I got born again beside my bed after just getting done throwing up, after being beaten up, which led me to look up. My life had steadily spun downward until this point. I had been laid off for over a year from working on the railroad. A relationship, in which I was engaged, was heading nowhere. The only good thing happening in my life was a part time janitor’s job working at the local Catholic Church.
My brother got married and started a family while he was still very young. I was a young uncle and I loved spending time with my nieces. I would take them to the zoo and other outings. As a young adult I enjoyed playing with young children. They seemed to really enjoy me too. I am embarrassed to say that I lived with my parents until I was twenty-eight years old. During that time neighborhood children would come knocking at my mom’s door asking if I could play in the yard with them. I guess they saw me as a big brother or maybe a fatherly figure.
Immediately after I prayed to receive Christ I got a stirring to leave home. It was about time! I would still go out with friends and drink but something had changed, it was not fun like it used to be. I felt guilt while sitting at the bars. I sold my hunting rifles and had just enough money to drive to Virginia to start a new life. I packed what little I had into my van and off I went. I was staying at a campground in Virginia Beach. I almost headed back to Pennsylvania when I was filling out a job application and realized that I had no address or phone number to put on the application. It was then that I remembered a friend from high school who was living nearby in Norfolk, Virginia. I called him and told him of my situation. He said I could use his couch until I could secure a job and another place to stay.
One of the priests from the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania referred me to his uncle who had a management position at the Newport News Shipbuilding Company. I met him at his house to fill out the application and within a week I had a job at the Shipyard!
During my time working at the Catholic Church I converted to Catholicism. I did this for two reasons. First, the girl I was engaged to was Catholic. Second, I was feeling a need to know God and the influence of the Capuchin Priests made it a logical choice to convert. They were so kind to me even when I showed up to work hung over. I did not know then what “Charismatic” meant but I now realized that they were “Charismatic Catholics.”
I started attending a Catholic Church in Newport News, Virginia. I had developed many Catholic friends in Pennsylvania and had good fellowship with them. I tried to find the same kind of relationships in Virginia but it was not the same. Western Pennsylvania was predominantly Catholic while Virginia was predominantly Southern Baptist and Pentecostal. The Catholic Church I was attending was not as alive and welcoming as what I had found in Pennsylvania. I was lonely and trying to find Godly friends. The relationship I was in was rocky before I left and trying to keep it going four hundred miles away was not working.
My so-called fiancé in Pennsylvania had left the Catholic church and said she was now “born again” and attending a Christian Assembly Church. This was huge as she was a born and raised Italian Catholic. That just does not happen! When she told me this there was a peace in her spirit that had never been there before. Her dad died of cancer and she was bitter with God until now. Although she was definitely changed by this new experience I thought I was comfortable staying a Catholic.
After about a year I got a realtor’s license. I worked at it part time while working full time at the shipyard. The shipyard was good steady work but the recession was ending and the strong military population in Southwest Virginia made the real estate business start to increase. Being tired from working two jobs I woke up late one Sunday morning and rushed off to attend Catholic mass. On my way to mass I passed a church called Warwick Assembly of God. The word “Assembly” caught my attention. I thought about the new church my fiancé was attending. I was late for mass so I turned around and decided to see what she was in to.
There was a man at the door with a huge smile greeting people as they entered. He extended his hand to me and with a strong southern accent he said “Welcome Brother!” My defensive response was, “I am a Catholic!”
“Never mind, we love Catholics around here.” He exclaimed as he ushered me in and introduced me to the elderly pastor and his wife. They were just as nice as he. What a sweet old couple. The pastor’s wife tried to help me find a seat up front but I quickly took the back seat by the door so I could escape as soon as they would leave me alone.
I said earlier that I had no idea what “Charismatic” meant and I sure did not know what “Pentecostal” was about! For some reason I did not leave. Everything on the outside wanted to but everything on the inside said “stay.. The music started and they clapped with the music. Some of them had their hands raised high in the air and were waving them. The music did not stop but the singing did and they in confusion. When the music did stop one man started shouting like he was the preacher and said, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” I felt like I wanted to get out that door but something or somebody kept me there. This was all kind of strange but I was not afraid. I sensed goodness through all of this confusion. The preacher finally did preach and he sure was a lot longer than the priest’s homilies. Yet it was interesting. At the end he asked everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes. The next thing I knew he was talking to me and about me in front of all those people. Before I knew it, I was standing up front with him, crying my eyes out and praying a prayer with him.
Looking back I know that I asked Jesus in my heart beside my bed in Pennsylvania. The Catholics did not teach about being “born again” so I like to say that in that little Assembly of God church I got born again again.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
CHAPTER 1 "WHAT IF?"
Our family attended the local Methodist church in our small town in western Pennsylvania. We attended regularly until I was ten years old. My parents would go the adult service and my brother, sister and I would go to the Sunday school. I remember my class being incredibly boring! I was a kid who loved to be active and play outside. I did well in public school but I dreaded going to Sunday school.
The Sunday school teacher for my class was the typical teacher of that time. She was probably in her late fifties. She had grey hair that was always in a little bun. She always had a sweater and a long skirt on. Later when I went to Junior High School I was surprised to find out she was our school librarian. I remember her being very nice, probably too nice. The other boys in the class were very mischievous and noisy but she never seemed to get too upset with them. In fact the class was always out of order and the boys made fun of her constantly.
The class was in a multi-purpose area of the church. The rooms were separated by a folding partition that was not sound proof. You could hear all the other classes going on at the same time. Some classes were singing, some were reciting Bible verses and to me it all sounded very confusing. There was an old piano in our section and the teacher would play while she tried to lead us in songs from the adult hymnal. The room was obviously used for other classes and purposes so there was nothing on the painted block walls. I remember even the color of the paint was boring. It was pale and faded green. We did have a window in our class that looked out to the main street of the town. The cars going by was the main thing that kept any of my interest.
The teacher taught from a Sunday school manual. She read directly from the manual and she seemed to follow it exactly. She would have the students read from the King James Version of the Bible. Many of kids read poorly and did even worse with all the “Thee’s and Thou’s .” I remember it being so grueling as each child had to read a section. Afterwards she would ask questions.
Some of the stories did catch my attention but it was not due to any creative ways of teaching or dramatic flare as the other children read. I liked the stories and I felt something special or holy as we read them, especially the ones about Jesus. At the same time it was still very boring to me.
I remember complaining each Sunday morning as my parents would get us out of bed to get ready for church. Obviously, my brother was having the same experience as me. He also complained and being older his complaints were a little louder. My sister was four years younger and I cannot remember if she complained or not? I think she went to church with my parents each week. I am not sure if it was our complaining or if it was the pastor visiting our home and offending my dad by asking for a donation for the building fund, but one day we just quit going to church.
At fifteen years old I stole some of my father’s liquor. I joined some friends who did the same. We gathered down by the creek near our house. I got drunk for the first time. We had fun and we thought we were very cool that we accomplished this without getting caught.
This was the beginning of a young life that was very lost until I found the Lord at twenty-eight years old. I became an alcoholic. For the next thirteen years I was an alcoholic and a drunk. If I had one drink or one beer it always led to more. I started smoking pot very heavily at sixteen years old. I dabbled with some narcotics but mostly it was pot, beer and liquor. I drove many miles while stone drunk. Thank God I did not kill anyone or even myself. At twenty-eight years old I hit bottom. I had quit the drugs but I was a full-fledged alcoholic. I was in a bad relationship. A recession had hit the USA and I was unemployed. It was the mercy of God that got me a part time job as a janitor in a Catholic church. It was there that some kind Capuchin priests befriended me and started to point me to a relationship with Jesus that saved my soul and saved my life.
The big “What if?” What if the nice but boring Sunday school teacher had made a little extra effort to make the class interesting to a bunch of ten year olds. Maybe if the room was more welcoming with some fun pictures or colorful posters. This was the mid sixties so I am sure there had to be some good Sunday school curriculum with visuals. What if we sang some kidsy type Sunday school songs instead of singing out of an adult hymnal? What if we read out of a Bible that was easier to read and understand than the King James Version?
Would have I enjoyed it enough to not complain to my parents every Sunday morning? Did those complaints help my dad make the decision to quit taking us to church?
I do not blame the Sunday school teacher for my lost years. Perhaps I would have complained even if it were fun and interesting. Nobody is to blame for my sinful life but me. I am not a victim and the only thing I can say is thank God that He rescued me and saved me before it was too late.
There is that possibility that if the classes were relevant, fun and interesting that maybe my brother and I would have begged our parents to keep going to church. Perhaps my teenage years and into my twenties might have been different.
This is the reason I have been involved in children’s ministry for over twenty years. This is the reason I am so passionate to develop children’s ministries that are fun, exciting, relevant and a place where they will meet and know Jesus, my Savior.
My mission is to help churches develop a children’s church that the kids run to and bring their friends to because it is everything but boring. Kids church and Sunday school should be one of the most exciting times in a child’s week. My hope is that my efforts to develop this kind of ministry for children has preserved many a children from going through the lost years that I experienced.
I hope that my efforts to make Sunday morning children’s church and Sunday school a place where kids want to be has preserved many a child from living the lost years that I went through. Perhaps by striving to make that hour on Sunday morning special that lives have been changed and saved.
I hope as you read this book you catch my passion. There will be some practical applications that you can learn and duplicate but mostly I hope that you understand the “Why” of what I try to do. Someone once said if you know the “Why” you figure out the “How”.
Today’s world is full of things that will capture the attention of the children. We will never compete with video games and media, but with some extra effort and sincere care we can communicate the love of Jesus in ways that are relevant to the way children receive and learn.
The Sunday school teacher for my class was the typical teacher of that time. She was probably in her late fifties. She had grey hair that was always in a little bun. She always had a sweater and a long skirt on. Later when I went to Junior High School I was surprised to find out she was our school librarian. I remember her being very nice, probably too nice. The other boys in the class were very mischievous and noisy but she never seemed to get too upset with them. In fact the class was always out of order and the boys made fun of her constantly.
The class was in a multi-purpose area of the church. The rooms were separated by a folding partition that was not sound proof. You could hear all the other classes going on at the same time. Some classes were singing, some were reciting Bible verses and to me it all sounded very confusing. There was an old piano in our section and the teacher would play while she tried to lead us in songs from the adult hymnal. The room was obviously used for other classes and purposes so there was nothing on the painted block walls. I remember even the color of the paint was boring. It was pale and faded green. We did have a window in our class that looked out to the main street of the town. The cars going by was the main thing that kept any of my interest.
The teacher taught from a Sunday school manual. She read directly from the manual and she seemed to follow it exactly. She would have the students read from the King James Version of the Bible. Many of kids read poorly and did even worse with all the “Thee’s and Thou’s .” I remember it being so grueling as each child had to read a section. Afterwards she would ask questions.
Some of the stories did catch my attention but it was not due to any creative ways of teaching or dramatic flare as the other children read. I liked the stories and I felt something special or holy as we read them, especially the ones about Jesus. At the same time it was still very boring to me.
I remember complaining each Sunday morning as my parents would get us out of bed to get ready for church. Obviously, my brother was having the same experience as me. He also complained and being older his complaints were a little louder. My sister was four years younger and I cannot remember if she complained or not? I think she went to church with my parents each week. I am not sure if it was our complaining or if it was the pastor visiting our home and offending my dad by asking for a donation for the building fund, but one day we just quit going to church.
At fifteen years old I stole some of my father’s liquor. I joined some friends who did the same. We gathered down by the creek near our house. I got drunk for the first time. We had fun and we thought we were very cool that we accomplished this without getting caught.
This was the beginning of a young life that was very lost until I found the Lord at twenty-eight years old. I became an alcoholic. For the next thirteen years I was an alcoholic and a drunk. If I had one drink or one beer it always led to more. I started smoking pot very heavily at sixteen years old. I dabbled with some narcotics but mostly it was pot, beer and liquor. I drove many miles while stone drunk. Thank God I did not kill anyone or even myself. At twenty-eight years old I hit bottom. I had quit the drugs but I was a full-fledged alcoholic. I was in a bad relationship. A recession had hit the USA and I was unemployed. It was the mercy of God that got me a part time job as a janitor in a Catholic church. It was there that some kind Capuchin priests befriended me and started to point me to a relationship with Jesus that saved my soul and saved my life.
The big “What if?” What if the nice but boring Sunday school teacher had made a little extra effort to make the class interesting to a bunch of ten year olds. Maybe if the room was more welcoming with some fun pictures or colorful posters. This was the mid sixties so I am sure there had to be some good Sunday school curriculum with visuals. What if we sang some kidsy type Sunday school songs instead of singing out of an adult hymnal? What if we read out of a Bible that was easier to read and understand than the King James Version?
Would have I enjoyed it enough to not complain to my parents every Sunday morning? Did those complaints help my dad make the decision to quit taking us to church?
I do not blame the Sunday school teacher for my lost years. Perhaps I would have complained even if it were fun and interesting. Nobody is to blame for my sinful life but me. I am not a victim and the only thing I can say is thank God that He rescued me and saved me before it was too late.
There is that possibility that if the classes were relevant, fun and interesting that maybe my brother and I would have begged our parents to keep going to church. Perhaps my teenage years and into my twenties might have been different.
This is the reason I have been involved in children’s ministry for over twenty years. This is the reason I am so passionate to develop children’s ministries that are fun, exciting, relevant and a place where they will meet and know Jesus, my Savior.
My mission is to help churches develop a children’s church that the kids run to and bring their friends to because it is everything but boring. Kids church and Sunday school should be one of the most exciting times in a child’s week. My hope is that my efforts to develop this kind of ministry for children has preserved many a children from going through the lost years that I experienced.
I hope that my efforts to make Sunday morning children’s church and Sunday school a place where kids want to be has preserved many a child from living the lost years that I went through. Perhaps by striving to make that hour on Sunday morning special that lives have been changed and saved.
I hope as you read this book you catch my passion. There will be some practical applications that you can learn and duplicate but mostly I hope that you understand the “Why” of what I try to do. Someone once said if you know the “Why” you figure out the “How”.
Today’s world is full of things that will capture the attention of the children. We will never compete with video games and media, but with some extra effort and sincere care we can communicate the love of Jesus in ways that are relevant to the way children receive and learn.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Leadership Keys
People you lead want to know:
1. That you will go first and lead by example.
2. That you only ask them to do what you have done or are willing to do.
3. That you will teach them to do what you have already done.
4. That their success is more important to you than your success.
5, That they will get credit for their accomplishments.
6. That you will celebrate their success.
From John Maxwell's "Everyone Communicates Few Connect"
1. That you will go first and lead by example.
2. That you only ask them to do what you have done or are willing to do.
3. That you will teach them to do what you have already done.
4. That their success is more important to you than your success.
5, That they will get credit for their accomplishments.
6. That you will celebrate their success.
From John Maxwell's "Everyone Communicates Few Connect"
Monday, August 30, 2010
What Good is Religion?
Norm Lawson tells the story of a rabbi and a soap maker who went who went for a walk together. The soap maker said, "What good is religion? Look at all the trouble and misery in the world! Still there, even after years-thousands of years-of teaching about goodness and truth and peace. Still there, after all the prayers and sermons and teachings. If religion is good and true, why should this be?"
The rabbi said nothing. They continued walking until they noticed a child playing in the gutter.
Then the rabbi said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but we see the dirt on that youngster Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all?"
The soap maker protested, "But, Rabbi, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!"
"Exactly," replied the rabbi.
From John Maxwells book "Everyone Communicates Few Connect"
The rabbi said nothing. They continued walking until they noticed a child playing in the gutter.
Then the rabbi said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but we see the dirt on that youngster Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all?"
The soap maker protested, "But, Rabbi, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!"
"Exactly," replied the rabbi.
From John Maxwells book "Everyone Communicates Few Connect"
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Here We Go Again!
Here we go again! We have been in California for the last six months helping establish the children's ministry at Living Hope Christian Fellowship in San Clemente. Our daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Shannon Kapp, merged their church plant from Oceanside with LHCF and are the Senior Pastors there. All of our daughters and their families live close by and attend the church. We have enjoyed living close to them.
We spent September through December 6th of 2009 in Singapore with City Missions Church. We were brought in as consultants in children and family ministry. It was a great three months of ministry and building relationships. When we left to go to California the leadership left the door open for us to return. Our ministry there was successful and we had developed wonderful friendships in the church.
We are going to go through those open doors and return to Singapore and City Missions Church. The decision was birthed through much prayer and we believe this is where the Lord wants us to minister for the next year and possibly longer. We have made a one year committment to the church to come on staff as an associate pastor. We will help in Family Life Ministry in the church and also be involved in their mission programs.
We will continue to receive donations for REACH for opportunities to help orphans and train children's workers. We will receive a salary from the church so the donations will not need to go towards our support. REACH has a very minimal administration cost so most of your donations will go straight to ministry needs.
We appreciate all donations and prayer. We are excited at the opportunity but we need prayer as it is very difficult to leave family once again. We are thankful for the season living near our grandchildren. They are excited to visit PapPap and MaMa in Singapore.
The pictures below are from our time with our family in Southern California.
Thanks for all of your support and prayers.May God bless you all.
Tim and Debra
Reaching & Equipping All Children for Him is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3), non-profit ministry.
We spent September through December 6th of 2009 in Singapore with City Missions Church. We were brought in as consultants in children and family ministry. It was a great three months of ministry and building relationships. When we left to go to California the leadership left the door open for us to return. Our ministry there was successful and we had developed wonderful friendships in the church.
We are going to go through those open doors and return to Singapore and City Missions Church. The decision was birthed through much prayer and we believe this is where the Lord wants us to minister for the next year and possibly longer. We have made a one year committment to the church to come on staff as an associate pastor. We will help in Family Life Ministry in the church and also be involved in their mission programs.
We will continue to receive donations for REACH for opportunities to help orphans and train children's workers. We will receive a salary from the church so the donations will not need to go towards our support. REACH has a very minimal administration cost so most of your donations will go straight to ministry needs.
We appreciate all donations and prayer. We are excited at the opportunity but we need prayer as it is very difficult to leave family once again. We are thankful for the season living near our grandchildren. They are excited to visit PapPap and MaMa in Singapore.
The pictures below are from our time with our family in Southern California.
Thanks for all of your support and prayers.May God bless you all.
Tim and Debra
Reaching & Equipping All Children for Him is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3), non-profit ministry.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Boys Need Adventure
It’s New Years Day and I am staying at my Mom’s house in Baden, Pennsylvania. It is the house where I grew up located about twenty miles outside of Pittsburgh. Urban sprawl never made it here since the steel mills closed in the early 80’s. Woods and hills surround the communities. I needed some exercise after over indulging in good western PA Christmas “eatin”. I decided to head toward the woods instead of the normal walk around the old neighborhood. As I started down the old logging road through the grown up cow pasture memories of boyhood adventures flooded my mind. Memories of sled riding down the old pasture hills. Slip sliding down the icy creek. Remembering that same small creek as we would build rock and mud dams to make it waist deep for summer swimming. I thought of my first rabbit hunt in those woods. I climbed the oak hills to the place where I would go after school in the fall and wait for the squirrels to come out. I thought of all the deer that I missed (I loved deer hunting but I was a terrible shot) while I also remembered all the deer my cousin did not miss. We would spend mornings until dark in those woods. Sometimes we even spent nights camping there. Volumes of books could be written of the adventures we created in those wooded hills and creeks.
My thoughts shifted to a deep contrast as I just left the house where two of my grand-nephews spent the night at my mom’s with us. They brought along their XBox and I spent time with them on high tech adventures shooting enemies as we wiped them out from one level to the next. I wondered how many boys never get the chance or never take advantage of the chance to climb the wooded hills to build real life adventures. Boys need adventure. Unfortunately most of their adventures are artificially simulated on computers and machines filled with violence.
We played army in the same woods in which we had to mimic the sounds of rattling machine guns. If we heard “I got you!” we would roll down a hill only to revive quickly to shoot back. Unless we scraped a knee there was no blood involved. The video games today are getting more graphic and violent with every new release. I worry and I pray. I am not against responsible ownership of guns. I think every boy should get a chance to get on a rifle range or a monitored hunt to shoot a real gun and feel it power and see the damage it can cause. The first time I shot a twelve gauge shotgun it knocked me down and that gave a respect for firearms. Busy lives and fatherless homes are presenting less and less opportunities for boys. Boys need adventure.
I have three daughters so I never got the opportunity to take my kids hunting or on such adventures. My cousin, Jerry, raised two boys and spent many hours beside them as they learned to shoot and hunt. He often shares stories of the teachable moments that present themselves during their adventures. Much of his boys character were shaped during these times. They have grown up to be great young men of great character. I believe the adventures shared with their father helped to shape and mold them. Boys need adventure.
I am a children’s pastor who has spent most of the last twenty-five years ministering to children from all walks of life. I have met many young boys who never got to experience such adventures. I am not talking just about shooting a gun, but also taking a hike, swimming in a creek, or catching a fish. Most of the time is because of an absentee father. I am praying to extend our ministry this year to create opportunities for boys to experience outdoor adventures. I hope to tie these opportunities to Godly character building moments. Pray for us as we begin this new endeavor. Boys need adventures.
My thoughts shifted to a deep contrast as I just left the house where two of my grand-nephews spent the night at my mom’s with us. They brought along their XBox and I spent time with them on high tech adventures shooting enemies as we wiped them out from one level to the next. I wondered how many boys never get the chance or never take advantage of the chance to climb the wooded hills to build real life adventures. Boys need adventure. Unfortunately most of their adventures are artificially simulated on computers and machines filled with violence.
We played army in the same woods in which we had to mimic the sounds of rattling machine guns. If we heard “I got you!” we would roll down a hill only to revive quickly to shoot back. Unless we scraped a knee there was no blood involved. The video games today are getting more graphic and violent with every new release. I worry and I pray. I am not against responsible ownership of guns. I think every boy should get a chance to get on a rifle range or a monitored hunt to shoot a real gun and feel it power and see the damage it can cause. The first time I shot a twelve gauge shotgun it knocked me down and that gave a respect for firearms. Busy lives and fatherless homes are presenting less and less opportunities for boys. Boys need adventure.
I have three daughters so I never got the opportunity to take my kids hunting or on such adventures. My cousin, Jerry, raised two boys and spent many hours beside them as they learned to shoot and hunt. He often shares stories of the teachable moments that present themselves during their adventures. Much of his boys character were shaped during these times. They have grown up to be great young men of great character. I believe the adventures shared with their father helped to shape and mold them. Boys need adventure.
I am a children’s pastor who has spent most of the last twenty-five years ministering to children from all walks of life. I have met many young boys who never got to experience such adventures. I am not talking just about shooting a gun, but also taking a hike, swimming in a creek, or catching a fish. Most of the time is because of an absentee father. I am praying to extend our ministry this year to create opportunities for boys to experience outdoor adventures. I hope to tie these opportunities to Godly character building moments. Pray for us as we begin this new endeavor. Boys need adventures.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
It Doesn't Take Much
During the 1990's I visited five times and ministered at the Mendies Haven Children's Home in Nepal. The home was founded by "Mummy" Elizabeth Mendies. Mummy was an awesome woman of God from Canada. She went on to be with Jesus this past fall at ninety years old. She took in children for over forty years and raised hundreds of children during that time. The home is still operating and you can visit the website at www.mendieshaven.org.
Twenty-two wonderful children were being raised at the home during our visits. The children had devotion time every morning and evening. We would join them during our visits and teach the children fun songs about Jesus. They loved the songs! We also taught Bible stories in our usual fun and relevant ways. It did not seem like much at the time, but it was fun and the children were loving.
This past Saturday I was able to get with two of the boys from the home, Rajaram and Krisna, in Washington D.C. They were brought to the States to visit supporters of the home, complete internships with Christian politicians and learn leadership skills to take back to Nepal. The boys were now young men at twenty-five and twenty-four years old. It was so awesome to be with them again and hear about their lives and the lives of the other children from the home. I was overjoyed to hear that twenty of the children were now serving the Lord. The other two they were not sure of as they had lost touch with them.
Rajaram and Krisna sang all the songs that we had taught them. I was amazed that they remembered them! They excitedly shared that the reason they were Christians and walking with Jesus today is because of our devotion times with them. They shared how many people visited but we were some of the only ones that spent the time sharing Jesus with them in ways kids like to learn.
I was overwhelmed with emotion. I told the boys that I was so happy to have a small part in where they were. They objected and said "No Ka Ka B (Uncle B, my title in Nepal), It is because of you and the teams that you brought that helped us follow Jesus!"
I continually pray for lasting fruit from our ministry. I look back and it really did not take much to impact twenty-two of most wonderful kids I ever met!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Just Be Ben
I love this quote from James Farrior when asked what were you thinking after Larry Fitzgerald scored the touchdown as the Cardinals took the lead? "All I was thinking was, "Just be Ben". James Farrior's hope was that if Ben Roethlisberger just did what he had done all year, if he just played his game, if he would just "Be Ben" the Steelers would win their sixth superbowl.
Only a born and raised "Younzer" who grew up with watching Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann could relate this to Jesus, so here goes!
I believe we are in the fourth quarter in the reality of life. The game is almost over and it appears the other team is winning. My hope and my faith is that when all is said and done, we win!!! All I am thinking as the clock ticks down is "Just Be Jesus!"
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Missional Churches (Part Two)
What does it mean to be a church in this time? Are we the "come to" model or are we crossing over and becoming churches that are missional, relational and incarnational? I believe to be effective in the coming days the church has to be actively engaged in the life of its communities and neighborhoods. To be "incarnational" we have to declare to our neighborhoods that we are here for you. Our values have to stay shaped by the Gospel but we have to come out of our walls and let God work through us in our communities. This is not going to be easy for the church who for the last decade has developed programs and attractions to bring them in. Not that this was wrong, it was what it needed to be for the season we were in. But it is a new day, we have crossed over. The past season had it's successes and people came to Christ and the Church grew. We also learned how to make the Gospel relevant to our changing cultures. But in this current day we must see our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces as places for us to bring an incarnational presence, Bringing Jesus into our everyday lives.
My reflections are being influenced by a book called "Borderland Churches' by Gary Nelson. I highly recommend the book especially to pastors and leaders of churches.
My reflections are being influenced by a book called "Borderland Churches' by Gary Nelson. I highly recommend the book especially to pastors and leaders of churches.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
We 'Crossed Over" Today
There is a Hebrew word in the Old Testament of the Bible, 'abar'. The word means to crossover, or to go across and not be able to go back. The first time it is used is when Joshua and the children of Israel stand of the bank of the swollen Jordan River. The have been wondering through the wilderness for forty years under Moses' leadership. Moses is gone and Joshua is appointed to lead Israel to 'abar' the Jordan River and enter into the Promised land. Once they cross there is no going back. It is unfamiliar. It is unknown. The only thing they can rely on is that God goes on before them.
Today, we have had an 'abar' experience thrust upon us. We have crossed over and we cannot go back. The path in front of us is not clear. Some believe it is the Promise Land. Others believer we are heading into a wilderness experience. The comforting thought to me is that God goes before us and is with us. Faith is required at every 'abar' in our lives.
Today, we have had an 'abar' experience thrust upon us. We have crossed over and we cannot go back. The path in front of us is not clear. Some believe it is the Promise Land. Others believer we are heading into a wilderness experience. The comforting thought to me is that God goes before us and is with us. Faith is required at every 'abar' in our lives.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Inauguration And The Need For A Father
With the inauguration happening tomorrow I am hoping with the rest of the country that President Elect Obama will be what he said he will be for our nation. My greatest hope is that he will remain to be the good father that he showed forth during the campaign. There has been a war against families for decades now, more specifically fathers. My prayer for President Elect Obama is that the pressures of leading the greatest nation on earth will not distract him from who he needs to be as a dad and husband.
The lack of fathers in our inner city neighborhoods is overwhelming. I ministered to over 200 children in an inner city in Hampton, Virginia. We visited the children in their homes extensively. It was a shock when I realized that only two fathers were present in the homes amongst all those children! John Elderedge writes in his book "Wild at Heart", "Every boy in his journey to become a man, takes an arrow in his heart, in the place of his strength. Because the wound is rarely discussed and even more rarely healed, every man carries a wound. And the would is nearly always given by his father."
Multitudes of young men from urban and suburban streets of our cities and towns are walking wounded. They need an example of strong father. President Obama, please above all else speak to these walking wounded, give them a deep voice and a Godly example to follow. You are in my prayers.
The lack of fathers in our inner city neighborhoods is overwhelming. I ministered to over 200 children in an inner city in Hampton, Virginia. We visited the children in their homes extensively. It was a shock when I realized that only two fathers were present in the homes amongst all those children! John Elderedge writes in his book "Wild at Heart", "Every boy in his journey to become a man, takes an arrow in his heart, in the place of his strength. Because the wound is rarely discussed and even more rarely healed, every man carries a wound. And the would is nearly always given by his father."
Multitudes of young men from urban and suburban streets of our cities and towns are walking wounded. They need an example of strong father. President Obama, please above all else speak to these walking wounded, give them a deep voice and a Godly example to follow. You are in my prayers.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Missional Churches
I am reading a book called "Borderland Churches" by Gary Nelson. It is confirming ideas and feelings that I have had about the Church (The worldwide Body of Christ) for some years now.
In the introduction the author says, "...it is impossible to be effective as the church without crossing boundaries of comfort, culture, and convenience." I believe those who have been ministering and laboring in inner city communities have learned this truth long before this recent awareness by churches seeking to be relevant in these changing times. It has been my observation that most people today are brought to faith in Jesus Christ through relationships nurtured outside the walls of the church. Seeking and developing these relationships require a commitment to cross those boundaries of comfort, culture and convenience.
It brings us back to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2 Cor 5:20
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."
In these changing times we must come to that realization we are ambassadors in a time and place where people are asking questions and seeking answers. Every believer is being called to be a missionary to their world.
In the introduction the author says, "...it is impossible to be effective as the church without crossing boundaries of comfort, culture, and convenience." I believe those who have been ministering and laboring in inner city communities have learned this truth long before this recent awareness by churches seeking to be relevant in these changing times. It has been my observation that most people today are brought to faith in Jesus Christ through relationships nurtured outside the walls of the church. Seeking and developing these relationships require a commitment to cross those boundaries of comfort, culture and convenience.
It brings us back to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2 Cor 5:20
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."
In these changing times we must come to that realization we are ambassadors in a time and place where people are asking questions and seeking answers. Every believer is being called to be a missionary to their world.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The January Fast
Every January since 1998 I fast. It started when I was on staff at a church and it was required of all pastoral staff to fast through January. My rebellious nature resisted being forced to fast but I was submissive, even though I fussed everyday. Three years later I left the staff position and January came. I looked back and reflected about the past three years of fasting January and started to really value the physical and spiritual benefits. I have kept the January fast ever since and most of my family have joined in.
We spent New Year and the first week of January with my daughter and her family in Oceanside, California. My son-in-law, Shannon Kapp, is a pastor and he is encouraging his church to fast for the first twenty-one days of January. Chandler, my ten year old grandson has voluntarily decided to fast lunch and video games! Lunch for any ten year old is a sacrifice, but video games!
A spiritual principle we live by is "Whatever you give up for Jesus, He always gives back something better." I have witnessed the incredible results in my life of this time set apart for God. I can not wait to see what happens to this incredible grandson of mine as he sets himself apart for those twenty-one days.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Bible Lessons, Telling His Stories (Part Two)
I have written a blog and have a sermon series on “Keys Ingredients to Successful Ministry.” The three keys are: 1. Keep it relevant. 2. Keep it relational. 3. Keep it reverent. I believe if we use these keys in telling and teaching the Bible stories to children we will keep their interest, challenge their behavior and minister to their soul.
Let’s start off with keeping it relevant. As you share the stories of the Bible, the children need to be able to visualize it. It helps to be somewhat dramatic in the presentation but the key is bringing the situations in the stories up to date with what the children will relate to. Apart from maybe Shaquille Oneal or other NBA centers, the children have never seen a giant. So now we have Goliath against little David. “Alright kids, who is the biggest person you ever saw?” Allow interaction as you teach. In urban settings most kids know who Shaq is. Other kids may give you answers like a football player, their dad, a neighborhood bully. “Now kids, imagine someone this much bigger than that person. (Your hands are stretched to another three feet) That is how big this giant Goliath was that David went out to fight.
So, David killed this giant with the Lord’s help. How does that relate to me, little kid in 2009 suburb of America? Explain to the children that we all have giants in our lives that we have fight with the Lord’s help. Have you ever fought the giant called, “Afraid of the dark?” How about the giant called “Bad Report Card”? All of us have things in our lives that we struggle or fight with, but if we trust Jesus to help us like David did we can overcome these giants.
Keys to keeping it relevant are: be dramatic, bring the stories up to date and relate them to situations that are current in the children’s lives.
Let’s start off with keeping it relevant. As you share the stories of the Bible, the children need to be able to visualize it. It helps to be somewhat dramatic in the presentation but the key is bringing the situations in the stories up to date with what the children will relate to. Apart from maybe Shaquille Oneal or other NBA centers, the children have never seen a giant. So now we have Goliath against little David. “Alright kids, who is the biggest person you ever saw?” Allow interaction as you teach. In urban settings most kids know who Shaq is. Other kids may give you answers like a football player, their dad, a neighborhood bully. “Now kids, imagine someone this much bigger than that person. (Your hands are stretched to another three feet) That is how big this giant Goliath was that David went out to fight.
So, David killed this giant with the Lord’s help. How does that relate to me, little kid in 2009 suburb of America? Explain to the children that we all have giants in our lives that we have fight with the Lord’s help. Have you ever fought the giant called, “Afraid of the dark?” How about the giant called “Bad Report Card”? All of us have things in our lives that we struggle or fight with, but if we trust Jesus to help us like David did we can overcome these giants.
Keys to keeping it relevant are: be dramatic, bring the stories up to date and relate them to situations that are current in the children’s lives.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Three Steps To Building His Kingdom In Your Community
1. Build A Door
2. Build A Relationship
3. Build A Life
We busy trying to do Jesus' Job, building His church.
Small thinking = Looking at our congregation, denomination as His Church.
If every indvidual Christian in every church would be about building His Kingdom, it would build the foundation that Jesus can build His Church upon. Upon this Rock I will build my church, The Rock is the revelation that Jesus is the messiah who came to build His kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven.
2. Build A Relationship
3. Build A Life
We busy trying to do Jesus' Job, building His church.
Small thinking = Looking at our congregation, denomination as His Church.
If every indvidual Christian in every church would be about building His Kingdom, it would build the foundation that Jesus can build His Church upon. Upon this Rock I will build my church, The Rock is the revelation that Jesus is the messiah who came to build His kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Bible Lessons, Telling His Stories
When I get ready to teach a Bible lesson to children I interact with them in this way; "Is the Lion King true or not? Of course it is not! Have you ever seen a lion talk? Is Toy Story true or not? You're right! Most toys do not talk without batteries or pulling a string. How about the movie Iron man? Right again! These are just stories. They are fun to watch but they are not true. Today we are going to tell you a story that is absolutely true! It is from the Bible and the Bible is one hundred percent true all the time."
Media has become a huge part of how children learn. How many generations have grown up learning from Sesame Street? Puppets and Dramas are used worldwide to help us communicate the Bible stories. Many of our adults services are now driven by media. What happens when there is no technology available, your drama team slept in, the puppets were left at your last outreach, and the DVD player bit the dust? It is time to tell His stories!
Teaching Bible lessons by simply telling the stories is becoming lost in the variety of media options available. Most of us would cancel our Children's service if the above situation happened.
Oral communication has become buried in most of our everyday lives. Emails and text messages have become a huge form of communication, especially among young people. Most families have eliminated "dinner time", a place where communication happened and the stories were told. Through all of this we are losing the essential key to most cultures, oral communication. My children are grown now and we live spread out across the country. When we gather at holidays or other events they ask "Pap Pap" (that's me) to tell the grandkids my stories. I have lived an amazing and eventful life and I have a way of seeing humor in almost any situation. I have had many funny things happen to me that my family loves to hear me talk about. The Bible says laughter is medicine to the bones and my family is blessed to be very healthy. We laugh alot!
I have been ministering to children for twenty-some years. I have used every gadget, object lesson, drama, puppet skit, and video throughout the years to teach children the Bible. I still think all of it is necessary and helpful to illustrate the lessons, but these days I try to use the lost art of story telling to teach the main Bible lesson. In this series of blogs I will share some of my reflections, techniques, and styles that I use to tell His stories. Do not go recycle Jumble Jeffrey the puppet! Keep your drama costumes! Keep an open mind and perspective and let us learn again how tell the stories and once again become preachers to the children.
Media has become a huge part of how children learn. How many generations have grown up learning from Sesame Street? Puppets and Dramas are used worldwide to help us communicate the Bible stories. Many of our adults services are now driven by media. What happens when there is no technology available, your drama team slept in, the puppets were left at your last outreach, and the DVD player bit the dust? It is time to tell His stories!
Teaching Bible lessons by simply telling the stories is becoming lost in the variety of media options available. Most of us would cancel our Children's service if the above situation happened.
Oral communication has become buried in most of our everyday lives. Emails and text messages have become a huge form of communication, especially among young people. Most families have eliminated "dinner time", a place where communication happened and the stories were told. Through all of this we are losing the essential key to most cultures, oral communication. My children are grown now and we live spread out across the country. When we gather at holidays or other events they ask "Pap Pap" (that's me) to tell the grandkids my stories. I have lived an amazing and eventful life and I have a way of seeing humor in almost any situation. I have had many funny things happen to me that my family loves to hear me talk about. The Bible says laughter is medicine to the bones and my family is blessed to be very healthy. We laugh alot!
I have been ministering to children for twenty-some years. I have used every gadget, object lesson, drama, puppet skit, and video throughout the years to teach children the Bible. I still think all of it is necessary and helpful to illustrate the lessons, but these days I try to use the lost art of story telling to teach the main Bible lesson. In this series of blogs I will share some of my reflections, techniques, and styles that I use to tell His stories. Do not go recycle Jumble Jeffrey the puppet! Keep your drama costumes! Keep an open mind and perspective and let us learn again how tell the stories and once again become preachers to the children.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Ingredients To Successful Ministry Part Three
We are talking about the three ingredients for successful ministry. They are being relevant, being relational and being reverent. The last blog focused on the challenge of being relevant without compromising our being reverent. Can we ever be too reverent towards the Lord? Of course not! In our best effort to revere Him we come way short. So perhaps the third “R” in our three ingredients should be called “Religious”. Now let me ask you, can we be too religious? I would call being too religious being to “Churchy”. I remember in the zeal of first being saved I adopted a full blown Christianeze language (I am not speaking about tongues). “Praise the Lord this!” “Hallelujah to that!” “Glory to God!” The zeal of a new Christian is often refreshing to other Christians cheering them on as they pass from death to life, but to the unbelievers, the unchurched and unsaved it is like nails on a chalkboard. It usually does nothing to draw them in and often pushes them further away. I was and often still am very religious in my talk. These days I try to be aware of who I am conversing with and be careful not add too much of this ingredient of Religion. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake…” I do not believe Paul is saying that he took on the ways and language of the world. I do believe He was saying that we should be aware of the lost folks around us and be careful not to push them away with our religion. In today’s world we will push them away with religion. They do not need religion; they need to know a relevant, relational and reverent Jesus.
Workers, Open Doors, Provision, Lasting Fruit
Five years ago we started Power Hour Sidewalk Sunday Schools in an inner city neighborhood called Lincoln Park in Hampton, Virginia. We believe the Lord told us to give Him five years in this community. We began a labor of love reaching the children. It expanded to a mentoring ministry for eleven to thirteen year olds. From there we were able touch the lives of the children's parents. We have ministered faithfully for those five years.
Pastor Mark Geppert (www.seapc.us)discipled and mentored us in our early years of ministry. Mark's main ministry focuses on prayer. He taught us a long time ago that when praying for ministries, cities and nations to focus the prayer in four areas. Those areas are workers, open doors, provision and lasting fruit.
On most Thursdays over the last five years I spent time on Buckroe Beach walking and praying for the Lincoln Park ministry. One fourth of that time I have asked the Lord of the harvest for laborers. I have cried out for workers to help our small group of volunteers who faithfully showed up to reach the children of Lincoln Park. The next quarter of my time on the beach was spent asking God for "Open Doors". We needed open doors in the community. We needed open doors in the hearts of the children and the adults. We asked for open doors with the local government and the housing authority. The next fourth of my prayer was for provision. Someone once said, "Salvation is free, the delivery system is expensive." Our popsicles and snacks cost $40 each week. We needed prizes, balloons, object lesson materials, and sound equipment. We never lacked in the provision for the Power Hour each week. The last fourth of my prayer time was spent asking God for lasting fruit in the lives of the children we ministered to. Some of those prayer journeys on the beach were with my wife, Debra, or ministry interns. Most of the time it was me and Jesus.
Debra and I attended a commissioning service for three churches who are taking over in Lincoln Park. I was approached about a month ago by the leader of this endeavor who asked what our future plans were in Lincoln Park. I informed him that we were finishing our work there but we were concerned about just concluding without a plan for the future ministry there. He shouted "Hallelujah!" as he informed me of the plans of these three churches. At the end of the service this evening, the pastor leading the service asked for all the workers who were going to be involved in the Lincoln Park ministry to come forward. Most of the people in the service proceeded forward for prayer. It looked like a hundred or more. Debra and I wept. In my mind I saw every step made on those prayer walks. I thought of how I cried out for workers! This was beyond what I was asking for or imagining.
Do not give up! God hears every prayer and He answers them above and beyond what we could ever ask of think.
Pastor Mark Geppert (www.seapc.us)discipled and mentored us in our early years of ministry. Mark's main ministry focuses on prayer. He taught us a long time ago that when praying for ministries, cities and nations to focus the prayer in four areas. Those areas are workers, open doors, provision and lasting fruit.
On most Thursdays over the last five years I spent time on Buckroe Beach walking and praying for the Lincoln Park ministry. One fourth of that time I have asked the Lord of the harvest for laborers. I have cried out for workers to help our small group of volunteers who faithfully showed up to reach the children of Lincoln Park. The next quarter of my time on the beach was spent asking God for "Open Doors". We needed open doors in the community. We needed open doors in the hearts of the children and the adults. We asked for open doors with the local government and the housing authority. The next fourth of my prayer was for provision. Someone once said, "Salvation is free, the delivery system is expensive." Our popsicles and snacks cost $40 each week. We needed prizes, balloons, object lesson materials, and sound equipment. We never lacked in the provision for the Power Hour each week. The last fourth of my prayer time was spent asking God for lasting fruit in the lives of the children we ministered to. Some of those prayer journeys on the beach were with my wife, Debra, or ministry interns. Most of the time it was me and Jesus.
Debra and I attended a commissioning service for three churches who are taking over in Lincoln Park. I was approached about a month ago by the leader of this endeavor who asked what our future plans were in Lincoln Park. I informed him that we were finishing our work there but we were concerned about just concluding without a plan for the future ministry there. He shouted "Hallelujah!" as he informed me of the plans of these three churches. At the end of the service this evening, the pastor leading the service asked for all the workers who were going to be involved in the Lincoln Park ministry to come forward. Most of the people in the service proceeded forward for prayer. It looked like a hundred or more. Debra and I wept. In my mind I saw every step made on those prayer walks. I thought of how I cried out for workers! This was beyond what I was asking for or imagining.
Do not give up! God hears every prayer and He answers them above and beyond what we could ever ask of think.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Shepherd
We were coming down the narrow trail in the Nepal mountains from elevations of twelve thousand feet. This was the fifth and last day of our trek. We were exhausted. My 17 year old daughter's feet were blistered terribly. We longed for a western meal. As tired as we were, the trip was worth it as we were able to distribute all of our Gospel literature and Bibles to unreached Nepalis who lived in villages high in the mountains.
For most of the trip down from the mountains, the trail was only wide enough for one person and a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.
The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave much welcomed shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us Westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.
As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.
Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his shoulder so the goat rode on the back of his neck being carred to the next place of rest and nourishment. Off they went up to higher elevations.
As we pushed our tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and go on to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.
Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing and nourishment.
We were coming down the narrow trail in the Nepal mountains from elevations of twelve thousand feet. This was the fifth and last day of our trek. We were exhausted. My 16 year old daughter's feet were blistered terribly. We longed for a western meal. As tired as we were the trip was worth it as we were able to distribute all of our Gospel literature and bibles to unreached Nepalis who lived in the higher elevated villages.
For most of the trip down from the mountains the trail was only wide enough for one person and the a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.
The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave welcome shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.
As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.
Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his should so the goat rode on the back of his neck. Off they went up to higher elevations.
As we pushed out tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and head to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.
Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11-12
For most of the trip down from the mountains, the trail was only wide enough for one person and a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.
The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave much welcomed shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us Westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.
As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.
Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his shoulder so the goat rode on the back of his neck being carred to the next place of rest and nourishment. Off they went up to higher elevations.
As we pushed our tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and go on to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.
Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing and nourishment.
We were coming down the narrow trail in the Nepal mountains from elevations of twelve thousand feet. This was the fifth and last day of our trek. We were exhausted. My 16 year old daughter's feet were blistered terribly. We longed for a western meal. As tired as we were the trip was worth it as we were able to distribute all of our Gospel literature and bibles to unreached Nepalis who lived in the higher elevated villages.
For most of the trip down from the mountains the trail was only wide enough for one person and the a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.
The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave welcome shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.
As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.
Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his should so the goat rode on the back of his neck. Off they went up to higher elevations.
As we pushed out tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and head to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.
Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11-12
Ingredients To Successful Ministry Part Two
Almost all growing ministries are using media to illustrate their teaching and preaching. It is almost necessary in this media driven culture to communicate using videos, music, movie clips, etc. to convey our Biblical messages. Computers and video projection have become a vital part of our communication within the churches and ministries. It is part of being "relevant". Jesus was relevant to his hearers. He used seeds, harvest, and sowing to communicate to the agricultural culture of his listeners. He spoke of nets, fish, and spoke from boats to the fishing communities. The challenge is staying relevant without crossing the line of being irreverent. We must be careful that in our effort to be relevant we do not compromise our Christian values.
A number of years ago my family moved into a new area. We were church hunting. Many people were talking of a new church that was meeting in a local YMCA. It was the fastest growing church in an area that had an abundance of churches. We decided to give a try on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. As we drove in the parking lot we were warmly directed to a parking space by the parking ministry. We were greeted at the door with a strong handshake, a smile, and directions to the Starbucks coffee and donuts (Yea!!!). So far this church was doing great in the second "R", being relational. I was even allowed to take my precious Starbucks coffee into the sanctuary! Awesome! The service began without a prayer, Hmmm? An acoustical group came forth and opened with a song made popular at that time by the Dixie Chic’s, "Landslide". I have used secular songs and changed the words to convey a Christian message to reach kids. I heard that "Amazing Grace" was once a bar song and the writer changed the words. No words were changed in this song, but I thought that the pastor was going encourage us on how life's challenges can come land sliding down on us but Jesus can pull us out of the rubble. I was trying to stay open. The liturgy was not what I was accustomed to as I thought praise and worship was next, but the pastor followed up the song with an introduction to a video clip on the big screen. The clipped rolled and the popular characters from the show "Friends" came to the big screen. I am not too pious to say that I have not watched and enjoyed the show, but there were parts of the show that sometimes I got convicted for watching and enjoying. On this clip all the characters were sitting around a table trying to celebrate Thanksgiving. Someone had forgotten the turkey and they were sharing a grilled cheese sandwich, each making a comment as they passed it around. The last one to get the sandwich and make a comment was Chandler. His comment was "This s__cks!" The line of being relevant and reverent had been crossed for me. I half heartedly tried to stay open thinking, "I would not have used that clip but surely the pastor will redeem this as he used the clip to illustrate his message. He preached a good message about the memorial stones that Joshua pulled from the Jordan River. He never used the "Landslide" song or the video clip as part of the illustrations to his sermon. They were there just because they were relevant to the culture of that time. Did he cross the line? Was being reverent compromised to be relevant?
In my first blog I used the illustration of a cake recipe. Too many eggs and the cake is no good. Too much sugar and only we sugarholics will like it. We must always measure and evaluate our ministries. In our zeal to communicate relevantly we must be careful to not compromise our being reverent towards Jesus. I believe this is one of the greatest challenges to those called to teach and preach today. How far can we go to illustrate our messages before we compromise our Christian values? Please, preachers and teachers, do not stop in your efforts to relevantly communicate. I personally enjoy a good object lesson or video clip when you communicate. We need to just prayerfully evaluate our efforts and ask the Holy Spirit to help us communicate so we do not bring an offense to our Lord or others.
In my next blog I hope to reverse this thinking and see that we can be so reverent (religious) that we can become irrelevant.
A number of years ago my family moved into a new area. We were church hunting. Many people were talking of a new church that was meeting in a local YMCA. It was the fastest growing church in an area that had an abundance of churches. We decided to give a try on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. As we drove in the parking lot we were warmly directed to a parking space by the parking ministry. We were greeted at the door with a strong handshake, a smile, and directions to the Starbucks coffee and donuts (Yea!!!). So far this church was doing great in the second "R", being relational. I was even allowed to take my precious Starbucks coffee into the sanctuary! Awesome! The service began without a prayer, Hmmm? An acoustical group came forth and opened with a song made popular at that time by the Dixie Chic’s, "Landslide". I have used secular songs and changed the words to convey a Christian message to reach kids. I heard that "Amazing Grace" was once a bar song and the writer changed the words. No words were changed in this song, but I thought that the pastor was going encourage us on how life's challenges can come land sliding down on us but Jesus can pull us out of the rubble. I was trying to stay open. The liturgy was not what I was accustomed to as I thought praise and worship was next, but the pastor followed up the song with an introduction to a video clip on the big screen. The clipped rolled and the popular characters from the show "Friends" came to the big screen. I am not too pious to say that I have not watched and enjoyed the show, but there were parts of the show that sometimes I got convicted for watching and enjoying. On this clip all the characters were sitting around a table trying to celebrate Thanksgiving. Someone had forgotten the turkey and they were sharing a grilled cheese sandwich, each making a comment as they passed it around. The last one to get the sandwich and make a comment was Chandler. His comment was "This s__cks!" The line of being relevant and reverent had been crossed for me. I half heartedly tried to stay open thinking, "I would not have used that clip but surely the pastor will redeem this as he used the clip to illustrate his message. He preached a good message about the memorial stones that Joshua pulled from the Jordan River. He never used the "Landslide" song or the video clip as part of the illustrations to his sermon. They were there just because they were relevant to the culture of that time. Did he cross the line? Was being reverent compromised to be relevant?
In my first blog I used the illustration of a cake recipe. Too many eggs and the cake is no good. Too much sugar and only we sugarholics will like it. We must always measure and evaluate our ministries. In our zeal to communicate relevantly we must be careful to not compromise our being reverent towards Jesus. I believe this is one of the greatest challenges to those called to teach and preach today. How far can we go to illustrate our messages before we compromise our Christian values? Please, preachers and teachers, do not stop in your efforts to relevantly communicate. I personally enjoy a good object lesson or video clip when you communicate. We need to just prayerfully evaluate our efforts and ask the Holy Spirit to help us communicate so we do not bring an offense to our Lord or others.
In my next blog I hope to reverse this thinking and see that we can be so reverent (religious) that we can become irrelevant.
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