Pastor Al

Be a Noticer

2010-05-03T06:11:00.001-05:00

Sermon notes from May 2.

IDENTITY SERIES
Insiders
Mark 4:11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.”
Certain messages are appropriate for those who are inside the faith, but make no sense to those outside the faith.
Thru relationship, God entrusts His secrets to us. We are insiders in the Kingdom.

Doers
“Contend for the Faith”- Jude 3
“Be doers of the Word” – James 1:22
1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Dedication, Order, Entirety, Rededication ( end zone celebration )
Elevators
John 12:32
Elevator concepts:
1. A change in level
2. Decisions are required
3. Things are happening on the floors you pass by
4. Accidently getting off on the wrong floor is frustrating
5. Clear communication is important ( first floor basement or ground )
6. Nursery and morgue on different floors in same building

Noticers
Transformers
Illuminators
Tasters
Yeilders
Mark 5:21 - 6:1 Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23 pleading fervently with him. "My little daughter is dying," he said. "Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live." 24 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. 25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" 31 His disciples said to him, "Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, 'Who touched me?'" 32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over." 35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now." 36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith." 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn't dead; she's only asleep." 40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, "Talitha koum," which means "Little girl, get up!" 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.
Notice!
Mark 5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
Things to Notice:
Everywhere Jesus went was a ministry opportunity
Jesus noticed the crowd
There are desperate people around us
Jesus noticed the one in need
There are things you would be willing to pay every penny you have for.
Jesus noticed the touch
Jesus tied peace to the miracle
Messengers sometimes bring bad news
Jesus noticed the weeping
Jesus noticed that they were overwhelmed and gave them instructions about how to handle the crowd.
Jesus noticed the hunger

Elevating others by doing things right

2010-04-22T06:46:00.003-05:00

Notes from last Sunday's Sermon about elevating others

God’s Vantage point
From His point, Accuracy is unquestionable
“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” Greek quote
“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.”
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
From principles is derived probability, but truth or certainty is obtained only from facts.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
Accuracy can be the difference between life and death
Amos 7:8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
Deuteronomy 25:15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

We can get inaccurate when we are inefficient. There is an account in the book of Exodus that teaches this lesson:
Exodus 18:1 - 19:1 8 Lessons about doing things right:

Keep an ear to what God is doing.v 1
Camp near the mountain of God v. 5
Greet people properly v 7
Share your testimonies v 8
Understand that you are always in the presence of God v. 13
Participate with straight, accurate answers to clear questions
Follow Good advice
Allow consulting parties to go on their way. There are others that need their help too.

Confrontation at the elevator

2010-04-12T05:57:00.002-05:00

Confrontation at the Elevator
April 11, 2010
Pastor Al Hazelton
Harlan First Assembly

God wants to confront you today. As you walk you will find Him already there. His heart is already here.
Deut. 31:21
“And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”

Old chorus: Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus
He’s the one who always cares and understands
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands
VALUE
There is nothing you brought in with you today that God refuses to confront.
He has a good day planned for you
Prov 11:28 ( the message )
“A life devoted to things is a dead life; a stump,
A God-shaped life is a flourishing tree”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ( NLT )
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord…They are like trees planted along the riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”

Everything finds value and purpose in God Because He is the author and creator of all things.
Figuring out our value only works when we start with God rather than starting with ourselves.
Since we did not create ourselves, we cannot figure our value
We must begin at God and let value determination happen from the vantage point of the Holy Spirit.
God is the source of your life

V- View
Remember that God’s view is higher
Within God’s will everything holds a special calm serenity and beauty
1 Jn 5:14 tells us that God listens when we pray in His will.
God take us higher

A –Attitude
All He wants is you
Charles Spurgeon once said, “We should plow carefully and pray carefully”
Dangerous is ok, careless is not
Following the example of Christ should be our heart attitude.
1 Jn 2:6
L- Look Angle
“ O for a faith that will not shrink
Though pressed by every foe
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
U- Upward Movement
Space shuttle launch
Don’t forget about the things you dreamed about when you were a kid
Isa 61 “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…
God wants to catapult you upward (Space shuttle launch)
One version reads in Gen 25:8 that Abraham died satisfied with life
E- Excellence
John Maxwell in his book “Life@work” writes about 4 helpful activities in the excellence search:
1. Constructing personal convictions
2. Capturing inspirational moments
3. Conducting Scripture memory
4. Connecting with people of character
Determine the value and confront life by acting on the valuable things

A trail worth taking

2010-03-30T06:07:00.003-05:00

I had the opportunity last night to hop on the bicycle and experience the "Old Stone Arch Trail" at Shelby, Iowa. We have these hidden treasures just a short distance from where we live. The old railroad bed that once carried the locomotives everyday, today offers a view of the countryside that is not seen from the hyway. I am reminded that not all that is real and beautiful is before our eyes. Some treasures must be sought out by searching. The stone arch reminded me that there are bridges worth crossing. This week we celebrate the greatest bridge man has ever crossed. The "Crimson Bridge" of the cross of Christ is the only path that leads from death to life. It is a trail worth taking.

Biking season

2010-03-26T06:30:00.003-05:00

It feels like Spring has finally really arrived now. One of my goals for this year is to do some bicycling. I got the bike off the ceiling hooks in the garage last night and took a short spin.Looking forward to heading down some of the trails that have been developed in the past few years. I have not ridden much in the past several years but have fond memories of many miles on the bike in the past. We'll see how it goes.

Heavenly Realms

2010-03-24T06:02:00.004-05:00

I have really been slow on the blogging front lately. I thought I had better at least post some sermon notes from last Sunday. I am continuing in the IDENTITY series, spending the last several weeks on the "Elevator" as we look at the ups and downs of spiritual life including a reminder that we are not battling against flesh and blood but the spiritual battle is taking place in heavenly realms. We are given a glimpse of that venue in scripture.

The entire Bible now is found in electronic form on tiny silicon chips
The Rocks are crying out : )
No matter what floor you are on, God has a purpose for you
We are to be pressing toward the upward call of God
I want to see Him high and lifted up, Shining in the light of His glory
God is looking for what Bill Johnson calls “royal fighters” who will enter into the contest with his whole soul and take the situation captive for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

For too long the church has played defense in the battle for souls.
Learning from people who take a stand for God regardless of the cost.
People who are wanting to change the world one heart at a time.

On Offense:

1. We have the ball
Options: Move, Shoot, Pass,

We are not to stand there and hold it
We are not to fear ( read Ex 13:17 )
The safest place is always in obedience ( deep intimacy )

2. We have a table prepared for us Psalm 23:5 .

3. We have Joy ( About a decision, not a feeling )
Satan is an expert at stealing from us and his favorite target is our joy

Psalm 118:24 Nehemiah 8:10 Proverbs 17:22 Jeremiah 17:7-8

Response techniques

2010-03-12T07:03:00.003-06:00

I was listening to a podcast devotional this morning that reminded me to pay attention to how God oprerates and provides. The reason is not so that I will know exactly how He will operate today, because there is much variety in how He meets the needs. The reason to pay special attention to how He did it yesterday is because that will help formulate my response today to situations of life. I can learn good response techniques simply by studying God's responses in history.

The elevator is going up

2010-03-08T05:50:00.004-06:00

If we look at our identity as a building,inside there is an elevator. We go up and down depending on our needs. In yesterday's sermon, I talked about elevator experiences. You can find the audio of the sermon on our podcast of weekly sermons at:

www.harlanfirstaog.org

Below is the basic outline:

John 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Drawing people to Jesus is the primary goal of life and we cannot do it. He must do it and does it when we lift Him up.

Lifting ( Exalting God ) is what we were created to do.

Vantage points at different levels

Elevator concepts:

1. A change in level occurs

2. Decisions are required

3. Things are happening on the floors you pass by
Good Samaritan. Luke 10.others passed by ..
4. Accidently getting off on the wrong floor is frustrating
Unfamiliar surroundings and wrong places
5. Clear communication is important
( Is the first floor basement or ground )
6. Nursery and morgue on different floors in same building
Talents different to different needs
7. Requires standing at the door and waiting
Isa 40:31 Waiting is worth it
8. You are in a small room with strangers
Hebrews 13:2 Entertaining Angels
9. There is an unseen power source at work
2 Cor. 4:18 “fixing our eyes”
10. The ride is important
God will ask us if we had a nice journey.

Fulfilling destiny

2010-03-01T06:15:00.003-06:00

Some of the key points from yesterday's sermon. Guest missionary Jonathan Barthalow shared about fulfilling our destiny based on Scriptures in Philippians 3:7-21.

In order to do that we need to:

1. Know Jesus personally
2. Refuse to be controlled by our past hurts and actions
3. Refuse to be controlled by our past heritage
4. Refuse to be controlled by our distractions

We all need a constant reminder to stay on track no matter what. Nothing is more important than God's will for our lives.

Do Nots

2010-02-22T06:18:00.002-06:00

Yesterday in my sermon series on being do-ers of the Word, I listed some of the "Do Nots"

Identity Series
Doers
Today: “Things to Not Do”

There is a hunger in those in touch with God to express worship in new ways.
John 20:19-21
“…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”Be Patient and wait for the signal from God

Do Not’s in Genesis:

Gen 19:17 “And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley.
Gen 19:22 “Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.”
Gen. 26:2 “And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.”
Gen. 43:23…“Peace to you, do not be afraid…
Gen. 45:5 “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Gen 45:9 “Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.”
Gen 45:24 “Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

Things to remember in the “Doing Not” arena:

God’s call is individual. Task # 1 is to listen for ours.
Call to intimate relationship
Call to have the heart of the Father
Call to wait until we have heard

Call to send ( John 20:21- “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”)
We need to know who God is calling us to reach and wait until He sends us.

Do it for the Glory of God

2010-02-15T06:01:00.002-06:00

The sermon series that I am preaching this year is entitled "IDENTITY"

Insiders
Do-ers
Elevators
Noticers
Transformers
Illuminators
Tasters
Yielders

A look at some sermon notes from yesterday:

Do All to the Glory of God

Don’t go after success without God. Don’t be so full of your dreams that you have no room for God’s dream for you.

1 Cor 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Living under the influence of the promises of God
Greatest blessing comes in visiting an old word (Watering holes in the Word )
1. Embrace the Challenge
When you do it builds the core of your identity ( who you are ) Even if you don’t perform perfectly.
More options than ever right now as is the volume of the voice of God
Wade into that challenge disregarding whether or not it will be difficult or unpleasant
Acknowledge to God in prayer a sin or character flaw you have been trying to hide.
I heard this week that sometimes we do the right thing out of discipline and sometimes it is because we can no longer function without doing it.

You will get a little stronger inside
If you wimp out – you die a little and fear and anxiety will be the rule instead of faith.

2.Recognize the enemy of your victory over the challenge

2 Cor. 2:11 “We are not ignorant concerning his devices”

F.E.Marsh (Author of Discipler’s manual once said,”Satan comes as a roaring lion to persecute: or an angel of light to patronize. Satan as an angel of light is far more to be dreaded than satan as a roaring lion. A patronizing enemy is far worse than a persecuting one.

How do you recognize God?
Desire the right things. 1 Cor. 14:1

Lessons from the sea of life

2010-02-11T06:12:00.000-06:00

Much of our understanding in life can be looked at as the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand when it retreated. I have often preached on the subject of water. The bible is full of illustrations of life on and around the sea. There are currents that take us where the water is headed. There are storms that toss us to and fro upon the waves. There are wonderful calm times with the sounds of creation all around us and there are times of great noise that cause us to find a place in the cabin of the ship away from the sounds. There are fish and fishermen. There is the sail that must be tended to and there is the island on which to rest. There are great ships that carry thousands and there are small boats that carry one. There are depths to be explored and high wave crests to be ridden.
There are seashells and starfish to be pondered and sand to be sifted through our toes.
Thank God today that there are lighthouses to guide us and ports to welcome us. Whatever ship you are on today, enjoy the ride, but don’t forget to look at the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand as the tide moved across it.

The business of the Kingdom

2010-01-27T05:45:00.004-06:00

A few short thoughts this morning:

We are living in a time of sifting. The balanced life requires training in the business of the Kingdom. When Jesus was about 12 , His family was looking for Him and they found Him in the temple teaching the teachers. We get no indication that He apologized for causing their inconvenience. He simply reminded them that they should have known that He would be about the Father's business.

The Father's business is profitable. There is abundance.
The Father's business is pleasing. There is joy.
The Father's business is pure. There is clarity.
The Father's business is palatable. There is sweetness

In this time of stuggling economy around us, it is good to know that the Father's business is doing well.

I'm In

2010-01-25T05:44:00.003-06:00

Sermon notes from "I'm In" sermon yesterday. This is part of our 2010 "IDENTITY" series. God works from the inside out.

Acts 17:28-29. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image made by man's design and skill."

From the ESV Study Bible:

"Acts teaches that the new community is rooted in old promises. It does this by telling how God directed the inclusion of Gentiles and took the message from Jerusalem to Rome. The gospel can go to all the world because (1) Jesus is Lord and (2) God directed that the gospel go into all the world. The book ends on a note of triumph as the gospel comes to Rome, even though believers suffered in terms of injustice and physical persecution in an effort to get the gospel there."

God created us with an innate desire to know and love him. While this desire will last eternally, trauma can shock it into temporary dormancy.

Hebrew verb "YHVH" meaning “to be.”
Jehovah-Jireh means "the Lord who sees and provides."
Jehovah-Nisi means “the Lord is my miracle,” or “the Lord is my banner."
Jehovah-Tsidkenu means "the Lord who is our righteousness."
Jehovah-Shalom refers to "the Lord of peace.”
Jehovah-Rapha means “the Lord who heals you."

1. God heals because he is The Healer
2. God heals in response to his promises.
3. God heals when you demonstrate faith
4. God heals to encourage people to come to Him. (Psalm 103:2-4).

He heals broken hearts; he repairs wounds.
We must strive to comprehend the depths of God’s unconditional love.
We were created with an innate desire to know and love Him.

As God works us through things He works from the inside out.

God responds to faith

Pulling Light

2010-01-19T07:30:00.003-06:00

I want to operate in a system today that pulls the light of heaven into my relationships. Once that light is in the room, all darkness is forced to leave. Then I am able to look through the eyes of a heavenly context. I then can check out connections that might have defective or ineffective energy transfer. In electronic troubleshooting we called those "cold solder joints". It lookled like it was connected but it was not. Consequently the electrons were not allowed through and the circuit would not work. Checking connections is a great way to troubleshoot your life today.

Inside Information

2010-01-12T06:00:00.003-06:00

My sermon series for 2010 is about "Identity"
Below are some thoughts from last Sunday's notes regarding "Inside Information":

Insiders of the Kingdom

It is an awesome fact that as a citizen of God’s kingdom, you are already uniquely positioned to live out your kingdom citizenship among the people you relate to every day. God has called you to be an "insider" to see your family, neighborhood, and workplace through kingdom eyes. It is time to form new kingdom lifestyle patterns Evangelism is not just for the gifted few—it’s for all of us. We need to daily connect with the eternal purposes of God.

Certain messages are appropriate for those who are inside the faith, but make no sense to those outside the faith.

Through relationship, God entrusts His secrets to us. We are insiders in the Kingdom.

Mark Chapter 4: 1-20
Mark 4:1-20 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" 13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

There are things that Only God knows and does not share

There are things that you know because of who you are

There are things you are expected to learn because if your position

There are things that are available for you to learn if you wantAbraham in Gen. 12

The Kingdom mentality changes our definition of normal.

The pattern of the heavenly wave

2010-01-07T06:19:00.000-06:00

A couple years ago I wrote a blog about the effect of the waves that happen on the sea of life. Much of our understanding in life can be looked at as the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand when it retreated. I have often preached on the subject of water. The bible is full of illustrations of life on and around the sea. There are currents that take us where the water is headed. There are storms that toss us to and fro upon the waves. There are wonderful calm times with the sounds of creation all around us and there are times of great noise that cause us to find a place in the cabin of the ship away from the sounds. There are fish and fishermen. There is the sail that must be tended to and there is the island on which to rest. There are great ships that carry thousands and there are small boats that carry one. There are depths to be explored and high wave crests to be ridden.
There are seashells and starfish to be pondered and sand to be sifted through our toes. Thank God today that there are lighthouses to guide us and ports to welcome us. Whatever ship you are on today, enjoy the ride, but don’t forget to look at the pattern that the heavenly wave left on the sand as the tide moved across it.

Some thoughts aabout breakthrough

2010-01-05T05:43:00.002-06:00

Sermon notes about breakthrough techniques

Last week we looked at finding ways to win and found that conquering the battle of self is key.
In 2 Chronicles 35 we found Josiah first winning the internal battles then taking the stand that gave victory to God’s people.
He remained open and teachable starting at a young age
He found obstacles that had been carried forward from the past and got rid of them
He figured out what he had to give and he gave it
He repented of his own sins and the sins of the people. ( A leader’s responsibility )
He kept a personal commitment to succeed. Faithful leaders will have faithful followers who will learn faithfulness despite their evil desires and history.

Today we look at why it is important for breakthrough to be in the heart of more than just the leader.
2 Chronicles 35:16-19 So at that time the entire service of the LORD was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, as King Josiah had ordered. 17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 19 This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.

Without being Spirit led we cannot possibly live victoriously for Christ

Breakthrough timing

In Jim Cymbala’s book: “Breakthrough Prayer” he says that breakthrough timing is all about knowing the exact will of God at any given moment.

If we are willing to be led, God is willing to reveal His will. The God who directed His children through the wilderness for 40 years is able to direct us with His will today.

Acts 16:9-10 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

It is not a matter of finding techniques that work. It is a matter of being led of the Spirit.

There is a place in scripture where God told Moses to stop praying and move out:
Exodus 14:15-16 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

The best of activities sometimes must come to a halt so that something significant can be accomplished.

God will inject a prophetic word at the right time and we must be open to the prophet.

Three prime times to lead people through to triumph ( Try- Umph )
They are ready when:
1. They hurt enough that they need a breakthrough
2. They learn enough that they want a breakthrough
3. They receive enough that they are able to break through

I need to give learning opportunity, resources, encouragement

I need to pay attention to where people are mentally, spiritually and emotionally

At times I need to give people the “Blessed Nudge” to get them over the hump.

Beautiful life-changing breakthroughs is what God is all about.

Pray it in
John Wesley once observed that God does nothing but in answer to prayer
Ask God to help you to do your part, to reveal other people’s part to them, and to do His part
Qualities of people ready to break through: ( How do we know that timing? ) (From John Maxwell)
1. Vulnerability- They know that they are not able to do it and need God to make up the difference
2. Humility- They don’t care who gets the credit
3. Transparency- They admit that God is working in their lives
That’s a recipe for victory
Important sidelines:
Keep a sweet spirit- many people go thru life with an irritable spirit that is corrosive to themselves and others.
Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Someone once stated that glum and despondent believers should be sued for false advertising.Jesus Christ is far greater than they are letting on.
Deuteronomy 12:18 “ ….you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to.”
A great prayer and response
1 Kings 3:4-5 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
1 Kings 3:9-14 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-- both riches and honor-- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."

Solomon wanted to serve effectively.

Effectiveness is a result of your love for God

Dec. 31 The Seventh Day of Christmas

2009-12-31T06:14:00.001-06:00

There are only a few hours left to make good decisions in 2009. The biblical encouragement is to finish strong. There is still time to do that no matter what your situation is. God is “Beautiful for situation” (Psalms 48)
Today, December 31, is the seventh day of Christmas. I like the Biblical interpretation of the twelve days of Christmas. In it the "seven swans a-swimming" on the seventh day refers to seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. How great it would be if we would seriously seek after these gifts. We have had a season of gifts from the human standpoint over the last few days, now is a good time to seek out the gifts under God’s tree.

The number seven is special to God.
• Seven days of Creation (Genesis 1)
• Seven years of plenty and seven years of famine in Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41)
• Seven days of the feast of Passover (Exodus 13:3-10)
• Seven day week and the pattern concerning distribution and use of manna (Exodus 16)
• Seven year cycle around the years of Jubilee (Leviticus 25)
• The fall of the walls of Jericho on the seventh day after marching around the city seven times(Joshua 6)
• Seven things the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:16-19)
• Seven loaves multiplied into seven baskets of surplus (Matthew 15:32-37)
• The Seven last words (or seven last sayings) of Jesus on the cross.
• Seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom (Acts 6:3)
• Seven Spirits of God are mentioned in the Book of Revelation
• Seven churches of Asia to which the "Book of Revelation" is addressed.
• Seven churches, seven stars, seven seals, seven last plagues, seven vials or bowls, seven thunders in the Revelation, the last book of the Bible.

By the way, our New Year’s Eve service starts at 7 tonight.
Happy New Year!!!!

Obstacles carried forward

2009-12-30T05:59:00.002-06:00

With only today and tomorrow left in the year, it is a good time to inventory the baggage that may or may not be necessary. My effectiveness is impacted by how open and teachable I am. Once I realize that I don't "know it all", I am in a position to seek wisdom. One of those areas of needed wisdom is the ability to see baggage that is in the form of obstacles. Many of these obstacles have been brought into my life as a result of my own actions. I cannot always blame someone else. Unfinished problems of the past that just get packed up and carried forward to be dealt with later can reduce efficiency and bog me down today. These can come in the form of errors in judgement, ineffective traditions or unrepented sins. I need courage to deal with them and the end of the year is a great time to do it.

"Service" review

2009-12-28T05:51:00.002-06:00

For today's blog entry I have decided to post some review of our 2009 theme.

A review of the foundations of service. We call the gathering time for the church "A Service"

Preparing for service

2 Chronicles 35:10 "So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment."

Once the proper preparations are in place, we need to stand in our correct place.

From the English Standard version of the Bible that I got for Christmas:

Just as Josiah encouraged and instructed the priests and Levites “in the service of the house of the Lord,” the detailed account of his Passover serves as an encouragement and model to the Chronicler's own generation in their use of the temple for worship and spiritual renewal. The Passover was the most significant pilgrimage festival in the postexilic community for reaffirming their identity and vocation as Yahweh's people

Our Service to God (2009 Theme)
A review: The bookends are Sacrifice and Entrance

Sacrifice
Efficiency
Reality
Victory
Integrity
Commitment
Entrance

Hebrews 13:15-16
" God inhabits the praises of His people.
BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY.
BECAUSE HE INHABITS OUR PRAISE.
BECAUSE PRAISE BRINGS VICTORY.
BECAUSE PRAISE BRINGS FREEDOM.

"I don't know how to give back to God what He deserves than to just worship with my life and every part of me"- Kari Jobe-Associate Worship Pastor Gateway Church

Singing through Christmas

2009-12-24T06:53:00.001-06:00

In my search for Christmas carols that have stood the test of time, I found an old Victorian carol that we sang as children. I think the reason it was so popular is that is has a repetitive beat and tells the story with clarity. “I saw three ships” or as it is sometimes called, “On Christmas day in the morning”, tells of three something, obviously not real ships as Bethlehem has no seaport, arriving to worship the Christ Child. Most people who study it feel it refers to the arrival of the three wise men with their three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Bible does not tell us there were three kings but the traditional story does. The song is simple and fun. We can enjoy it for what it stands for but may never really know all that the writer, William Sandys , meant the ships to represent. It is hard not to smile while you sing this one. Go ahead! Be a child again. Take someone’s hand and skip around the room while you sing. (Don’t forget to move your head from side to side as you sing.)

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

2009-12-14T05:45:00.002-06:00

December 13, 2009
Today’s Message: “The Entrance of Joy”
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Psalm 32:1 “Happy is the man whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered.”

The Luke 2 Angel proclaimed : “Good Tidings of Great Joy”
Luke 2:6-14 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The Savior of the world brings good news of great joy for all people
Circumstances contribute to joy, but they do not control joy

Reasons to be joyful:
You are personally significant to God
You have the promise
You have been pardoned
You have an invitation to participate

A wise man once said, “Friends double our joy and divide our grief.”

Great joy is God’s gift to you. Don’t leave it unopened.

You can hear this sermon on our podcast at www.harlanfirstaog.org

Click on "Weekly Sermons"

Staying the course

2009-12-11T06:44:00.000-06:00

As busy as life is, especially this time of year, it is crucial that we remain on our pursuit of “the mark” that must remain before us. My spiritual ( and physical) health will be strong if I maintain positive pursuits. The following concepts are from a book by Albert Winesman, who is part of the George H. Gallup International Institute. The Gallop name brings to mind research and data. The book is entitled, “Growing an Engaged Church, How to stop doing church and start being the church.” Winesman writes about indicators of strong spiritual health.

Life Satisfaction:

People connected with a healthy congregation tend to have a better sense of direction, stability and peace than those outside of a strong faith based church. This puts them in a better position to deal with the “stuff” that happens with daily life.

Inviting:

Research has shown that most people get involved in through the personal invitation of a friend, family member or a coworker. Being connected in a positive way to a solid congregation will cause people to want their friends and acquaintances to have that same value.

Serving:

This is the “outreach” aspect . The serving capacity of a group is increased as they grow together spiritually.

Giving:

People who are strong and engaged spiritually and faithful givers at offering time.

The causes for these kinds of positive outcomes are boiled down to spiritual commitment and congregational engagement. Get committed to the right cause and you will find that you’ll have plenty of engagement opportunities.

The “Cause” of Christ is the best cause I know of to pursue.

Life happenings in the storm

2009-12-09T05:29:00.001-06:00

I think the way for me to start this Blizzardy day is with some wisdom from Soren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher and theologian from the mid 1800’s. He had a way of boiling down thought into bite size chewables. Here’s one: “There are two ways to be fooled: one is to believe what isn’t so, and the other is to refuse to believe what is so.” He had a way of bringing out modern relevance of biblical figures. He had a passion to renew Christian faith within Christendom in the Danish church. One of his main recreation activities was to talk with ordinary people on the street. He had much to do with the shaping of modern thinking. He had passion. I am convinced that passion is the impetus that we need to use in making our decisions. More than emotion, passion goes to the will. We can choose the will part but our emotions kind of just happen. As life happens for you today, appreciate the passions you have and remember that they are there for a reason. One of my favorite authors, Leonard Sweet says that at judgment day one of the questions from God will be, “Did you have a good time?” Make sure you can have a positive answer.

The Entrance of Peace

2009-12-07T05:55:00.002-06:00

Sermon notes from the second Sunday of Advent:

Wonderful Peace
Peace, Peace, wonderful peace
Coming down from the father above
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray
In fathomless bellows of love

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Peace that passes understanding
Revelation 1:4 To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Haggai 2:9 The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Leviticus 26:6 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Imperatives
Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
1. Rejoice in the Lord always
2. Let your gentleness be made known to everyone
3. Do not worry about anything
Worry kills
4 Reasons Not to Worry
1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.
2. Worrying is Not Good for You.
3. Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God.
4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.
In everything let your requests be made known to God
in prayer (general)

5. Think about these things - -
whatever is true
whatever is honorable
whatever is just
whatever is pure
whatever is pleasing
whatever is commendable
any excellence
anything worthy of praise
Keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me

Assurances
1. The Lord is near
2. The Peace of God (which surpasses all understanding)
a. Will enter in
b. will guard your hearts (emotional control)
c. will guard your minds (mental stability)
3. The God of Peace will be with you

Innovators

2009-12-03T05:56:00.003-06:00

One of the ways I keep my thinking fresh is to keep good innovators around me. These are people who have amazing abilities and willingness to try new ideas and new ways of looking at situations. Things can look totally different from the other angle. The scope can move from hopeless to solvable simply by looking at it through someone else's perspective. In the Bible, David was not intimidated by Goliath because he had experienced the power of God. When God takes care of the lion and the bear in your road, you can help someone else facing them on their roads. I have found that if I watch for them, I can find these innovators all around me. Good innovators make effective practioners in life.

Urgency

2009-12-02T06:16:00.002-06:00

I read a quote this morning from John Kotter:

" Instilling urgency...is critical to getting organizations to switch directions; arguing the...case using facts alone won't create that urgency."

I need to keep the right lind of urgency going in my life. People do what is urgent. I need to focus on the important things. Good organization will keep me from always working at the point of deadline.

The Advent: Hope

2009-11-30T05:48:00.002-06:00

Sermon Notes from the First Sunday of Advent yesterday:
"The Entrance of Hope"

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Entrance Order:

Faith: Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith introduces hope.
Hope: Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
You are not hopeless. We are given a wonderful example of a hope portal in the Book of Hosea.
Hosea 2:13-15 I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot," declares the LORD. 14 "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. 15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt."

God says he will allure his people into the wilderness. Many times God leads his people to where it is dry, lonely, and dark in order to bring them to himself. God has to bring us to a place where sin is no longer appealing, no longer satisfying so that we might hate it and want more of Christ.
When Israel arrived in the wilderness, God gave her vineyards and the Valley of Achor a door of hope.”

He will take our trouble and turn it into hope — “Achor” in Hebrew means “trouble.” Valley of Achor is found in Joshua 7:10-26, Achan’s sin in the camp that lost the battle.
"Christ in you the hope of glory."

Only Christ can lift the trouble that we have on our hands because of our transgressions and give us life.
Titus 3:7 “Being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Charles Spurgeon: "Sinners may rest content in their sin,
for as yet they know no better, but you are disqualified even for that! You have so much knowledge still left and so much of conscience still remains that you are spoiled for this world, spoiled for the pleasures of sin"

Those who entered the Valley of Achor with tears and lamentation can emerge at the other end with joy and hope.
A miraculous portal

The one particular verse in O little town of Bethlehem is worth looking at again:

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Love: Psalm 26:3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Psalm 57:3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Jesus does not come to us with explanation but with His presence.

Surrounded by partners

2009-11-25T05:57:00.003-06:00

Several of my friends have been making lists this week of things they are thankful for. It is a good exercise that helps to keep prioroties in the right order. One of mine this morning is the great crowd of people around me who have good character. I am blessed with friends that I can count on to make good decisions. These are people that I ask to help me be accountable. They have my blessing to tell me if I am being stupid and they are quick to affirm my good decisions. I am blessed.

Looking forward to the community-wide Thanksgiving Eve service tonight at the Methodist Church.

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son.

And now let the weak say "I am strong."
Let the poor say "I am rich."
Because of what the Lord has done
for us
Give thanks.

Thankful for passions

2009-11-24T05:48:00.002-06:00

“What are you thinking just now? What is happening inside your heart? Every human being needs a cause in life, a passion. If you don’t have something in your life that can make your heart pound, that cam move you either to tears of joy or tears of sorrow in about 30 seconds, then, my friend, you are not fully alive. Life is too precious to go in such a half awake condition. You can do better. You deserve better.”
Dr. Wes Stafford in his book:
“Too small to ignore”

I read that again this week and have been reminded of the importance of identifying our passions. If I am not careful, I become passionate about things that are not really important. The Bible tells us to "Redeem the time". As I went into the grocery store yesterday I noticed the door is covered by obituary notices. Life is too precious to not be involved in the cause and passionate about things beyond myself. If you see me today, remind me that "it's not about me". We are all in this together. Think about your "Globality" today.

SPAW

2009-11-18T08:06:00.002-06:00

It's the 3rd Wednesday of the month. We call it "SPAWday"
Service of Praise and worship is one of our favorite monthly events at church. The lineup for tonight looks to be "The Best Ever" with powerful testimonies and great music.
See you there.

Lesser Hymns

2009-11-17T06:01:00.004-06:00

Sometimes the condensed version gets straight to the point and makes a great beginning, ending or transition. In the world of hymns, there are some great Short hymns of praise to God. Doxology ( Greek- Doxa-Logos- Glory Word of speaking) that seem to sum it all up. Lately, I have fouind myself enjoying these through the course of the day.

The Gloria Patri:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, Now and ever shall be, World without end, Amen

The Common Doxology:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Or how about this one for the meal prayer:

Be present at our table, Lord
Be here and everywhere adored
These mercies bless and grant that we
May feast in fellowship with Thee.

I suggest we let these permeate our day and let God use them to keep us focused on who God really is.

Use the tools

2009-11-16T05:47:00.003-06:00

Sermon notes:

"Commitment to use the tools"
Nov. 15, 2009
Pastor Al Hazelton
Harlan First Assembly of God

1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”
Words of Knowledge, Wisdom, Prophesy, Healing, Helps, are all God given tools.
1 Cor. 12:1 “ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware ( ignorant)”
We live is a time of fake satisfaction and plenty that masks the real needs.
I do not want to stand before God one day and have Him say, “I had many things to tell you, and to give you which you never sought me about.”
There are things that God has for us that we need to seek Him for. It would be better to seek and not get than to not seek and find out it was available.
The reason for the spiritual gift that we are to earnestly desire is for the body of Christ. We serve a God who Can and wants to communicate
John 7:37-38 We need to allow room for certain things for this kind of activity to happen:
1. Time
2. Preparation
3. Shared experience- Take someone with you- Great commission

God’s strong arm reaches down and you can put it to the test : .
1. When you are weighted down by sin
2. When you are overpowered by temptation.
3. When you are oppressed by Christian duty.
4. When we have overlooked it. He may have come in the back door when we expected Him at the front door.

God may have a purposeful delay. Don’t let your impatience accuse God of negligence. He may be keeping you out of view of the battleships of Satan. God has perfect timing. We cannot "Stampede" God into doing things.

We may not be trusting God completely. Pride may be in the way. Press thru to God Himself.

Remember the tender mercies of God.

You can listen to the audio podcast on "itunes" when it is posted this week.
"harlanfirstaog"

Good advice

2009-11-13T06:32:00.002-06:00

I was reading this morning from the book of Exodus chapter 18. Jethro is meeting with his son in law, Moses and giving him some great advice. I find that listening when people are giving good advice is beneficial. There are some great lessons for us in the advice that was given to Moses. See if you can find them.

Exodus 18:13-23 " The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws." Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people-- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

Lessons:

When I try to lead everything, we can all get exasperated.

I cannot handle the load alone. There are things that others are assigned to do and I get in the way if I try to do it.

I need put more effort into helping prepare people for works of service.

Ephesians 4:11-13 t was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Words are important

2009-11-11T06:02:00.004-06:00

I was reading from the Book of James this morning and was reminded that I am to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath today. Someone once said that there is a reason that we have two ears and only one mouth. God also designed us such that our tongue is situated behind two barriers: our lips and our teeth. A pastor friend this past weekend used the illustration of trying to put toothpaste back in the tube is easier than taking back words that have been spoken. I have met some people that speak very little but when they do, it is worth listening to. I have met others who speak all the time and say very little worth listening to. I can choose to build up or tear down with my words. My prayer today is that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my hear will be acceptable in God's sight.

Distribution and Transport

2009-11-10T08:47:00.000-06:00

I was doing some reading recently about distribution channels. The new ways of getting information distributed to those that need it. I came across the following. I am not sure of the source of this but I like the concepts. It is a great time in history to be alive.

“In 1893, a ten thousand dollar Congressional appropriation established RFD or rural free delivery. Up until that point, rural Americans had to ride their horse into town to pick up their mail at the general store. RFD provided mail service to rural residents for the first time.

Two entrepreneurs named Aaron Montgomery Ward and Richard Sears spotted a business opportunity. They saw a new distribution channel for their products. They produced so many catalogs that they were the second most widely read books in the country behind the Bible at the turn of the 20th century. They redeemed a new medium--rural free delivery--and turned it into a distribution channel.

That is what podcasting and webcasting and blogging are all about. Jesus told us to go into all the world, but he didn't specify how. It used to be traditional modes of transportation--ships, horses, and airplanes. But digital technology is a new mode of transportation, a new distribution channel, a new medium. We've got to redeem every technology and use it for God's purposes! The message is sacred, but the medium isn't.

A few distribution channels:

Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light.
Blogging is digital discipleship.
Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass.
Websites are virtual front doors.
Email is word of mouse.

As new technologies emerge so do new distribution channels for the gospel.

What a time to be alive! Our generation has greater potential to fulfill the Great Commission than all previous generations combined.”

I am sure that my grandparents, who witnessed the advent of the automobile and airplanes had these same feelings of excitement about transporting distribution.

Harmony in the foyer

2009-11-09T05:55:00.004-06:00

We had one of those wonderful full days at church yesterday with one of our favorite missionaries followed by our annual Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey and all the trimmings. Lots of food and good fellowship. Our evening service was informal with an old fashioned hymn sing in the foyer. Lots of fun to sit around in a circle and sing some of the old hymn that we remember but rarely look at all the great lyrics in the verses. Acapella harmony was great. The song that sticks with me today and will be rolling through my head as I walk through the day is "No, not one". It's good to know that Jesus knows all about our struggles and will be with us til the day is done.

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

We are podcasting : )

2009-11-05T05:40:00.003-06:00

Audio Podcasts and sermon notes are now available on our church website:

www.harlanfirstaog.org

Click on the "Weekly Sermons" link.

It will also soon be available on itunes.

Thanks to the hard work of our awesome computer technology webmaster team of Jan and Sue.

Strong connections

2009-11-03T08:42:00.001-06:00

I spent some time this morning thinking about authenticity of connections. One of the core priorities of my day needs to be checking connections. I spent many years in the electronics field as a technician. I learned early that most problems are a result of a weak connection rather than a failed component. We live in a day of module replacement. It is cheaper to replace the circuit board than to diagnose a problem component. The frustrating thing is that the new component will not fix the problem if the issue is with the connection leading up to it. I find this concept to have application in all areas of life. If my connection is weakened by lack of maintenance, friction and heat can burn out the wires and cause inefficiency.
Here are some solutions that will work:

Shine up the contacts. Dirt and grime in our lives can coat us and keep us from being able to transfer energy to each other.
Blow out the dust. Junk in our lives not only keeps us from getting into the rooms, it can blur our vision to the point where we run into wall and barriers instead of entering rooms and hallways of people’s lives.
Study the blueprint. The Bible is God’s plan on paper. It explains what a good connection looks and feels like. When we know it inside out, we are not trying to find apples on the orange tree. Many connections in our lives have been “temporarily” bypassed to get us by and we have forgotten to re-establish the original design. Let’s get the gator clips off and get it back to the way it was made.

God does not make mistakes. He does not need improvement in His plan. If we connect well, we will be fruitful.

An old Chorus:
It will flow like river
It will fall like the rain
It will rise as the dawning of glory o’er the land
For the Glory of the Lord
Shall fill all the earth
And the Spirit of the Lord Shall fall

Arrivals

2009-11-02T06:31:00.001-06:00

Sermon Notes from Yesterday:

God planned this day. It’s here.
Old Chorus: He is here, He is here, My heart tells me that He is here.
Arrivals and departures are a constant part of life.
Sometimes we don’t know if we are coming or going
They can look very much alike
We know Jesus arrived in heaven because He sent the Holy Spirit.
Being where we are supposed to be when important arrivals happen
Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
Life arrived on the 6th day of creation
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Appointed time of leadership arrive and we must be ready
Joshua 1:1-2 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
God’s Word arrives at just the right time
1 Kings 17:2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah
Visitors arrive
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
When you arrive, Do something
Acts 8:14-15 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them
that were with them. ... And as they thus spake, Jesus himself
stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you. But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that
they had seen a spirit. ... He shewed them his hands and his
feet," and asked for meat, and he ate broiled fish and
honeycomb before them, and spoke with them at length Luke
21:33,36,37,40
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in their
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ... Then were
the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)
You are expected to arrive
Acts 10:24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Lessons :
1. Arrive on time
2. Arrive with expectation
3. Arrive with openness
4. Arrive with Something to give
5. Arrive with knowledge of where you are
6. Every Arrival is significant
7. God has never experienced arrival ( Omnipresent )
The roar of the Lion of Judah shakes creation to the core
Realm of authority
Mark 7:31-37
The deaf hear and the mute speak and they were overwhelmed with amazement.

God Strength

2009-10-29T10:27:00.001-05:00

Just a few thoughts about the economy:

The rules of efficiency really do not change because of economical downturns. Many people are facing tight budgets today and the following rule never goes out of style.

“If our outgo exceeds our income, our upkeep will be our downfall”

That axiom stands true no matter what our bank account reflects. Staying true to integrity in these trying times certainly can mean belt tightening on the budget. With the advent of online banking, it is easier than ever to keep tabs on the daily balances and current status.

It is good to also remember that God’s promises do not change. God is not in financial trouble and still supplies our needs “according to His riches in glory” ( Philippians 4:19 )
It becomes all the more important to spend time in the Word of God and to keep the prayer lines of communication strong. Remember where our source is. Your strong connection to God will help you keep focus and balance in these “interesting” times. God wants to show Himself strong. He is always “Beautiful for situation” ( Psalm 48 )

Problem solving

2009-10-28T11:15:00.000-05:00

Another great line from the book : “Unleashing the Power of rubber Bands” by Nancy Ortberg

“As leaders, we constantly need to determine whether something is a problem to be solved or a tension to be managed”

I really like this book.

Rubber Bands

2009-10-27T07:52:00.002-05:00

"Leadership is the hope that we can change the things that need to be changed and create what we cannot now imagine. Hope gives us the courage to move forward, the power to forgive, and the grace to keep the promises we have made."

One of my favorite lines from a book I received as a gift last night:(Thanks Tom)
"Unleashing the power of rubber bands" by Nancy Ortberg

Bridges of transition

2009-10-26T06:06:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's sermon notes:

Bridges of transition. The Road to commitment.
The gifts of God are embers that we fan into flame.

2 Tim 1:5-6
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.“

The bridges of transition must be successfully crossed.

Heritage
Fire
Power
Suffering
Salvation
Revelation
Appointment
Sound Teaching
Good deposits

God is a wonderful bridge builder.

First Impressions

2009-10-23T06:50:00.004-05:00

I am enjoying reading the book: "Fusion" by Nelson Searcy. It is said that seven minutes is all we get to make a first impression. In the church world that means that visitors decide in that first seven minutes whether or not they are coming back. So much for the thought that great sermons or beautiful music will bring them back. Those decisions are usually not made in a logical manner but are made by instinct and emotion. Those decisions are being made by looking at clues about the church atmosphere or the friendliness of the people. They are trying to figure out if they are compatible with the environment. It is always a good decision to evaluate first impressions from the viewpoint of a guest.

Conversation layers

2009-10-22T05:56:00.005-05:00

I went to a continuing education class yesterday that dealt with the layers that exist in every conversation. The science of what happens when we are talking with people is identifyable. We talked about the three layers:

1. The Facts
What, when, where. There is information that the other party has that I do not have. I need to get the perspective that those facts offer. I need to know rather than to make assumptions. It is important to remember that there is more going on than just the facts but the facts are crucial information. Facts alone are like "An opera without the music".

2. The Feelings
This is the emotional level of the conversation. We learn what the hopes are and what people are worrying about. This is the subjective responce the objective facts. What do these facts mean to us personally. Emotions are key clues to deeper things going on under the surface.

3. The Identity issues
Identity is an area of personal study for me as I am developing a sermon series about who we are in Christ. The identity layer of conversation answers the question: What does this say about me? At this layer we find out what is at stake. The hopes and plans for the future are embedded in this layer. Our identity goes with us every moment and affects our decisions every day.

Knowing these levels helps us to understand more accurately what is going on with the other person in our conversation. The connection is deepened and better choices happen.

SPAW

2009-10-21T06:16:00.003-05:00

Third Wednesday : )

SPAW ( Service of Praise and Worship ) tonight. The lineup of songs is awesome this month. Starts at 7 pm.

North Gate Praise has done it again!!!!!!

Connected again !

2009-10-20T05:38:00.003-05:00

Everything looked right. The power cord was plugged in but the laptop battery was not charging. Anxiety was setting in as I was pondering life without my computer for facebook, twitter, blogging and google. I got on a borrowed computer, and thanks to ebay, now have a new power converter ordered ( $11.01 ) with free shipping.yea!!!
Last night I did surgery on my power converter and found that the wire that connects it to the power outlet was broken from me winding it too tight. I spiced it together, taped it up and it works!

There are times in life we get wound up too tight and it can affect our energy level as we get disconnected from the power source. God needs to come in and do the surgery to get us connected to His energy source to give us power to get things done. I am trying to not get wound up so tight that my wire breaks.

Priority

2009-10-15T05:51:00.002-05:00

At Praise team practice last night one of our choruses led me into singing the following old hymn. It has been rolling through my spirit ever since. Praise God for the words of Rhea Miller and the music written by George Beverly Shea.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Matthew 16:24-26 says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘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 his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’”

I recommend that you become overwhelmed often with the importance of Jesus Christ in your life.

Placed here in the nick of time

2009-10-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

I am amazed that people accept as coincidence things that are obviously the divine providence of God.

A poem written in the 1800's by R.C. Trench put it his way:

Thou camest not to hy place by accident
It is the very place God meant for thee
And shouldst thou there small scope for action see
Do not for this give room for discontent

Adapting ourselves to the lot God has placed us is the only thing that will put us in a place of peace. You were born in just the nick of time in this place of the world. There are connections and relationships waiting today. There may be transition down the road, but today, I am here.

Kingdom purposes

2009-10-13T05:56:00.003-05:00

I like the concept of redeeming everything we do for Kingdom purposes. That means that there is not secular only spiritual. Bill Johnson writes that things are either a legitimate Kingdom expression or we shouldn't be involved in them at all. As a pastor, I am constantly reminding the congregation that they are all in the ministry but not all stand behind church pulpits. Your pulpit today may be your area of expertise and favor in the world system. To quote an old saying, "Be sure to preach only the good news, and when necessary use words". The Bible tells us we are part of the "royal priesthood" that needs to be equipped to do the work of the ministry. Each of us will experience a range of situations, relationships, emotions and interactions today that we must face with courage and awareness. Don't miss a single second. Redeem the time for Kingdom value.

Passion

2009-10-08T06:04:00.004-05:00

A couple thoughts about preaching this morning:

W.E. Sangster, in his book "Power in Preaching", says, "some preaching fails in power because it fails in passion". Preaching must be real if it is to be anything. Artificial passion doesn't get it done. I have found that people, especially kids, are experts at detecting pretense. I love preaching but, even more, I really need to love those to whom I preach. I like what Ian Hall wrote about it:

"A real passion for souls is a glow from within; the counterfeit is a shine applied to the outside."

My prayer today:

God, help me to be real today and have a glow from within. Help me to be compelled by the love of Christ.

Maximizing the system

2009-10-07T05:31:00.002-05:00

"We may look different on the outside, but underneath each one of us is a
function of common machinery....The question isn’t whether or not these systems are in place, but whether or not they are being maximized."
-Nelson Searcy in "Church Systems report"

There are things that we can be involved with every day that bring excellence into our lives. On the physical side we exercise to keep tuned up. On the spiritual side, we read the Word of God and pray.

A spiritual breakfast from the Word of God each morning helps us to "reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ". (from Ephesians 4:13) That will oil up the machinery and keep it functioning with excellence. That's my goal today.

Systematics

2009-10-06T05:46:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite things to do in free time is to read. Lately, I have been enjoying the writings of Nelson Searcy, a church growth leader. In his book, "Church Systems 2.0", he makes the following statement:

"God must be into systems. He organized the universe with systems. He established the measurement of time through a system. And, from the beginning,
He formed our bodies as a cohesive unit of systems."

We use systems everyday. If I am sick, it is a problem in my system somewhere. The system is tied together. The hands are connected to the brain through a system of nerves and muscles. The hand can do nothing if disconnected from the system.

In Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, He dealt with this concept in a meaningful way. Good stuff to ponder this morning:

1 Corinthians 12:14-27 "Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it."

No matter how alone you feel today, you are part of a wonderful system. We need each other.

Trust matters

2009-10-01T05:53:00.003-05:00

I read a quote this morning from Stephen Covey in his book "The Speed of Trust":

"Results matter! They matter to your credibility. They matter to your ability to establish and maintain trust with others."

I went to a class last evening that dealt wth our roles in improving the people around us. Five keys that we talked about were:

1. Setting clear expectations. These must be communicated and brought clearly into focus. Targets and goals need to be in view for us to set our aim.

2. Create conditions for success. The decisions I make today need to be in line with my stated expectations. Staying the course and supporting leadership are some of those conditions.

3. Hold the system accountable. This means that I need to use data and monitor my progress. Applying pressure for accountability is not always pleasant but it pays great dividends.

4. Build goodwill in those around us. They need to be able to see what I think is urgent and that I carry this thing called "hope" in large enough measure to give some to them.

5. Learn together with the team. The conversations I have today will be sources of learning. If I have a commitment to improve, I will deliberately grow.

At the center of all this is my need to have a passion for and trust in God. When I have a passion for God, it creates a passion for other things. The way I steward the "other things" will be the real test of the authenticity of my love for God. In other words, The things we give ourselves to today will prove how much we really love God.

First John 4:20 tells us that if we love God it will be measurable by our love for people.

Change is constant

2009-09-30T05:56:00.002-05:00

Back home after a great time of encouragement and equipping at the E2 conference. Now the task of letting the new ideas and understanding take root. One of the sessions yesterday dealt with understanding the process of change. God will give us one change at a time. It is important that we don't always just go with the staus quo. Change needs incubation time. If we look at the church as a tree with branches rather than looking at it as an orchard, we see that variety is exciting and positive.

Mission Statement

2009-09-29T08:29:00.002-05:00

Just a couple key thoughts this morning. We are at the E2 Conference meeting with pastors and administrators. I really like a mission statement wording that we heard yesterday:

"“We exist to love our community into a relationship with Christ”

The concept of loving people with no strings attached was invented by God.

We may never be more like God than when we serve others with purely unselfish motives.

We need to be intentional in our service to others.

I am sure we will pick up much more today.

Jammin'

2009-09-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

It was a great evening last night as we had the 5th annual JAM ( Jesus, Auction, and Music ) event along with the soup cook off as a fundraiser for "Speed the Light", a youth missions outreach. The soup quality has really risen to a new level of excellence and there was plenty for everyone to have their fill along with all the trimmings and desserts. The music was awesome with the sounds of guitars, mandolin, accordian, keyboard and bass along with voices ringing out in the east half of the Fellowship Hall. I am feeling very thankful and honored to be a pastoring this family of people that is focused on the basics of faith as well as able to have fun together.

Yesterday was also the day where we participated in the annual "Life Chain", a silent prayer gathering with people from many different denominations standing along the side of the road holding signs asking that abortion would be stopped.

Saturday night we participated in the Outreach in a neighboring town which is a benefit for the nursing home there.

It is wonderful to have the energy to be involved in worthy causes.

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

2009-09-25T06:31:00.006-05:00

An old story is told about five blind men who were asked to describe an elephant. One felt the tail and said an elephant was like a rope. Another felt a leg and said an elephant was like a tree. A third was brought to the side of the elephant and said it was like a wall. After feeling one of the elephant's ears, the fourth blind man said an elephant was like a giant leaf. Feeling the elepant's trunk, the fifth man decided that an elephant must be like a great snake.

All five men were right. Yet all five were wrong. Each had correctly described one part of the elephant, but no one had adequately described the whole. The elephant is more than the sum of it's parts.

If we try to describe the church, we end up with the same thing. No description of one part really describes the whole.

Rob Burkhart describes the facet of the church in his book, "Awakening the Sleeping giant"

"The church is a worshiping community that gathers to magnify God.

The church is a community of like-minded people connected by their new life in Christ who actively seek to strengthen these bonds of fellowship.

The church is made up of disciples who gather to engage in activities that contribute to their spiritual growth and development.

The church is a living witness of Christ on earth and endeavors to proclaim His good news to a lost and dying world through its words and deeds."

Let us be careful to not put God in a box today.

Full Throttle

2009-09-24T05:54:00.002-05:00

"And what is a man without energy? Nothing-nothing at all."
- Mark Twain

One of the blessings of my life is high energy. I attribute that to God as He has given it as a gift. I found a verse in the Bible that helps me understand where it comes from.

"Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David."
- Isaiah 55:2-3

God is interested in giving us a permanent condition where we can be on the move at full pace when we invest our passions in knowing Him. Many people are operating at full throttle but it is a high that will be short-lived unless we get this passion thing figured out. The world is after a "buzz". They drink the energy drinks but find the crash that follows takes them down later. What once was a raging fire, has dwindled to a few embers and they are going through motions but needing new passions.

As with everything successful, it comes down to relationships. Being diligent in our study of God's Word and in our prayer will build that relationship and be a constant source of the energy we need to stay at full throttle and make the impact.
Each day I must choose whether I am going to be scattered raindrops or a thunderstorm of impact.

God's Love

2009-09-23T05:53:00.004-05:00

I woke up this morning thinking about the lyrics to an old gospel song that I have not sung for years.

Thanks to Chuck Lawrence for penning the following words:

HE MOLDED AND BUILT A SMALL LONELY HILL
THAT HE KNEW WOULD BE CALLED CALVARY.
THEN HE MADE THE SEED THAT WOULD GROW TO BE
THORNS THAT WOULD MAKE HIS SON BLEED.
THEN HE MADE A GREEN STEM
GAVE IT LEAVES AND THEN GAVE IT SUNSHINE AND RAIN AND
SHELTERED IT WITH MOSS.
HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE
USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

It's one of those things that makes me go "WOW!"

Relationships

2009-09-21T06:57:00.002-05:00

If I was going to come up with one word that would be key to success in ministry, it would be "relationships". The order of things is important to know. Commitment happens after relationships are developed. People are asking for relationship. They want something to connect to. I read the following quote this morning:

"If church is a building, then who needs relationship? But if church is a family, then relationship is everything...CAlling the church a building is like calling people 2x4s."

If we figure that out, the church will grow and reproduce. Jonathan Gainsbrogh, an equipping missionary, says that pastors need to be CROs ( Chief relationship Officers ) rather than CEOs.

I want to relate well today.

God's Battle

2009-09-18T06:28:00.002-05:00

I was reading an article this morning written by Rick Warren.

He lists two things to stand firm on while waiting for God to give us victory.

1.The character of God—He's faithful. He doesn't bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn't bring you out on a limb and then cut the limb off. Have faith in the nature, the character of God.

2.The truth of his Word—God's Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.

"Stand still. Remember whom the battle belongs to. Trust that he's able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!"

Good thoughts to remind us to tap into God's strength today.

Letting go and letting God

2009-09-16T06:11:00.004-05:00

A few thoughts about perspective:

The enemy's footholds will be taken back, lives will be saved, relationships will be transformed and generations will be affected if we will open our mouths, use our heads, hands and hearts and let God make something happen. It is important to remember that God is looking for co-laborers, not because He needs the help but because we need to be a part. We don't give money to the kingdom because God needs the money but because we need to give. We don't Praise Him because of what He gives us but because of who He is.

Servant Leadership

2009-09-15T05:49:00.003-05:00

Some quotes from my reading this morning. These are powerful:

"Ministry is a tool to make the lives of everyone in the community better"..."not a tool to be used to see how far I could go."
- Matthew Barnett at the National Leadership Forum.

"If you want to be a good servant leader, you've got to have the right perspective....and you have to believe in the power of one person to make the world better."
- Tim Sanders

"What makes the difference between callous and good leadership? Courage and humility."
- Megyn Kelly

"Maybe we aren't all created to be Gandhi, bit I think we all can live those moments of greatness"
- Erwin McManus

"Good leaders need to come down from their platforms and serve the people"
- T.D.Jakes

" A winning corporation gives people great lives and it gives them a chance to give it back."
- Jack Welch

These really launched my day strong today.

Enabled

2009-09-14T05:31:00.004-05:00

What we are enabled to do today and what we will actually do are two different things. We are told that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
A good goal for the day is to lessen that gap and step out in faith on some of those things that are humanly impossible. We have a tendency to explain away our inactivity by lowering the Bible standard to our level of experience. God is interested in showing His power. The question comes down to leadership. It is exciting ti live in the leadership of the Holy Spirit and be dependent on God. We can easily get accustomed to operating without His help.

2 questions for today:

What is the Holy Spirit leading me to do?

What am I asking God to do for me that I can do by myself? ( or that He has told me to do?)

"My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." ( 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, NASB )

Whole Diligence

2009-09-10T05:55:00.002-05:00

F.R. Havergal penned the words to one of the great hymns of the church. In the hymn "Take my life and let it be" it says:

Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of thy love
Take my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for thee
Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose

Each day, I need to decide if I am going to give my being and my activity to God.
I like what one theologeon said about that:

"When we find it otherwise with us, we must give our whole diligence to amend our state."

The decision of what to give whole diligence to will be the defining component in our legacy. It seems to me that it is worth carefully making that decision.

Talk is cheap

2009-09-09T08:47:00.003-05:00

A quote from J.H. Newman from ny devotions this morning:

"One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, passionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves."

As with every day, I must choose today whether I am going to actually do something worthwhile or simple talk and dream about doing it.

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works."
-Titus 3:8

Avenues of service

2009-09-08T05:43:00.003-05:00

One of the hats I wear is that of a member of the school board. Today is election day and it will be decided whether I will serve another four years in that position. I am running unopposed in this election so as long as some people get out and vote and there are no major write in candidates that step forward I should be re-elected. The five years that I have been on this board have been wonderfully enlightening and I have experienced first hand about how the education system works. I origianlly ran because I am a believer in life-long learning and I wanted to be a part of the system that establishes that in the lives of our young people. I count it a major privilege to serve and would encourage anyone considering it to run.

Converging Ideas

2009-09-04T06:49:00.003-05:00

Fridays are good days to look at all the ideas that have been written on the papers of our hearts all week long and decide which of them stay on the paper and which ones need to get mixed into the call of God, surrendered to His plans, and put into action. These ideas when converged together as small streams, become a great river that is flows without resistance. It defies man's attempts to stop it. It is capable of carving great canyons and moving mountains. The convergence of ideas is an important force in any society. When These ideas are God authored, it can bring about revival. There are great possibilities in the unique positions we are in.
Converge with great care.

Real Church

2009-09-03T05:38:00.002-05:00

I was reading some great material this morning about "Organic Church"- Real Christianity vs. Religiosity.The article was written by Neil Cole. God is Making the church an alive, vibrant and living organism. I need to continually ask God to keep me focused on the correct mission. If we have a great organization but lack the presence of Christ, we won't make eternal difference in people's lives. We know what our experience and what our traditions are but looking at scripture with honesty and courage will bring us to a place where it is not so much about us as it is about the risen Christ. It is not about what we have done or what programs we are doing but true Church is about Him. At times I operate like I need to protect God's reputation, when my efforts really need to be simple encouraging people (and myself) to encounter Jesus, alive and present. The Matthew 18:20 verse is a key: "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." The presence of Jesus is crucial to what the church is. He should be the most recognizable aspect of the church in the eyes of the world. IS the work being done for Jesus or by Jesus? The real fruit of the apple tree is not the apple. The real fruit is more apple trees. Christ in us is the seed of the next generation.

You are loved !

2009-09-02T06:36:00.002-05:00

The majority if my devotional thoughts deal with my love for God. Every once in awhile He reminds me, with a Bible verse or an old hymn, of His wonderful love for me. Early this morning I found this old hymn residing in my heart. I hope it blesses you like it did me. Thank you Phillip Bliss for penning this about 140 years ago.

I am so Glad that our Father in Heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me

I am so Glad that Jesus love me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

Tho’ I forget Him and wander away
Still He doth love me wherever I stray
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee
When I remember that Jesus loves me

I am so Glad that Jesus love me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing
When in His beauty I see the great king
This shall my song in eternity be
Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me

I am so Glad that Jesus love me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

The Hound of Heaven

2009-09-01T05:39:00.002-05:00

"The name is strange. It startles one at first. It is so bold, so new, so fearless. It does not attract, rather the reverse. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood. As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit."—The Neumann Press Book of Verse, 1988

Many years ago I heard of this classic British poem that speaks of the pursuit of God.

The Hound of Heaven
by
Francis Thompson (1859-1907)

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat--and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet--
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."

I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities
(For, though I knew His love Who followed,
Yet was I sore adread
Lest having Him, I must have naught beside);
But if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of His approach would clash it to.
Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clanged bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to dawn, Be sudden; to eve, Be soon;
With thy young skyey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover!
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged his chariot 'thwart a heaven
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet--
Still with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat--
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."

I sought no more that after which I strayed
In face of man or maid;
But still within the little children's eyes
Seems something, something that replies;
They at least are for me, surely for me!
I turned me to them very wistfully;
But, just as their young eyes grew sudden fair
With dawning answers there,
Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.
"Come then, ye other children, Nature's--share
With me," said I, "your delicate fellowship;
Let me greet you lip to lip,
Let me twine with you caresses,
Wantoning
With our Lady-Mother's vagrant tresses'
Banqueting
With her in her wind-walled palace,
Underneath her azured daïs,
Quaffing, as your taintless way is,
From a chalice
Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring."
So it was done;
I in their delicate fellowship was one--
Drew the bolt of Nature's secrecies.
I knew all the swift importings
On the wilful face of skies;
I knew how the clouds arise
Spumèd of the wild sea-snortings;
All that's born or dies
Rose and drooped with--made them shapers
Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine--
With them joyed and was bereaven.
I was heavy with the even,
When she lit her glimmering tapers
Round the day's dead sanctities.
I laughed in the morning's eyes.
I triumphed and I saddened with all weather,
Heaven and I wept together,
And its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine;
Against the red throb of its sunset-heart
I laid my own to beat,
And share commingling heat;
But not by that, by that, was eased my human smart.
In vain my tears were wet on Heaven's gray cheek.
For ah! we know not what each other says,
These things and I; in sound I speak--
Their sound is but their stir, they speak by silences.
Nature, poor stepdame, cannot slake my drouth;
Let her, if she would owe me,
Drop yon blue bosom-veil of sky, and show me
The breasts of her tenderness;
Never did any milk of hers once bless
My thirsting mouth.
Nigh and nigh draws the chase,
With unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy;
And past those noisèd Feet
A voice comes yet more fleet--
"Lo naught contents thee, who content'st not Me."

Naked I wait Thy love's uplifted stroke!
My harness piece by piece Thou hast hewn from me,
And smitten me to my knee;
I am defenseless utterly.
I slept, methinks, and woke,
And, slowly gazing, find me stripped in sleep.
In the rash lustihead of my young powers,
I shook the pillaring hours
And pulled my life upon me; grimed with smears,
I stand amid the dust o' the mounded years--
My mangled youth lies dead beneath the heap.
My days have crackled and gone up in smoke,
Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream.
Yea, faileth now even dream
The dreamer, and the lute the lutanist;
Even the linked fantasies, in whose blossomy twist
I swung the earth a trinket at my wrist,
Are yielding; cords of all too weak account
For earth with heavy griefs so overplussed.
Ah! is Thy love indeed
A weed, albeit amaranthine weed,
Suffering no flowers except its own to mount?
Ah! must--
Designer infinite!--
Ah! must Thou char the wood ere Thou canst limn with it?
My freshness spent its wavering shower i' the dust;
And now my heart is a broken fount,
Wherein tear-drippings stagnate, spilt down ever
From the dank thoughts that shiver
Upon the sighful branches of my mind.
Such is; what is to be?
The pulp so bitter, how shall taste the rind?
I dimly guess what Time in mist confounds;
Yet ever and anon a trumpet sounds
From the hid battlements of Eternity;
Those shaken mists a space unsettle, then
But not ere him who summoneth
I first have seen, enwound
With blooming robes, purpureal, cypress-crowned;
His name I know, and what his trumpet saith.
Whether man's heart or life it be which yields
Thee harvest, must Thy harvest fields
Be dunged with rotten death?

Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at hand the bruit;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing,
Wherefore should any set thee love apart?
Seeing none but I makes much of naught," He said,
"And human love needs human meriting,
How hast thou merited--
Of all man's clotted clay rhe dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms.
But just that thou might'st seek it in my arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for the at home;
Rise, clasp My hand, and come!"

Halts by me that footfall;
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstreched caressingly?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."

The first two seconds

2009-08-28T06:54:00.004-05:00

In todays fast paced world, it is necessary to be able to make decisions quickly. It is called "Thinking on our feet" or "Rapid cognition". The gap between blind impulses and trained intuition is huge. It can rescue us or work against us. Developing that sense of instinct will help us in pressure-filled decisions. There are experiences that filter our reactions. Jesus is our greatest example of someone who could sift through quickly and throw out the irrelevant. He was consistent and unwavering in His mission. In Kenny Luck's book, "Risk",(recommended reading), he puts it this way, "Jesus Christ owned the first two seconds of any situation." He was constantly being faced with moments that required efficient responses. He always honored His Father and the mission for which He was here.

"My food...is to do the will of him who sent me." John 4:34

Full Throttle

2009-08-27T05:41:00.004-05:00

Recently I found that my car was running sluggishly. I can't imagine why since I only had about 190,000 miles on since I have had a tune up. The new spark plugs and wires changed my engine from a sputtering "clunker" to a purring lion. Why did I wait so long? I think it was because of what I call the "deceptiveness of the gradual". I got used to having low power level and inefficiency. Each day was a little worse but I didn't notice it. I forgot how it felt to run well. Now that I have been reminded of what it is like to be able to go full throttle, I have decided to maintain at the higher level.

I have also found that my spiritual life can have the same problems. I can get stuck in a sluggish gear and unless I pop the hood and let the master mechanic have His way, I waste energy and time on my journey. Time is too precious to allow that. My daily spiritual tune up needs to have priority. The Word of God and prayer will keep me from sputtering through life. His real power will propel me past my shortcomings and difficulties. God still offers "full service". Don't drive past the station entrance.

Decoys

2009-08-25T05:58:00.003-05:00

"You can look like a duck, but if you don't waddle and quack, you are a decoy."
-Kenny Luck

What is your signature today? If I am to be a "man of faith in God", the main characteristic of my life needs to be faith expressed through obedience. If we are known for anything today it should be our willingness to respond to God's direction no matter what the risk. I read a line this morning that said loss for the sake of loss is stupidity. But suffering loss, real or imagined, for obedience to Christ is faith at its very best. God loves prompt obedience. I don't want God waiting for me to decide if I am going to obey. God has patience, but I hope He doesn't need to be using it constantly on me.

I've read Revelation 22 (The end of the Book), We Win!!!!!!

Well, I Declare!

2009-08-24T05:53:00.003-05:00

As I read the Bible, I am more and more looking hard at the declarations made by the Holy Spirit. I am glad that God, who only can speak truth, is not a silent being.
Jesus simply spoke to situations or circumstances and Heaven and change occured. That change was a declaration from heaven. In Matthew 8:26, He spoke to the storm, and the wind and the waves stopped. The disciples responded, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Another example of this kind of declaration by Jesus involved The Roman centurion who went to Jesus on behalf of his servant. “Just say the word and my servant will be healed. Jesus responded with the declaration, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would" (Matthew 8:5-13).”

In the case of a paralytic, Jesus said, “Pick up your mat and walk,”. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus stood outside and declared, “Come forth,” and Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Since we are "partakers of the divine nature" ( 2 Peter chapter 1 ), Our words (our declarations)are important. They can release Heaven’s resources and power. It all makes me want to be careful what I say today so that I am not hindering what God might want to do.

Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Happiness

2009-08-21T06:17:00.003-05:00

Dr. Dennis Swanberg tells the story of a very depressed man that sat in the office of his psychiatrist. The doctor could do nothing to cheer him up. The psychiatrist suggested that the man should go see Grimaldi the clown. Grimaldi was the greatest clown in nineteenth century Europe and would surely be able to lift the man's spirits. The patient sighed and remained silent for a long time. Finally he answered, "I am Grimaldi the clown."

If you are happy today, Thank God for it.

In 1910, James Mcconnell penned the following hymn:

I am happy today, and the sun shines bright,
The clouds have been rolled away;
For the Savior said, whosoever will
May come with Him to stay.

“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
Surely meaneth me, oh, surely meaneth me;
“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
“Whosoever” meaneth me.

All my hopes have been raised, oh, His Name be praised,
His glory has filled my soul;
I’ve been lifted up, and from sin set free,
His blood has made me whole.

Oh, what wonderful love, oh, what grace divine,
That Jesus should die for me;
I was lost in sin, for the world I pined,
But now I am set free.

Pathway

2009-08-20T05:52:00.003-05:00

"Keep thou my feet: I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me."
-John Henry Newman

The choosing of our daily path is a decision that many times needs to be made without the guarantee of the outcome. If I choose to always take the "Safe" route that is predictable, I miss out on the variety that is available. I will see things today that I have never seen before and I will meet people that I have never met before. Each of those people that I meet will have a significant life story that will make a difference in my life story. There is one thing that I need to be an expert in today. I need to be an expert learner. By observing my path and those on it with me, I gain new knowledge and perhaps an new friend or two. By the way, familiar things can add as much variety and new things and old friends can reveal new insights that only come from deep relationships. There is no excuse for boredom. Look around!

The River

2009-08-19T05:54:00.003-05:00

It's the third Wednesday! Tonight is "SPAW" (Service of Praise and Worship, a time of testimony and a connecting of that testimony with music. It is a time when many will share what God has done and is doing in their lives. The song I have chosen to use in my testimony tonight is "Let the River Flow" written by Darrell Evans. It is a song that reminds me that God is bigger than my problems.

Let the poor man say
I am rich in Him
Let the lost man say
I am found in Him
Let the river flow

Let the blind man say
I can see again
Let the dead man say
I am born again
Let the river flow
Let the river flow

Let the river flow
Let the river flow
Holy Spirit come
Move in power
Let the river flow

I am told that the river near us moves along at seven miles per hour on it's trip to the Gulf of Mexico. Many songs have been written about the mission of the river to flow.

"Take a look at your natural river. What are you? Stop playing games with yourself. Where's your river going? Are you riding with it? Or are you rowing against it? Don't you see that there is no effort if you're riding with your river?”
-Frederick (Carl) Frieseke - French Painter, 1874-1939

Someone once said that a river is restful to people because it doesn't have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else.

I like that.

Zooming

2009-08-18T05:37:00.003-05:00

If I was going to put a theme on my thoughts this week, it would be "Focus". Sunday night's sermon was about handling situations that seem impossible. Looking for a good outcome of a tough situation requires focus. The choice at one of those points is to either zoom in on the situation to try to find an opening, or to zoom out to get the bigger picture. Figuring out where we are in the big picture is helpful in reminding us that it is not all about us. Zooming in can be like looking through a microscope. The germs become giants. The scientists may need to enlarge them, but I do better to take the zoom out option that gives me the whole situation. A problem like that won't be solved by me anyway, it will require a "God solution". The art of getting out of God's way and letting Him fix things is worth developing. There are times to zoom in but it is good to remember to zoom out once in a while.

Deeds that live on

2009-08-17T05:54:00.003-05:00

A quote from Lord Byron:

"But there are deeds that should not pass away. and names that must not wither."

We all need to be involved in things that are bigger than we are. We need to have some goals that will only be accomplished when God does them through us. If we ask God to do things that we can do ourselves, we will always wonder who did them. I believe God wants to do great things through us. As always, it comes down to the question, "Am I going to trust God, or not?"

Psalm 119:89 "Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven."

Engaging the culture

2009-08-14T06:20:00.004-05:00

One of the principles that Jesus used as an example for us is that of engaging the culture. I read a quote this morning from John Burke, pastor of Gateway Community Church in Austin Texas. This is what He says about our involvement with our culture:

"No longer can our churches afford to stand on the cliffs high above the cultural mudslide, chastising people for not climbing out of the mess to come up to higher ground. I believe it's time for Christian leaders, tethered to the lifeline of God's Spirit and a community of faith, to gather up courage and plunge into the swirling mess of the cultural flow."

The question has always been whether we should ask God to show up of if He is asking us to show up. God is already there. The art of connecting people to God in the midst of where they are is what missions outreach needs to be about. God is willing to take us to higher ground, but the concept that we need to take people to higher ground before they can meet God is upside down.

Let's head out to the trenches today. God is already there.

Change up

2009-08-13T05:45:00.003-05:00

Last night was the final lesson from the book: "Exploring Worship" by Bob Sorge. The worship team has for the past several months been studying this book together. Each week, I have taken something significant away from the class. We have learned that we are barely scratching the surface on what is available to us in the realm of worship, or "attributing worth" to God. When we become predictable in our worship leadership, we run the risk of "canned" response to God and are in danger of excluding the Holy Spirit's input.

However, there is scriptural precedence to some predictability of our spiritual expression. For example, It was the cusom of Daniel to open his chamber window and do his daily prayers. People knew that and expected him to do it. In Daniel's case, these daily prayers kept him fresh in his communication with God. Daily devotional times and prayer times are a healthy expression of worship. I need to constantly work on keeping those times fresh with an open mind to allow God to throw a "change up". God's message is predictable, His method varies as much as the colors of the rainbow. This diversity makes our daily walk with God exciting instead of mundane.
He wants us to try new approaches and new methods. As I follow Jesus in the gospels, I find that He seemed to use different methods each time He dealt with someone. He was unpredictable in how he was going to heal but the result was always a healing.

Try to be less predictable today.

Up Close

2009-08-12T05:45:00.003-05:00

I really like the way some people think. In my quiet time this morning I was reading some stuff from Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research. He gets it!

"You cannot talk to people when you keep them at arms length, let alone show them how much God loves them. Real evangelism is done up close-life on life. Too many of us forget that holiness is avoiding sin, not avoiding sinners. Instead of being consumed with righteous behavior and the ability to recite an evangelistic outline perfectly, we need to spend more time walking with unbelievers as friends and not prospects."

I want to surround myself today with people who think like that. Rather than wondering what I can get from them, I want to wonder what I might give them. How I might add to their lives. There is an old saying that goes: "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care" I am thankful for the people that I am privileged to rub shoulders with today.

The Journey

2009-08-11T05:39:00.003-05:00

For our Men's Bible Study last night, we watched a replay of one of the services last week at General Council in Orlando. One of the quotes from Herbert Cooper particularly struck home with me as he explained why their church has had such tremendous growth.

"Most people go on a journey. Not everyone gets gloriously saved the first time they come, we decided to love these people. We decided to take people on a journey.”

Understanding that God is interested in our journey is a key to joy in life. We tend to be so focused on destination that the journey is viewed only as a way to get there. In fact, the journey is the real deal. "along the way" is as valuable as "getting there". Stopping to smell the roses, and stopping at scenic viewpoints becomes the thing that we remember clearer than the place we were going to see.

I need to really ask the question, "Who am I taking with me on my journey today"?
It may be someone I am mentoring or it may be someone who is mentoring me. Most people fall into one of those two categories. Everyone is deeply important to God.

Don't miss your journey today.

There is more than we understand

2009-08-10T05:51:00.004-05:00

Yesterday's sermon was an expression of something that has been stirring in me as I prepare to start a series on the subject of integrity. Our service to God and man becomes of no effect if we lack integrity. It seems to me that God is reminding me of His ability to understand with a depth that goes beyond me. He desires to increase my capacity to see it.

Below is one of my favorite prayers of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus:

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
- Ephesians 3:16-19

There is one other verse that came to me in this vein. Deuteronomy 33:27 tells us that when we are at the bottom, God's arms are under us. He is "your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you..." (Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT).That tells me that the bottom for me is not the bottom for God. For my friends who are struggling with extreme hurt right now, I remind you of the fact that God is bigger than your problem.

God is faithful.

The Refreshing

2009-08-07T05:48:00.004-05:00

I am blessed to know that God is in to "newness". Words like replenish, and refresh are ordinary concepts in the Kingdom of God. We are created to become new on a regular basis. If we have a cut on our skin, the cells renew the area. If a plant is cut down, it will regrow. If we shave off our hair, it grows back. It's the root system that springs forth newness. The core values of our lives must be maintained and kept in view.

This week I have been looking at the concepts of circles that bring us back to our beginning points, drains that both zap our energy and help us rid ourselves of waste, resources that allow us to do life and today I am pondering the value of "refreshment". It comes when we pause or it comes as a second wind while we run. The thing is that we need that refreshment of body, mind and spirit.

Johann Sabastian Bach once said: “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”

William Penn wrote: “True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.”

The fact is that refreshment comes in both sound and in silence. It comes in a split second or in eternity. I guess it is one of those things that cannot be measured or put in a box. Watch for it today. It is all around you.

What it takes to get it done

2009-08-06T05:43:00.003-05:00

I have been thinking about identifying our circles, drains, resources and refreshments this week. Once we have located what things take us in circles instead of moving us forward and what things are draining our energy, we need to move into the mode of resource inventory. I often find that the very things I need to be efficient are already in my supply closet. It was there all the time but I wasn't looking for it and thus, missed it.

Bill Watterson, Author of Calvin and Hobbs said it this way:

“. . . it's worth recognizing that there is no such thing as an overnight success. You will do well to cultivate the resources in yourself that bring you happiness outside of success or failure. The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive. At that time, we turn around and say, yes, this is obviously where I was going all along. It's a good idea to try to enjoy the scenery on the detours, because you'll probably take a few.”

Every time I really look at what resources I have at my disposal, I get surprised. There are some key things that I totally forgot I had. I need to network with people who will remind me of what is already in place. I have what it takes to get it done today.

“The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's resources.”
-Vauvenargues, Marquis de quotes

Down the Drain

2009-08-05T05:40:00.004-05:00

One of the things in life that keeps us fresh is the drain process. We really are designed to replenish. rest replenishes our energy, the well replenishes our water, our salaries replenish our bank accounts etc. When we are tired, we say we are drained. When we are in the flood we look for a place for the water to drain. When we spend money unwisely, we say it was "money down the drain". A clogged drain causes stagnant stuff to remain.

Lessons about drains:

1. Identify where they are.
It is a frustrating thing to have unexpected drainage happening. People and resources that disappear for unknown reasons can be a dangerous symtom of leakage. In the church world, we need to make sure we identify which programs are drains to the system and are simply zapping the energy.

2. Keep them unclogged.
Clogged drains are the ones that we want to drain but cannot because of obstructions. There are many things that can clog the drains in life. If we can't get rid of the stagnant things, we have no room for the new waters that are available. There are few things more frustrating that passing up opportunities simply because we can't move old stuff out.

3. Know where they lead.
I need to know who I am dumping on. We have all felt the strain of having someone elses drainage fall into our lives and losing our own precious things down the drain. If we have a program that is draining people, I need to rescue them and for that reason, I need to know the destination of that pipe.

4. Maintain a good stopper.
In show business and style shows they have what they call the "Show Stopper". This is the thing that brings everyone to a halt and causes a pause. A good plan to stop or plug the drain can help us hold onto things until it is time to release them. Unlike the clog, the stopper is easily removed and has a definite purpose.The stopper is not usually used when the tub is used as a shower but is required if we need to take a bath.

We will do well to identify and maintain the drains in our lives.

Identify the Circles

2009-08-04T05:38:00.005-05:00

I have four words working on me this week.

Circles, Drains, Resources and Refreshments.

They are words that define areas of our lives that, when handled correctly, can keep us moving in the forward direction. They are ingredients in our excellence recipe. The question becomes, "what place do we allow them to have?

The first of these words is "Circles". There are things that we do that, by nature, move in circles. In the area of church growth we need to identify those programs and styles that keep bringing us around to home base. In a positive sense, we need these to always have the connection to the basics such as truth. These core beliefs help us to cross home plate several times during the game.

In the negative sense, these circles are the spinning of wheels that keep us from advancing to the next level. They can keep us from "pressing toward the mark". We are designed to take the journey in an efficient manner. Identifying the circles helps is to avoid revisiting mistakes.

Let's keep our circles spiraling us upward.

How Big is God?

2009-08-03T05:58:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I preached a sermon about Psalm 145. It is as though David emptied his pen to write about the greatness of God. So many of his Psalms tell of pain in life , while this one goes upward telling of the greatness of God. We need both kinds of focus.

In the end praise swallows up all our griefs and complaints.

I noted the following action verbs he tells us to use in communicating how big God is.

Commend vs 4
Tell vs 4
Speak vs 5
Meditate vs 5
Tell vs 6
Proclaim vs 6
Celebrate vs 7
Sing vs 7

Here are four truths about God to form the heart of our praise:

God's Greatness

God's Goodness

God's Glory

God's Grace

“Big men have a little God. Little men have a big God” (J.B.Phillips)

Turtle strategies

2009-07-31T07:08:00.002-05:00

This is a repeat of a blog I wrote a couple years ago but every once in awhile I need the reminder.

Craig Groeschel in his book, “Confessions of a Pastor” tells of his ponderings of the turtle in the road. He wonders at the survival instinct of the turtle to pull it’s head into his shell at the approach of a car on the road he is trying to cross.

“ Whenever I drive by a turtle, I have to chuckle at his survival instinct. There he is, his bony little head sticking out of that long skinny neck. Then he sees my car approaching, he pulls in his limbs and head. I can’t stop wondering about turtle psychology: Does this illusion of safety really give him peace of mind? Is he I there lounging back in his armchair, smoking a little cigar, reading poetry? Does he really believe that the car tire ceases to exist just because he cant see it? I suppose millions of turtles throughout history have achieved a last few seconds of peace using this strategy.”

Groeschel’s point is that the turtle gets off better than we do. We have no peace when we pull into our shell and close out the rest of the world. The truth is that inside of our shell we are more vulnerable than ever.

Today, I am asking myself to find those areas where I am hiding in my shell and deal with them. Should be interesting!

The God Particle

2009-07-30T09:47:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I read articles and in magazines that cause overload of my perception sensors. One such article was in last week’s Parade magazine. The article, “The race for the secret of the universe” was about the research going on looking for the “God Particle”. Physicists feel they have breakthroughs now that puts them closer to actually finding the “Higgs Boson” that is the missing link in the sub-atomic particle research. I especially liked the one comment from the director of the research facility, ”We’re producing particles that have been here since the first trillionth of a second of the universe, but we still don’t understand the most basic things.” These scientists live in a world of quarks and leptons in order to figure out how matter becomes and remains matter. It seems to me that it takes “Faith” to live there. Seems like a lot of work to get to the answer that I already know. There is indeed a glue particle. Unseen by man as of yet. One day we will get to see it. In the mean time, I am sticking with the scientific name, “The God Particle”

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”

Might do us good to re-read the account of the Tower of Babel in the Bible.
-Just a thought

Investing in relationships

2009-07-29T06:18:00.003-05:00

One of the leadership books I am reading has a section about how to prepare to lead. Unprepared leaders can derail a meeting even if other participants are prepared. A first step in that preparation process is to ask the right questions. For example, What is the purpose of the meeting?, What needs to be accomplished?, What are the limits of the group?, and Who will attend? In my life, I have meetings every day. In many of those cases I am,at least in part, leading that meeting. Variety of thought and viewpoints is helpful to keep my thinking fresh. If I always surround myself with people who agree with me, I forget that there are other ways of looking at things. Other vantage points or "look angles" help us to see the cracks in the foundation that can cause the whole deal to come crashing down. There are times I am blind to the "elephant in the room" and the elephant is obvious to someone else in the meeting. I can usually tell by looking at people's faces if I am missing something. The key is, as always, keeping the relationship and communication current. I have had people go with me on things because of our relationship even though they didn't agree with the direction I was going. You cannot buy that kind of loyalty, it is always earned. Investing in the lives of people we are with results in a great return on investment.

Helping the needy

2009-07-28T07:55:00.004-05:00

The art of successfully helping needy people is something that every person should be developing. The ability to help without enabling will help the neediness to diminish. I have found that some people can make amazing progress with helps in small adjustments. The bottom line is caring and compassion. Without that, we spin our wheels and only offer surface help when the need goes deep. Moving onto a true "help" mode from the "rescue" mode usually involves outside sources. Although I like to be "all things" to "all people" that usually is not an efficient position. There are those who are gifted to help and need to be given the opportunity. I have also learned that I must be very careful about judging people as to whether their walk is matching their talk. Listening to someone's "Story" can give insight as to why their walk may be distorted. There is a time to draw the line, but if I get too skeptical, I will draw it too early. There are boundries that need to be in place, however, because I can find myself in over my head if I try to do it all myself. I have found to best advice is to listen for the leading of God and not get in His way.

I am thinking this morning about the old Dottie Rambo hymn:

"He looked beyond my fault and saw my need"

Amazing grace will always be my song of praise
For it was grace that brought me liberty.
I can not know just why He came to love me so;
He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross where Jesus died for me.
How marvelous that grace that caught my falling soul;
He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross where Jesus died for me.
How marvelous that grace that caught my falling soul;
He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.

He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.

2009-07-27T06:02:00.002-05:00

Some of the sermon notes from yesterday:

Integrity is a way of life. Demonstrated integrity is the basis for dependable, consistent information, decision-making, and delegation of authority.
-Army Command Policy
AR 600-20

In Pursuit of what God has called us to do.
What is it that God has called us to do. We need healthy prophetic ministry to keep us fresh in our battle.
We need to keep the Word of the Lord in front of us. Fight the fight through the promises in the Word of God given to us in our call.

Saul lost the bearings of his purpose for life
1 Samuel 13
1 Samuel 17
When it came to Goliath:
David saw his opportunity differently than eith Saul or the nation of Israel
Israel saw an enemy that wanted to kill them
David saw a man who was defying the army of the living God.

It’s all the same guy.

Prayer: God- Change the way we think.

Demonstrating Integrity in our call

Five significant characteristics of demonstrating integrity:

Behave honestly in your interactions
Ensure that the highest standards for ethical behavior
Avoid political and self-serving behavior.
Courageously stand up for what you believe in.
Be a role model for living God’s values.

Tomorrow

2009-07-24T05:54:00.003-05:00

Several months ago our old wall clock stopped. Last month I took it in to be repaired and got it back yesterday.It is nice to have the sound of the ticking and chimes again. One of the childhood sounds that still is present in my memory is the sound of the clock in Grandma's livingroom. When the house was quiet, the clock still was ticking representing the passage of time and the reminder that even though a clock may run down break, time stops for no man. We have this moment and we will never have it again. We do not have tomorrow yet so worrying about that is futile.

A song comes to my mind this morning about this subject:

I Know who holds tomorrow
Words and music by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Thirsty for more

2009-07-23T05:56:00.004-05:00

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” - Jesus

There are receptors in our bodies that tell us when we are thirsty. They are a blessing.

One of the great challenges in life is to fulfill our seemingly endless lists of responsibilities and maintain our own spiritual thirst. A thirsty heart is a heart that longs for more of what it does not have. I need to keep my thirst for God unquenched. I must resist the temptation to become satisfied and safe so that I trust God's power rather than relying on my own ability. In the Bible I find examples of thirst for God. David had a passion for God and The disciples abandoned all to follow Christ. They cultivated their thist by making a decision to separate themselves from other pursuits. They let their motivations come from their relationship with God. They communicated their hearts to God. Articulating our desires and expressing ourselves spiritually will make our thirst endure.