Thursday, April 26, 2012

Reading

Back when I was in college my professors constantly told me to make sure I was reading after I got out of school. One of my professors stressed it with the side note, "You're degree will be obsolete within ten years because of how much society is changing, and therefore how the church will need to change to stay relevant." He followed it up with a word of caution, "If I find out you aren't reading I will hunt you down and ring your neck."

I never could figure out how to work reading into my day. I'm not a fast reader, and part of me hates stopping in the middle of a chapter. It was hard because there are times I really get bored with what I'm reading. This happened a lot with my gen eds in college, and since I'm out now and passed everything I can admit that most of the time I didn't read. My last semester I decided that for once I was going to do all of the reading for every class. Then senioritus hit. I think that plan lasted three days.

On top of not being able to find time there was the issue of picking books to read. Out of the millions, maybe billions, of books out there, how do you pick one to focus on. Since my field is God, that narrows down the subject matter and genre pretty well, but still there are hundreds of thousands of books written on theology and related topics. How to you choose?

I wouldn't say that I've solved both of those problems, but I'm working on it. I was taking a leadership class a pastor friend of mine offered last spring/fall, and in one of the books we had to read for class, which I did read (most of it anyway), it said to set aside half an hour of your day, and read for thirty minutes. That gave me so much freedom. Pastors talk about having a reading day, I tried it and I don't know how some guys do it. I couldn't read for a whole day if my life depended on it. But half an hour every day, that's totally doable. I found that due to my inability to stop mid-chapter it often ended up being longer than an hour a day, but I enjoyed it.

As far was what to read, I take a lot of suggestions from people I know and trust. If I find an author I really like, who challenges or encourages me, read most of what they wrote. Stuff I get bored with or have a hard time following I generally stop reading. My pastor friend said in class that we should pray that God helps us lose interest in the books He doesn't want us to focus on.

I also read for pleasure, but this has become a very inconstant thing. I cycle between eleven books, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the seven Chronicles of Narnia books. I think reading for pleasure is important, it allows your mind to escape reality and forces you to use your imagination. Plus in so much fiction you can see things that point to God and the truths of Scripture. I think this gives us a strong argument for God, because everything points back to Him and the story of salvation and new life.

If you've been on my blog before you've probably noticed my list of reading suggestions on the right hand side. These are ones I've read that have helped and challenged me, or the ones I simply enjoy. And the more I read, the more the list grows.

Reading is crucial. When I was a kid my mom and I would read before bed. It's something I look forward to doing with my children. I love books, I love holding them and marking them up. Now that I've learned how to do it consistently, I look forward to my daily reading time, and miss it when I don't get it. My goal is to read, or re-read twenty-four books every year. I believe I'm at six this year, so I need to pick up the pace a little.

The reason I started this post is to talk a little about the book I just finished today, Forgotten God by Francis Chan. It's one of those books that just hits you right in the face. It presents honest truth that is Biblically grounded, about the life that God created us to live. I spent three days going over chapter 6, Forget About His Will For Your Life! The last two chapters of the book have challenged me in so many ways. It's come at a time when I've been discouraged, and feel drained and worn out. If you read my post yesterday I said I feel like I'm getting hit from every direction right now.

But as I've read Forgotten God I've been reminded that God hasn't called me to a life of ease. That God hasn't called me to a life of no problems. God doesn't even promise to tell me where we're going, He just says, "I'll be with you every step of the journey. I'll have your back in every battle. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you."

God has called me to follow Him, and He offers His Holy Spirit to me to strengthen, encourage, and guide me along the way. I need the Holy Spirit. My very life depends on Him. I want my life to reflect Him in everything. No matter what I'm going through I want to reflect the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, that the Holy Spirit wants to fill me with. I want my life to be set apart, and characterized by the Holy Spirit. I want God to fill me with His Spirit so that I can better serve Him, and give Him more glory than ever before.

Reading has helped. Almost everything I've read from Francis Chan has been stuff I've thought before, but in his books I see that I'm not the only one, and that there are others doing it so much better than I am. It's encouraging and humbling. It's challenging and helpful.

If you read only two books this year, let them be Crazy Love and Forgotten God. The message that is given in these is one that the Church desperately needs to hear and apply. At church I'm leading the adults on Sunday night, and the teens on Wednesday night, in a study of these two books, and hoping that they open their hearts to what God is trying to say through them.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

God, I Trust You

The last few weeks have been really hectic, but let me just tell you about the last three days. Sunday morning was spent in the ER with my wife, I wrote about it, and all of my thoughts about it, in another post.

Monday I got in my vehicle to go to work and it wouldn't start. I called my dad and let him listen over the phone and he said it sounded like the starter was bad. He came down that afternoon and was helping me with it, it took two hours just to get the starter out. Currently my vehicle doesn't have a starter, battery, or alternator in it. My wife and I are living with one vehicle, and I've been biking to work. We'd talked about going to one car, and this is a forced trial run to see if we can do it. It takes a lot of coordination, and I don't know if our life will let us do it right now.

Yesterday we found out that my wife's insurance had been canceled in February. We hadn't gotten any notification, and the last two payments we sent in for it had cleared. After spending a while on the phone with the insurance company they said there was nothing they could do about it, but that they were going to be issuing us a refund for the last two payments we had sent in.

It's been a hectic three days, that has come at the end of a hectic couple weeks. The church I'm serving has a leadership crisis where no one really wants to take leadership. On top of that there are some financial concerns. My wife is frustrated with work and how they have started scheduling by a computer now giving her even less continuity than before. And I found out that the eight year old son of a good friend of mine has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. It's been a hectic couple of weeks.

Today was a day I really didn't feel like getting out of bed. I had to to let my wife's new dog outside, but I really didn't want to get out of bed. I feel worn out and drained. But honestly I have to also say that I am blessed. My dad was able to come down and help me with my vehicle. I hate working on cars more than about anything else in the world. And after seeing the trouble my dad, who can fix anything, had with it, I have no idea what I would have done.

We have a dog now and she didn't cost us anything up front. The last two days she's been sitting by the door wagging her tail when I've gotten home. She follows me around the house and will just sit by me and look at me. My wife is happy to have her "Princess Rosie", and loves to cuddle with her. I was able to be a blessing to my wife with the dog.

Yesterday we were surrounded by people who encouraged us, and offered to help us. Our Co District Superintendents, the assistant Superintendent, and a pastor friend. We are blessed with great people.

My friend whose son has cancer has been an example to me in the last few years. He is a model of Christlikeness and Christ's love lived out. Through reading his blog posts about what his family is going through with cancer, you constantly see him point back to God, have his faith and trust strengthened, and model excellent fatherhood.

I said in a previous post that God wants to work on my trust in Him, and it seems like I'm being hit from every angle right now. But yesterday as I sat in the hallway outside our church district office I told God, "I trust you." I read in Forgotten God yesterday a verse that I'm feeling right now.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4.7-11)

I talked with my mentor last night, about the events of yesterday, and he again reminded me of something that he's told me many times during the last few months. "This didn't catch God by surprise. He knew that this was going to happen. Everything is God's, God doesn't have resource problems. Everything you have is God's. You belong to God, and so you don't have resource issues, they are God's." My mentor is a man of great faith, and I believe God is working on me now to build my faith in Him.

I am afflicted in every way, but I am not crushed. I am so perplexed, but I will not despair. I am persecuted, but not forsaken, and though I have been struck down I have not been destroyed. The Bible never promises anyone an easy life, not even pastors. It says in Philippians 1.29, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake," and here in 2 Corinthians 4, that we carry in our bodies the dying of Jesus. But it says that we die so that the life of Jesus can be manifested. It says our treasure is in earthen vessels so that God's power will be seen, not ours.

God never promised life would be easy, but He did say, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.9) Paul said in Philippians 4.11-13 (sitting in prison waiting to die), "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul knew that no matter what happened, no matter what he went through, no matter what he gained or lost, he always had Christ. God has said, "I will be with you wherever you go."

God always promises His presence with those who are faithful to Him. My study of the Bible is currently in the book of Numbers. Last night I read chapters 19-21, in them I saw that God needs to be the priority, that when we don't make God our priority and trust Him we miss out on the great blessings He has in store for us, and that God always provides salvation for His people. God can be trusted, because God always provides salvation. When we make God our priority, we will constantly be blessed with His presence. There is nothing we will ever go through that He is not aware of and beside us on. Nothing catches Him off guard, by surprise, or unprepared.

God, I trust You. You have promised to be with me wherever I go. You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. You have promised to exalt Yourself. My life has been given to me by You, so that I can have the privilege of glorifying You. Right now You know everything I'm going through, You know everything that I will go through in the future. I ask that these trials will be times when I just draw closer to You and learn to trust You more. Father, Doug reminded me yesterday that this is just preparation for something You want to do, mold me and prepare me. Pass me through the fires of trial because it will only make me stronger in You. Help me to know that You will never leave me, and that no matter what I go through, You are carrying me through it.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, April 23, 2012

Trust Issue

In the past five or six days God has showed me two areas of my life that need improvement. Last week it was pride/negatively comparing myself to others. Yesterday it was trust.

My wife had a headache that had progressively gotten worse over a week. She's suffered with migraines for the last few years due to a car accident. But she said this was worse. She hadn't slept that well in a few nights, but Saturday to Sunday night was the worst. I heard her get up, but was still half asleep. But when she didn't come back to bed I began to wonder. I prayed for her, and heard her kneel down in the bathroom. God was like, "Go be with her." I looked at the clock which said 5:35, and went and wrapped my arms around her.

She asked me to take her to the hospital. That means she's really in pain. She's tough, honestly a lot tougher than I am, and so when she asked to go to the hospital it was really bad. We got ready and she went down to the car as I was brushing my teeth. And I began to fight back tears from being overwhelmed. We don't have the greatest insurance plan. I'm still on my parents' plan until the end of November this year due to Obamacare. My wife is only part time at work because she isn't available on Sundays, and so we don't get benefits through her like we initially thought we would. The church offered to give me health benefits, but due to our current financial situation at the church I haven't taken them. We buy insurance for my wife but it's not much because we can't afford much.

I'm brushing my teeth and just praying that God will take the pain away. We start driving, and I keep praying, and nothing happens. I explain everything to God, and nothing happens. I pray until we get there, fighting back tears the whole time, and still nothing.

As my wife is sitting there waiting to go back to the emergency room, I texted my mentor, and he told me he was praying. After that I dumped my being overwhelmed due to potential cost, and he texted me this "I know. Trust me. It will all work out. Pour all your attention on her and let our Father worry about the finances." I needed that, and it helped, but didn't take all the stress away.

The doctors came, asked her her symptoms, and then went to decide what to do. They gave her two shots, one for pain and one for nausea, but they didn't really help. When her nurse came in they were going to give her a shot of Morphine and something that starts with a "T", and we mentioned that my wife might be dehydrated. They ended up giving her an IV to get fluid in her and gave her the shots that way. She ended up getting two doses of Morphine. I learned that my wife is really funny when she's drugged.

Most of what she said was random nonsense. She asked me about a picture we don't own, hanging in our house, on a wall that doesn't exist. She told me I was pretty. But she could also see that something was bothering me. In spite of all my efforts to hide my concern over the potential cost, I wasn't doing a very good job of it. So I told her, reassuring her that I wasn't in any way mad at her or blaming her, and that I just wanted her to get better. But there was still the financial concern. I told her what I had explain to God earlier on our way there, and how I wondered why God, who knows our situation, hadn't done anything.

She told me to listen, because she wouldn't remember what she said, and I don't remember her exact wording, but she told me that I needed to trust. She said that I like having the responsibility for things, and I needed to trust more. And at that moment I saw area number two that needs work. My mind went to Mark 9.24b, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

I need to trust God more. I can keep my head in stressful situations, and I don't freak out, but at times I worry, and I need to trust. I know that God is able to do all things. I know that He is all powerful, that He is all knowing, and all present. But there are times when the human side of me takes over and feels like if He doesn't do it how I ask Him and when I ask Him, He isn't listening for some reason.

I want to believe. I want to trust, even when God stays silent. In college I took a class on Job and Psalms. One thing that I very distinctly remember from that class was this, "God's silence does not mean that God is absent."

God I believe that you are there, and I believe that you always hear me when I pray. I don't know why you remain silent sometimes, probably so I'll rely even more upon you. Go I want to fully trust you. I don't want to worry ever, I just want to know that You will always take care of me. No matter what happens I always have you, and that is the only thing that matters. I do believe; help my unbelief.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Attitude Check

This morning God had to check my attitude, and remind me that life is about Him. This morning I saw that one of my college peers has been pastoring a church re-start since November. On Easter they had over one hundred people. I read that and was really frustrated.

I've been at this pastoring thing for almost a year, and I'm struggling to keep thirty people. Everything there seems to be going well, and things here just seem to be getting harder and harder, going from bad to worse. My initial thought was "God why are you blessing Him while I'm going through this?" Part of me was going over everything that my professors, mentors, and fellow pastors have told me and said about me, all of the positive encouraging affirmation they've given.

It's frustrating to have all of that in your head and seeing the results, or lack thereof, that I'm experiencing right now. I've wondered why a lot. I've been frustrated a lot. Honestly, I've been angry a lot. But this morning as so many things came flooding through my mind God gave me a much needed attitude check. He reminded me about how for the last four months I've said over and over, "This is God's church," and "My life exists to give Him glory; He owes me nothing."

Its human nature to feel like I've felt. It's human nature to want to see results and do well. No one wants to fail. No one wants to see things fall apart. Jealousy is human, but it isn't Christian. God never promised success by human standards. He never promised that life would be easy or fruitful in the ways we'd like to see.

This morning as I sat in my office, God hit me with all of that, and I prayed for forgiveness for my attitude. This morning I've seen an area in my life that needs some more work, and so God decided to start on it right then. He had me send a Facebook message to my classmate. I offered some encouragement and genuine heart felt affirmation. As we messaged back and forth for a few minutes he mentioned a need they are facing, and so I prayed for God to meet it. I prayed that God would continue to bless the work that is being done there.

I began to think about my attitude in the future. If this happens again, my immediate response needs to be prayer for that person. Pray that God would continue to bless the work that He is doing. It's God's church, and it's God's work. He can bless who He wants, and bring fruit where He wants. As I was talking to myself, working through all of this, the words Paul wrote in Philippians 1.15-18a came to my mind.

"Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice."

Paul is sitting in prison and there are people taking advantage of his imprisonment to build their own reputations. But Paul isn't concerned at all with reputation; his attitude is joyful because no matter what the motivation of the people is, the message of Jesus is being proclaimed. Paul didn't care who was being successful or who was bearing fruit, so long as people were being told about Jesus.

That is the attitude I want to have. As long as Christ is being proclaimed I want to rejoice. No matter who is doing it, no matter what Church is growing and what ministry is being blessed with fruit, as long as Christ is being proclaimed I want to rejoice.

If I fail to rejoice I fail to glorify God, and I'm a hypocrite. If I fail to rejoice over His work being done by others, then I fail to do the one thing I've been given life to do. If I do that, then I've made life about me. It's ok to be frustrated when things don't go well, but not to the point where we hate to see others do well just because we aren't.

Honestly, this is a blog I didn't really want to write. No one wants to show off their mistakes, failures, and short comings. But life isn't about me looking good and pretending to be perfect. Life is about glorifying God. I want God to be glorified in my life. I want to live solely for His glory and I want to rejoice over all that He does, no matter what is happening where I am.

God fill me with your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me of pride, and empower me to rejoice over what You are doing for Your Kingdom. I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and I ask that you will use me to bring You glory, no matter what that means for my life.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

God's Leaders

One week from today I will have survived my first year as a senior pastor. It hasn't been the easiest thing I've ever done, but it's the life that God has called me to, and I'm grateful to be able to serve Him in this capacity. Over the last year I've learned about things I love and hate doing. I've seen things that energize me and things that drain me. I've seen goals and my vision and hope for the future in ministry confirmed, and I've gotten to try some things that haven't worked at all.

I've had people leave for various reasons. I've gotten to build some relationships with people in the community. I've performed my first wedding and the first funeral. I've had people pour encouragement into me, and other people criticize just about everything I've done. I've made at least one really dumb decision.

In this year I've been through a wide variety of emotions. I've held a woman's hand as she heard the news that her husband of sixty-two years might not make it through the night. I sat with a dying man as he prepared to enter heaven, and I laughed with his family as they told me about the life of dad and grandpa as we prepared for the funeral. I've seen people respond to invitations to come to church. I've seen the gospel begin to really get a hold of some teenagers and transform their lives. I've seen God at work in all of these situations.

In this year I've begun to learn things about God that I couldn't have in any other situation. I've asked God a lot of questions. I've dealt with discouragement and doubt. There have been times I've wanted to quit. There have been times I've felt that God abandoned me. There are times I feel that no one cares, or even cares that they don't care. I've spent a lot of time alone.

As I've been reading the Bible the past few months, I've been specifically looking for the heart of God. I've been looking for His characteristics and who He is. He hasn't let me down. I'm about half way through the book of Numbers. I've shared some of my findings from Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus in previous posts. I've seen things about God that I hadn't noticed before. As I've been reading in Numbers recently I found that God always stands up for His leaders.

In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron spoke out against Moses because of His wife. They are critical of Him and jealous of the authority that God has given Him. Verse 3 says, "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." Moses doesn't rise to his own defense, God does that for him. God defends Moses, His leader.

Being called into leadership by God is a huge privilege. We see people in the most joyful and most desperate times of life. We see the best and the worst of people. We see greed and selfishness, as well as generosity and selflessness constantly. To some we can do nothing right, and to others we can walk on water. I have seen firsthand how crucial humility is. How crucial not rising to your own defense is. It isn't always easy, but I've seen that the best way is letting God handle the situation. God will defend His leaders.

Whenever I go to the hospital to pray with someone I always read Psalm 46.8-11, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold."

I think that section is important for leaders. God is at work, and He has called us to be weapons at His disposal. We have nothing to fight with, no strength on our own. God invites us simply to be still and watch Him work. He says that He will be exalted. He allows us to play a part in that. The key here is that God allows us, He doesn't need us. We must remain humble. And when things get hard we must keep in mind that as long as we remain faithful to God, we've done what we are called to do.

People will leave. People will criticize. But God is the one we are here to please. When people do support, and do encourage, let us thank God for them, but let us remind ourselves that we are here to please and serve God. That God's approval and encouragement is what we are after. Remember God will defend His leaders. God will stand up for those He has called into service. God is the one who will fight the battles. God is the one who will be exalted.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, April 16, 2012

For Ministry Leaders

The past few weeks have been rough for me. There have been a lot of changes and both my wife and I have been faced with some difficult situations. About a month ago we felt great; my wife has said that during that time she had never seen me so joyful, so content, and just completely focused on God. I remember well going into service that Sunday and feeling like everything was about to turn around. God had been opening a lot of doors, and I really felt like the flood gates were about to break open.

And then I got a slip of paper that cut my legs out from under me. Two of the biggest volunteers were leaving the church to take another assignment. It wasn't personal in any way, just time to move onto the next phase. At first I was doing ok after the initial shock, but over the last few weeks things have just gotten harder and harder. As I've had to take on more and more I feel like I'm doing less and less well. I've never had a problem with delegation before, but now there is no one to delegate anything to. I've been told a few times to see if everything that I'm doing needs to be done, and honestly yes, it does.

I'd love to say that I've had the attitude of perfect trust in God, but let's be real, I can't say that. I've been dealing with some discouragement and probably a little depression recently due to everything. Last week I got a phone call and after hanging up I went into the sanctuary and began to have a real heart to heart with God. I asked "Why" and "What is the point" a lot. And in that He reminded me of a couple my wife and I have been building a relationship with since the end of the summer. He reminded me of the two teenage boys I've really started to be able to pour into.

I'd love to say that it was enough and that I then saw God's big picture and fully trusted Him, but I can't. I vented a lot to my wife, she vented back, and both of us were ready to be done. Sunday came, I preached a message that I didn't really feel my heart in, but it had some good points, and some really challenging questions. My wife came up to me before the service nearly crying, after the service she had a similar response. We're both discouraged. We're both worn out. We're both overwhelmed. We're both wondering why? We're both in many ways wanting God to open another door for us.

But then He shows us that we're not done here yet. A couple in the church talked with us last night before the service about how the message that morning had spoken to them, and the convictions they've had recently. After church last night we were driving and a song came on the radio with the lyrics,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

Finally, at the end of the night I was reading in Numbers 9, and verses 15-23 say this, "Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning. So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp. At the command of the LORD the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped. Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the sons of Israel would keep the LORD’S charge and not set out. If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then according to the command of the LORD they set out. If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out; they kept the LORD’S charge, according to the command of the LORD through Moses."

The cloud hasn't lifted yet, and so God isn't ready for us to move. God still has work for us to do here. At the moment I'm still fighting through some discouragement, and so I can't honestly say that I'm thrilled about it. But last night I told God that I'm going to follow Him. And until He moves the cloud I'm staying right here and serving. I'm going to do the best I can to serve joyfully with all of my heart. I have my wife who loves and supports me, who is by my side through all of this. I have a few couples at church who are behind me. I have a great DS couple who is a constant encouragement, and several pastor friends that I meet with that share their stories of hope. They have been through this, and they survived.

For all leaders, I know I'm not the only one here. I'm not the only one feeling like this. I hope you can find encouragement in the words of hope that I've found through song and scripture. Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope. God's got His hand on you. Remember, we are called into His service by Him. He allows us to work for His Kingdom, and He will not send us anywhere that He will not carry us through.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Saturday, April 14, 2012

For the Shire

Disclaimer: If you are unfamiliar with The Hobbit, and/or The Lord of the Rings, then this post will most likely be very confusing to you as I am about to reference much of the world of Middle Earth that is the focus of the books.

My heart longs for the Shire. I've thought a lot about it these last few days. It is a place of peace and rest. There are trees and fields, warm sunshine and cool breezes, green grass and clear running streams. It is a place of tranquility and no worries. It's a place full of life and celebration. It is a place of light burdens, good food, and no risks. Hobbits aren't normally adventurous and don't tend to go exploring, they don't take risks or try new things, and they often tend to be fat. Why does my heart long for the Shire?

I've been thinking about it for the last few minutes. The Shire is a paradise, on the soundtrack for the movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the track, Concerning Hobbits is one of the most relaxing and peaceful things I've ever heard, and it captures the feeling of the Shire perfectly. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjv0GS-f8Q&feature=relmfu)

I think in many ways all of our hearts long for the Shire. And as I've thought about it my feelings have changed. It is not bad for us to long for the Shire. At first I thought that my desire shouldn't be for a place like that. But as I reflected I realized that I was made for that. When this world was created it was a paradise. It was a place like the Shire.

But as in the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Shire is threatened. Its peaceful inhabitants are forced out of their lives of tranquility and must journey through the hazards of the wild. They travel through Rohan and Gondor, Fangorn and Mirkwood, the Misty Mountains and Moria, and ultimately into Mordor to Mount Doom. They must travel through the perils of the world in order to reclaim the Shire and its tranquility.

In the novels, but completely overlooked by the movies, at the end of the journey the Shire must be retaken and restored. It must be fought for, won back, and made new again. But it is only through the struggles of the journey that the four Hobbits have gained the strength and confidence to fight this battle. In the end everything is restored, the Shire is once again the place of peace and rest, of life and celebration, and the home of fat Hobbits who don't have to take risks.

I think we long for the Shire because we were made for the Shire. God created us for the paradise of Eden, but sin entered the world and we've been forced out into the wild. Our lives are on a journey that will take us through struggles and hardships. There will be places along the way for rest, like Rivendell, Lorien, and the hall of Beorn, but most of the journey is difficult.

We aren't alone, there are those stronger, wiser, and more experienced that travel with us. There is Gandalf, the wise, who gives counsel and guidance as we travel. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are there to fight the battles along side of us. We have Merry and Pippen to encourage us and make us laugh. And always we have faithful Samwise who will never leave our side. We have the King watching over us and traveling with us, fighting battles to protect us. We have good friends to journey with us, even to the Lonely Mountain or the fires of Mount Doom. But in the end it all leads back to the Shire. In the end everything is restored to what it was intended to be.

My heart longs for the Shire, but the journey there is perilous and there are many adventures and battles ahead. But at the end of my journey, I will find rest in the Shire. We will celebrate together as we worship the King.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Holiness, the Result of Grace

This morning I finished the book of Leviticus on my study through the Bible looking for God. At the beginning I made the comment that in Leviticus God is teaching His people how to worship Him. Now that I've finished it this time through I've seen it in the light of holiness. Close to a dozen times in the book God calls His people to be holy because He is holy. In Leviticus we see God's standard for His people to follow and live by.

As I read through the book I was overwhelmed by all of it. There are so many rules and guidelines, so many standards that God's people are specifically called to follow. All of the details are laid out. As I read it I wondered how anyone could remember all of it. There are so many things that must be done in an exact way. As I read I began to think, how could anyone do this? How could anyone keep all of these rules? How could anyone be holy?

I think in this we see the grace and power of God. We see the character of God, holy and perfect. To be God's people we are called to live at the same standard that He does. We are called to the standard of holiness that God lives at. And that standard is one that we are unable to reach on our own. Leviticus is complicated. I think it's that way to show us a glimpse of how holy God is. It shows us that we could never live at His standard on our own. And because of His grace, we don't have to.

We just celebrated Easter a few days ago. Jesus came to earth to die and pay the price for sin and to rise victoriously from the dead as Lord over sin, death, and Hell. But more than that Jesus came to show us how to live God's way. Jesus came to show us how to be holy as God is. Jesus set an example for us to follow.

Leviticus is full of laws, and Jesus says that the greatest commandments are to love God and love others. That on these two hang every other one. Jesus simplifies holiness so that we can grasp it. It's much easier to remember two things than twenty-seven chapters of complicated, and I'll be honest, dry, boring and repetitive, rules. Jesus says love God and love others. He sums it up, but that doesn't take away from the need of holiness. It doesn't change the impossibility of it. Holiness is still only possible through the grace and power of God.

And so when Jesus left this world He sent another, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is here with us now, cleansing us of the desire for sin, and empowering us to be holy. Holiness is possible through the grace of God. Holiness is the result of Grace. It is only in God's grace that we can become holy. God is holy, and He invites us to share in His holiness. God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, makes us holy.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Don't Take it for Granted

Yesterday was the funeral. I traveled to Dennison, Ohio then to the cemetery and back to Uhrichsville. I didn't realize that I was going to be that close to my great uncle's farm or I would have packed a change of clothes and my hiking boots and spent a few hours wandering the woods. I've spent countless hours over as many days hunting in the woods and fields there. Turkey, deer, squirrel, grouse. I've walked it with my dad, my dog, and alone.

As I got older I ended up spending more and more time alone in the woods. I had always thought I would have some deep meditation time with God, but I've found that's hard when you’re constantly searching the area for the trophy whitetail. Still it was time in nature alone with God, even if neither of us was saying anything; it was time alone in His presence surrounded by the beauty of His creation. Even as I sit and type this I can feel the chill of those winter deer hunts, and the early morning in the turkey woods.

Every morning after helping me into the woods, and every time we made a kill my dad would pray and thank God for the opportunity to hunt. At the beginning of each hunting trip he would tell me this, "Enjoy it, because this opportunity isn't going to last forever." He would remind me all the time of how blessed we were to have relatives with that much land. It's a farm that people would pay large amounts of money to hunt on, and I had free access to it. But it always came with the reminder not to take it for granted, to soak up and enjoy every minute of it.

Yesterday morning I had thought about grabbing some clothes to walk through the woods in, but I didn't think I'd have time or that I'd be that close to the farm. When I found out that I was going to be just down the road I had a longing to go and walk there. I was in dress pants and shoes, not at all ready for an outdoor adventure. As I left and began to head home I drove past the farm. I passed the field where I wounded a beautiful 10-point buck because I didn't pay attention to details. I drove past the barn where we'd change into our hunting clothes. I turned down the road that leads to the field where I spent most of my hunting time. As I did I passed the dirt road I had been walking when I shot my first Turkey.

I planned to just drive to the entrance of the field and turn around. But as I got closer I couldn't just do that. I parked, got out, grabbed the knife I keep in my car for emergencies, and began to take a walk. The air was cool; for one of the first times I didn't have a gun with me and I wasn't burdened by all of my hunting gear. As I walked the words my dad told me every time we headed into the field hit me, "Enjoy it, because it won't last forever."

Life is changing. I haven't hunted there much in the last seven years because of how crazy things have gotten, first college, then moving out of the state, and finally getting married and taking a senior pastor position. But I know the field and the surrounding woods well. I've walked them countless times. I still remember my first trip, I had no idea where I was or how I'd gotten to that spot, it all seemed to mesh together. But over the years that's changed. I can get anywhere on that land now and can tell you the fastest way to get there.

As I walked up the hill into the field my mind remembered a lot of things, specific moments of hunts. I got to the top and looked over the field, the three massive oak trees in the middle, the row of trees that separates the front and back parts of the field where I sat and killed my first deer, the hollow where there's a small waterfall and where I saw my first wild turkey. So many memories. I stood there, the words of my dad filling my mind, and I prayed. I thanked God for the time I had in that field, the opportunities I had to hunt there, the animals I've seen, killed, and missed from different points surrounding it.

I continued my walk, sticking the tree line and moving to the far corner on the North West side. It's the highest point in the field and you can see most of the forty acres from there. I stood for a few minutes, just taking it all in. I walked a little more down to the old gatepost which leads into the old back pasture; just to the right of it is where my first deer fell. Again I prayed, just thankful for the time. I walked back to the peek, took one last look over the field, and began to head back to my vehicle. As I walked out I just kept saying thank you for the time that I had there. Life is changing, and as I left I realized that this might be the last time I ever walked out of this field.

I'm glad God gave me one more walk. I'm glad that my dad told me so many times to enjoy it, that he reminded me so many times that it wouldn't last forever. I don't know what the "field" is for your life. I don't know what the blessing is. For me it was a place in nature to escape the rest of the world. It's something that I don't really have right now, and my heart longs for. Yesterday's walk was something I've needed for a long time. Whatever it is, I urge you not to take it for granted. Don't live like it will be there forever, because it probably won't be. Soak it all in, enjoy it fully, and be grateful for the time that you have.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, April 9, 2012

Reality

Early in the evening this past Friday my dad called me and told me his uncle died. He was my great uncle, and I knew him, but not as well as my dad did. My dad is the oldest child, and his mom was I believe the second child. His uncle, her brother was the youngest. My dad said he was more like a big brother than an uncle. My interaction with him was family reunions, Thanksgiving when I was younger, the two weeks I spent down there helping bail hay, and hunting trips on his farm.

I was surprised by his death, my dad found out within an hour and let me know. He had been in the hospital but I hadn't known that. I've wondered a lot over the last few days if he had a relationship with Jesus. I honestly don't know. And for the last few days the reality of Hell has been at the forefront of my mind.

Heaven really came into full reality for me in December/January when I was ministering to a man dying from Lou Gehrig's disease. As I sat and talked about death, dying, and Heaven, with a man who was getting ready to stand before God and be welcomed into His eternal presence my heart was full of joy for him, and honestly a little jealousy towards him. As I shared the promises of hope from Scripture with him, part of me longed to see Jesus is a way that I never have before. There are some pictures of the senior fellowship group hanging in the hall way of the church and I walk by his picture daily. I'm reminded every day that he is in the presence of Jesus.

But while Heaven is the presence of God, Hell is the opposite, separation from God. Hell was created for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25.41). Humans were made to exist in a relationship with God. We were created for the presence of God. But when sin entered the world we were separated from God. Because God is Holy and Righteous, He cannot be around sin. Sin cannot enter the presence of God. Romans 3.23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,".

Sin is a serious thing, it demands life as payment. And as Romans 6.23a states, "For the wages of sin is death,". Sin in our lives means that we cannot enter the presence of Holy God. And for the last few days the reality of Hell has been on my mind. We live in a world where people die. "Roughly 56,597,034 people leaving us every year. That's about a 155,000 a day." (http://ask.yahoo.com/20051128.html, [from 2005]) How many of those people have a relationship with Jesus?

Hell is a reality. But Heaven is also a reality. Just as sin brings death, God brings life. The end of Romans 6.23 declares, "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." God's desire is for all to be saved (2 Peter 3.9). The Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be save (Romans 10.13) and that if you simply confess with your mouth that Christ is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10.9-10).

Christ died on the cross to pay the price for sin. He died in our place. Remember sin demands life as payment, and Christ made that payment. But it wasn't enough for Him just to die. He rose from the dead, conquering sin, death, and Hell forever. Because Christ lives, we also can live. Paul said if Jesus didn't rise again then our faith is worthless, and we are to be pitied above all other men (1 Corinthians 15.12-19).

A pastor friend told me about a month ago about a sermon he had once heard. When Jesus died He paid the price for all sin (1 Peter 3.18). All sin has been paid for, but not all sin has been confessed. He said that in the sermon he heard the preacher pointed out that all people who go to Hell go forgiven, they just never received the free gift that God offers. People go to Hell needlessly. God offers the free gift of life and salvation in Christ. All we have to do is receive it from Him. And yet people still die in sin.

I want to be intentional about sharing the message of salvation. Yesterday I preached it, I write about it on here a lot, but I want to be more intentional about it. The reality is that this world is full of people who are dying and going to Hell because they don't have a relationship with Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus is the only way to God (John 14.6). I want to share Jesus, and the message of hope and life that is in Him. God desires that none should perish, and so He made it possible for us to have eternal life.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Friday, April 6, 2012

Good Friday

Every year Good Friday in the Philippines is marked by people recreating the crucifixion of Christ, literally. This ritual is one that I heard about in high school. People walk through the streets and beat themselves with bamboo, before being nailed to a cross. They put themselves through what Jesus went through.

"Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or a better life, or give thanks for what they believe were God-given miracles." (http://news.yahoo.com/filipino-good-friday-devotees-nailed-crosses-094124305.html)

I've read somewhere that people do it out of appreciation. And that it isn't a onetime thing for the participants. If you survive it's expected of you to do it every year. The article link I've given above talks about a 51 year old man who has done it twenty-six times.

This is one of those things I wonder how it got started. Who thought that it was necessary to go through what Jesus went through by voluntarily being nailed to a cross? Who thought that this would make atonement for their sins? How do Christians feel the need to go through this?

I've been to Jerusalem; I've touched the floor where Jesus' blood fell as He was beaten. I've walked the streets of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and knelt under the altar where they say Christ was crucified. I was overwhelmed by appreciation, and humbled with gratitude. All I could say as I knelt was "Thank you."

1 Peter 2.24 says, "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." Jesus went to the cross; Jesus was crucified, so that I wouldn't have to be.

Romans 3.23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and Romans 6.23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
John 3.16-17 states, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." Romans 5.8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

We are all sinners, and the penalty for that sin is death. But God offers us life freely through Christ. There is no need for us to do anything to atone for our sins, because God out of His great love sent Jesus to die in our place. I don't need to beat myself and be nailed to a cross to receive salvation, all I have to do according to Romans 10 is "for 'WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED'" (verse 13), and "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (verses 9-10).

God does not demand that I go through the pain and agony that Christ did on the first Good Friday. Jesus did that so I wouldn't have to. God's desire is for all of us to be saved from sin through the blood Jesus shed on the cross. His desire is for us to become like Christ, and live as Christ lived. Philippians 1 tells us that we will suffer for Christ sake. Jesus said in the Gospel of John that we would have trouble in this world because of Him. Hardship will come from the world because we have been forgiven by Christ, not for us to gain forgiveness from God.

As I've written the last few sentences, Micah 6.6-8 has been on my mind. "With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

God does not demand physical punishment of us. Because of Jesus He no longer requires animal sacrifices. As Psalm 51.16-17 says, "For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." God wants us simply to come to Him, and ask for forgiveness. God doesn’t ask for, or even want, the ritual of self-inflicted pain or animal sacrifice. God simply wants us to come to Him in our brokenness and allow Him to heal us.

God Himself paid the price for sin so that we wouldn't have to. God Himself endured the pain and death of sin so that we wouldn't have to. That is Good Friday.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Not a Religion

For the last two weeks I've been hurled back into youth ministry. Honestly, not much has changed in the year and a half that I've been out of it. Teenagers are still teenagers and their lives are similar to what they were before. God is still God and the Bible is still the foundation of His truth. I have noticed that I'm closer to God now than I was then, and I'm better able to field random questions because of the closer relationship I have with Him. But it's expected that my relationship with God will grow deeper over time, if I don't then the relationship is stagnant.

We're preparing to study Crazy Love at the end of the month, and initially my thought was to just fill the Wednesday nights with thought provoking discussion. I've come to see that all of it is leading right into the contents of Crazy Love. Last week we talked about the meaning of life and the purpose of the church. Last night, the discussion was all about God. It filled the hour and the time flew by.

I made a comment last night that I've made several times before, "Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship with God."

Religion- a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Yeah, that definition seems to line up with what it is. Christianity does have a set of beliefs that tell of the cause and purpose of the universe. It involved devotional and ritual observances, and there is a code to govern the way those who follow it life. The issue I take with this definition the word "ritual". Rituals are done out of habit, some of the blindly because we've always done it that way. I think there is fear that if we fail to do something we won't be good enough to receive the promised reward.

Yes Christianity does have a moral code, a standard we are called to live by, but it's because God sets that standard. Anything you follow has something that sets it apart, that's what makes you a follower or a participant.

Christianity isn't a set of rules we follow and ceremonies we perform so that God will let us into Heaven when we die. That isn't the point, that isn't the His hope, and that we never His plan. God created the earth and it was perfect (Genesis 1.31), and He created man from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2.7). God put the man on earth to rule it and take care of it (Genesis 1.28). Man was created for fellowship with God, and in the beginning there was perfect fellowship between God and man. In the beginning it was perfect. And then man chose to break that relationship with God. Man disobeyed and sinned (Genesis 3). The relationship was broken, all of creation was cursed, man was fallen and sinful, condemned to die.

God sent His Son Jesus to redeem His creation, to restore the relationship between God and man. Galatians 4.4-7 says, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

God adopts us as His children; God desires the Father and child relationship with each of us. God has always desired fellowship with us. He has desired our lives to be lived out of love for Him. Our motivation is love for the Father, not getting to heaven. Christianity is different from every religion because Christianity is based on a love relationship, not a fear based system of rules and doing the right things to get to paradise. God doesn't say "Be good enough and I'll let you enter my presence someday." God says "I love you so much that I am going to send my Son to earth as a man. He is going to live a perfect life, showing you what I have in mind for you, what is best for you, and then He is going to die on a cross to save you and make a way for you to have the relationship with Me that you broke. When He returns to Heaven, My Holy Spirit will be sent to live among you and in you. He will be there to guide and transform your lives, and empower you to live as I have called you to live."

Relationship- a connection, association, or involvement; the mutual dealings, connections, or feelings that exist between two parties, countries, people.

That sounds a lot more like what God desires doesn't it? He wants involvement in our lives. He doesn't set a standard and leave us to figure out how to do it, and then punish us for failing. He sent Jesus to show us how to do it, and He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and empower us to live it. God loves us, and desires for us to love Him. God knows us, and wants us to know Him. He has made it possible for us to personally communicate with Him. Through the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, the path to God has been rebuilt. Through the Holy Spirit's empowerment we are able to live lives for God.

God created us for relationship, not religious ritual. God created us for fellowship, not blind devotion. God created us to know Him intimately. Christianity is a relationship with God, creation to its creator. God is Holy, and He has called us to be Holy as He is. To follow God we must follow His standards. Because of sin we can't, and because of that God sent His Son Jesus to die and justify us. He sent His Holy Spirit to empower us to follow Him. God desires relationship with us, and makes the relationship possible.

Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship with God.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Forgotten God

I have recently finished Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and I have been challenged by it in so many ways. And at the same time it's been a huge blessing. Reading the someone else thinks the same way about things that I do has been a huge faith builder, and encouragement to keep going. It's been an affirmation that the stuff I'm thinking, and reading in the Bible, the way I'm understanding it, is what God is trying to show me.

At the end of the book Francis says something that really made me think in a new way.

"What really keeps me going is the gift and power we have been given in the Holy Spirit. Before Christ left this earth, He told His disciples, 'I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment... When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.' -John 16.7-8, 13

The disciples must have been shocked by the idea that it was for their good that Jesus was leaving. What could possibly be better than having Jesus by your side? Wouldn't you rather have Jesus physically walking next to you all day than have the seemingly elusive Holy Spirit living in you?

Our view of the Holy Spirit is too small. The Holy Spirit is the One who changes the church, but we have to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church." (Chapter 10, The Crux of the Matter, p. 171)

How much do we neglect the Holy Spirit? Our focus is predominately on Jesus, and then the rest is focused on God the Father. As I read those words in Crazy Love it hit me that so much of my preaching, teaching and prayer is focused on Jesus and God the Father with complete neglect for the third member of the Trinity. God exists in three parts, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each member is fully God, I realize it's a difficult concept to grasp, and even more difficult to try and explain. Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, has one of the best explanations of the Trinity I've heard,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kreSbagj_RM

God exists in three parts, but is united as one God. In the Old Testament we see predominately God the Father. In the Gospels we have Jesus the Son. In Acts we see the coming of the Holy Spirit, who remains to this day. Why do we neglect Him? We pray to the Father, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6.18a, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,". We are called to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 20.7). Jesus came to show us how to live life. God's desire is for us to become like Christ (Romans 8.29) Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28.19-20). But this is only accomplished through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1.8, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us become holy, He empowers us to live above the power of sin and for the glory of God. The Holy Spirit guides us into Christlikeness, and empowers us to be witnesses to make disciples. The Holy Spirit empowers us to pray to God. The Holy Spirit lives in us, guides us, empowers us, encourages and helps us as we live life as servants of God. Yet so often we refuse to acknowledge Him, and instead focus solely on Jesus and God the Father. He really is the Forgotten God.

I talked with a pastor friend a few weeks ago about reading Crazy Love, and he said I should read all three of Francis Chan's books in a row. Crazy Love has been on my to read list for a while now, but the only reason I picked it up is because my wife had a copy of it. I have a pile of books waiting to be read, and I made a rule for myself that I can't buy any new books until I've read the ones I have. I've broken that rule a few times, and just bought the other two books by Francis. I'm preparing to start Forgotten God today. The subtitle is, "Reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit."

As I quoted at the beginning, "Our view of the Holy Spirit is too small. The Holy Spirit is the One who changes the church, but we have to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church." The Holy Spirit is the one who will work through us and transform the Church to what God has called it to be. But He works through the lives of the people of God.

God, forgive me, and all of us, for neglecting Your Holy Spirit. May we acknowledge Him as God, and live in the power He seeks to give us as we live for your glory.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you