I have started reading another book. My wife will probably say I read too many books, or at least she will say I buy too many books. But I love to read. Anyway, the present book I am reading is "Who Stole My Church" by Gordon McDonald. McDonald is one of my favorite authors. He is a pastor and author, serving churches in the northeast part of the country.
This book is fiction, but McDonald is writing from the first person as if he is involved in a meeting of some church members. Though the book is fiction, it contains a great deal of truth.
McDonald quotes Acts 20:28.
After reading the verse I was once again reminded of how we tend to be critical of the church. Leaders sometimes complain members' lack of commitment. Members tend to complain about leaders and the decisions they make. But we forget what God's Word tells us about the church.
We often speak of "my church." We complain that a leader or member does something to "my church" to which I disagree. The problem is the Apostle Paul doesn't say the church belongs to me. He also doesn't say the church belongs to you. Paul says, that it is God's church, "which He bought with His own blood."
I may not like drums in worship, or I may think that the organ is outdated, but the problem isn't what I like because it is God's church. The church doesn't belong to me or you - it belongs to God. He bought it with His own blood and He has given us the responsibility as leaders to "watch" over ourselves and the flock of God.
The next time we complain about the church or talk about "my church" we must remember that it is God's church. He bought it with His own blood. He paid the ultimate price for the church.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Super Bowl Spotlight Shines on a Changed Man
This is a story about how Christ has changed David Tyree's life. For those who don't know Tyree made one touchdown catch and a remarkable 4th quarter catch against his helmet. You need to read this article.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Baylor Proud
As a graduate of Baylor, I have not had much to brag about with our sports teams. Yes, the Baylor Women's basketball team has been successful - in fact they won the national championship a few years ago. Yes, the tennis team has been successful. But the men's basketball and football teams have not seen successful in years.
Now for the first time in the history of Baylor, both the men's and women's basketball teams are in the top 25 teams in the nation. The men's team, under the leadership of Coach Scott Drew, is in the the top 25 for the first time since 1969 - some 18 months before Coach Drew was born.
Last night the Bears played the nationally ranked Aggies. Thanks to my son I was able to watch the game on the Internet as the game went into overtime. Let me say that the game, which went into five overtimes, was one of the best basketball games I have seen. The longest game in history went into seven overtimes. The Aggies and the Bears played their hearts out. The Aggies lost at least one player to fouls in the overtime period. The Bears lost five players to fouls in the five overtimes.
Without trying to offend my Aggie family members, let me say how proud I am of the Baylor Basketball team. In 2003, Scott Drew inherited a basketball program that was, to say the least, wounded.
With the loss of players, either by transfer, death, or prison and with the NCAA penalties - the basketball program was almost near death. Coach Drew, in less than five years, has brought some pride back to Baylor basketball.
I realize a few games doesn't mean that the program is a success, but it is a step in the right direction. With the hiring of Coach Art Briles, the football team, I believe will also begin to make a comeback.
It has been a long time since Baylor fans have had much to be excited about. You Aggies and Longhorns don't know how it is when you can't get excited about your school's sports teams. But let me say - the coaches of the Baylor sports teams, along with the players - are bringing back some pride.
Sic 'em Bears.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Top Ten Predictions for 2008
Some have listed posts based on the top ten events of 2007. Others have made predictions about what will happen in 2008. Some of those predictions come true and some don't. Those predictions are based on one person's opinions. Those predictions are futile - barely worth the paper they are written on.
I have the "Top Ten Predictions for 2008" which are a sure-fire bet. I can guarantee these predictions. So here are they are:
1) The Bible will still have all the answers.
2) Prayer will still work.
3) The Holy Spirit will still move.
4) God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5) There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6) There will still be singing of praise to God.
7) God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8) There will still be room at the Cross.
9) Jesus will still love you.
10) Jesus will still save the lost.
(source unknown)
These predictions are based on fact - and aren't you glad?
I have the "Top Ten Predictions for 2008" which are a sure-fire bet. I can guarantee these predictions. So here are they are:
1) The Bible will still have all the answers.
2) Prayer will still work.
3) The Holy Spirit will still move.
4) God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5) There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6) There will still be singing of praise to God.
7) God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8) There will still be room at the Cross.
9) Jesus will still love you.
10) Jesus will still save the lost.
(source unknown)
These predictions are based on fact - and aren't you glad?
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Aging
I have been thinking about aging more lately. It is not because I'm having a birthday anytime soon, but is centered around my aching back. I spent the final days of last year dealing with an aching back. I strained my back and spent several days moving from the bed to a straight-back chair. That tends to make you think about aging - which we all do. Someone has been so bold to suggest that I move to the nursing home. It's nice to have friends like that.
I was reading about one of my favorite Bible scholars. He is an former pastor, author and Bible teacher. I had the privilege of hearing him a few years ago. Warren Wiersbe is Bible scholar who has written the "Be" series - commentaries of many of the books of the Bible.
Anyway, in Wiersbe's autobiography, he writes about one particular day. It was a drizzly day and he was suffering from the pangs of arthritis. It reminded him of the consequences of getting old. In his devotions on that day, God led him to Isaiah 58:11, which says:
"The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Then Wiersbe wrote this:
"After I've attended my last meeting and preached my last sermon, written my last book and answered my last letter, told my last joke and said my last good-bye, and I wake up in the presence of my Lord, I want to be able to say to Him what Jesus said when He came to the end of His earthly ministry: 'I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work You have given me to do' (John 17:4)."
That's a good word for all of us. Oh, that we might be able to live our lives to the fullest and be able to say to our Lord "I have glorified You on the earth."
John Wesley, one of the so-called founders of the Methodist church, said on his seventy-first birthday: "How is this, that I find just the same strength as I did thirty years ago? That my sight is considerably better now, and my nerves firmer, than they were then?" Nine years later, on reaching the age of eighty, he said, "Lord, let me not live to be useless."
I can't say that my strength is the same today as it was thirty years ago. Nor can I say that my sight and nerves are better than they were. But I want to be able to say, no matter my age, "Lord, let me not live to be useless."
We need to ask God use us no matter our age. May we be able to say that we lived each day being useful for God's Kingdom.
I was reading about one of my favorite Bible scholars. He is an former pastor, author and Bible teacher. I had the privilege of hearing him a few years ago. Warren Wiersbe is Bible scholar who has written the "Be" series - commentaries of many of the books of the Bible.
Anyway, in Wiersbe's autobiography, he writes about one particular day. It was a drizzly day and he was suffering from the pangs of arthritis. It reminded him of the consequences of getting old. In his devotions on that day, God led him to Isaiah 58:11, which says:
"The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Then Wiersbe wrote this:
"After I've attended my last meeting and preached my last sermon, written my last book and answered my last letter, told my last joke and said my last good-bye, and I wake up in the presence of my Lord, I want to be able to say to Him what Jesus said when He came to the end of His earthly ministry: 'I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work You have given me to do' (John 17:4)."
That's a good word for all of us. Oh, that we might be able to live our lives to the fullest and be able to say to our Lord "I have glorified You on the earth."
John Wesley, one of the so-called founders of the Methodist church, said on his seventy-first birthday: "How is this, that I find just the same strength as I did thirty years ago? That my sight is considerably better now, and my nerves firmer, than they were then?" Nine years later, on reaching the age of eighty, he said, "Lord, let me not live to be useless."
I can't say that my strength is the same today as it was thirty years ago. Nor can I say that my sight and nerves are better than they were. But I want to be able to say, no matter my age, "Lord, let me not live to be useless."
We need to ask God use us no matter our age. May we be able to say that we lived each day being useful for God's Kingdom.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Sights and Sounds of Christmas
This time of year conjures images of Currier and Ives and Norman Rockwell - a time that was more peaceful. But those images are opposite of what we know today. Some have never known those peaceful times; they have only known the hustle and bustle of the season. Somehow the "peaceful, relaxed and unhurried" doesn't really fit our culture today.
Today we have merchandisers who will not celebrate Christmas, but will celebrate the holidays. We have stores who sell "Holiday Trees," who forbid one organization to 'ring their bells' in front of their stores, who sell "Holiday decorations." All of this in order not to offend anyone. I'm offended!!
Today we have shoppers rushing from store to store to find that perfect gift for their loved ones. We hustle to party after party not wanting to miss an opportunity to visit with co-workers and friends. There isn't anything wrong with parties or finding that perfect gift, but where are the simpler times?
On the other hand we have musicians who are busy making preparations for Christmas performances. For over 25 years I have been among those preparing Christmas musicals for the church. It is often because of those musical performances that I have failed to know the "peaceful, relaxed and unhurried" times.
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads like this in "The Message."
"For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings."
In spite of the hustle and bustle, in spite of those who are removing "Christ" from "Christmas," in spite of those who are busy preparing and performing musicals, we desperately need to find the "Prince of Wholeness" and the "wholeness He brings."
We need to rediscover that "Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness." This year may you find that peace that comes only through the Prince of Peace; may you find that "wholeness."
Today we have merchandisers who will not celebrate Christmas, but will celebrate the holidays. We have stores who sell "Holiday Trees," who forbid one organization to 'ring their bells' in front of their stores, who sell "Holiday decorations." All of this in order not to offend anyone. I'm offended!!
Today we have shoppers rushing from store to store to find that perfect gift for their loved ones. We hustle to party after party not wanting to miss an opportunity to visit with co-workers and friends. There isn't anything wrong with parties or finding that perfect gift, but where are the simpler times?
On the other hand we have musicians who are busy making preparations for Christmas performances. For over 25 years I have been among those preparing Christmas musicals for the church. It is often because of those musical performances that I have failed to know the "peaceful, relaxed and unhurried" times.
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads like this in "The Message."
"For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings."
In spite of the hustle and bustle, in spite of those who are removing "Christ" from "Christmas," in spite of those who are busy preparing and performing musicals, we desperately need to find the "Prince of Wholeness" and the "wholeness He brings."
We need to rediscover that "Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness." This year may you find that peace that comes only through the Prince of Peace; may you find that "wholeness."
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Will the Church Ever Learn
I came across this article written by Michael Catt. He is the Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. You may recognize the church name; it is the same church that brought us the movies "Facing the Giants" and "Flywheel." Pastor Catt speaks honestly and forthrightly about the church in the 21st century.
Will the Church Ever Learn? :: Michael Catt
Okay, you should be able to tell where this is going by the title. There are “churches” today that have little to do with what the New Testament or Christian history calls the church. Only in America could we have made something so sacred so trivial and irrelevant. If we were in a third world country or living at the time of the Apostle Paul, most of what we call “the church” wouldn’t exist. It would have never been started and it certainly couldn’t have succeeded.
The “Joy Boys” have turned the church into Santa's workshop. Gifts on demand. Money on demand. Cars on demand. Healing on demand. We’ve been good, so God better pay up. We’ve thrown out a few obscure promises we found in the Scriptures (pertaining to Israel and the Old Covenant) and demand God to make them work for us in 2007.
We’ve got more options for churches than any other culture in the world. Find a church that fits YOU. Find a preacher YOU like. Find a church with programs for YOU. Serve as long as it is convenient for YOU. Attend when YOU feel like it. Give YOUR money. After all, ME-church is all about what I like, want, need and feel. It’s God on demand.
Styles have superseded substance. Trivial pursuits have prevailed over Truth. Playing has taken the place of prayer. Happiness is more important than holiness. Self-centeredness is crushing the servant spirit. Christ is Mr. Potato Head—we can make Him look like anything we want. If we don't like the way He looks, we can pull Him apart piece by piece.
Only in this silly, self-centered culture would we be having some of the debates we are having. Worship styles. Translation arguments. Which systematic theology is right? Instead of fighting the devil and storming the gates of hell, we’re fighting among ourselves.
God forbid that someone, some preacher or prophet, should call us back to the basics. The basics aren’t cool. Who wants regular coffee when you can go to Starbucks and get a hundred different flavors all to your liking? Who wants plain vanilla ice cream when you can go to Marble Slab or similar places and mix it up to fit your taste?
Recently a prominent preacher in the Atlanta area said, in effect, if he could rewrite Christian history he would emphasize building relationships more and the gospel less. This is the same arrogance that led him to proclaim in a major Christian magazine that Jesus wouldn’t call Himself a shepherd if He were alive today. I guess the next announcement will be this young buck is looking for a vacancy in the Trinity. How arrogant. How blasphemous. How unbiblical can a guy get before someone calls him on it?
In mid-October, Christianity Today released an article regarding Willow Creek Community Church. While thousands of churches have followed the Willow Creek model, the church is now saying they made a mistake.
Quoting from the article, “Not long ago Willow released its findings from a multiple year qualitative study of its ministry. Basically, they wanted to know what programs and activities of the church were actually helping people mature spiritually and which were not. . . . Bill Hybels, the founding pastor of Willow called the findings ‘earth shaking,’ ‘ground breaking’ and ‘mind blowing.’”
Willow churns out programs like Proctor and Gamble churns out diapers. They measure levels of participation like a business measures the products coming off an assembly line. It’s about nickels, noses and numbers. The more nickels, noses and numbers, obviously the more blessed you are by God. Right? Wrong.
Read carefully what the article says, “Having put all of their eggs into the program-driven church basket you can understand their shock when the research revealed that ‘increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.’” Well, duh!
Hybels calls the study “the wake up call” of his adult life. He admits, “We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and became Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self feeders. We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.” Oh, you mean like lifestyle Christianity, something like the New Testament?
Wow, now there’s a novel thought. We need to get people to pray, seek the Lord, study their Bibles and other basic stuff that is too hip to do in American Christianity. In American Christianity we “seek” God and self satisfaction. While millions long for copies of Scripture around the world, there are churches so hip you don’t have to take your Bible to church. You don’t have to worry about them wanting you to be an intercessor.
The folks at Willow say they want to change the way they do church. Really? Are they going to be able to get all the churches they’ve influenced to change the way they are doing church? Or what they call church? They say they are going to rethink all their old assumptions. Didn’t they learn in school that you never assume anything?
Maybe, just maybe, if they and others were more concerned with teaching the Word without apology, they’d build a stronger church. Not necessarily bigger, but certainly stronger. Their admission can be summed up as a confession to being a “wood, hay and stubble” church. They’ve led tens of thousands to build bigger barns, but they have nothing in the loft but hay. Hay is for horses.
I’d like to suggest they get back to the meat of the Word, the milk of the Word, the Living Water and the Bread of Life. That would be a healthy start for an emaciated church.
Will the Church Ever Learn? :: Michael Catt
Okay, you should be able to tell where this is going by the title. There are “churches” today that have little to do with what the New Testament or Christian history calls the church. Only in America could we have made something so sacred so trivial and irrelevant. If we were in a third world country or living at the time of the Apostle Paul, most of what we call “the church” wouldn’t exist. It would have never been started and it certainly couldn’t have succeeded.
The “Joy Boys” have turned the church into Santa's workshop. Gifts on demand. Money on demand. Cars on demand. Healing on demand. We’ve been good, so God better pay up. We’ve thrown out a few obscure promises we found in the Scriptures (pertaining to Israel and the Old Covenant) and demand God to make them work for us in 2007.
We’ve got more options for churches than any other culture in the world. Find a church that fits YOU. Find a preacher YOU like. Find a church with programs for YOU. Serve as long as it is convenient for YOU. Attend when YOU feel like it. Give YOUR money. After all, ME-church is all about what I like, want, need and feel. It’s God on demand.
Styles have superseded substance. Trivial pursuits have prevailed over Truth. Playing has taken the place of prayer. Happiness is more important than holiness. Self-centeredness is crushing the servant spirit. Christ is Mr. Potato Head—we can make Him look like anything we want. If we don't like the way He looks, we can pull Him apart piece by piece.
Only in this silly, self-centered culture would we be having some of the debates we are having. Worship styles. Translation arguments. Which systematic theology is right? Instead of fighting the devil and storming the gates of hell, we’re fighting among ourselves.
God forbid that someone, some preacher or prophet, should call us back to the basics. The basics aren’t cool. Who wants regular coffee when you can go to Starbucks and get a hundred different flavors all to your liking? Who wants plain vanilla ice cream when you can go to Marble Slab or similar places and mix it up to fit your taste?
Recently a prominent preacher in the Atlanta area said, in effect, if he could rewrite Christian history he would emphasize building relationships more and the gospel less. This is the same arrogance that led him to proclaim in a major Christian magazine that Jesus wouldn’t call Himself a shepherd if He were alive today. I guess the next announcement will be this young buck is looking for a vacancy in the Trinity. How arrogant. How blasphemous. How unbiblical can a guy get before someone calls him on it?
In mid-October, Christianity Today released an article regarding Willow Creek Community Church. While thousands of churches have followed the Willow Creek model, the church is now saying they made a mistake.
Quoting from the article, “Not long ago Willow released its findings from a multiple year qualitative study of its ministry. Basically, they wanted to know what programs and activities of the church were actually helping people mature spiritually and which were not. . . . Bill Hybels, the founding pastor of Willow called the findings ‘earth shaking,’ ‘ground breaking’ and ‘mind blowing.’”
Willow churns out programs like Proctor and Gamble churns out diapers. They measure levels of participation like a business measures the products coming off an assembly line. It’s about nickels, noses and numbers. The more nickels, noses and numbers, obviously the more blessed you are by God. Right? Wrong.
Read carefully what the article says, “Having put all of their eggs into the program-driven church basket you can understand their shock when the research revealed that ‘increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.’” Well, duh!
Hybels calls the study “the wake up call” of his adult life. He admits, “We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and became Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self feeders. We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.” Oh, you mean like lifestyle Christianity, something like the New Testament?
Wow, now there’s a novel thought. We need to get people to pray, seek the Lord, study their Bibles and other basic stuff that is too hip to do in American Christianity. In American Christianity we “seek” God and self satisfaction. While millions long for copies of Scripture around the world, there are churches so hip you don’t have to take your Bible to church. You don’t have to worry about them wanting you to be an intercessor.
The folks at Willow say they want to change the way they do church. Really? Are they going to be able to get all the churches they’ve influenced to change the way they are doing church? Or what they call church? They say they are going to rethink all their old assumptions. Didn’t they learn in school that you never assume anything?
Maybe, just maybe, if they and others were more concerned with teaching the Word without apology, they’d build a stronger church. Not necessarily bigger, but certainly stronger. Their admission can be summed up as a confession to being a “wood, hay and stubble” church. They’ve led tens of thousands to build bigger barns, but they have nothing in the loft but hay. Hay is for horses.
I’d like to suggest they get back to the meat of the Word, the milk of the Word, the Living Water and the Bread of Life. That would be a healthy start for an emaciated church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)