Challenging Days Ahead

I know that there will be those who will disagree with what I am writing today.  However, I'm allowed to have my point of view as much as they do, so here I go.

I am disappointed in the results of the national election.  The political agenda that has been embraced at both the national and state levels is one that takes us away from God.  There are forces at work that have been waiting for this election to begin the onslaught against our civil liberties.  There are lawyers that have been working behind the scenes to prepare an attack on Christian churches and organizations, eliminating our 501(c)3 status in an attempt to force churches to pay taxes while at the same time forcing nationalized health care on our institutions.  If such action is legalized, then many churches will be forced out of existence.  The financial burden will be too great.  And when that happens, the programs and charities that currently meet the needs of many people will be eliminated, forcing people to become more and more dependent on the federal government.  The new world order that our current political leaders are calling for will become a reality, paving the way for a world government and a world leader.  This sounds eerily like the prophecies of Scripture. 

However, I am not a fatalist.  I still believe in prayer and the power of God!  The Church must rise up!  I am not espousing a political agenda or that the Church become another PAC.  No, the Church must rise up and be the Church.  We must get back to fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.  We must be soul winners.  We must disciple those we lead to Christ.  We must teach people the Truth. 

My friends, there is no answer but Jesus!  There is no power that can change a life but His!  We must change our world one person at a time!  But we must engage our culture with the message of hope and salvation.  We can't wait for them to come to us.  We must go to them!  Those without Jesus are lost and dying and headed for a Christ-less hell.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (see John 14:6).  As Josh McDowell once wrote, Jesus Christ is either Lord, lunatic, or liar.  I believe He is Lord.  Do you?

Election Day

I've been sickened (again) this political season with all of the misleading campaign ads filled with lies and misdirection.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised as it takes place every election cycle.  I think what frustrates me even more is the number of people who can't seem to differentiate between truth and misinformation.  Like mindless sheep headed for slaughter, people are headed for the polls tomorrow (or have already done so via absentee or early balloting) to cast their vote for a godless agenda that will condemn America to ruin.

But there is hope!  No matter who is elected as the president, senator, congressman, etc, we who know the Lord have the inner realization that we have a future.  There is hope for America!  You see, our hope is not in the ways of man nor in the functions of a bureaucracy.  No individual is going to save us from ourselves.  We must turn to our Founding Father, and lift our voices to Him, and seek His ways.  And when we do, we have hope! 

When Solomon was dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem, God appeared to him and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.  At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.  Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land" (2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NLT). 

It's really up to us - the Church!  God restores when we are right with Him.  I agree with Bill Hybels when he says, "The hope of the world is the local church."  When the local church is walking with Jesus, that statement is true.  When we are walking with Jesus, then there will be a prevailing church against which the powers of hell cannot conquer (see Matthew 16:18). 

Leading Edge

I've been a student of leadership for many years.  As I look back over my life, I've been in leadership nearly all of it.  As a teenager, I was the senior patrol leader of my boy scout troop at the age of 14.  I served on the board of my home church at age 16.  Throughout my college years I was involved on several leadership ventures.  In my 31 years of ministry, I've led churches, boards, and committees, and served on denominational task forces and various district offices.  I've been blessed with a wide range of experience.

Now my confession:  I'm still learning about leadership.  I am constantly reading books on the subject, attend the occasional leadership conference, listen to leaders on cd, and glean from leaders I respect.  I'm constantly soaking up leadership principles to improve my interaction with people and to take my organization to the next level.  I am hungry to learn more. 

I also desire to share what I am learning and practicing with others.  I've come to that stage in life where I know that I need to invest more in others in this particular area.  I'm currently developing a program for systematic leadership training in my local church.  I'm co-leading a small group of pastors in my district where our focus is on leadership development.  I'm being certified as a coach in the Wesleyan Coaching Network in order to be able to enter into formal coaching agreements with those who desire to be better leaders. 

Leadership is influence.  I've not always been the best leader, but I'm working at it.  I'm at the stage in life where I am determined to leave a legacy of developing others.

What are you doing to invest in others?  I'd like to learn from you.

Efforting

Efforting.  It's an interesting term.  It's used in broadcast journalism when support staff is attempting to secure a guest for a show - "We're efforting that." 

It's also a good way to describe what happens in sports.  Players that are really putting everything into the game are known for their efforting - giving their total energies to the game.  My daughter Bekah and her friend, Morgan, are great at efforting in their volleyball games.  Some of their teammates - not so much.

Let's move the discussion over to spiritual development.  Are you "efforting" in your growth?  Are you putting in the effort necessary to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus?  Do you settle for simply being on the team when you could be contributing in the game?  Are you contributing in such a way that adds value to your team and teammates, or are you actually being a drain on their efforts? 

I know these are hard questions for some who may read this blog.  But we are all responsible to be good stewards of what God has given us.  Being a good steward is not keeping what we have, but investing it so that it grows.  When one person isn't efforting, it impacts the whole team - and the whole church.

So what do you think?  And are you efforting?

Toxic Waste

I was in a meeting the other day when a friend made this statement:  "We let our passions for what is good separate us from what is best."  Isn't that true?  Sometimes we allow the good things of life keep us from becoming the best that God wants us to be.  We sacrifice the great by settling for what is simply good.

What are some examples of this?  When parents are willing to involve their children in every sporting league and encourage them to compete in tournaments to the point their children are no longer regularly in church, I think this sends a signal to the kids that church isn't important.  I know parents are trying to get their kids to earn scholarships and other honors, but how many actually get these awards?  How many kids burn out on the very sport they are passionate about?  Another example would be choosing to pursue a relationship we know isn't in the center of God's will but we allow ourselves that liberty.  What does that say about our values?

Don't get me wrong.  There is life outside of church!  There are going to be times when some events conflict with the church calendar and your participation may be necessary.  However, I think each of us knows the difference between what is good and what is best.  Are you struggling in this area? 

I'm going to do a sermon series in August on this topic.  Let's explore this together.

Longevity or "Old?"

I received a certificate on Saturday at our district conference.  It was for 30 years of service in The Wesleyan Church.  As I stood on the platform with pastors who had served 25, 30, 35 and more years, I thought, "All this means is that I'm getting old."  The good news is that I felt (and hope looked) younger than the other men on the platform.  I guess that's my perspective and I'm sticking with it. 

Our General Superintendent did make an interesting comment:  Nearly 50% of those who are called to and start out in ministry quite within the first five years.  Wow!  I'm not sure what to make of that exactly, but it's an interesting stat.  I guess after 30 years it says I'm too stubborn to quit! 

On a serious note, I tip my cap to all those who serve in pastoral ministry for whatever period of time, and particularly to those who have been at it longer than I have.  Thank you for your faithfulness!

Updates on previous posts

Well, I looked back and thought I better update some of my past posts.

• General Conference has come and gone.  We have restructured The Wesleyan Church to being led by one general superintendent and four major department leaders.  Many of the changes are good.  There are a couple of concerns as far as how some of them will impact overall effectiveness, but all in all, the denomination is leaner and meaner. 
• I completed my online training for IWU and I passed!  I'm still a bit nervous about that first online class when it gets assigned, but like anything new, you have to try it before you know if you will like it!
• I've lost about four pounds since implementing the "weight upon the Lord" plan.  I only have a couple of others in the church doing it with me, but that's fine.  By the end of the summer we'll be the envy (oops, can't have that) of the church.  :)

I'm praying our vacation plans come together.  There have been some obstacles but we are working toward it.  Look out New York!