God

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L.O.S.T – Part 4: Teach

It seems like I’ve gotten “lost” over the past couple of months when it comes to writing.  There are a number of reasons for that which I hope to write about soon.  However, I do want to finish up this 4-part series with this final segment called, “Teach”.

As I looked at in the previous three articles, there is a progression that we move through as we break free from being “lost”.  We begin by learning to listen.  We hear a lot of things, but we are not particularly good at listening — especially when it comes to listening to God.

As an outgrowth of listening, we begin to observe.  We take notice of what God is doing in, through, and around us.  Our observations lead us to see a different path, or direction, we ought to be taking so that we’re no longer in a lost condition.

The hardest part for most people is often the third stage where we must surrender.  All of the listening and observing does little good if we are unwilling to surrender to what God has called us to be.  Surrendering is an admission that we are lost and in need of direction that only God can give.

That brings us to this final stage — one that is often overlooked because we think that completing the stage of surrender brings us out of our lost condition and completes our “quest”.  But there is much more to it.  We don’t become “un-lost” strictly for our own benefit.  We must teach that which we’ve learned on our journey.  Jesus states in Matthew that we are not simply to make disciples through a process of bringing them to full surrender, we must also be busy about “teaching them to obey all that [He] commanded.”

I’ve been taught, and believe, that you cannot teach what you do not know.  I would go a step further and say that you cannot effectively teach what you do not practice.  We teach by what we say, but we often teach much more by what we do.  In order to effectively teach what Jesus commanded, we must be doing what Jesus commanded.  As we live a surrendered life, we must be busy teaching that same surrendered lifestyle to others.  Listening is not natural for most people, so when we use the tool of listening we gain a valuable practice that we ought to be teaching to others.  As we observe the working of God, we ought to teach others to take notice of what God is doing in and around them as well. 

I pray that as you take note of these L.O.S.T. principles, that you would apply them in your life and live them out in a way that teaches others that you have found direction through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

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L.O.S.T. – Part 3: Surrender

Okay, it would seem since it has been quite some time since I began this series that I must have gotten lost somewhere in the writing process. 

Maybe part of the delay is that part three is the hardest part for me to actually do.  I can handle the listening and the observing because I’m still involved in seeking out the solution.  Part three in dealing with being lost is that we must surrender.  There, I’ve said the word:  Surrender!  Being lost causes us to surrender our will and desires to one who knows where we are and how to get to where we need to be — that is if we want to be “un-lost”. 

I generally have a good sense of direction and usually can find my way around new places rather easily.  Even when I am out traveling and end up in unfamiliar territory, I often just keep driving, figuring eventually something will look familiar or I will see a needed road sign or somehow discover where I am at so that I can begin to make my way back to where I want to be.  At times I am so confident of my ability to figure out where I am at that I end up in unknown territory, way out of the way, lost, before I finally surrender and pull out a map to help me discover where I’m at and how to get to where I am going. 

While that is hard enough for me to do, the more difficult times are when the map isn’t available, or doesn’t help, and I am forced to completely surrender and tell someone that I have no idea where I am at and need their help to get to where I am going.  You would think that after enough practice having to do that, it would be easier — especially when it becomes apparent how much time and energy could be saved simply by surrendering and asking directions much earlier.

Many times, people remain in their lost state in relationship with God because they refuse to surrender.  There is no way to make it to a vibrant and growing relationship with God except to surrender to the lordship of His Son, Jesus.  He put it this way in Matthew 16:24-25:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses (surrenders) his life for me will find it.”

Then in John 14, Jesus comforts His followers with the news that He is leaving to prepare a place for them and that He will return for them.  He assures them that He will be back to take them to the place that He is going to and that they know how to get there.  Thomas is not so sure and responds, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  The answer from Jesus in John 14:6-7 is classic and points out that the disciples did know the way to where Jesus was going — that way is Jesus Himself!

“I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Wow!  When I am lost, I must surrender to the only way out.  This cuts straight across the grain of modern thinking — particularly modern religious thinking.  Rather than surrender to God when lost, people have a tendency to “drive around”, thinking that somehow they will find another way to get to where they want to be.  Recent surveys show that many “religious leaders” profess that there may be multiple ways to get to heaven and varied paths to God.  It makes me wonder what they do with the Bible, especially the words of Jesus above from John 14:6.  Jesus could have said, “I am a way” or “I am the primary way” or even “I know the way” but instead He said, “I am the way”!  Just in case we miss the exclusive nature of His statement, He emphasizes it with the next sentence, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

When a person is in a lost condition, separated from God, surrender is absolutely necessary.  There is only one way to go from lost to relationship with God and only Jesus can get us there.  It is time for each of us to really examine our life and commit it to being a life surrendered fully to Jesus.

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L.O.S.T. – Part 2: Observe

In my previous post, I wrote about the need to listen.  In part two, I want us to consider our need to observe.  Just as we often have difficulty listening, we often fail to observe for a variety of reasons.

We use the word observe in a couple of different ways.  We may talk about observing the law and our focus is on obedience.  However, when we talk about observing a sunset, our focus is usually on enjoyment.  As I thought about these two very different reactions to the same word, I began to realize that maybe they are not so different after all.

From a Christian point of view, when we think about observing God’s commands, we define observe as including both the aspect of noticing something and then responding appropriately to it.  God doesn’t simply say, “Look at my commands!”  Yes, we must look at them.  We must take notice of what God has said through His Word,  to “gaze intently into His perfect law”.  We need to pay attention to the work God is doing in and through us in transforming us to be what He wants us to be.  God has given us His very own Spirit and we need to “see” the work He is doing so that we can be a more accurate representative of Jesus.

But we have to move beyond simply noticing, or seeing, when we observe.  To observe correctly, we must respond appropriately.  It is hard enough to “see”.  The distractions and busy-ness of life often keep us from focusing on the things God has placed in front of us to observe.  We stumble through our Christian life because we are not paying attention to where we are going.  Yet many times when we do take in the information that is needed, we still stumble because we fail to have an appropriate response to what is “seen”.  This is where I think the two examples that I started with connect.  The appropriate response to “seeing” God’s commands is to obey them.  An appropriate response to seeing a sunset is to enjoy it as part of God’s incredible creativity.

When we feel “lost” in our spiritual walk, it is a good idea to stop and take a look around.  Ask yourself some basic questions:  How did I get here?  Does anything look familiar?  What do I see and hear around me?  What dangers currently exist?  How do I get back to where I was?  As we ask these questions, and genuinely seek answers to them, we begin to recognize the correct responses that we ought to make.  As we begin to put our faith into action and actually do what we observe needs done, we begin the process of truly “observing all that [He] commands”. 

I pray that when we observe, we do so not only with our senses but with our actions as well.

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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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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.