Prayer

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L.O.S.T. – Part 1: Listen

I found a Facebook flair button some time back that I really enjoy.  It simply says, “Not all who wander are lost!”  I, like many people, have great difficulty in admitting that I would ever be lost.  “It’s a scenic route,” I might say.  “I’m just exploring,” is another phrase that often comes in handy when I have no idea where I am at.

As one who does tend to wander, take the scenic routes, and simply explore, I’ve learned some helpful tips for those times when I am lost.  It doesn’t matter if we are lost physically or spiritually — if we’ve wandered away from home or from God, these same tips can be of great help to us.

The first lesson of L.O.S.T. is to Listen!  Many times when I am in an unfamiliar place where someone else may say I am lost, my first action is to simply be still and listen.  A period of time focused on listening can tell us many things about where we are at.  Listening can alert a person to potential danger in a certain direction.  It can also help us identify a path, or course of action, that ought to be considered or pursued.  Listening can let us know if anyone is even looking for us and it gives us an idea of where they are.

In John 10, Jesus states that His sheep, those that follow Him, know His voice and listen to Him.  Jesus describes the safety that can be found when we acknowledge Him as the true gatekeeper in our life.  He not only seeks us out when we wander, He guards and protects us as part of His flock.  It is His voice that calls us to safety and the familiar confines of the fold.  We get there and we stay there by listening. 

We must become familiar with the voice of Jesus and live in obedience to it.  Listening is so much more than simply hearing.  As James puts it, we must hear the Word of God and put it into action.  That is true listening — it is responding appropriately to what is being heard.  Jesus lets us know that there will be “strangers” who call us to follow them.  Satan himself calls to us with the purpose to “steal, kill, and destroy”. 

Feeling lost?  Why not take the time to seriously listen?  Listen intently for God to speak through His Word and through His Spirit and then respond appropriately to Him. 

I pray that you and I would be better listeners — not simply hearers of the Word, but doers of it!

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Michiana Christian Service Camp. Here I Come!

Summer camp season is back!

I don’t think that I have written lately how much I enjoy and appreciate the incredible ministry that takes place at Michiana Christian Service Camp near Niles, Michigan.  While the ministry goes on in various forms throughout the year, the summer youth camp program is at the heart of what MCSC is all about.

I had the privilege of speaking today to a group of Jr Faculty, and others, who will be working at the camp for a week or more this summer.  My job was to give instruction and lead them in a Prayer Walk of the camp property.  As I talked about prayer and the incredible power we have through it to align our will with God’s, I challenged the participants to use today’s Prayer Walk as practice for the time they will spend at camp this summer.  I gave some examples and instructions for the Prayer Walk and then sent them out to cover the property in prayer.  My hope and prayer is that they not only prayed today, but that they will be in an attitude of unceasing prayer as they work with the campers that attend MCSC this summer. 

While today was fun, tomorrow my family and I head back up to MCSC to spend the week!  This 5th & 6th grade week of camp is the first for the summer and I get to be the missionary for the week representing the ministry I do with Impact.  I am so excited and looking forward to sharing about what God can do in a life that is fully sold out and surrendered to Him.  I will be teaching about prayer and the mission statement of Impact: “Pursue, Model, and Teach Intimacy with God.” 

Would you pray that God will use this week for His glory and honor?  I have been teaching at this age group of camp for several years and am amazed at how eagerly many of the campers grasp the lessons and desire a growing relationship with God through Jesus.

If you have the opportunity to be a part of a Christian Service Camp in some way this summer, I would highly recommend it.  There probably isn’t a better way a person could spend a week this summer than investing in the spiritual formation and growth of a young person.

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What Is It Worth?

What Is “It” Worth?

We have many ways of determining the worth, or value, or something.  We may look at how much something costs, how much someone would give us for it, or even how much it means to us.  Physical items often seem fairly easy to determine their worth, even when that value varies somewhat depending on who is looking at it.

Non-tangible items, particularly relationships, may be much harder to place a value on.  When trying to determine the true worth of a relationship, we must honestly ask a hard question: “How much effort am I putting into this relationship?”. 

While this is true in our relationships with people, it is a critical question in evaluating how much value we place on our relationship with Jesus.  Most Christians would say they desire a growing and vibrant relationship with Jesus.  Yet many times, we expect it to exist simply because we want it.  The idea of putting work and effort into it never crosses our mind or we decide we’re too busy to invest any significant time or energy into developing that relationship.

Prayer, Bible reading, Scripture memorization, Bible study, Listening to God, and other spiritual disciplines takes time and effort.  Our desire for a passionate relationship with Jesus ought to draw us to do whatever it takes to know God personally. 

What is it worth to you?  How much are you investing in it?  Jesus desires this relationship so much that He gave His life to make it possible.

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Prayer Journey

The National Day of Prayer was yesterday and we had a great Concert of Prayer service at the Deer Run Church of Christ in South Bend, Indiana. 

While I love special prayer times and days, it is practicing a life of prayer that really gets me excited.  Next week, May 5-10, I will be in the Louisiana gulf coast region to pray.  God has given me the opportunity to join with a friend of mine to spend a week praying in the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana.

Our goal is to listen to God and follow His lead in the conversation He has with us.  Our desire is to encourage Christians in their efforts of physical and spiritual rebuilding taking place in the region.  We will spend time praying in the communities of the region, on the campus of the University of New Orleans, and with the ministry of Operation Feed My Sheep.

If you are currently in the gulf coast area south of New Orleans and would like to join together sometime the week of May 5 – 10 for prayer, let me know.

If you would be willing to partner in prayer with my friend and I as we take this Prayer Journey, I have developed a prayer guide to help people know how to pray for us.  You can download a .pdf file of it at this link:  New Orleans area Prayer Journey Prayer Guide.

If this type of prayer involvement interests you, I am also planning a similiar Prayer Journey in the Salt Lake City area of Utah for June 23-28.  Contact me for more information if you are interested.

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Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out (part 3)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 3 – Sent Out  

In Part One of this series of articles, I introduced the concept of three major approaches to occupational ministry change that can be seen in Biblical example and in churches today.  In that first post, I wrote about the change method of being Thrown Out.  This is a harsh practice born out of arrogance and pride.  While it causes much hurt and long-term issues to deal with, God has an incredible way of picking up the pieces and putting them back together when a Thrown Out person turns to Him in complete humility and trust. 

In Part Two, I wrote about being Left Out and the issues that come from this approach to change.  While gentler than Thrown Out, Left Out still leaves people hurt and disillusioned.  Even in this, a consistent pursuit of God can transform a less than ideal situation into something that accomplishes great things for the kingdom.  When faced with being Left Out, we must hang on tightly to our trust and obedience to God.

As I finally get around to writing part three, it is with great pleasure that I can say there is a better way!  God has used, and will use, Thrown Out and Left Out to accomplish His will rather than allow them to defeat His purposes.  It is possible to learn great and valuable lessons through being thrown out or left out, but let me write of a more excellent way — Sent Out!

As I thought about this series of writings, I kept thinking of the New Testament church and how God used these various methods to accomplish the spreading of the gospel.  Yet as I considered the New Testament itself — the content of the writing, the planting of churches, and the equipping of young evangelists — I couldn’t help but notice that this one technique had a greater benefit in the kingdom of God for all involved.  It is a process that began with Jesus as He implored His followers to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest fields.”  As they did just that, He answered their prayers by sending them out in pairs to carry the message of the kingdom of God.  (Matthew 10 & Luke 10)

And then there is the following text from Acts 13:1-3:

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:  Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Here we have the early Christians worshiping God and listening to Him for direction.  As they worshiped and fasted, God spoke to them through His Spirit about a work that needed done.  Their response is to seek God further in prayer and fasting, leading Barnabas and Saul to be Sent Out. 

I love this approach!  Barnabas and Saul went on to accomplish the work God had for them through the sending out of them by the Christians at Antioch.  They were going with a purpose.  Not only did they know that God was behind it — it was a work to which He had called them — they also knew a group of believers were backing them as well.  I don’t think we can accurately estimate the power of being Sent Out.  The hurts, fears, and doubts of Thrown Out and Left Out are completely out of the picture.  Instead, you have strength, faith, and confidence, knowing that you have a job to do that someone else believes that you can do because God has called you to it.  We see this as Paul and Barnabas travel from place to place boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus.  We see it in Paul’s writings as he instructs, challenges, and calls Christian believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus.

I thank God that I have finally experienced the joy and pleasure of being Sent Out by a group of people.  It has been remarkable to watch God work to bring about this change of ministry I went through a couple of years ago.  In many ways, it seems like the script was taken directly from the passage in Acts above.  In a time of worship and prayer, God called me to a greater involvement in prayer with Impact Ministries International.  I had already experienced being Thrown Out and Left Out in ministry and just knew there had to be something better.  And so I prayed and I fasted.  I went to the elders of the Deer Run Church of Christ where I was on staff at the time and asked them to join me in seeking God’s direction and timing for His purposes in my life of ministry.  After several months of meeting and discussing with each other — but more importantly, with God — we all knew God was calling me into this prayer ministry and giving them the opportunity to partner with me and see that I was Sent Out well.  They responded to God’s leading and continue to stand with me, giving me strength, faith, and confidence to do the work God has called me to.

Sent Out — it is a more excellent way!  As you serve others in the name of Jesus, I pray that you are one who is Sent Out.  Even if no one else has acknowledged it, you have been Sent Out.  Jesus said to His followers — to you and I if we are His followers — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20)  You and I have been Sent Out.  We have been given the authority we need to share the message of the gospel.  Yes, it is much more pleasant when people participate in sending us out rather than throwing us out or leaving us out, but regardless of the actions of people, we are Sent Out!

I pray that you take seriously the fact that you have been Sent Out by God.  May He bring healing to you in the times that you are Thrown Out and Left Out by people.  I pray also that God will help you to be one who participates in others being Sent Out, rather than being a part of someone being Thrown Out or Left Out.  May Jesus be honored as we go about the work that He has called us to.

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Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out? (part 2)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 2 – Left Out  

In Part One of this series of articles, I introduced the concept of three major approaches to occupational ministry change that can be seen in Biblical example and in churches today.  In part one, I wrote about the abrupt transition of being thrown out.  This is a harsh way of accomplishing change.  The short-term gains rarely, if ever, outweigh the long-term hurt, disillusion, and bitterness that forms on both sides of the “thrown out” transition.  It is not a Biblical model of how Christians ought to treat one another.  In fact, the Biblical examples of ministry changes brought about by being “thrown out”, all involve non Jesus-followers versus Jesus followers.  How has the American church culture gotten to the point that we can tell a fellow believer, based solely on our personal preferences, to “Get Out!”?

Okay, long introduction and recap simply to bring us to part 2.  A seemingly gentler approach is a ministry change brought about by being left out.  Left Out has a wide range of causes and influences and is often closely related to the ministry change method of Walk Out.  Left Out is a hard issue to address because it comes from either party, and often both parties, to a ministry change. 

A Biblical example of being left out is found in the relationships of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark.  Let’s look at it as it is written:

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’  Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.  Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.”  Acts 15:36-40

It is a familiar story.  In most cases of being left out, there are actions of betrayal and abandonment — whether real or imagined — that leave a person isolated and no longer belonging to a group he once thought he was part of.  A choosing of sides takes place, followed by a parting of ways, and then you find yourself somewhere different and unexpected — wondering why it came to this.

As I stated earlier, you rarely find Left Out without his close cousin, Walked Out.  In the text above, we see Walk Out show up more than once!  The obvious one is pointed out for us in the text.  We read that John Mark had walked out on Paul, Barnabas, and company during an earlier “missionary” trip.  The other isn’t so obvious, but Paul and Barnabas walk out on each other.  Whatever discussion that takes place between them comes to a climatic end as they part company and go their separate ways.  The striking difference between “thrown out” and “left out” is the motivation.  Thrown Out is generally motivated by anger, pride, and arrogance.  Left Out is more subtle and driven by emotions of hurt, betrayal, and isolation.

Yet in this story, we see how God was able to use the hurts of Left Out to bring about good in this ministry change.  By Barnabas insisting that John Mark go along and Paul insisting that he doesn’t, two missionary teams are developed to take the message of the gospel to a greater number of people.  Being left out hurts, but God can use that to accomplish His will when we stay surrendered to Him.  The emotions of Left Out aren’t so deep and vibrant as those of Thrown Out, so the healing and reconciliation is often easier and more complete.  That is “the rest of the story” of the text above.  As Paul is imprisoned and near the end of his life, he writes to Timothy and asks him to come and to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:12). 

When you find yourself entangled in the complex maze of Left Out and Walk Out, know that while it is not the best situation, God can use it for great good.  Also remember that God has reconciled us to Himself to give us the ministry of reconciliation.  I pray that you and I would be mindful of those we have left out, those who feel left out, and those who walk out.  Let us carry with us, and to them, the message of reconciliation and usefulness.

. . . next up, part 3 – Sent Out. 

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Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out? (part 1)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 1 – Thrown Out  

These thoughts have been prompted by my recent conversations with a number of people experiencing transitions in, and out, of occupational ministry as well as reflections of my journey in ministry.

There seems to be three major approaches to occupational ministry change in churches today — thrown out, left out, or sent out.  I also see God using each of these three processes to move people into ministry where He wants them to be as I read the history of the early church in the New Testament.  I find this fascinating, because without the Biblical example of God using each of these methods to accomplish His purposes, my first reaction would be to think that only one of these approaches could be used by God effectively.  But that would limit God’s ability and sovereign nature, wouldn’t it?  To only be able to use one method would stand in stark contrast to a God who “causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

Not only that, I’ve seen first hand how God has used each of these methods to move me into the “work that He has prepared in advance for me to do.”  Let’s examine more closely some Biblical and personal examples of each of these approaches and determine to do transitions in a more excellent way!

The first approach is “thrown out”.  This is the most visibly harsh of the three methods of transition.  Often, this is used out of extreme hatred and ignorance.  You have various examples of the apostles being thrown out of the synagogues by the Jewish leaders, causing them to seek out listeners to the gospel message among the Gentiles.  Their ministry location would change because of being thrown out and barred from speaking to their original audience.  The persecution that spread throughout Jerusalem is another example of this.  Believers were scattered throughout the known world, thrown out of their hometown by religious leaders intent on putting a stop to Christianity.  This was slightly more subtle than the apostles being thrown out of the synagogues, but the actions of those opposed to Christianity made it clear — “You are not welcome here any longer.”

While God used the “throwing out” of His people to accomplish a greater spread of the gospel, those doing the throwing — even the religious leaders — tended to move farther and farther away from God.  Did it break God’s heart to see His servants treated that way?  I think so.  It broke His heart to see His Son treated that way.  But His desire is not to waste the pain and rejection that is experienced, but to use it for a greater good.  The lessons learned are often slow and painful but they can be of great benefit.  The key to growth when enduring the “thrown out” style of ministry change is to allow God’s love and mercy through others to bring healing and purpose. 

Being thrown out hurts.  Whether it is a physical persecution as the early Christians faced with all of its physical harm or just a simple, “You’re fired!”, the pain is real and the rejection can be overwhelming.  When you find yourself in that position, know that God wants to make something good come out of it and Satan simply wants you to become hard and bitter.  It becomes a battle for your heart and soul and it is critical that you allow God to bring healing, peace, and forgiveness into your life.  It takes time.  There is not a quick, easy, and painless “three steps to emotional healing” that can move you from thrown out today to healed and whole tomorrow.

For me, being thrown out of a ministry was one of the hardest things I have ever had to endure.  The healing and recovery process was long and hard.  I’m not even sure when it happened, but one day I no longer saw myself as the victim in the whole process.  The real victims were the lives that went untouched because people got so wrapped up in their own agendas that the only thing spread was hurt and confusion.

This isn’t unique to occupational ministry.  Most people have felt “thrown out” at some point in their life.  They’ve been “in” and told that have to get out.  We live in a throw away society and unfortunately that attitude infects the relationships that people have with one another.  If this job, marriage, friendship, or whatever other relationship doesn’t work out, that is okay — I’ll just throw it away and get another one. 

I pray that you and I would value people the way God values us.  If anyone ever had reason, God had all the reason in the world because of our sin to throw us away.  Instead, he redeemed us — bought us for His own and adopted us as sons and daughters.  What an incredible example when we begin to feel someone is of no use to us.  Don’t throw them away, guide them to a restored life in Jesus!

. . . next up, part 2 – Left Out. 

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Wow! I Love God! (and I still enjoy flying!)

For those who have read my previous post and travel a lot by air, you probably knew this article would be coming!

My four hour layover in Denver turned into a six hour layover and two hour late arrival in Tucson.  Shortly before noon, the monitors were listing a one hour delay due to the airplane we were to use being delayed in arriving to Denver.  The plane did arrive and the crew boarded and did their pre-flight checks to get ready for our flight.  Then we were told the flight was simply being listed as delayed, with no estimated departure time due to a problem with one of the doors.  I  guess there is something about flying for 2 hours without a door that might become worrisome.

Pretty soon, the crew come up the jet-way and simply said they were told to leave the aircraft — not a good sign if you plan on flying soon.  But it wasn’t long before they made an announcement that our aircraft needed work but they had another plane at a different gate that we would be using with a 3:00 scheduled departure rather than the 1:20 original flight plan.  Fortunately, the new gate wasn’t far and the crowd of fellow fliers make their way over and reshuffle the line.  Then the announcement is made that this aircraft is configured differently and it doesn’t have as many seats.  Seating on this plane would be rows 4 – 19.  Anyone ticketed in something other than that would not be going!  I had seat 4A, so I was good to go.  Then it was as if they forgot to tell the crew about the new plans.  They finally arrived and we made it on the plane and ready to go for a 3:20 departure.

Such is the life of flying!  Good one minute, completely gone wrong the next.  But as I said to a gentleman in line with me, “Still beats walking!”  I made it from South Bend to Tucson in 15 hours from the time I left home to driving away from the Tucson airport.  Yes, it could have been a quicker trip.  Yes, it is generally more enjoyable when everything goes right.

But, it wasn’t my day.  I’m not saying it wasn’t my day because things went wrong.  That would be the common line of thinking — you’ve heard it, right?  When everything goes just right, it must be my day.  When everything goes wrong, it just wasn’t my day.  That is not what I’m saying.  It wasn’t my day because it was God’s day that I am living.  I love the line from the “Facing The Giants” movie, “We praise Him if we win and we praise Him if we lose.”  That is what I’m talking about.  I love God and His day was given to me in a way not according to my plans.  That’s okay!

I love God and I still enjoy flying because I attempt to fly in obedience to God’s calling in my life.  I don’t simply plan trips because they sound like fun or will be of great benefit or rest to me.  I go places based on my listening to God and his promptings in my life through His Spirit, His Word, and the people around me.  I’m sure I don’t hear as well as I ought, but I travel in faith that God has ordained each step I take.  He already knows the steps I take in obedience and the steps I take in disobedience, and every step in between. 

I love God because my life with Him is an eventful journey that is a lot like flying.  I listen, I plan, and I anticipate, but ultimately He’s in charge and I’m learning to joyfully be obedient to His instructions and changes, even if they appear to me as 2 hour delays in my schedule.  His decisions are always right and always for my ultimate good.