What is Ordination?

Last night I was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene.  It's a milestone in ministry that's taken seven years of study, work, sweat, blood, and tears (literally) to attain.  I know along the way I've been asked, "What is ordination?" or some variation of the question.  A few years ago I couldn't have told you.  I knew it was something I had to get done, but honestly I didn't really know the reason, the point, or the significance.  Honestly, no one ever explained it to me.

This past October I was trying to encourage church people to use their gifts for God, and I remembered a video my mentor made several years ago.  It's on YouTube called "Sermon on the Mound, Finding your place to serve."  In it he talks about six things that help us know our area of giftedness, and the final one gave me the answer.  The last one is confirmation, and as he says in the video, "In official ministry this is ordination.  It's where leaders confirm you and say "You're one of us."

In my interview with the Credentials board earlier this year I was asked, "What does it mean for you to be ordained."  For a split second my mind blanked, it caught me off guard, but then I remembered that video, and from that I was able to give an answer.  And as I've thought about it for the last few months and the events of the service last night I have a decent idea about what ordination is.

The key to the strength of the Spartan army was the phalanx.  The soldiers would use their massive shields to form an impenetrable wall.  They stood side by side and went toe to toe with the enemy.  The older, more experienced warriors were at the front, sides, and rear where fighting would be the most intense.  In the middle were the younger Spartans who hadn't seen much combat yet.  They were there to learn.

Preparation for ordination is being a young Spartan in the middle of the phalanx, surrounded by seasoned warriors that are their to teach them how to do battle.  But no Spartan remains in the middle forever.  Eventually the day comes when he is called to the front lines.  He is honored with the privilege to stand side by side with his brothers.  To add his shield to the wall and protect the man next to him.  It is confirmation that he is ready to fully join the fight, they know he is a capable warrior, able to stand his ground. They trust him with their lives.

We are in a battle, and pastors are on the front lines for the Kingdom.  For seven years I've been in the middle, watching, learning, occasionally getting to help a little.  But now, I've been called to the front lines.  I've been entrusted with the responsibility of standing shoulder to shoulder with my colleges as we do battle for the Kingdom.  It is a vote of confidence that I am ready to join them, that I am able to stand with them. 

At every Nazarene Ordination service the General Superintendent lays his hands on the head of the ordinand, and shares these words from 2 Timothy 4, " I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 

As Dr. Duarte, spoke these words and ordained me the phrase that stood out to me the most was, "endure hardship." (He said "affliction").  I was reminded that this is a call to the front lines.  That the battle still rages on, and now I'm fully immersed in the middle of it where the fighting is the most intense.  But just like the Spartans, I'm not alone.

As the General Superintendent speaks, you are surrounded by all of the Ordained Nazarene ministers who are present.  They lay hands on you and pray for you.  My wife knelt at my side.  I am not alone.  I was never alone getting to this point, and I am not alone now.  The strength of the phalanx is all of the Spartans standing side by side, overlapping their shields to protect each other.  I have joined the ranks, not set out on a solo mission.  I do not stand alone.

And most importantly, God has brought me to this point.  I love what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2.1-4, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." 

I am a soldier of Christ.  As an Ordained Elder it is my job to model Christlikeness, and to lead others in the path of righteousness, guiding them as they become like Christ.  It is my job to model being a godly husband and one day a godly father.  I am to seize the opportunity to mentor others who have been called into ministry, and guide them as they seek to join the front lines.   

I am grateful for the call of God on my life to bring me here.  I am grateful for the men and women who have guided me along the way, helping me get to this point.  I am grateful for the confidence of the Credentials Board and District Superintendents of the East Ohio District.  And I am grateful that this happened in 2012 so my wife was able to be by my side.  I am so grateful for her love and support.

God, I'm on the front lines now, use me to take ground for Your Kingdom. 

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you


Top: 2012 East Ohio District Ordination Class,, with Dr. Duarte (General Superintendent), Rev. Greg Kasler (District Secretary) and Co-District Superintendents, Drs. Chuck and Carla Sunberg

Bottom: Dr. Duarte ordaining me.

 

About God

This morning I read a quote that went along with what I've been thinking about for a few weeks now.

"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God." -Chuck Swindoll

For the past few weeks, maybe months, there have been some tough situations that I've encountered. Part of me wonders why me? I wonder what the point of this is, and how long I'll have to deal with it. About a month ago I hit a low point due to some circumstances. My mentor was able to take the situation and turn it into an encouragement, but it still has left me wondering why.

I've met with a few other pastors in the past month, and they have been a blessing and support as well. One of them told me something that has really helped, "You're here for God, no one else." It has been that statement that has really helped me. I am here, on this assignment, really in life, for God. It is all about God, not my comfort or preferences, but God's glory.

In 2 Timothy 1.8 Paul says, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,". My study of 2 Timothy has been very drawn out, and I've just recently started the third commentary portion of it. But today the commentary on this verse stood out to me. It said that we must be willing to take our share of persecution for the Gospel. We do this not in our power but in God's.

Persecution is part of being a Christ follower. We see this in Romans 5 and James 1. Jesus said it in John 16.33, "In the world you have tribulation,". But they all contain hope. Jesus statement ends with, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." James says "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And in Romans it says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

As I write this I think of a quote from the movie Rocky Balboa, "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!"

Following Jesus isn't easy, and God never said it would be. There will be troubles, there will be hardships, there will be persecution. If we are going to follow Jesus we must be willing to take the hits, the cheap shots, and everything else, because the road Jesus walks leads to a cross. But the cross ends at the Empty Tomb. Jesus told us that there would be hardships in the world, but to take courage, because He had overcome it. Paul said that we must be willing to suffer. In Philippians 3 he says that the suffering, the loss, ends in life as we pursue Christ.

We will face hardships, but we don't have to endure them on our own. We endure in God's strength, in God's power. And in His power we are able to victoriously conquer (Romans 8.37). God has called us into service. It involves hardship and suffering, but He will walk through it with us, and in the end we will enter His presence. This is all about God. Life for His glory.

Peace be with you

Crown of Righteousness

Paul concludes his statement, "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Paul had fought the fight, finished the course, and kept the faith, and God gave him a crown. My mentor has shared many insights with me over the years, recently we've been talking about death. He said often times we look at death as a defeat, a loss, and a failure. We say things like, "We lost dad." or "She lost her battle with cancer." but for the Christ follower this isn't the case. Death is not defeat, or loss, but victory and gain.

Paul didn't see death as a defeat, but as a chance to make his final offering to God. He didn't see dying as failure but as great gain as he said in Philippians 1.21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul faced the end with confidence and dignity, knowing that he had faithfully served his Master, and when he passed from this world to the eternal one, he would be greeted by Christ placing the crown of righteousness upon his head and saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And Paul reminds us that this was not just his reward, but everyone who loves Christ and waits for Him to return.

Linda was one of them, and she has received her crown. She died of cancer, but she did not fail and she did not lose anything. We haven't lost believers who have died, they have simply gone ahead of us. They have not been defeated or shamed, and neither will we. Linda has gone on ahead, I miss her, but I will see her again.

In the movie Gladiator there is a line at the end. Juba, a gladiator friend of Maximus', buries two small carvings of Maximus' wife and son in the arena of the Coliseum after Maximus dies having fought his fight, finished his course, and kept the faith of Rome. As he covers the figures he says, "I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet." Linda, I will see you again. But not yet. My fight is not over, my course is not finished, and my faith will not be shaken. One day I will see you again as I receive my crown.

Paul's words can be ours as well. Death is not failure, but victory. There is no shame in it, but honor. Fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith, and you will receive the crown of righteousness from the hands of Christ.

Peace be with you

Kept the Faith

Paul finishes his statement by proclaiming, "I have kept the faith;" a phrase with a few possible meanings. If we hold with the idea of competition seen in the previous two comments, this phrase could mean that Paul has kept the rules. Athletes at the ancient Olympics would have to take an oath before the gods pledging that they had trained for at least ten months and that they would compete fairly. Paul could be saying that he has competed and lived with honor as he competed in the race of life.

The phrase has other meanings though. In the business world it would have meant that the conditions of a contract had been kept. Paul could be using it to say that he had been commissioned to the service of Christ, and that he had lived it out. He had been faithful to his master.

It could also mean that "I have kept my faith." Paul could be saying that his trust, hope, and confidence in Christ had never been shaken. No matter what he had been through he had never lost faith in Christ. He says in Philippians 4, "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 had faced many trials, but he had never lost faith in Christ. He knew that Christ would sustain and provide for him no matter what he faced.

Honestly, I think Paul has all of these meanings in mind as he writes. All of them are true of his life, and all of them can be true of us as well. Linda, at the end of her life was able to say, "I have kept the faith." Cancer never shook her faith in God. As she got worse and the treatments began to work less and less she never doubted the power and goodness of God. God had been there for her all of her life, and she would not deny Him now.

Linda lived with honor and integrity. She was honest and truthful, a trusted friend and confidant. Linda would fulfill her job, and whatever she did was done perfectly. Linda kept the faith. So can we.

Peace be with you

Finsished the Course

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, "I have finished the course," Paul says that he has finished. Starting is easy, but finishing is difficult. I think about the things I've started in life. Karate, I made it to orange belt, but things got busy and I lost interest. I tried my hand at wood carving, that lasted a few weeks and just got tedious. I was teaching myself to play guitar, and then life happened. I was so excited about all of these at the beginning. I had thoughts of me in the future successful at each one, and today, I know one chord on the guitar, have some unfinished piece of wood in my dad's garage, and my karate uniform is somewhere in my parent's house.

Finishing things is difficult. Many people quit when things get hard, when they encounter things that they didn't anticipate at the beginning. There is a goal we set out to attain, but something comes up and we never reach it. Paul didn't have that happen. He said finished the course. He had reached the goal. In the book of Philippians, written 5 or 6 years before 2 Timothy, he says that he hasn't attained the goal yet, but that he is striving after it. God had called him into Christlikeness, and Paul said he had not attained it yet, but that he was striving towards it.

Earlier in Philippians 3.10-11 Paul stated, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Paul had died to himself years earlier when he had embraced the call of Christ on his life and accepted the mission to tell the Gentiles about the love of Christ. Here at the end of 2 Timothy he is preparing to physically embrace death. And as he said in Philippians 1, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;"

Paul has finished the course, he has reached the goal, and he can now go to death satisfied because he has fulfilled the call that God has given him. My friend Linda finished her course as well. Linda never quit. As the cancer took it's toll on her, she never quit encouraging, she never quit teaching, she never quit glorifying God. She never quit loving and caring for friends and family. Linda was a dearly loved woman, and she knew how hard her funeral would be for those of us she left behind, so she planned it out for us. The songs that were to be played, how her hands were supposed to be placed in the casket, even the meal that would be served after the grave side service. Had she been able to bake in her last months she would have made the cookies that were served as appetizers. Linda never left anything unfinished. She showed me how to finish the course.

There will be tasks in life that we don't finish. There will be things that we lose interest in, or don't have the passion to make time for. But there are things that matter that we must stick to, no matter how difficult life gets. In 2 Corinthians 11.22-28 we find a list form Paul about the hardships he's endured, "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." I doubt at the beginning he knew what was ahead of him. But through all of that Paul stayed the course and at the end of his life was able to declare, "I have finished the course."

Stay the course, finish it through the power of Christ.

Peace be with you

Fought the Fight

Paul continues his final words before death with this, "I have fought the good fight," and with this statement he can face death with peace and contentment. The word he uses for fight is agon (long o). The word refers to a match held in the arena. Fighting the good fight refers to doing the best he can.

Paul says that he has performed well, to the best of his abilities. He has no shame with his performance. An athlete who has truly done the best they can, who has given all they have, can hold their head high. Win or lose there is no disgrace or shame because they have given it all they have. They have poured all of their strength, skill and energy into their event holding nothing back. There is no shame in defeat to a worthy opponent who you have pushed and held your own against.

Paul tells us that he can face death because he has no shame. He has given it his all, performed admirably and held his own to the end. In a life lived to the best of it's ability, lived in a way that refuses to be associated with anything shameful, we can say this at the end.

My friend Linda could say this. Whatever she did was to the best of her abilities. Linda decided once she would make a porcelain horse. She entered it in a contest and it won. She was looking for a painting for her living room. No one could paint good enough for her, so she painted her own, and it looked great. She had the most incredible singing voice and lead the church praise team and choirs. She was an incredible cook. She invited us for lunch one day after church, we were going to have sandwiches. Instead of just laying out the bags of meat, cheese, and bread, she arranged it all on a platter, rolling each slice of meat as a catered platter would look. That was how she did things, to the best of her abilities.

She was able to tell you when you were making a mistake, not because she never made any, but because she lived a righteous life. She lived in such a way where no one could say anything bad about her. Her life was lived to the fullest, giving her best at whatever she did. Living a life focused on the glory of God. She truly fought the good fight.

Live in a way the is without shame. Live above the standards of the world, strive for the standard of righteousness which is attained through the blood of Christ. Fight the good fight.

Peace be with you

Poured Out

At the end of this month I will celebrate a fifth anniversary. On January 31, 2007 my dear friend Linda Russe went home to receive permanent healing from God in Heaven. At the time I was a sophomore in college, and I didn't understand why God hadn't answered the countless prayers for healing that had been offered for her. She was one of those people that everyone loved, and she's someone I miss dearly.

The day I found out she had cancer I did a lot of crying. That night I had talked to her and she told me not to cry. At the time I didn't understand her, but after a few years of maturing and growing I would. Now as I look back, almost five years later, I can say I understand it better than I ever have. I've understood for a few years, but now I truly get it. I still miss her; I miss not being able to call her just to talk, I wish she had been able to be at my wedding this past summer, but I understand her confidence in a new way.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul, very near to death, writes to his young friend Timothy about his confidence. "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come." At this point, the only thing Paul has left to offer to God is his very life. He has spent years giving time, money, energy, and knowledge to the service of God. He has spent himself and all that he has to proclaim the message of Jesus so that the Kingdom can be advanced. And now here at the end, he is prepared to offer his final sacrifice to God, his life.

At the end of a Roman meal there would be a sacrifice to the gods. A cup of wine would be poured out for them. The word used for the sacrifice at the end of the meal is spendesthai meaning a drink offering to the gods, and it is the same word that Paul uses here. Paul looks at his situation now not as a man waiting to be executed, but as a humble servant going to offer his life to God. Not having his life taken from him, but as willingly giving it to his Master. It is all he has left to offer, and he gladly lays it down.

Linda was the same way. Her life had been spent in service to God. She had taught me, and countless others so much about God and life through living. And as unselfishly as she lived life, she had a final lesson to teach in dying. A life that is lived with God, that has held nothing back, faces death with confidence knowing it is simply offering it's final offering to God.

Peace be with you

Fit for Service

2 Timothy 2.20, "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor."
It's one of those verses I never really understood, and didn't really care to look at to find the meaning. But yesterday my study of 2 Timothy took me there.

The Church is a large house, consisting of a lot of people. And in the church there are people who are the real deal. Christians who truly can claim that title. Those who do everything out of a love for God, and desire nothing but to become more like Christ. Everything they do is done out of love for God and so that they can become more like Christ. These are the gold and silver vessels. They are fit to be used for the service of God, the greatest honor there is.

These people are the fine dishes that you use for the holidays and family gatherings. The best plates that you take care of, because they were handed down to you from your grandmother. These are the plates that you use for the special occasions, and make sure they don't chip or break, because they have history and meaning.

But then there are other dishes. The ones you use everyday that you bought at goodwill or a garage sale. These dishes if they break you notice, but it doesn't hurt you that it's gone. Not all people in the church are genuine. Some people don't live up to the name they claim.

I read somewhere that people don't live up to it because they don't really believe it. If we truly believe something we have to live by it, we can't just proclaim it. What we truly believe transforms us.But in the church there is a mixture of people, and some of them are simply proclaimers.

2 Timothy 2.21, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." This should be the goal for all member of the Church. To be cleansed from impurities to be used by God for service.

Barclay said this, "No Christian should ever think of being fit for honour but always being fit for service." The Church is to serve, the members of the Body of Christ are to serve.

May we become vessels of honor. Let our motivation be an unquenchable love for God and for others. Let us always be fit for service so that we can be used by the Master.

Peace be with you

Sphragis

My study of 2 Timothy has been slower, more interrupted, and less enjoyable than 1 Timothy due to these circumstances. But yesterday as I was reading through William Barclay on 2 Timothy 2.19 I came across an interesting Greek word.

"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'"

The word for seal is sphragis. Sphragis is a seal that proves ownership of something. A seal placed on a sack would show that the contents were genuine and hadn't been tampered with. It would show who the sack belonged to and where it came from. But the seal also had other uses. It would function as a brand name or trademark. A sphragis would be placed on a bottle of eye ointment to show what kind of ointment it was. A sphragis would also be used in architecture. The mark of the architect would always be placed on what was built, a monument, statue, or building, to show who was responsible for it's design, or the purpose that the structure had been built for.

The text says that the foundation of God has a seal. It declares who it belongs to, and the function that it exists for. In this it shows the content to be good and focused on what is good. The firm foundation of God is the church, the body of Christ. Scripture tells us that there are many members that make up the body (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). God has marked the church with His sphragis declaring that we belong to Him.

But the seal also declares our function. We are to abstain from wickedness. We are to turn our back upon sin and face God and His righteousness. As we abstain from evil we move towards God. The church is made up of those who belong to God and strive for righteousness. We are not perfect in the church, but our focus is on God, and we are striving towards Him. Paul says it so well in Philippians 3.12-14,

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Jesus Christ sealed us with His blood. When we accept it we belong to and are sealed as His. With this must come a life transformation. We are to abstain from wickedness and purse the things of God. Holiness, righteousness, Christlikeness. We are sealed as Gods, and must live lives that show who we belong to. The Lord knows those who are His, and those who claim to be His must live out what they claim.

Allow God to place His sphragis on you, live out the function that He created you for, Christlikeness.

Peace be with you

Dressed and Ready for Battle

We're suited up, covered and armed with the full Armor of God. We are surrounded by truth, protected by righteousness and salvation, ready to move with peace, and armed with faith and the Word. Here is a warrior who is ready to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2.3. We are ready to march out and meet the enemy, confident that our armor and weapons are ready to go to work.

But there is one final element that we must add before we charge the front lines of the enemy. Ephesians 6.18, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Prayer, our communication with our General. It is no good marching into battle if we have no communication from the one giving the lifesaving orders.

Paul tells us that prayer must be constant, not simply in our moment of greatest need. I think of the story of Elijah on Mt. Horeb. God tells him to go stand on the mountain because He is passing by. There is a wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of those incredible, powerful forces. Instead there is a gentle blowing, a still small voice, a quite whisper that God is in. In the midst of chaos and noise if you haven't heard the voice of God, if you don't know the voice of God, you won't be able to pick it out. But if we are like Elijah, spending constant time alone with God, where we know Him intimately, where we know His voice distinctly from all others, then even in the thickest battle we'll be able to hear His guidance and instruction.

Secondly, our prayer must be intense and focused. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5.8 that we must be self-controlled and alert because our enemy the devil is prowling like a lion, looking to devour us. Our prayers must be intentional, our prayer time must be something we covet and guard. We must be selfish about it, and let nothing distract us from it. Our prayers must be heart felt, not simple half-hearted, repetitive prayers we've been saying since we were five. Our prayers need to be communicating the deepest hurts and needs on our hearts to God. We must be focused on who we're talking with so that we can hear what He says in return.

Lions go for the animal that is off by itself, straggling behind, not paying attention. We must be focused in our lives, intentionally focused on God ready for battle at all times. But we must also make sure we don't get alone. I've talked about Spartans a lot recently, and a single Spartan is a force to be reckoned with. A single Spartan can do more than hold his own in a fight. But a single Spartan is nothing compared to that Spartan standing beside his brothers in the phalanx.

Third, we must pray for and with others. We must pray for those who are fighting beside us. We must pray for those who are fighting on another battlefield. No matter how strong we are, we cannot fight this war, we cannot win this battle on our own. We must have each other’s backs at all times. We must pray for others as they fight this battle with us.

Prayer is part of our preparation for battle; it's how we suit up. Prayer is part of what sustains us in battle; it's our communication with the General for instruction and encouragement. Let us pray, and let us firmly stand our ground, dressed in the full Armor of God, ready for battle.

Peace be with you

Mission Statement

At a church board meeting last week I noticed the church's mission statement, or "Statement of Purpose" as it says. "South Flint Church of the Nazarene exists to exalt the name of our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, evangelism, and obedience to the living Word of God."

Over the last few weeks the idea of vision has been on my mind. I've never really been in a situation where I've needed a vision for more than just my life before now, so I'm in the beginning stages of figuring that out. But I think before you can create a vision you need to know what you're purpose is, in other words, what is your own personal mission statement?

As I sat waiting for this meeting to start I began to think about a mission statement for life, a personal mission statement. I've narrowed it down to three words: LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY.

LIVE in the Spirit, Galatians 5.22-25

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

PREACH the gospel of Jesus, 2 Timothy 4.1-8

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

GLORIFY the Father, Philippians 2.1-11

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

LIVE, PREACH, GLORIFY

Peace be with you

It's been three years?

My tears have all been shed, but I still miss her so much. Today marks the third anniversary of my dear friend Linda Russe going home to Heaven, and honestly I can't believe it's been that long.

I knew the date was coming up, but I didn't realize that today was it until I saw the date on my watch this afternoon. And as I sat and listened to the cd she had made and read through the program from her funeral memories stared to come back. I could talk forever about her, but honestly I don't want to fill today with words that bring up the past.

Remembering is important, there are so many good memories that bring joy to my life, little things she would do that I really miss, things she would say to me, inside jokes we had, things that are treasured in my heart for the rest of my life.

But today as I looked at the funeral program I saw something that I had forgotten about. In the program was a list of Linda's favorite verses, and the one that stood out to me is from 2 Timothy 4.7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;"

I have an entire sermon dedicated to Linda that celebrates her life, but all of it can be summed up in these sixteen words. She lived with faith, she battled cancer with faith, and she went home in faith. She showed me how to live a life of love, and how to die with confidence. She knew that when she closed her eyes for the last time on this earth and when she took her last breath she would open her eyes and see the face of Christ, she would breath in the sweet air of Heaven.

And today as I remember, I am able to celebrate and not cry, because I know where my friend is, and I know that I will see her again.

I love and miss you Linda, until we meet again in Glory, I will fight the good fight, I will finish my course, and I will keep the faith. You taught me so much in the four short years we knew each other, and I hope to leave a legacy like you did.