Morning Rush

MY DAUGHTER THE ANGEL

2009-12-03T19:46:00.004-06:00

Would any of you know Wendy Rush Chapel? She's my Wendy-the-Pooh. Oh, how I like her!

Over the weekend a single mom found her fourteen year old daughter hanged. The momma discovered her. Trauma set in to say the least. My daughter went out and bought the woman a dress to wear for her daughter's funeral. That's the way she is; that's how she thinks.

But would you guess how Wendy-the-Pooh got such wings? She received them in her own pain. You see the 7th of December will mark 18 years since the murder of her fiance and his brother. Again to say the least, the situation was traumatic as well as devastating. None of us had been so shattered.

The world seemed to bow to the Phillips and Rush families with both generosities and kindnesses. They could not have been of greater help. A few of the young women went shopping and brought by several dresses for Wendy to choose from for the funeral for she couldn't do such for herself. What a remarkable gesture on the part of her friends.

So now 18 years later, when another happens upon ghastly horror, Wendy-the-Pooh knew immediately one thing that could be done. After all, she had received her wings 18 years earlier and remembered God's grace.

Good for you Wendy! You remembered how to do it! I love you today!

HIGHER LEARNING

2009-12-02T17:58:00.002-06:00

Education. Some eat it up. Some are professional educators or becoming educated. Others...well, not so much.

Have you noticed there are more people around nowadays? More than ever before? Have you noticed a correlation with increased population and increased stresses? Have you noticed that surpassing this vast and fast pace is what is known as high- speed Internet? High-speed? Naturally. Everything is bigger, better, faster, and then over-sized super!

Man is about to be swallowed by his own creation. We've gotten out of hand. What shall we do?

We must stick with the Word....not a slogan, not an old-fogey idea. Stay with the Word.

Why? It contains secrets rulers can't know. It contains wisdom of the highest learning...THE highest learning. Romans 12:2....be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Look, don't be as enamored with small phones which can pull up the Internet as much as the faith of plain person calling up the Spirit of God in prayer. Tech doesn't surpass God.

We are still full of hope. Yes the media has some truthful bad reports. Our God has the best yet to come....His Son! Lean toward Higher Learning!

OVERWHELMED?

2009-12-01T18:34:00.003-06:00

What is it like for you to serve in God's kingdom? Do you know what it's like for me? Overwhelming. Such measurement isn't a complaint. Rather, it is a feeling. I feel overwhelmed. And guess what else? I'm glad.

Starting in Genesis and finishing in Revelation God has one clear and consistent message; God works with those who are under overwhelming odds against them.

Noah with a message that wouldn't hold water.
Abraham well beyond his prime.
Moses running from Pharaoh's army.
Joseph in the pits.
Elijah against 450 prophets of Baal and a pile of wet wood.
Jesus in the tomb.
Stammering Peter opening the first workshop in Acts 2.
Paul whose knees shook and knocked.

Throughout the Word the odds were stacked against God's people that His sheer glory might be enacted. We prefer to be on top of things. Yet, if we are really going to serve God's land we cannot expect anything the others didn't get. We are called to exemplify the Living Lord on His terms; not ours.

Be very confident and courageous. We are called by the same One who called those of above fame. We get to be in on the greatest shock in the world; God's arousing victory in the midst of assumed defeat. Do not neglect the faith God has given you. Use it to envision victory in the very center of sneering opponents.

Overwhelmed? Ah, right where we should be. It must be up to God to make it work....and we believe He will.

A REALLY HARD THING FOR ME TO LEARN

2009-11-30T20:26:00.003-06:00

I'm 62. Not until recent years have I finally experienced a breakthrough that has been a long time coming. I am able to resist so many temptations of being defensive. Cured? I assume not. New and improved? Yes.

This mistake is probably one sin (see comment on last blog) the church suffers over most and is clueless to its degrading nature. We just accept it as a part of us when it scuttles so much of His intended work among us. Defensiveness keeps the rest of the church tip-toeing around somebody about something....so much of the time.

How do we get over it? Well, I suffered a lot. Why can't we just say the words out loud, I might be wrong. I got it wrong. I'm sorry. Why? Instead we keep good works at bay because brother Vesper will get upset or sister Constance will withhold her contribution. When will we grow up? When will we break these invisible handcuffs which stop good works in their tracks?

It has been grueling to learn to let defensiveness die. I had to admit I didn't control....anything. I had to discontinue my thoughts that I was the drive shaft of the church. I never was. The Spirit is. It never was up to Terry who runs things or Terry who wills things....but up to God who has mercy....Romans 9:16....sorta.

If we can but continue to grow in trusting God more with His work than ourselves we will find ourselves more open to possibility rather than sealed in preservation. (Ah, another good blog!)

EYES FOR PEOPLE

2009-11-29T19:53:00.002-06:00

Our small group prayed for an hour at our house and then went out to eat. Our waitress was the usual personable and professional. I noticed something about her, though, that said to me she would be open to God; possibly in need of God.

After our group interaction with her throughout our meal, I stepped away from our table to have a private conversation. I introduced myself and told her where our group was from. Then I told her I thought I could tell that she was a very good woman; that I could see God in her. I told her that if ever she hit a point where she needed encouragement just remember our church is one of those places she can count on.

What would you guess her reaction? She leaped to hug my neck. Very purposefully she went on to tell me of some big struggles recently and that she has been looking for a church.

I basically know nothing about her; her life, her schedule, her patterns. But I feel very good that God used me tonight to make contact with one He is reaching. Whether we see her again or she becomes a part of another Christian group elsewhere, it is very fun to have eyes to believe another would be open to God....and find out I was right.

See people. Sow seed. Win as He wills. How fun is that?

SHALL WE GIVE 'EM HEAVEN?

2009-11-28T20:28:00.004-06:00

Don't look now but Sunday is running up behind us.

Any of you young men out there in a panic? I'm not in a panic; but I am on appropriate edge.

Be assured, God is working on the sermon from many places besides your head. He's responding to prayers offered for some maybe seven years ago and tomorrow those "prayed overs" will be dropping by your place. Give 'em heaven!

God has been working on your sermon. Brothers and sisters have invited guests and they are hoping against hope we have a message of good news. Oh, how they hope we are known as a place of good news tomorrow morning.

My sermon isn't done yet. I would guess about 55% completed. I have to leave tomorrow morning opened for Him. We've worked this way for years. I've thought and studied and prayed throughout the week. As a result things will occur to me in the morning that I have yet to consider.

Do this with yours; trust God and trust His Word. The church and her visitors are not gathering to see how interesting we are. They want to know if we have any scoop on life for where they have been seems to be burning out. We do have life! Give 'em heaven!

Do your best not to smother the Spirit in your over-preparation as well as your self-preserving control. Those in front of you care less about your outline. They desperately want to run into a preacher who believes with great enthusiasm that this message is directly from God and not from his preparation skills.

Preparing is of utmost importance; so don't misunderstand. If you haven't been listening for His input and interaction....you have put together a sermon one more Sunday....on your own.

Do you know how to give 'em heaven? You get it from heaven. You give it because you get it. Do well tomorrow. People want to know God is alive. Demonstrate it!

HOW WE ARE TO REACH TOWARD OTHERS

2009-11-28T07:20:00.003-06:00

Are we on fire for God? Or, are we on fire of being on fire?

I feel sorry for the multitudes who have encountered my passionate religious exercises called Soul Winning. While indeed I had genuine interest in drawing the lost to Jesus, I had a bigger interest in proving I could do what I feared I couldn't; persuade any of His love. The contest wasn't would they believe the man as much as could I sell the plan.

From my perspective (which is surely only one) I would say to most of us, who want to move toward our neighbors, that before we move forward we might want to back off.

I made the process of leading others to Jesus far too messy and unnecessarily difficult. I had proof texts that I used more like sling-shots rather than seed. I had one goal; stand in the baptistery with them. I was not a soul winner at first. I was a trophy hunter.

But due to some miserable failures and a merciful God, I see opportunities differently. I don't have to sell Jesus; I merely want to tell of him. Our role is not so much to take him out there as to lift him up. Lifting him up didn't fit in my five steps; it's only one. One can't be right, can it? Didn't I understand God did everything in fives? Or, was that sevens? Or, twelves?

I encourage you to be even more aggressive in reaching out. This is sorely needed in every community. But I would encourage us to reach out with the patience of sowing seed while possessing the confidence God knows how to draw. If we would back off from our rules and regulations and replace such with our love for relationships, I think we will see a much more encouraging orchard filled with Holy Spirit fruit.

IN DESPERATION

2009-11-27T14:27:00.002-06:00

Our world is in a world of hurt. There is so much entanglement. People are hurt; some are ruined. And we possess the heart of Jesus, so what do we want to do? We want to make everything better....now.

A homeless couple happened upon my office doorstep this afternoon. They have been staying under a bridge for two nights. I would guestimate them to be 25? She was a cutie and he was so handsome.

She had a job at a bar. They were evicted from their apartment for "some stuff that happened". DHS took their two children. Court is set a for a week from Monday. Get the picture? Their lives are a tangled mess.

I was able to give them money for three night's lodging and food. I don't know how they got into this bind. I haven't a clue what poor choices they made to bring this on. My heart wants to fix life for them. The most I could do was have them come into my office, sit, let me look them in the eyes, and listen.

I love this couple. It doesn't matter to me if any or all of this is their fault. I want to help.

What gets me more is this is a picture of community. Much of it is falling apart. I need God to work in me/us bigger.

I prayed to God early this morning to win the whole world. I want to see Him do that Jesus-stuff where thousands are reached. In the kingdom scope of things with so many members blanketing earth, I'm assuming it is happening. God is winning the world.

YOU ARE ON....

2009-11-27T10:49:00.002-06:00

This blog reaches a lot of regions as well as leadership hearts. I'm always encouraged to learn of the great things God is doing. This is a special time of year. Gratitude prevails.

You are on...the mic is in your face (in this case at your fingertips). Tell us about a work the church or individuals are doing which inspire you and would inspire us.

It does us good to learn of God working. The mic is facing you....and you are on. What do you see?

LIGHTING HUMAN CANDLES

2009-11-24T15:49:00.004-06:00

This is the week of being with people...in some cases lots of people. Notice everyone in your zone. Pick up on their hurts as well as their hopes. Inquire of those whom you would tend to ignore as to what is going on in their lives. The reason? Everybody counts. Inquire and inspire. There's a bumper sticker.

This week is a tribute to one of God's grandest themes: thankfulness. Some among us may not believe anyone is thankful for them. We have opportunity to reverse their spirits. We can make them into new people by our acknowledging they exist....importantly exist.

Do what you can to avoid taking anyone for granted. Look into the eyes of those who feel lowest. State your case as to why you believe in them. Tell them why they are powerful in your eyes. Especially the young will tend to think they are family fringe and don't matter so much to aunts and uncles. Prove differently.

Let your light so shine that it brightens the eyes of another. You are encountering people as if they are human candles. You are the match. Light them up. Watch them glow. When you put one human candle ablaze there is great possibility they will pass it on. What a great way to live...lighting the human candles!

May we continue the contagion of liking right now and liking all of those around us right now!

A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND

2009-11-22T15:42:00.005-06:00

It was announced this morning that Billy Joe Daugherty died. I did not know he was ill. When Van Priest announced it I sobbed deeply with grief; it hurt my heart so badly.

Billy Joe was one of those friends who was close in heart whether we got together only once or twice a year. Every time I we would talk on the phone I would ask how he was doing. His response was always the same, Blessed because of the work you do.

This man had my utmost respect. He preached for one of Tulsa's mega-churches and was what I call "the real deal".

I enjoyed every visit. We were constantly working on showing up at events at the same time. Recently he was planning to meet me at the prayer meeting with the Baptist preachers in South Tulsa. A few weeks ago I shot an email regarding another mutual meeting. When he didn't respond, I just assumed he was out of town; possibly out of the states.

We always discussed the Spirit. He was as much a student as am I. The two of us met for a private breakfast just to catch up. We got off onto healing. I was asking him how he saw that working. Eventually, I inquired of him how it would be decided to let a person die as sometime that had to happen. Such is a terribly shallow question I imagine. But in his typical gentleness he thought it was a good point worth weighing.

Billy Joe is quite a story. As a young man he had a vision while at a church near 4th and Sheridan of what ultimately led to the now-famous Victory Christian Center. He wasn't a showboat. He never left a hint of impure motives. The guy was devoted to Jesus in both his speech and actions.

One of the things I liked most about him is that while he was certainly high up in prestige, position, and connections of famous people, Billy Joe always had time to be attentive to our friendship which meant much to my heart.

Billy Joe Daugherty was a believer that God could do more than man imagined or thought. His fruit is testimonious. He was a sensitive leader. He would not be surprised at my sense of loss. He was more than a good friend; he was my brother.

DO YOU LOVE ME?

2009-11-22T07:15:00.003-06:00

You recall Jesus asking Peter, Do you love me? Peter thought he did until it came down to the tough stuff. Who was it that had the nerve to rebuke Jesus? And why? It was, of course, Peter when Jesus told how he would suffer death. Suffering wasn't a part of Peter's vision.

Suffering isn't a part of the vision of many in the church either. Therefore, I encourage you to let such a concept begin to take over more of your heart. Why? Because if you do not love Jesus and his church, you will do as Peter....deny you know him, deny you ever met him, deny you had anything to do with him....and then flee. You'll run away from the church.

What I admire about the present day church is it is built with stones---generation stacked upon generation---which are committed to hangeth in there 'til Jesus wraps up all of life in his grand re-entrance. Just as Paul found he had to separate from his colleague because they didn't agree, neither of them left the church. They found ways to keep serving God while momentarily detached. We may serve down different lanes for the time being, but we must remain committed to the Christ in the most stressful of situations.

Even in the center of hurt feelings, our nature is what? Keep trying. Jesus wouldn't quit. He died in the process only to let the Father turn that moment into the biggest story ever to come out of Jerusalem! Yours is a continuation of his story. You are important. Don't forget that if you have to suffer and struggle over anything in life....let it be something as magnitudinal as loving the body of Christ.

Do you love me?, we asked of one another. Oh yes. And we won't stop.

WHY I'M THE LIGHTENING ROD OF TULSA PREACHERS

2009-11-21T07:41:00.006-06:00

I have immense appreciation for the amazing crop of new preachers God has added to the church Tulsa force over the years. It's a pretty impressive group of guys. Relating to these men is so different than my earlier days in this city. As I thought back I recalled why it might be I am such a lightening rod (where some want to avoid me) in this town. There could be several reasons.

For one, when I moved to Tulsa I was pretty rough. I was a brash yeller and pounder of sermons. Since I knew myself to be weak, I compensated with the assumption loud meant power. It didn't and most knew, except me. There remain those who wouldn't walk across the street to hear me preach. If were still like that, I wouldn't go either. I was two things back then; (1) Jesus-less, and (2) loud. Many fled from Memorial and I don't know how those who stayed took it.

In addition I recall a key Preachers' Luncheon that permanently separated me from most. The meetings in those days were very dark in spirit. A heaviness of ego-gathering and divisiveness permeated meeting after meeting. Week after week I watched as the area men rolled their eyes/smirked as Marvin Phillips and Ron Swadley walked in. I always wondered if it was from jealousy. Whatever, I finally had enough.

After being in town for three months I was at one of those meetings. Of course we always went around the room to give our reports and announcements. When it came my turn I stood and said, Guys, I moved to town really looking forward to what I heard would be the Preachers' Luncheons. Where I'm from there were no other Church of Christ preachers. But I have to tell you of my disappointment. You men are the rudest, most hateful and divisive group I have ever been around. I don't like this. I'm amazed that this goes on.....and took my seat.

One by one they stood in direct and obstinate rebuke. I gave it and I would take it. They scalded. I'll never forget their serial venom. Finally, an older one named Lee Peters stood and said, Men, we might ought to fess up. We had it out against Terry or whoever moved to Memorial because we don't like the attitude coming out of Memorial (whatever that meant). He's picking up on what we all know is true. He probably has pointed out something necessary. We most likely need to hear what he has had the courage to tell us.

Next, a younger preacher named Jim from Bixby stood and said, Men, until Terry got here I was the newest in the area. I want to tell you that what he just told you is how I have felt all this time. He just told you the truth. I think the meeting sorta ended as I seemed to have lost consciousness or something. From that moment it wasn't good with me and area churches. I probably shouldn't have said it that way. I'm certain I could have said it better....but I still feel that way about those days, said better or not.

And then another thing I think makes me a lightening rod is my teaching that the Holy Spirit operates directly in the Christian's life. This one surprises me more. It is simply in the Word and while that same Word says there is no law against His fruit, I find there is in the Church of Christ...that true church that supposedly takes its stand on where the Bible speaks.

I'm not proud of the first round of upset at the Preachers' Luncheon. I could have been more patient. But this one about the Holy Spirit is going to have to stay. How can we read the New Testament and conclude the Spirit of God does not work among us directly? The words say so.

Finally, this leads me to a great appreciation for the area preachers. It is surely a new crop of Spirit-minded men. From Danny Sidders in Bixby to Elliott Dunn in Sand Springs to Tim Luster at North Sheridan and over to John and Dan at Open Door on out to Tim Pyles at Broken Arrow....what a classy bunch. Judge and Bob and Ron and Tracy and Charlie and Warren are probably the basic old guys like me as far as tenure.....yet we feel renewed in our partnership day by day. But when you add these young pups including Mitch and Greg and Joel and others, it is so encouraging.

I wish I had done several things better. Who doesn't? Some of my blunders will always haunt me. I'll necessarily carry that burden. But I remain electrified at the caliber of young men filling area pulpits in addition to the spirit of us older men who keep hanging in there with attitudes to grow toward one another. Opposition is clearly not a part of the area preachers any longer. Thank you, God, for your patience.

WE WORK GOD'S WILL. BUT WILL GOD WORK?

2009-11-20T20:07:00.004-06:00

Serious disciples of Christ want to know God's will. I'm in. I want to know quite a bit of it...that part that goes easiest on me and for me. I'm pretty spoiled so I don't want the tough stuff. I'm serious about the kingdom life; but protective of how it affects me.

A lot is said about doing God's will. I'm in. I love seeing His will performed. But something I see as a real challenge to the church is the question of will God. Will God keep His promises? Will God provide what we can't imagine? Will God work in ways we cannot program? Will God supply as He vows?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

At the end of the day it really isn't a matter of church money in the bank, but faith account in the hearts. Faith will make the church hum, not books in the black. Faith will see the glory in darkness, not flashing lights of show. Faith will unveil surprise in the midst of unforeseen blessings. Faith will launch the meagerest of hearts to see the grandest victories.....because God will show up.

We talk kingdom. We debate truth. We argue right versus wrong. But a question very needed among us is do we really expect---really believe---God will work marvels beyond our programming? I do. I think many do.

But I also think many in leadership capacity hold their god at the furthest distance their own arms can reach. A passage that is really important to the one yielding to the Spirit operation is Romans 9:16....it isn't up to man who wills or to man who runs, but up to God....

I met with Tim Pyles yesterday; the new preacher at Broken Arrow. It was my first occasion to have a lengthy conversation. I'm highly impressed. We are already great friends. What I like about him most is he hit that point in ministry (and we each have to hit it somewhere) where he could not pull it off....ministry...any longer on his own steam. God broke him of his own confidence and now he possesses God's....II Cor. 3:4-5. The work had never been up to Tim...he had misunderstood.

One of the things that would rock every congregation is to believe two things wholeheartedly; (1) we must know the will of God, and (2) we must be absolutely unequivocally sure God will work.

LIVING IN THE LAND OF AHS

2009-11-19T20:27:00.004-06:00

Spread thin lately? Pressured? Discouraged?

I've been thinking about God....wondering what He's up to with me. I am at a temporary point where I feel uneasy. Surely you've been there where you are disappointed in people or situations. Anger isn't in the picture, but uncertainty is.

And then I remember something He taught me a long time ago. Once again I'm pressed to recollect His astute truth. God is quick on His feet....and I prove not to be.

The Spirit inspired the apostle to write, That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong... II Cor. 12:10.

I and many around me are not being persecuted; nothing of the kind. But the weaknesses, insults, hardships, and difficulties ring a bell. Kingdom work is hard work. It's like no other. Paul wrote in the verse just ahead of this that therefore I boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

The church doesn't have an authority problem or a truth problem as much as it has a believing problem. Can we take His word at face value? Or, shall we run to one of our "solid in the faith" slogans while ignoring a very magnitudinal call to boast gladly when we don't have a clue how to handle kingdom matters?

This truth always brings me back. Where I waver and wonder if I can make it over this hurdle or through this next hoop, God reminds me to salute His brilliance of working so very backward to fleshly organization and evaluation.

Being bruised, being crushed, being unsure? All these rigors simply thrust each of us into that wonderful Land of Ahs.....ah, God is doing it again. We are powerful...the Word declares....because we are so weak that often we don't know if we can do another day...another meeting....of church stuff. And yes......we can for His power is draped upon us as a robed champion because of the very thing we didn't want to possess.....weakness.

Good for God. Good for us.

BREAK FREE FROM THE QUAGMIRE THAT CHOKES

2009-11-19T06:56:00.003-06:00

My heart dreams day after day. It does not stop....really. It dreams about you. It dreams about God. It dreams about my enemies. It dreams about possibilities. Such isn't an assertion I perpetuate. Rather it simply rules my mind. I am enamored with being in kindergarten always learning about kingdom matters. I still hunger to learn.

One of my biggest dreams is freedom. As the African-Americans hold a special understanding of slavery that Caucasians can only read about historically, I sense and experience similar slavery in the church. Something unbiblical came along and was swept into our camp as a Trojan horse. Before we knew it we had been sold out as slaves to carry an unnecessary weight throughout our days. Shame on any of us who dare call it a golden calf.

Yet, it is. I speak of the Restoration Movement. Before our early American church fathers broke camp a non-Bible word was connected to us that buries its people: restoration. Restoration insinuates that putting our hands to the Bible plow and looking back is right; something evidently Jesus didn't understand.

The fruit of this movement is a growing quagmire of hardened hearts who cannot stand the genuine call of the New Testament...grow in the Spirit of Christ. Restore is the motto. Explore is taboo. Exploration has been stymied because we have reverted to digging up the past of the church instead of the future fascination of God.

We continue to hear it said by the restorationists that we must take our stand. Such a stand implies in harmony, never out of step, and always cooperative with everyone who holds such faith. Hardly a picture of Jesus. Controversy is assumed satanic when, in reality, it is promoted by Jesus as necessary to hold to the true pattern of Holy Script.

I encourage you to develop a love for your enemies which would match that of Jesus' for you. And then I would encourage you to take your stand and break free from the quagmire that is choking off hope from a very needy culture; that of restoring a hand full of sacred calves with just a smidgen of spirituality mixed in.

I don't like being in trouble. I am insecure enough that everyone liking me is a big deal. But I must say our God surely has bigger fish to fry than that of calling all people to look back in any other direction than the cross. When we catch a vision of the cross....we will explore with great freedom those regions of the soul...theirs, ours, and mine.

WATCH OUT....UNITY IS COMING IN THE BACK DOOR

2009-11-18T17:00:00.004-06:00

A storm has been brewing off of the coast of the kingdom and it is about to hit land. Several elements are leading to the formation of this gust of enormous need. Jobs are fading. Foreclosures are rampant. Credit and its interest are causing bulging discs in the spinal column of fiscal America. Yes, a big storm is brewing and the church should be encouraged to prepare for participating in the solution.

I speak of ministering to the poor among us. Several churches, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Denver, Tulsa, (on and on the list goes), have been deeply involved in inner city ministries. Orphans, addicts, abandoned, and deserted are blessed because of a plethora of devoted workers already in these trenches. In addition nearly every congregation has pledged some effort through benevolent works for decades.

But I see the storm coming where the need is rapidly increasing. Reaching into the communities through this opportunity has the look, as well as the demand, of our bus ministry days. The community wants us! It really needs us. If it thinks it doesn't....it will. Wonderfully....this is what we have needed.

The bus ministry was a mighty tool. I believe it impacted all three of my kids as much as anything in the church as far as leading them to develop hearts for people. God is back with a new work. Get ready church.

We will need to work wisely. The need is so great that if we don't prepare our people for this storm they are likely to be swept out to sea in bitterness and frustration. The demands will be big. We must work with our people to get ready that they not suffocate in irritation for the tides will tempt to overpower. This work will insist we trust God to hold the workers together by His mercy; not our running or our will....Romans 9:16.

When this storm hits land, cries for food, pleas for housing, and calls for clothing will escalate beyond anything we America has seen maybe since the Great Depression. Signs of such already pose challenges. The church is faced with one of its greatest moments of our time.....encountering humans on the streets of poverty as did Jesus. It will be one of our finest hours....if we help us get there.

I'm not preaching doom and gloom. I'm communicating we are already seeing signs...constant signs that can no longer be ignored. Communities are decaying.

We cannot face such flood gates without preparing church hearts for company. In a positive way this surge will break the backs of our whining intra-church criticisms. It will thrust all of us into a pool of such overwhelming capacity we will be forced to need each other. With religious terrorists on one side and poverty on the other, we are going to find ourselves very blessed as God will squeeze the selfishness of our four-wall pride out of us. We will be plunged into the ocean of devastation while our eyes will be opened to two things: the wonder of God...and of each other.

Unity is coming. Need is going to sweep through our villages. Jesus....the name of Jesus is going to be the code word. Get ready church. Bus ministry days are back. This is a strong storm brewing. I believe unity among believers will filter in....for we are really going to need each other.

MINISTERS: HOW TO WORK YOUR SCHEDULE

2009-11-18T08:20:00.003-06:00

Ah, I write as if I know everything. Well, I hardly know anything. From experience, though, I pass along ideas in case you could latch on to one or two with promise of lightening your heavy load. You know Jesus is deeply interested in easing our loads. Remember?

When I first hit ministry my days and evenings were cataloged. One night for visitation, another for church, another for committee meetings, another for evangelism, and then there was Friday family night. I followed instructions and maintained a faithfulness to my calendar.

It wasn't long 'til my assumed approach to successful ministry became buried in the quicksand of conflict. Life didn't seem to align with my predicted schedule. Adjustments had to be implemented.

First, I relaxed. This was new. I gradually learned to lean on God's provision rather than my synchronized schedule. My major adjustment came when I made every night family night. Instead of Tuesday night being evangelism night I went with my family to the kids ball games...and guess what? We began to see the friends I made at the games begin to become a part of our congregation. Who knew it would work this way? And....it was family night on the wrong night!?!

It became clear that wherever my kids were, there were people who needed encouragement and ministry became an entirely new animal. It transcended from either-or to God is involved in life abundant.

I shed the robes of being the church's little governor where I tried to show up at every birthday party or hospital room of every member. I couldn't get there....but the church could and I learned to do as Jesus exemplifies.....be present in the spirit of another without physically being on site. This is key.

Right now I am present in Florida, Utah, New Mexico...anywhere you want to name because I am connected directly to the Spirit of Christ. So are you.

I'm not lazy. If you are looking for an excuse to be lazy you don't bother reading this anyway. What I am is excited at the impossible and amazing work God does in, through, and with us while we try to figure out how to do His work.

My recommendation is to ease up. You'll like your work longer and I think you'll see more of God in your work if you'll back off and enjoy Him a bit.

IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT

2009-11-17T14:30:00.001-06:00

http://www.workshopmultimedia.com/index.php?subpage=memdrive

If you go to the above website and click on "The Gleam of Life" sermon, I think you might be encouraged.

I love to watch for signals from Him as to how we can find yet another reason to hope. The quote at the end of the sermon is the one from Dr. Larry Crabb which is at the right of all posts on this page.

Preachers, we have much good news to share. Keep looking at the Word. Keep digging. Keep waiting on Him. Catch the gleam in His eye that you are amazing!

Have a really good week!

STANDING FIRM

2009-11-17T07:04:00.004-06:00

Standing on solid ground, remaining sound in the faith, and being steadfast to the Word have been the clarion call before I was ever converted. These were drilled into us in preaching school. Stand. Don't bend. Be firm. Each ordered us to never cower from the Truth.

What I didn't know is the cowering had already been done. The true church had been sold off at debate auction to the loudest bidders. Our claim to fame was we possessed the distinction of the one true New Testament church. The problem is we weren't exactly such. We were a mixture of Jewish-minded traditionalism, a version of the Lord's Supper, and semi-biblical worship services.

Certain texts had been set aside. Others had been ignored; i.e. the warning of holding to form rather than power. The Church of Christ is now known in many places for being all about form without power. Preaching of Jesus and him crucified had already been replaced by preaching the distinctive marks of the true church. Church of Christ was preached. And finally, the New Testament Holy Spirit had already been retired since including Him messed with our patented and now answerable doctrines.

True church? There is one. The one Jesus was and is building. I am taking my stand. I want in on that one. I don't want to be a part of the one I once was where wounded souls now litter our communities because they ran into the "true church" (us) and were mutilated by our harsh pronouncements of which we knew very little about.

You'll likely catch me slipping back into the Restoration Church of Christ on occasion, but I really want to be a part of the biblical one; that one where division and suspicion do not rule, but hunger for God does. I want to be a part of that one where I find myself really worshipping God rather than applauding ourselves for how good acapella sounds. I want to be a part of that church where every one counts, where the Word is still acknowledged but our pride in having stored up nearly all that can be known about God is not our trait.

I want to be a part of that distinctive church Christ is building where hope and joy and life abundant flow uncontrollably out of our mouths and into the streets where both the rich and the poor cross paths. That's where I want to stand.

I DELETED MY OWN POST

2009-11-16T15:42:00.004-06:00

Ah, now that was new experience. I posted a new blog an hour ago....ran my daughter-in-law to the airport....and came home and deleted the post.

Why? Oh, it just had to much whiny-ism in it. It doesn't matter....I cut it out.

Years ago I preached a constant barrage of brotherhood issues. It kept the church stirred. It kept me stirred. What I found out was I was tickling the ears of some strong-willed members I wanted to please. I was feathering my nest so-to-speak.

But it wasn't right. What I wrote an hour ago may have been acceptable; but it just wasn't right. It was too much back in that defensive mode of which I made a break years ago.

So write this post to say, Do what you can to break the bonds of impressing others. Just do away with it. God has much to say about Him. Preach about Him. Fill churches with the fresh news of the freshest news in the land. Nothing about the experiential God is boring nor uninteresting.

Fill the world with word about Him. May we tell what He's doing, where He's been, and where He's going. Plain people still want to know. They don't want to know about our pet peeves or our sour grapes. They want to know when and where the Jesus-stuff is going on.

I'm one who wants it to be going on where I preach. How about you?

OUR BLESSED DAY

2009-11-15T20:37:00.002-06:00

We've just had a great day! First, I wasn't feeling my best but it had no bearing on the Spirit and His ability to escort us through a marvelous day.

Early this morning Jason Thornton performed a wedding in the chapel at St. John's hospital. It was the first to be performed there. Scott Wallace and Kylah Ottinger were baptized three weeks ago, had a child Friday, and were married this morning. God really is putting their lives together.

Later in the morning Connie and Shawn were baptized. This is the couple that managed the Cove Apartments when back in the summer our small group had an ice cream social for the Cove's tenants. Who would have guessed a dish of ice cream would result in a family being added to the church? Well.....we would....we did.

Too, one of our Memorial families fell apart this afternoon due to sin. Why would I mention such a matter when the report was going so well? I write this because Memorial Drive doesn't live a Story Book life. We live a real life and both of these matters fit into the composite of what the church is like and who we are.

The latter couple will have some high hurdles. I'm believing they are at the right place at the right time. Too, they will now realize one more time what it means to be able to start life over.

Baptisms, marriages, and painful bruises; that's what our congregation is about. Perfect? No way. Placed in a perfect position to rest upon His finished works...absolutely. We have had a blessed day. We saw God emerge into our paths from all sorts of angles. We are much because He is everything!

COMMUNICATION HELPS

2009-11-14T14:48:00.003-06:00

I've experienced a major breakthrough in ministry. I learned it from my elders over a period of years; the value of communication. While This is nothing new could be shrugged, it is something very new and very needed among us.

By communication, I don't mean information transfer. I mean understanding each others' hearts. Memorial's elders/staff meetings are every Monday morning from 6:30 to 8:00. We have no minutes; old or new. We get together and just talk. Always we work on a few important matters to go over. But the bulk of the time is spent laughing at one of us--usually Ron or me--mixed with sharing stuff that concerns our hearts.

What I'm trying to describe is a secret to an elder/staff relationship I've never experienced nor heard of anyone else experiencing. We communicate heart to heart....not head to head...detail to detail...dot to dot. We have learned to appreciate where the other is coming from.

This has helped me immensely to relate to our part-time staff as well as our members. I've learned over the years what I knew academically but not practically; people vary in thoughts and needs and each variance is terribly important to the kingdom fabric.

I've calmed down. Agitation lessens for while I may not agree, I can understand where opposing views are coming from. The harmony isn't in agreeing on every detail. It is on grasping a truth that those who disagree often have good reason.

When we communicate with understanding---a deep-seated wanting to know why the other thinks the way he or she does---unity is much easier because we really desire to work with all involved. I believe much of the bitterness and hatred in church circles are perpetuated by rumor and assumption....but not by understanding for we rarely listen. We conclude without knowing the person with whom we have the debate.

Communication helps. When we get why some personalities take differing views and then speak to one another repeatedly in conversation as friends, God's work finally has a better chance of leaving the meeting rooms and impacting the streets.

HOW DO WE HANG IN THERE?

2009-11-13T16:40:00.002-06:00

A positive thing I like about the church is it works at being biblical based and spiritually responsible. When such is a central part of the kingdom fabric, we can count on stability.

Our world gets rocked with steady upset and discouragement. What do we do about it? How do we hang in there?

First, we admit every one's concerns are legit as each is doing his or her best to seek what's best for the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Any of us might be selfish, but certainly that is not our intent. And if we catch ourselves behaving that way, we are overall willing to back down.

Second, how we hang in there is we simply recall the empty tomb. Our God is the God of many things but I know of none more fascinating than being the Lord of possibilities. Our problems are not that challenges face us. Our basic struggle is that we forget He is both the provider and the protector when we feel absolutely clueless.

Now clueless I get! I know of no one in the kingdom more clueless....and that isn't a false humility statement. Show God your weakest link and He'll show you His mighty muscle. We can breathe easy and at the same time help others breathe easy because God will show us possibility.

How do we hang in there? Together. I hold on to you. You hold on to me. While we may be clueless...at least it will be together. Now this we can live with.

PEOPLE....WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT 'EM?

2009-11-12T21:12:00.003-06:00

Drink in the wonder of knowing and being with people. That's what I get to do everyday. I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it. Time may fly....but it will not be without me noticing the "right nowness" of....right now.

The presence of people fascinates me. I mean it. How did I get to be so fortunate to be a man instead of a locust? I revere the most splendid creations...people. I want to just look at you. Let me rephrase....I do sit and look at you.

While some eyes are struck by the beauty of an ocean kissing the sky blue yonder, other ears are satisfied with the strong voice which says, It's a girl. Grills give off summer scent. And, touch becomes so sensational in the simplest of hugs. Senses...how powerful they are. How easily they are taken for granted. Not so with me.

Nothing exhilarates like people. How do we drink in such wonder? God is right....the Spirit flows as a river and when He indwells people....then we sit beside the perfect stream...you and me in the togetherness of the moment. Moments matter.

I often say I am the luckiest man I ever met. Too many years passed by before I could genuinely make such a claim. But what's weird for me now is the older I get the more I seem to thirst for the finer things in life.....really good people.

People....what would I do without 'em? I'd be disappointed for sure.