Your Invitation

One afternoon author Patsy Clairmont found herself on an airplane, sitting next to a young marine. She writes about their interaction. "Hey, Marine, where are you coming from?" "Operation Desert Storm, Ma'am." "No kidding? Desert Storm! How long were you there?" I asked. "A year and a half. I'm on my way home. My family will be at the airport." I then commented that he must have thought about returning to his family and home many times while he was in the Middle East. "Oh, no, Ma'am," he replied. "We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully available right where we were."

This month I’m asking you to prayerfully consider being “fully available right where you [are].” From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains you have the opportunity to participate in touching the world with the Gospel of Christ. As hard as that may be for some to believe, when you become a partner in faith giving through LMBC, you are helping to take the Good News to places that you will probably never be able to go yourself.

This is one of the most exciting times of the year because for the entire month of October we are focusing on the very heartbeat of God...to reach a lost world with His love. On the first three weekends of this month we will introduce you to a new missionary family going to a part of the world where we presently have no one taking the Gospel on our behalf. When you make a faith commitment to missions, above your tithes to our local ministry, you are enabling these missionaries and nearly 100 others like them to preach the love of Christ, establish churches, and care for the people in far away places.

Please, prayerfully consider joining our missions outreach by making a weekly or monthly financial commitment to faith giving. Help us close the gaps in the world where it’s impossible or extremely difficult to hear the name of Jesus. Your faithful gifts will make a huge difference for someone who needs to know Jesus. 
 
Your personal copy of the faith giving commitment card can be found in the Lobbies and Welcome Center of our church. Bring it with you each Sunday as you await God’s leading about the amount He would have you give. Then, when you know what He wants you to do, write your commitment on the perforated portion, tear it off, and simply place it in the offering, give it to a member of the pastoral staff, or send it by mail to the church address. Make sure to write your commitment on the portion you keep as well, to help remind you throughout the year.

Our prayer is that God will give our church the additional resources to join the teams of the three new missionary families you will meet this month.

The Church As A Minefield!

After meeting with some of our staff this week, I have come to the conclusion (yet again!!) that there are some things in ministry about which a small number of people are so intolerant (dealing with their beloved traditions and preferences) that the only thing you can do toward them is “rise above” the unpleasantness they create. It’s unfortunate that there are Christians who think that their calling in life is to resist all change no matter how effective that change may be in enabling the church to reach people and impact its community. There is too much of the general feeling among a lot of Christians that worship is really all about “me” and what “I” want when I’m there.

I’m a peacemaker by nature and want to get along with as many people as possible. But, I simply will not allow a few (very few) disgruntled souls, more worried about preserving the past than living in the present, to derail the vision God has given us to accomplish. We have a great work to do and their periodic carping on a few “pet peeves” may get old to many of us, but we will not be sidetracked from the path God has given us to follow.

After our staff meeting concluded, I knew that the only course of action that would be acceptable to our God in dealing with these people is that we persevere in our pursuits until there’s a paradigm shift. If it takes one year or ten years, we’re just going to spiritually “suck it up” (that’s everyday talk for: “ask for lots of grace”) and move forward with the love of Christ, enduring hardness as good soldiers of the cross. We will not respond “in kind” to people’s petty behavior, nor lower ourselves to treat them as they sometimes treat us. To do so displeases the Lord and places us on the same plain where they operate.

Truth be told, I would never say (or do) some of the things I’ve heard professing Christians say (and do) through the years of my ministry when they are unhappy about something at church. Recently, I had a lady place her finger on my chest and repeatedly punctuate her points during a nearly ten-minute lecture, tirade. Several times during the “discussion” I felt like saying, “don’t you know the scripture says, ‘touch not God’s anointed and do my prophets no harm...,’” but I held my tongue and confessed my arrogance/anger when I got away from the situation. When I was able to get a word in edgewise, I said to her, “I love you, I hear what you are saying, and your opinion is important to me.” But, no sooner had I finished my gentle response than she quickly returned to the same mantra and finger-punctuated points. She finally concluded her talk, after I had repeated my response to her at least two more times, by saying, “you’re not going to do anything about this, are you?”

Well, let me give you a verse on this matter that I could have given her at that moment. “The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.” (Proverbs 16:21 NLT) The surest way I know to build resistance to your "cause" is to be unkind and harsh when expressing your opinion.

I have always tried to respect my elders (and will continue to do so...especially since I am one now) and have sought to honor them with my words and life. However, it takes “miraculous” grace to not treat some adults like children when they are acting like children. Temper tantrums aren’t any more attractive when worn by those who are advancing in years than they are when it’s the little ones in our homes. Incredibly, this woman would probably have never tolerated her children speaking or acting toward someone else (or her) in the way she was acting toward me.

I understand better, as I’ve aged myself, that change and/or adjustments are harder to accept than they used to be. And, it’s a scary time of life as lots of things seem to be threatening your security and stability on a daily basis. That’s one of the reasons I believe the church should never forget or treat contemptuously those with frosty white hair. But, the church is not a gathering place for one single age group and you have to be willing to see the bigger picture of what we are called to do. You simply cannot demand that your way be the only way without sending the message that nobody else matters to God...but you.

Not one criticism from this lady had anything to do with doctrinal error or misrepresentation of the truth of God. She didn’t quote a single biblical reference to demonstrate that we were doing anything that was a violation of His Word. This confrontation with me was nothing more than a “bullying” tactic to try and get her specific “preferences” prioritized as the only preferences we should adopt for our services.

I’m sorry, but I don’t deal well with bullying! And the fact is, we do many of the kinds of things she specifically likes for the very reason that we don’t want her or those of her persuasion to be left out. But, we just won’t acquiesce and abandon everything else simply to give her all that she specifically wants.

Now you know some of what pastoral staffs deal with on a regular basis. And just think of the pastor of a smaller church where he has few, if any, people to stand with him when the “fiery darts” are flying all around him. My heart goes out to these brave men and their families as they navigate through their God-appointed minefields...excuse me, pasture fields. May God give them grace, strength, and courage, to “fight the good fight” and PERSEVERE (!!) when they feel more like a punching bag than the beloved pastor of a caring flock.

Always Faithful

He only had an elementary education, but by the time he was in his teens, he could read the Bible in six languages. He later became Professor of Oriental Languages at Fort William College in Calcutta, and his printing press provided Scriptures in over 40 languages and dialects for more than 300 million people.

Who is it? His name was, William Carey, “father of modern missions.” And what was his secret? What he said to his nephew sums it up...

“Eustice, if after my removal anyone should think it worth his while to write my life, I will give you the criterion by which you may judge of its correctness.

“If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much. I can plod. That is my genius. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.” (In Praise of Plodders!, Warren Wiersbe, p.11, Copyright 1991, Published by Kregel Resources, 1994)

• First known use of the word the word "faithful" was in the 14th century.
• (A.) Strict or thorough in the performance of duty; (B.) True to one's word, promises, vows; (C.) Reliable, trusted; steady in allegiance or affection; (D.) Loyal; constant.

"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?" (Proverbs 20:6 NKJV)

"Confidence in an unfaithful  man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint." (Proverbs 25:19 NKJV)

1. Faithfulness is a virtue.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NKJV)

[Though this word is] used repeatedly elsewhere in Galatians to signify a person’s response of trust regarding God’s salvation provided in Christ Jesus (cf. 2:20; 3:6ff.; 5:6), here undoubtedly [it] means the ethical virtue of “faithfulness.”...the subject is the believer and the context is determinative. For situated, as it is, amidst eight other nouns in a list of human virtues, [this word] must here be understood...as the human virtue of faithfulness, that is produced in the believer’s life by the faithful God through his Spirit. --Word Biblical Commentary

Illustration:
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum told a story seemingly unrelated to the usual commencement speeches about success and happiness. This is the story: A Baptist preacher in South Carolina wanted nothing more out of life than to run a Bible college. All his life, he worked for the position and eventually attained it. As he fulfilled his life’s dream and vocation, Alzheimer’s disease struck his wife. Her health degenerated to the point where he could not possibly take care of her and work his full-time job. The preacher came to a decision – to give up his position as president of the Bible college. His peers were incredulous. “What are you doing?” they asked. “Your wife doesn’t even know who you are!” The man answered, “She might not know who I am, but I know who she is. She’s the woman I made a promise to until death do us part.”

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:14-23)

2. Faithfulness is a choice.

"I have chosen to be faithful..." (Psalm 119:30 NLT)

"A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 28:20 NKJV)

Story of Alta Cecil who chose to be faithful even when she was in tremendous pain with her rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Faithfulness is a discipline.

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV)

4. Faithfulness is a qualification.

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry..." (1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV)

"Then He said, 'Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face…'" (Numbers 12:6-8 NLT)

"Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy." (Daniel 6:3-4 NLT)

"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV)

5. Faithfulness is a command.

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:1, 2 NKJV)

God requires faithfulness from his Children.

Additional Thoughts:

• Faithfulness means being loyal

King David was loyal to Saul, even when Saul sought to kill him.  David had the opportunity to kill him twice, but refused to stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed.

Ruth showed loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, prioritizing their relationship over what might have been more comfortable for her.

• Faithfulness means being dependable (Psalm 15:4)

"Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? ...Those who...keep their promises even when it hurts." (Psalm 15:1, 4 NLT)

Conclusion:

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their trapped brothers from beneath the rubble.

A few days after the tragedy, Marine Corps Commandant Paul Kelly, visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived.

As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were just two words -- "Semper Fi" the Latin motto of the Marines meaning "Always faithful."

Those two words need to be the testimony of every Christian!

National HUG A Pastor Day!

It's Monday and many ministers are facing those predictable, "after the weekend church service blues." It's a way of life for a lot of faithful servants of Christ who desperately desire to be used by God, but wonder if anyone really listened to what they had to say the day before or if their people really entered into the joys of true worship. Granted, every message may not feel like a "home run" TO YOU, but maybe you weren’t the one in God’s “on-deck circle” that desperately needed what was said.

And have you stopped to consider that while you can find a preacher that will always give you a positive message that makes you feel better about yourself on the way out the door each Sunday, that maybe the most positive thing your pastor can do for you is warn you about the greater dangers that can potentially destroy your life and leave your family in ruins? And besides, whether a particular message on a specific Sunday was in your "top ten list” or not, your pastor put in the same amount of "blood, sweat, and tears" to prepare and deliver it. We’re not supposed to judge the value of a worship service solely by whether or not it makes you “tingle all over" with the “experience” of His presence or “it spoke to me” specifically. Isn’t church supposed to be mainly about how God feels about our worship and the special praise we give to HIM?

And, complicating the matter even further is the fact that too often it seems that when the “fire” is really burning within the pastor, from the message God has seared into his spirit that week, that he looks out across the congregation only to realize that this must be the weekend that large numbers of people have chosen to be gone...to the mountains, lake, beach, etc. Or, a large portion are away watching their kids perform in athletic and/or academic competition that MUST take precedence over the worship of God...because life is all about family, their children’s happiness, and/or potential career prospects. Did you know that most people judge a church’s success primarily by the numbers in attendance on any given Sunday (though, that’s an unwise measure)? And, most pastors know that many of his people value him according to this “success” assessment. If you’ve ever sat in on a discussion amongst ministers when they were considering why so many people are absent on Sundays, you’ve heard their consternation in trying to figure out how that many people could ALL pick the SAME weekend to be gone.

Equally disturbing is that too many Christians listen to their pastor preach on Sunday wishing he could be more like the “gifted preacher” they hear every week on TV/radio. And, they often make unfeeling comments after services that potentially make their pastor feel as if his “gift” for preaching...well, let’s just say, they love him because he is their pastor, even if he’s not their favorite preacher. It’s sort of the Corinthian thing, “I’m of Paul,” "I’m of Apollos,” "I’m of Cephas,” etc., etc. Did you know that one of the greatest ways to make your pastor a better preacher is by encouraging him in his work, not comparing him to other preachers? (Do you ever compliment your pastor’s sermons to others in the fashion you compliment the sermons of your favorite TV/radio preacher to your pastor?)

Every Sunday your pastor steps into the pulpit to do battle with the forces of evil. The principalities and powers of the air are all arrayed against him, if he’s exalting Christ and proclaiming God’s Word. Really, in many ways, Sunday services are more like war zones for the minister of the Gospel than they are friendly, family gatherings. It’s “front line” duty where he’s called to give his life and when the day is over he will have expended all his energy in the struggle for the souls and well-being of the people in his community and church. Not everybody will appreciate what he has to say and will usually make it known to him, but if it aligns itself with the Word of God, then God's people ought to respect him for his courage to deliver the truth in an age when truth is dismissed and/or despised.

On one occasion I was driving behind a car with a bumper sticker that said, “Hug A Teacher Today!” and I concur. These men and women have an incredible influence on the minds and hearts of the next generation and we should show them our appreciation for their hard work. But, it set me to thinking! Maybe we need a bumper sticker that says, “Hug A Pastor On Mondays.” Not that you have to literally/physically hug him, but you could at least stop and say a prayer on his behalf or write him a note of encouragement about his message from the day before. And if you’re too cheap to buy a stamp/card to send him, then at least make a positive comment on his Facebook page, send a Twitter message of appreciation to him, or leave him a message on his answering service.

If you do this enough times on Mondays, you might just start believing that YOU have the best pastor/preacher in your OWN church and God might start speaking to you more often in the services.

So, here we go. Let’s make every Monday this fall, “National Hug A Pastor Day!”


p.s. To my fellow servants, notice the picture above. Even if you feel like no one stands by you when you need them most, never forget that the Savior loves you and is reaching out to give you that hug you need today! (2 Timothy 4:16-17)

Small Group Failure

Our Small Groups will not work...
1. If their leaders are not committed disciples of Christ themselves.

• Small groups don't create disciples…disciples create disciples.
• “If you can read (i.e., the discussion questions to the group), you can lead.” (not true)
• Learn (about Jesus)…Live (for Jesus)…Lead (others to Jesus)

Our Small Groups will not work...
2. If they are more interested in "gathering together" than "going out."

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore stay where you are and make Christians of the people you already know, baptizing them in the name of American consumer Christianity, and teaching them to sit in rooms with one another, read the Bible, and pray for one another. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20, SGRV--Small Group Revised Version)

Would Jesus join our small group or would he be out rubbing shoulders with people seeking to lead them to salvation?

Modern-day small groups are too often producing:

• …Christians who sit in circles and talk to one another inside a building.

• …Who read and comment on the Bible.
• …Who rant about how they long to “get out there” and do something that matters.
• …That awkwardly end their time by sharing “prayer requests.”
• …Who never see another person's life really changed.

Our Small Groups will not work...
3. If they rely on their organizational structure more than the power of the Spirit.

The first century church didn't have all the sophisticated organization or programing that 21st century churches employ and yet they turned the world upside-down. Their secret was the power of God's Spirit, not complex organization. There's nothing wrong with being organized, but it will never replace our need for God's enablement.

Our Small Groups will not work...
4. If all they do is teach people what to know, but fail to show them how to live.

There are two fundamental models of disciple-making from the ancient world: The Greek model and the Hebrew model. The Greek model is information-based and focuses on acquiring more knowledge.  The emphasis is on what subject is being studied. Jesus made His disciples in the journey, according to the Hebrew model. He taught them life lessons as He experienced life with them.  

Our Small Groups will not work...
5. If they fail to build relationships among the people that are in their groups.

Only 2% of Church members ever invite someone to church. Of the first-time visitors that accept the invitation only 10% end up becoming regular attendees. But, the likelihood of a first time guest becoming a member of the church increases to 50% when they are invited to a small group.