I would have to wait for that special day - Christmas. Then, all the beautifully wrapped gifts would be mine to enjoy. Maranatha! (Romans 8:18-25)

Being Teflon

2005-10-09T22:30:00.000-04:00

Of all the leaders in my lifetime, Ronald Reagan stands head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. Perhaps it was his gift as an actor and entertainer, maybe his style and quiet confidence, but I loved the man - he inspired me.

Inheriting a depressed economy and a poor national self-image, Ronald Reagan proved he had the ability to evoke optimism and pride within the nation; as a result, he emerged as a strong and effective leader. Yes, he was a Republican, which brought political baggage. He was an ideologue, which incensed many, and he was a Hollywood actor, which tarnished his lustrous personality. But he prevailed.

A quality that endured through his years of public service was his unique ability to brush off problems and criticism. The insults and barbs leveled against him, the failures and mistakes that would have hamstrung many, fell harmlessly at his feet. He could shrug them off with an optimistic quip and move on without the slightest bristle. Some called him the Teflon president - nothing negative seemed to stick with him or to him.

What an incredible characterization of a leader. Few have been able to live there; it takes a very secure man or woman to exude that kind of persona. Such leaders understand and embrace their destiny; they realize they were born for such a time, and they live each moment as if it were a divine appointment.

Reagan's strength grew from an awareness that he was God's leading man. He aggressively and passionately lived out his divine role as president in the same way he portrayed his larger-than-life characters on the big screen. He was confident as a leading man; the world was his stage and the spotlight was ordained to be his.

Leaders will always be punched and sniped at; they will be scorned and jeered. But if they know they are God's leading men and women, they will respond with confidence, grace, and optimism. Following true Reaganesque form, the assassination attempts can become events that define our character.

When someone scores a direct hit, we can seize the moment and become inspiring leaders. Like Reagan after being shot, we can remain objective and inspirational. In the midst of adversity and pain, we can brush off antagonism as merely a part of the divine script - a moment for heroism.

Reagan's humorous moment with Nancy after the assassin's attack spoke volumes about the inner strength and purpose he maintained as President. Unshaken by the circumstances, he teased, "Sorry honey, I forgot to duck." In that moment, a nation embraced Ronald Reagan as a true American icon - a leader, who in his most vulnerable moment, showed a people how to be courageous in its calling and destiny. Perhaps there is no greater role as a leading man.

Unsettled and Alarmed

2005-10-02T00:12:00.001-04:00

The news was shocking and unsettling. Reports told of people being beaten, raped, and killed in the New Orleans Superdome -- a place of refuge during the recent hurricane and flooding. Witnesses spoke of seeing the atrocities first hand, relaying the sordid details to a press looking for a shocking headline.

With time, most of the violent crime stories that spun out of the Superdome campsite were exposed as only rumors. As horrible as the entire fiasco was, the reports were proven to be either sick pranks, or efforts to advance someones agenda. Nevertheless, we can all attest to their alarming impact on us.

In leading a young church, the Apostle Paul was aware that wild stories, false prophecies, and erroneous teaching could alarm the church and unsettle the new congregations scattered around Asia and beyond. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, he warns: "Do not become easily unsettled or alarmed by prophecies, reports, or letters..." There were questionable prophecies, reports, and teachings going around, even during the very supernaturally charged first century. It seems they were a chronic problem.

Have you recently heard a minister warning his fellowship of similar concerns? Some leaders are hesitant to raise the issue of false teachings, prophecies, or tainted reports, by reason that they may be "partially" true. Paul didn't seem to share that concern. He knew the revelation given to him was the only target, anything outside that bulls eye was simply missing the mark -- it would only be alarming and unsettling to the church. Oft-times, the "truth filter" remains an unused ministry tool in leadership; we are cautious not to sift too fine, for fear we might alienate people and lose the larger audience. As a result, our flocks can become unsettled and alarmed; their natural growth and reproductive instincts stunted.

In the light of Paul's Thessalonian concern, his further exhortation to the Philippian believers takes a more urgent tone: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are right... think about such things." In essence he is saying: when we embrace the proper mindset or discipline in our faith, the Christian community will be settled and peaceful.

In our crazy, hectic, anything goes world, a church that is settled and peaceful will be an appealing place - an attraction to many. As leaders, let's not be timid in identifying the unsettling and alarming issues that face us; keep the "truth filter" in place. It will help keep our churches spiritually charged -- places where people can find peace and rest. (Matthew 11:28 -30)

God's Green Acres

2005-10-01T23:00:00.000-04:00

The prophet Micah makes an astounding statement about our God. His proclamation highlights God's intention toward Israel - even though they seemed hell-bent on disobedience and all out rebellion. In the final chapter of Micah, with his final paragraph, God moves Micah's hand to predict mercy rather than judgment - freedom rather than prison. God promises mercy to those in covenant with him.

The words ring out a melody that should cause the whole world to sing. Micah writes, "You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy." Too few stay very long in that world of mercy... We strangely gravitate to the dungeon of condemnation and guilt. Some inner force seems to drive us there -- the gravelly voice from Hades persuasively corrals us down the briared pathway. There we sit in our deceptive spell - convinced that those around us must be guilty too, deserving of the same misery. So we raise the gnarled finger of judgment with a strength more forceful than our own.

But freedom can be ours... We can escape the dark inner cell by embracing God's endless supply of mercy each day. In turn, our open hand of mercy can replace the pointed finger of judgment. Harmony can dispel strife, affection overcome anger.

So we see a choice in our journey as believers: the steep and briared pathway to dark inner pain, or the joy and peace of God's green acres -- a life immersed in His mercy.

What Color Is It?

2005-09-28T22:54:00.000-04:00

What color is it? The question seems pretty trivial to me. After all, how important is color? So what if it's red, green, or blue; each has its own beauty.

"Well, not so quick there mister black and white," I can hear all you fashion and decorating folks mumbling about my ignorance. You're about to tell me that color sets the mood, creates energy, soothes the soul, and makes a statement about personality and style. Perhaps.

Over the years, my simplistic approach to color has created problems for me with the fashion police. I've even been arrested as I prepared to leave my own home. I hear the stern voice, "you're not wearing that are you?" I stop in my tracks, quickly retreating to the closet for a quick change - but into what? The really frustrating part about the whole thing is that my transgression of established color law hinges on issues of which I am totally unaware.

Why? I'm somewhat color blind. The various shades of green and blue seem all the same to me. I try really hard, you know. I've even thought about using some kind of coding on my socks so matching is easy.

Perhaps you've laughed at me behind my back... Whispered to a friend about my style. It's understandable... You see colors so much more clearly than me. I'm simply asking for your mercy, or perhaps a fashion tip. Because no matter how long I stand before the mirror - peering, squinting, it all looks the same. The light that enters my eye reveals shades you fashion buffs simply don't see.

So, if you see me in clashing colors, I ask for patience and mercy. Be kind and look the other way if you must. I really am trying hard to dress just right. Umm, excuse me madam...Could you tell me, is this shirt green or blue? (Galatians6:1)

The Future is Now

2005-09-25T13:37:00.000-04:00

I entered the auditorium and was seated among more than 500 others who had gathered to hear the internationally known preacher and Christian leader. His life was a story of great accomplishments, rising from the mire of poverty in a third world country. His lifetime of achievements had escorted him to places of influence and he was nearing celebrity status, not only in his homeland, but in North America as well. He was a regular guest on Christian television and a coveted conference speaker. It was a special day in church, for he was a member of our organization.

As he strode across the platform to take his place behind the microphone, the people rose in unison, greeting him with enthusiastic applause. With his unique expression of warmth and humility, he settled the folks back into their seats, making his introductory remarks and sharing a few brief personal stories.

He paused and glanced down at the front row. Breaking into a broad smile and a mischievous look, he slowly scanned the audience and made his announcement. “This morning I have a surprise for you. I’ve asked one of my spiritual sons to preach for me.”

I was stunned… the audience was uncertain. As the young man left his seat and walked across the stage the auditorium grew uncomfortably quiet. As the Preacher stepped back from the microphone, his hand reached out gently to guide the novice to his place behind the microphone and into the spotlight.

I was mesmerized by the moment. The symbolism was overwhelming – the emotions were welling up quickly. Then, as the older preacher began walking to his seat adjacent to the podium, he stopped briefly and looked back at the audience. With a nod to the young man, he commented to everyone, “I will sit here and watch him.” I lost it at that point!

While I didn’t have a vision on Sunday morning in church, I know I saw heaven’s balcony filled with an overwhelming number of onlookers. What caught my eye, standing in the front, leaning close to catch the moment, was the Apostle Paul, flanked by Titus and Timothy. I looked up just in time to see Paul turn toward them and make a comment that brought a smile to their faces.

I couldn’t hear what was said, but given the moment, I’d bet it was something like: “just like old times boys, just like old times.”

Hives or Cocoons

2005-09-24T01:09:00.000-04:00

Given our druthers, we will spend our time building cocoons, when God is really looking for His people to build hives. We prefer cocoons because they are places of safety, but God wants hives because he resides in places of community, activity, and fellowship.

Hives are inclusive, and so building and living in hives will involve a bit of risk. Hives have a continuous buzz of activity and most anyone can hang around and fly right on in. To many people, hives can seem out of control.

God tasked Paul to lead the expansion and growth of His newly formed church. Paul knew he would never see the fruit of that vision unless he would stay outward looking. He would have to engage and captivate the towns and countries through which he traveled. Yes, he needed to build hives. It required not only a clear purpose and mission, there was a need for specific strategies to reach targeted people. He saw his task as finding unique paths into the hearts of those he met.

From my view of the church, I see strategy as a missing or neglected ingredient in leadership. When faced with the reality of our task, strategy becomes the issue with which every leader and ministry must wrestle. With few exceptions, it will determine our effectiveness as ministers of the gospel. Paul's listening audience back in 55 A.D. was no different than his reading audience today. The tendency then, as is our tendency now - protect the status quo and resist change.

Strategy, it's a plan designed to implement precise activities for accomplishing specific goals. When considering expansion of our influence as a church or ministry, are we willing to wrestle with issue of strategy? Consider the following questions...

* Generally, how much time is spent by senior leaders and church boards to strategize for Kingdom expansion?

* Do we regularly seek God for a divine strategy to implement the vision given us?

* Have we sought the counsel of other men and women whose giftings may shake us loose, re-energize, or focus our efforts?

* Have we identified and chosen a specific path to reach our destination?

If your answers were positive, the encouragement is to continue attentiveness for staying on course - avoid wandering about aimlessly. Our lives should not reflect the image of Paul's futile fighter in 1 Corinthians 9:26, a man vainly beating the air. Let's throw our punches so they land squarely and effectively... let's make our actions count as we usher in the kingdom of God.

How Does That Make You Feel?

2005-09-21T13:01:00.000-04:00

As a former mental health counselor at a local hospital, my wife, Linda, came to understand the power of the question, "how does that make you feel?" The question underscores an important life principle: people's behavior is often a result of how they feel about themselves or their situations.

A fundamental task of leadership is to create an environment where people "feel" affirmed and empowered. Change of any kind can be unsettling for that very reason. Those caught in the process of change often struggle with how it will erode their importance and empowerment. Consequently, the task of appointing church leaders should be cautious and strategic - place people in areas of responsibility that complement their gifting. If the "gift factor" is a secondary consideration, ministries will wander aimlessly and reflect mediocrity. Conversely, attentiveness to the "gift factor" brings passionate and effective ministry. A good leader will find creative ways to continually ask his staff that pivotal and revealing question: how does that make you feel? It could preempt a lot of struggles down the road.

The apostle Paul's opening admonition to the Philippian church (Philp. 1:5,9) reveals his appreciation for the value of keeping people feeling right about themselves. His letter is filled with references to his own sense of value and purpose, and so he affirms and encourages his readers, outlining their value to him and the kingdom of God.

When our churches or businesses are filled with people who feel good about themselves - become people who understand their call and purpose, the flock will be content and active in those areas important for success. How does that make you feel?