Repost: My Hour (And 3 Minutes) of Life as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer

This was a post I originally wrote, on November 14, 2008, as part of a facebook note that I decided to repost today since I will once again be given the opportunity to serve by ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.

So today I had the unique opportunity to serve outside the Lynchburg Walmart as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, you know, those people who wear the red aprons that stand near the red buckets that you give money to or that you avoid eye contact with in everyway possible. Yeah I was one of them today! Not that I willingly volunteered, but my buddy and old colleague, Darren Wu, came around asking us to take part and, because our office was having to do it anyways, I "volunteered" for the 2 - 3 PM time slot. Originally my pal and fellow coworker Dave Guthrie and I were going to do it together but due to some errors or what not, I was placed alone at the time slot. Alone for an hour, ringing a bell, and no one to talk to while busy shoppers walk by me - would I survive? Could I gain anything from this time? The answer to both was a resounding yes which is why I felt compelled to write an editorial about my experience.

I was first confronted, by that still small voice of the Lord, to make sure I am obeying what I just taught the Edge (the college/career ministry of Calvary Chapel Lynchburg) which was "and whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24). You see it could be quite easy for me to have a poor attitude towards this seeing how I am not the type who enjoys being looked at and watched unless I'm teaching or purposely doing something to gain attention, and this was part of my job at work for the day. Thankfully though the Lord brought this great Scripture to mind as soon as I started, before I would even have a chance to possibly grumble or complain, and I'm thankful for that because instead it gave me a joyous heart in serving in this manner. So much so that I'm likely to do it again next year if asked (or maybe if not asked I'll seek it out as a ministry opportunity). I was also impressed when "Linda", an employee at Walmart, took time during her 15 minute break to come stand beside me and ring. She rang very fast and very loud and put me to shame in my bell ringing ability (though I was trying to keep pace for the long haul) and she did this on her break without anyone asking her! Thanks Linda, whoever you are, for the company for those 10 or so minutes.

The Lord also used this opportunity to reveal a matter of the heart on my own lack of generosity. I found there were five types of people I encounted during my 63 minutes outside Walmart: (1) the generous, joyful giver, (2) the joyous giver who gives a little because they can, (3) the giver who gives out of a sense of guilt due to the fact that he was within range of both my tintinnabulation and eyesight and others may be watching if he/she gives or not, (4) the person who doesn't give either because they don't have any money/change or they don't want to but makes eye contact and says hello, and (5) the person who avoids you like a disease or pretends you don't even exist. The Lord showed me that often times I am either 3 or 4, sometimes 2, but never 1. Now there is nothing wrong with #2 as there is no requirement to give to the Salvation Army a very generous gift, but the point is would I if the Lord put it on my heart to do so and the answer to that is a sad no. I tend to justify this by saying "well I don't know how much of my money actually is used for a good cause" which led me to look it up when I got back to the office (87 cents out of every $1 goes directly to the homeless, mentally ill, physically challenged, victims of drug and alcohol abuse, and others under our care) or by reminding myself of the fact of how I give to my church so there is not that need to give to something else generously. Again, it's not the matter of how much one gives but the willingness of the heart to give if felt compelled. I pray that I'd remember that the Lord provides and He will provide for me even if I give what I think I can't afford to someone or something else! I've never had wealth so it's always a step of faith to give more and it's a faith I need to start stepping out on more.

Lastly, I saw examples that I hope to pass on to my kids that was passed on to me by my mom of giving. Many parents would give their children the money to put into the kettle which my mom would also do for us. Sure, as kids you don't fully comprehend what you are doing when your parents give you that money, you just enjoy dropping something shiny into the pot, but it builds an example in teaching children to give. I was most impressed when a lady took out a five dollar bill and gave it to her child (I thought she was giving the child the $5 to hold onto while she searched for a $1 in her pocketbook) and then had the child place the $5 into the contained I had been standing beside this whole time ringing my little bell. The child had no idea the difference between a $1 and a $5 but I did and that's when the Lord spoke to me of my selfishness. I saw that $5 as a pizza or foot long sub meal for my wife and I (believe me that's almost gourmet for us since we don't get to eat out often) and was shocked that anyone would put "that much" in. But in all reality, "that much" is not much when you are trusting in the Lord and being led by Him in giving, whether or not $5 is simply spare change for you (and whether it was for this lady or not, I wasn't sure, but I do know people don't give $5 as a #2 or #3 type person). I need to be more "open handed" with my finances instead of "close fisted" allowing the Lord to break my heart to give. I may give to my church and those on mission trips but am I willing to give to strangers standing outside a store next to a bucket of sorts? I want to set the example to my son Caleb, future son Noah [editors note: no longer "future" son], and whatever other children the Lord blesses me with, to give generously and joyously, but to do that, I must become a #1 person myself.Amazing the heart lessons you can learn when you simply pray to the Lord to speak to you while you think you are simply doing the mundane.

Our Infinite God

"...Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name." - Isaiah 63:16

"Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting." - Psalm 93:2

"Great is our God, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite." - Psalm 147:5

A few Sundays ago, my pastor, Troy Warner, was sharing on the attributes of God and one attribute struck an incredible chord with me: that God is infinite.

Now I knew that God is infinite but have you ever took time to allow that truth to hit your heart? For with our God who is infinite, He never runs out of anything! In Him is infinite mercy, infinite wisdom, infinite grace, infinite love, infinite power. He'll never be too tired to do something for you or too weak to help you out. You'll never come to Him in repentance for messing up yet again today and find that His mercy has run out for you. You don't have to treat prayer like a bartering system, wondering whether you should ask for this small request because you may need His help for a much bigger project/healing/help later and would hate to use up your "account" with Him. He. Is. Infinite!

Along those lines of thinking too, we must remember that He is far past our understanding. Any theology or thinking about Him that tries to contain Him in a box that makes Him easy to understand is one that doesn't do Him justice. Our finite minds just can't comprehend His fullness. We understand the attributes of God and His nature through Jesus, but we can never fully comprehend the way He works. Am I glad I can't fully pin Him down? Yes, because anything less makes Him nothing more than a god I created on my own.

So next time you begin to wonder if He is through with you, remember He is infinite. Next time you start to wonder if you should even pray, remember He is infinite. Next time you are in despair and depression, remember He is infinite.

Dwell on His infiniteness and let yourself be utterly amazed at His awesomeness drawing you into a time of worship and thanksgiving!

For more on this, do a search through your Bible on the words "everlasting" or "infinite" and dwell on them.

Sticky Notes From Heaven

Lamentations 3:22-23 "[Through] the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness."

Zephaniah 3:17 - "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."


The other week as I awoke from sleep and started to get ready for work, I was in our computer room area and noticed a pad of sticky notes on the desk. Deciding I wanted to surprise my wife and bless her morning when she got up, I decided to write/draw "I love you" in different ways on multiple sticky notes. I then went about placing them in the house on areas that she would see but would still surprise her (bathroom mirror, computer monitor, Brita water container in the fridge, etc.). Now I am not the most romantic guy nor the greatest husband out there, but I wanted to once again let her know that I love her, this time through the creative use of sticky notes.

Upon driving to work, the Lord started to remind me of the "sticky notes" He often sets up for me to see and be reminded how much He loves me. These range from beautiful sunrises that promise a new day of blessings to the rainbow that promises no further global floods to cool breezes that remind me of the Spirit's work in my life, and ultimately the cross that displays His sacrificial love for me. Everywhere I look, if I will only take the time to look, I can easily find these "sticky notes from Heaven".

We can get so caught up in life and our stresses and problems that we tend to forget the great love God has for us. The very same love He showed by sending His Son to the cross for us and that great love displayed in while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Instead of focusing on the "mountains" of worries around you, take time to pause and look for the sticky notes Jesus has placed around you to say "I love you". They won't be hard to find and they won't disappear.

My wife continues to keep my sticky notes up just so she'll be reminded of my love everyday as she walks around the house as well.

Does the Lord do "Better Works"?

Ever hear how one church is exploding at the scenes and hear how the Lord must be doing a "better work" or "greater work" over at that church? Or maybe a ministry is seeing great fruit and you hear that same phrase used? Or someone leaves the church to go some place where God wants to do a "better work"?

Can God do a "better work" than what He is doing somewhere else? Can God be better than what He is? Can God be "greater" than He already is?

Well for the latter questions, no, God cannot be better or greater than what He is right now because He is the best and greatest that He can possibly be which is far more than we could even comprehend.

So if He is perfectly complete, could He do something better/greater elsewhere than He is currently doing? Again the answer is no. He is either working or He isn't working. If He is working, then what He is doing is great. If man is doing all the work and trying to get all the credit, then God probably isn't working which is why there can be burnout and stress. If He's not working, examine why (sin, not seeking Him, carnal means of work, etc.?) then pray for Him to do the work and let Him do the work.

Now one may argue John 14:12 about "greater works" but one must remember that Jesus, incarnate in the flesh, could only be one place at one time, but with the Holy Spirit now "greater" works can be done because He empowers believers to do works everywhere.

We also must remember that we compare things based on man's interpretation of greatness. For instance, we may say a megachurch ministry is a greater ministry than a congregation of 50 people because we see the numbers. Yet, if God is at work in the lives of that small congregation, then great things are equally going on. We must not judge success by numbers but by fruit. A huge congregation with shallow lives isn't a "great" thing at all.

So if you are doing ministry and not seeing the numbers but are seeing lives changed & fruit grown, even if it is in just a handful of people, God is doing great things in your midst. Do not be discouraged but praise the Lord for the good He is doing. If you are doing ministry where you may not see the fruit right away (such as children's ministry) and you are dependent on the Lord, seeking Him in all you do there, then have faith that God is doing a great work. Don't look for numbers to determine greatness - for the most part, people can bring numbers into the doors by silly promotions or stunts - for large numbers don't equal large fruit.

The work God has given you right now - be it full time ministry, a normal job (but where you strive to be a light to the world in that job), "simple" (as people may call it) service in the church (cleaning, parking lot attendant, etc.), a great father/mother to your kids, etc. - is the great work He wishes to do through you.

He does not work "greater" elsewhere if He is working right now. Don't give into comparisons because God doesn't judge based on man's assessment of situations. You serve the Lord and let Him do the work. If you are letting God use you, then He is using you in a "greater" way than you can even imagine!

Knowledge Puffs Up But Love Builds Up

"...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." - 1 Corinthians 8:1

A few weeks ago I read an article (won't mention the author or title as that would go against all I'm about to write) where the author was saying how a person with a certain theological base (again won't use specifics) could survive in a church that held a different theological base. The article didn't sit right with me because it almost came off like this: "You poor guy for suffering in a church ignorant of the truth. Don't worry though, use your intellegence and bring them along slowly and they will come around and see the light. Make sure you talk though with the leadership of the church first though before you change worship and stuff just in case they aren't enlightened enough to make the transition - if that's the case then it is better off you leave." Now I don't think the author meant for it to come off that way (and I may be a little harsh) but it did make it seem like the author's theological views were better than those that held different views (and when I mention views I'm not talking about the foundational, important, doctrinal views but those that are non-essential for salvation).

And that's the problem I wish to address here.

Now when it comes to what I believe theologically (and notice, I try not to place myself in a "box" of what I am [i.e. Calvinist, Arminian, dispinsationalist, reformed, etc.] because what I am is simply a "Christian", theology is what I believe) on non-essentials I would tell you something like this: I believe in pre-trib rapture, literal 1000 year reign of Christ, God is not through with Israel (the church has not replaced her), God is very much sovereign and yet man very much as free will (and how those come together I don't know, but they do!), all the spiritual gifts are for today (but all must be done decently and in order - too many extremes on both sides of the fence), and (though not theological in nature) I believe the best way to teach the Bible is teaching verse-by-verse through the Bible rather than topically. All of which I can "prove" biblically.

However, to think my views on things, or the church I attend views on things makes me more superior than another Christian is both false and divisive. Yes, I hold to my viewpoint for biblical reasons and believe there is a strong case for them, but that doesn't mean I'll look down on someone else for different views. It simply means I'll agree to disagree with you and continue on in sweet fellowship. When we divide with someone simply because they are Pentacostal but you're Baptist, or they are Reformed but you're Arminian, is divisive and I would even say sin. Knowledge leads to pride which is why when you are around another Christian talking about theological matters, make sure you are looking to love (which will edify/build them up) them first than simply bringing them over to "your side of things."

Same is true with preferences. Whether your church uses an organ & hymns or full band & contemporary worship, whether it is shirt & tie or casual dress, do not let that make you feel your church is somehow better than that other church.

But I digress.

The point is, feel free to hold to your views and have sound, biblical reasons for them, but don't let that cause you to look down on another Christian simply because they don't share the same views (now if they have false, heretical views that's a whole other story). Don't allow your knowledge of the Bible make you feel more entitled or better than someone who is not as "smart" as you.

Instead of drawing lines in the sand, let's look to partner together in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not whether they share your escatological or whatever-ical view that gets them to Heaven or not - it's whether they have "confessed with their mouth...and believed in their hearts" (Romans 10:9) that is the important thing. So yes, you can do ministry alongside another person of a different denomination (and should do so knowing you are equals in ministry whatever your viewpoints are).

If you're not loving, then all that knowledge goes to waste!

For the Lord or for our church?

The young people at Shively Christian Church, led at the time by Youth Pastor Dave Stone, were fiercely competitive with their neighbor, Shively Baptist, in all things, especially softball. They were also serious about their Christianity, faithfully attending the summer Bible camp led by the youth pastor. One week, the Bible lesson was about Jesus washing his disciples' feet, from John 13. To make the servanthood lesson stick, Pastor Stone divided the kids into groups and told them to go out and find a practical way to be servants."I want you to be Jesus in the city for the next two hours," he said. "If Jesus were here, what would he do? Figure out how he would help people." Two hours later the kids reconvened in Pastor Stone's living room to report what they had done.One group had done two hours of yard work for an elderly man. Another group bought ice cream treats and delivered them to several widows in the church. A third group visited a church member in the hospital and gave him a card. Another group went to a nursing home and sang Christmas carols — yes, carols in the middle of August. One elderly resident remarked that it was the warmest Christmas she could remember. But when the fifth group stood up and reported what they had done, everyone groaned. This group had made its way to none other than their arch rival, Shively Baptist, where they had asked the pastor if he knew someone who needed help. The pastor sent them to the home of an elderly woman who needed yard work done. There, for two hours, they mowed grass, raked the yard and trimmed hedges. When they were getting ready to leave, the woman called the group together and thanked them for their hard work. "I don't know how I could get along without you," she told them. "You kids at Shively Baptist are always coming to my rescue.""Shively Baptist!" interrupted Pastor Stone. "I sure hope you set her straight and told her you were from Shively Christian Church.""Why, no, we didn't," the kids said. "We didn't think it mattered."- Charles W. Colson

I stumbled across this little story and was quickly convicted & challenged by the simple truth that is in there. I think there are too many times where we seek to glorify the church fellowship we attend rather than the Lord. We don't make a conscience decision to do so, but we still do it. We either do it by trying to make our church look cooler/better/etc. than another church (thus competing with the Body of Christ) or like something similar to this story's point.

Here is a simple test (and activity) to see where our hearts are in this matter as well as a way to impact those around us, giving glory only to Jesus. It is an activity called "Ding Dong Ditch" I had learned about from a youth pastor from a church in New Mexico. Basically each person brings $1 to $5 and all the money is pooled together to go buy groceries for a needy family. Then those groceries are placed on the porch/by the front door of the home. The doorbell is then rung and everyone runs away and hides and watches from a distance the needy person receive the goods. Those who donated learn to give without receiving anything (even "thank you") in return. The other catch is you are not allowed to place any material with your church's name on it with the groceries (so if your tracks have the church's name, then type a letter explaining the gospel message and the reason for doing this, but don't sign it). Now if your heart (like mine is sometimes) is thinking "but we need to make sure they know it is from our church!" then you are seeking to glorify your church and not simply the Lord.

Let's get back to making sure Jesus gets all the glory and not our cool praise band, our casual dress policy, or our great programs that makes our church stand out better than your church. Jesus is the focus - not us!

Looking For Your Own Catch?

"And He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some'. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish." - John 21:6

Once again we find our famous fishermen, who have been toiling all day and night, without any fish to give them satisfaction of accomplishment (or food to fill their stomach's for that matter). Suddenly, they hear a command to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Last time they had heard something similar to this (Luke 5:4-5) they were skeptical (but obeyed) while this time, they simply obey. The result: a huge catch! The questions to ask ourselves are: What did these disciples do to make a great catch? What great thinking & intellegence did they possess to create such a great catch? What program(s) did they use to become fisherman with full nets?

The answers may surprise you: (1) they obeyed Jesus, (2) none, they obeyed Jesus and (3) none, they obeyed Jesus. Interesting huh?

Yet, sometimes we as humans are quick to take credit for our own "catch" or put stock in a "program" so we too can have a net full of fish of our own.

Be it in ministry or service the Lord has given you, you simply need to obey what the Lord is calling you to do. When you watch some other church with "full nets" and look to see what great attributes that pastor/leadership has or what program they may be using, you are not only looking at the wrong source but you are also possibly stealing glory from God! And if you give credit of your catch to your abilities or program, then you are more than likely stealing glory from God!

As churches, ministries, etc., let's simply obey Jesus doing what He calls us to do and stop trying to use our own ingenuity to get full nets. We also need to make sure we aren't comparing size of nets either - your "full" net may not be the same as someone elses "full" net. We don't get lazy in ministry but we can't think we're less "successful" simply because our net isn't as "full" compared to someone elses.

Remember, Jesus has everything to do with the catch - not you! Just obey.

Boldness Comes As We Share, Not as We Sit

"But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak" - Matthew 10:19

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." - Acts 4:13

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, " - Acts 4:29


There sometimes can be fear when it comes to sharing the Gospel with people. Christians will pray for boldness (which is good) but then wait until we feel that boldness to start sharing. Or we will wait until we have some clever presentation in our mind or are smart enough before we start sharing thinking this will give us the boldness we need. Having an idea of what you will say is not a bad thing either (though Jesus promised He would give the disciples the words to say and it's still true for us).

Action though is what is truly needed!

See boldness comes when we start to share not by necessarily waiting on it. As you start to speak, you'll find the Holy Spirit filling you with both the words and boldness needed to share. Having nervousness is not necessarily a bad thing in that it will hopefully draw you to Jesus for the strength needed.

I find this true everytime I go out on the streets of Russia (or where ever) sharing the Gospel - the more I share, the more emboldened I am to keep sharing. Can it be discouraging when people mock us or the "spiritual ground" is hard? Sure, but no surprises there as Jesus promised people would reject us as they did Him. However, you'll find fertile ground too and that is enough to make all the plowing worth it.

So if you're looking for boldness, don't sit waiting for it...go out and share!

From Russia With Love

Well this post wasn't written from Russia but definitely some thoughts the Lord laid on my heart while traveling to and from Russia. Anytime you go on a missions trip, it is a great time to reprioritize and relook at things of life simply because you have one single focus and it is to spread the Gospel. When you have to look to Jesus day in and day out for your strength and your focus, you can look on life with a clearer view. This post will be just that - a clearer view of what's important. It will be blunt and challenging but it will be fruitful if we take to heart what the Lord wants to share with us.

First off, a series of questions the Lord spoke to my heart about: Why is it we can take a week off from work for a missions trip but can't take an hour a week to pray with the body? Prayer services are the lowest attended services in the church today and if you can get just 5% to come out, you are doing well. We simply shouldn't be okay with that. Somehow though we justify our actions by saying we are tired or have had a long week or don't need to pray with the body. Acts 2:42 tells us that the early church "continued steadfastly...in prayers". So why is it we have no trouble leaving for a while to go share the gospel with people but we can't pray for an hour for those places that we went sharing? Now your church may not have a prayer service and if so, then continue (and if you're not, start) praying for the missionaries that are spreading the gospel and your brothers/sisters in Christ in other countries that you don't know personally. But specifically to those at CC Lynchburg, start coming out to Sunday night prayer! Unless you work on Sunday nights you don't have any excuse not to make it out to at least one prayer meeting per month (and if you are doing some sort of ministry [worship team, children's ministry, etc.] then be an example and come out more often). If you have children, take turns with the wife/husband so one of you can come pray. We need to be praying and there is power in corporate prayer. If you've been overseas on a missions trip, you know this to be true. Our time is fruitful because of the prayers of the saints back home so stop making excuses and come out and pray.

Why can we tirelessly serve overseas but can't make it to a Wednesday night service when we are tired? I have been guilty of this one from time to time and it's because our/my priorities are out of wack. Now true, one doesn't HAVE to go to church everytime the door is open to be spiritual or to grow, but the point is that we have no problem pouring our lives out while overseas and continuing on when we are tired; when it comes to going to church when we are tired back home, somehow it becomes a different story. I have heard people say they've had a long day at work and they just need their rest. Does the service (and Jesus in the service) not provide you the true rest you need? I no longer think this excuse is applicable anymore because when we use it we are saying church is a burden and that's dangerous territory. I simply look at my wife to another reason this excuse is poor - my wife works far harder than I do and most people. She stays at home and labors in love with our kids and she doesn't get a scheduled lunch break. She gets her break if/when the kids allow for one. And not only does she look after our two sons, but she does housework as well. And yet, after a tiring day, she still makes it out for Wednesday night service. If there is anyone I know who could deserve a "night off", it would be her but she realizes church is the place to be to find rest! Gene & Stacy Jackson are other great examples as they both work hard and then come and serve with children's ministry. There are plenty of other examples too, so we need to rethink what is important to us. Fellowshipping with other believers and hearing the Word taught should be high on our priority list. I think the Lord will sustain you and give you the energy to come listen. Even if you zone in and out because you have had a looooonnnnngggg day, you still are an example to others around you.

In conclusion, should you feel bad if you stay home for a Sunday night prayer or a Wednesday night service? Does it make you worse of a Christian? No and the point isn't to say you must be at church everytime the doors are open. However, we do need to reexamine our hearts and priorities. Don't feel bad for staying home now and again because sometimes your family simply needs you, but staying home should be the abnormal, not the normal. If you reading this and quickly are bucking at everything that was said and trying to justify your actions, odds are you are one of the ones who has misplaced priorities. Again, it is a heart issue and not a works righteousness issue but we hope to see you alongside of us praying on Sunday nights and worshipping on Wednesday nights (or at least doing it at your home church).

More to come on boldness in a later blog....

The Me Church

This is a humorous look at consumer oriented churches in our culture today. Some will do anything to get people into their churches - except teach the Word of God. As the church in America we need to stop fighting each other to get people into our buildings and instead focus on equipping the body (Ephesians 4:12) to do the work of the ministry. Instead of focusing on being "cool" and "like the world", we need to focus on Christ and Him crucified. Let's focus on the Word and not on cute catch phrased sermons with little content.

More so though it's a look at the hearts of many church goers in our churches today because we've marketed the church as a brand of store and taught them that church is all about them. Church has very little to do with us. If our mindset is what can we get out of church, then we are missing the One for whom we come to worship. Worship music isn't about how happy or emotionally charged we get from the singing and song selection, but us simply giving the glory to our Savior and the worth He is due. The teaching of the Word isn't for us to judge the pastor's style, but to hear what the Lord wants to say to us today. We shouldn't be focusing on attention on entertaining the people because the church isn't meant for entertainment as if it were another movie theatre or rec center, but rather teaching and training them to be more like the world.

Is your mindset, what can I get from the church today or is it what can I give to the Lord at church today? The proper mindset is what will keep you from looking for a me church.

Oh, the Irony

"Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover" - John 18:28

There is quite a bit of irony in this passage that can often be overloooked which I want to point out. In context, the Jews have arrested Jesus and are leading him to Pilate in the Praetorium (the palace area in which he lived) so that he can give them permission to put Jesus to death. However, it was Passover time and in their rituals, if they entered into a house that contained leven they would be defiled and not be able to take part in the Passover ceremonies. The Praetorium was obviously a Gentile residence and thus leven was probably there and thus they did not want to enter in and defile themselves.

So think about this rephrased this way: the Jewish leaders have arrested God Himself because of their pride and hatred toward Him and are taking Him to be put to death and yet are afraid of defiling themselves by entering into a Gentile residence that may contain leven! Again they are missing their true heart condition (that is really defiling them) and focusing on the outward "religious" regulations instead. The One who can truly clease them they have condemned. No wonder Jesus called them white washed tombs.

And yet there are many who are just like these Jewish leaders. Outside the church they are living for the world and all its pleasure, but they feel good about themselves because they simply go to church on Sundays. There are those husbands that are in full time ministry that do everything to impress those around them and yet pay little attention to their ultimate ministry, their families (sometimes even justifying this because of their "position" in the church).

Our "religious works" aren't what justifies us. When we focus on the outside rather than on the inside, we too can be just as blind.

Loving the Praise of Man?

"for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." - John 12:43

In this brief phrase, we find a sad commentary on some of the Pharisees who did believe in Jesus. They had come to believe in Him but they did not let others know for fear of being put out of the synagogue and because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

There are many ways that this translates out to our everyday lives. The first one is obvious, being we choose not to talk about our faith or confess Jesus around others because we don't want to look foolish in front of our friends or family. We don't want our co-workers to think we are some sort of "Jesus freak" or "fanatical" and therefore we hold our tongues and let them think we are just a good moral person rather than a Christian.

But I think the subtle ways we show this are less obvious. When we pump up numbers in our church or ministry (in other words, we say we have more than who really comes out), we may love the praise of man more than the praise of God. When we try to compare numbers in our ministries, we may love the praise of man more than the praise of God. When we climb over others to get to the top, we may love the praise of man more than the praise of God. When we let "slip" how much time we've spent in prayer or the Word this week when no one asked, we may love the praise of man more than the praise of God. When we donate large amounts of money to get recognized, we may love the praise of man more than the praise of God.

We need to make sure everything we say and do is for the praise of God and not for our own praise. When we take the place of a servant, serving unnoticed and not looking for recognition, we probably love the praise of God more than the praise of man. When we pray for those who curse us rather than attack back, we probably love the praise of God more than the praise of man. When we give with no recognition wanted or needed, we may love the praise of God more than the praise of man. And when we reach out to those people who go unnoticed because they aren't "important" enough to minister to (i.e. they won't get us recognition in the church - like children's ministry, nursing home ministy, etc.), we probably love the praise of God more than the praise of man.

Lord, may all I say and do be for Your glory and not mine.

Just Do It

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel" - Ezra 7:10

There are many who go to Bible colleges or Christian universities or simply their own churches to know the Word of God better. There are even those from that group that go so that they may learn it well enough to teach it. But sadly, if this is all that is ever done (and for some, it is), then we fall way short of the desire. It isn't how much we know but what we are doing with what we know.

We learn a lot about Ezra in this short verse.

First, he prepared his heart to seek the Law. There are often times we go to church to worship and hear the Bible taught, but are we preparing our hearts to receive what Jesus wants to speak to us on? Or do we simply go with the consumer mindset of "this better be entertaining" and "I better have an emotional experience" out of this?

We then see that in preparing his heart to seek, he also prepared his heart to do it. There are many commands we know: "love the Lord with all your heart", "love your neighbor as yourself", "love your enemies", "pray for those who persecute you", "make disciples of all men", "be holy as I am holy", "esteem others better than yourself", etc.; but the real question is are we doing them and striving to do them. Sometimes the basic things we know, we shrug off by justifying to ourselves that they are too hard and nobody can fully do them as if that makes it okay to live a half-hearted walk with the Lord. When we find ourselves falling short, all the more to pray and seek out how we can defeat those failures in our life.

Lastly, he prepared his heart to teach. You may not have the gift of teaching or called to teach a bible study, youth group or congregation, but you can certainly pass on what the Lord shows you. Are you spending time in the Word waiting for the Lord to speak to you not only so that you can hear from Him, but so that you can pass it on to others as well? Truths seems to stick even more in our minds when we pass them on to others and I think we miss out on this opportunity to often. As I write this blog, the Lord spoke to me concerning this verse and as I was about to simply "write about it later", He prompted me to write about it now while it is still fresh in my mind and before something comes along that makes me forget to do it. Write down those things the Lord shows you so you can share it with someone. You'll be amazed by how often the Lord will put something in your heart that you read in your devotional or during your devotions, that He'll want you to pass on to someone that needs to hear that exact truth that day!

Now whether or not you are going to church or school to seek the Lord and teach His Word, you are responsible for doing what you hear.

"But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" - James 1:22.

You are expected to follow the truths that you hear. James goes onto to compare it to a person who looks at himself in the mirror (and let me embelish this to bring the point home a bit) and see his hair sticking out all over the place or a woman whose mascera is running and lipstick is a bit off, and yet they leave the mirror without fixing it. When we hear the Word and do not obey it, we deceive ourselves.

If you want to see your walk grow deeper, prepare your heart to hear Him, prepare your heart to seek Him, do what you hear, then share with others what you have heard. Your time in the Word is not simply a meal to indulge yourself in, but a feast to have others partake with you in as well.

Stay Away from Diviseness

"For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal?" - 1 Corinthians 3:4

Some division in the early church - a bit of what we still see today. Back then people were aligning themselves with the person who led them to Christ and claiming to be of that person. Paul tells them that this is carnality and goes on in the passage to say that the only One who matters is God and that the ministers aren't anything important. Instead of focusing on the person, we need to get our eyes back to the Lord Jesus.

Unfortunately, we still see division today when we align ourselves with certain denominations. I'm not saying that denominations are bad or evil. I'm focusing on those who will align themselves with a denomination and divide themselves from other Christians who are of a different denomination.

How does one know if there is a bit of division in their heart? Well if I were to say, "Pastor so and so" is speaking today and by the way he is a ________ (insert denomination), do you want to listen?" and you automatically assume he can't teach anything worthwhile because he is not of your denomination, then you are being carnal.

It's easy for us to get this way, because we are human, but we have to make sure we aren't dividing ourselves from the whole body of Christ because of our denominational affiliation (or lack thereof). When we do that the outside world sees a divided church. Let's keep the non-essentials, non-essential and find unity in those truths all true Christians hold too.

Our Patient Lord

"I will wait until you come back." - Judges 6:18

I know I'm close to doing what so many other teachers will do in using a verse or part of a verse as a diving board to talk on more than is necessarily in the verse. I'm not going to do that.

However, while reading this passage the Lord brought it to my attention about His patience. We know various passages talking about how the Lord is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6 as one example), how He is patient, and have seen examples of this patience (Genesis 15:11-16 where he waited 400 years before judging the Amorites), but it was in Judges 6:18 that once again I was reminded of His patience.

Bare with me as I put a bit of a human spin into this, but here we see Gideon ask the Lord to wait until he could prepare an offering for Him. Now the Lord could have simply said, "well I'll come back after you have it prepared because afterall I am God and I have too many other things to worry about going on in this world than to sit and wait for this offering that I don't really need anyway." But no, He is all powerful enough and all knowing enough to be content to wait because He has all under control, whether He is waiting for an offering or waiting for you or I to respond to His calling on our lives.

We so often want to rush through things and get things done. We have a calling and so, bam, we must get it done NOW! We tend to worry what the Lord will do if we don't hurry, hurry, hurry. But sometimes, we need to be content and simply wait.

All in the Serve - Called to Work

"Go to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple..." - Haggai 1:8

Today at our quarterly recalibrate ministry meeting, Troy taught through the book of Haggai and related to us the truths about serving. The people who returned to Israel, who were truly the brave and faithful ones since the others stayed behind in comfortable Babylon, were now being exhorted over there poor priorities, perspective, and passion.

One of the points that really hit home though came from the verse above. It is a verse you could typically breeze over really quickly without understanding the significance of it. To gain a good perspective, think about what it is like to go hiking in the mountains. Though it is fun, it can also be very tiresome and some tough "work" for a day of enjoyment. Now take the thought of hiking and add manual labor into it. Not only will you be going up into the mountains, you now will be chopping down trees and then carrying the wood back down the mountain to build with and you do not have any sports utility vehicle in which to do it. That's hard work! And who demands this work? The Lord!

Just as He wasn't afraid to call the nation of Israel into action to serve Him, He still calls us into the same sort of service. Sometimes serving the Lord is going to take hard work. There will be times you're going to be tired, you're going to burn the midnight oil, you're going to be running on fumes. I'm not sure where people think service to the Lord should simply be comfortable and "easy" and if it involves doing something "hard" then they're not interested. We are called to serve, we are called to work.

However, we aren't called to be burnt-out. If you are "burnt-out" in ministry it is because you've been doing ministry under your own power without the power that is readily available to you. When you do ministry in your own flesh, you WILL get burnt out. But, if you are doing it through the power of the Holy Spirit, you may get tired physically, spiritually, emotionally, you may feel like you're running on fumes, but you're never get burnt out.

What is the Lord calling you to do? What's holding you back from doing it? We are called to work...it's all in the serve!

Thoughts on Church Advertising

I saw this video linked on another website and found it quite humorous for it's stereotypical look at churches. Afterwards, I went to the website it advertises to check out what all the guy believed in as far as "church marketing" goes but I didn't do enough research to really ascertain exactly what he was saying. But after doing all this I figured I'd write my own blog and thoughts on "church marketing".

Unfortunately, we (the American church) have become too concerned with programmatic methods of getting people into the doors of the church. We focus on relevance and advertise our church to fit the packaging we want to promote. We have conferences of church planting and how one goes about doing it. There are books out there on growing your church and using demographics to make sure you are where you need to be. They will teach you how to make cool and hip looking postcards to send out and what services you use to send them out. They will teach you how to make a great mission statement using acrostics or alliteration to catch people's attention. Or there are some pastors who see this type of marketing and go the exact opposite to be a completely "different" church that doesn't use such things. Out of this, in some ways, comes the emergent church.

However, in all this I believe the American church is missing what truly brings people to Christ and "turns the world upside down" (as the early church was accused of doing). Instead of focusing on programs, let's get back to being led under the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" - Galatians 3:3

The American church has put her faith in man-made programs to grow the church rather than looking to the power of the Spirit to lead and guide them. We need to get back to the basics of what the early church was about - teaching the word, fellowshipping, breaking of bread and praying (Acts 2:42). Let's focus on simply teaching the Word to our congregations so they will do the "work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12) than creating catchy sermon series titles to try and woo the people in. Instead of long conferences and possible debates of how the "church" should be, let's get out there and reach the people.

There is nothing wrong with catchy sermon series or props or creating a certain atmosphere. It's just when that becomes the focus that I believe we are missing the point. I also love the fact that there are a diversity of fellowships and "styles" of ministries out there; I think there is beauty in that. But when we start trying to package and sell these styles as to what "works" we glory in our own accomplishments and forget that the Lord is doing the work. Oh sure, one may say "it's not me but it's all Christ doing the growing" but yet their actions on teaching "what we've done" to make the church grow seems to contradict their first saying.

All I'm saying is that we need to stop putting so much energy and attention into numbers, programs, and packaging, and start getting back to going out in the power that the Lord wants (and promises) to provide.

I highly recommend anybody who has read something along the lines of the "Purpose Driven Church" to read "The Upside Down Church" by Greg Laurie.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Quick Thoughts From Last Night's Edge Study

Can I really be quick on writing? I think so and because I don't feel like writing a long blog, here goes...

I had Ben Tobias fill in to teach for me on Tuesday because (1) I had him prepare something just in case Michal went into labor or a Tuesday or something, (2) she didn't go into labor on a Tuesday but nonetheless the process kept me from my studies, and (3) I had him prepare and wanted to hear him so thought it would be a good night to do so.

Anywho he shared on worship and the wonder of worship. Very well put together and some very neat insights he got from studying the Scripture to prepare. One of the things that stuck out the most was the Jonathan Edwards quote he read where (paraphrasing), Jonathan Edwards rode his horse to a forest and had a great time of worshipping the Lord and a very unique experience. Ben pointed out in our modern day way of trying to imitate packaging and methods, we'd say "well how am I going to find a horse and where's the nearest forest?" and miss out on the fact that worship is not a pre-conceived formula. Ben then went on to look at several people in the Old Testament and pulled out what worship should be like.

We then had a neat time of worshipping the Lord in song and then prayer and it was a very cool way to end the night. It is always neat to be part of something like that where the Lord leads in something unique and different and allows you to be part of it.

Hello Noah, Goodbye Sleep!

We welcomed Noah Matthew Massey into the world on February 7, 2009 at 11:30 PM weighing 7 lbs, 15 oz and 20.5 inches long. We had only been in the hospital 20 minutes before he came out (though technically we had only been officially checked in for 7 minutes). In fact, the doctor didn't even make it in the room in time to deliver him. So from the time Michal's water broke to the time Noah was born was about 40-45 minutes! I had better take a class in delivering babies because next time I might be the one delivering!

Love For One Another

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" - John 13:35

It's rather sad how we who are to be known for our love for one another tend to easily divide over little things. We will characterize others by what dominational church they go to and then make sure that if theirs is a different denomination than ours we can easily justify not listening to them. Or when people leave our church to go to another, we feel as if we can no longer fellowship with them because they "rejected" our church and therefore aren't worth fellowshipping with. We will divide ourselves over non-essential beliefs, be it Calvinism vs Arminianism, spiritual gifts for today vs. no gifts today, etc. We will allow ourselves to get divided by small things such as athletics, personal convictions, and/or age groupings. We will allow ourselves to judge one another based off the latest trends and fashions therefore only hanging out with those we deem "cool" or "popular". We will divide ourselves simply because we are too prideful to submit to someone else's leadership, be it the pastor, ministry leader, or coach. We will divide ourselves over personal preferences like worship style, building structure, large/small congregations, etc.

And yet, we are to be known by our love for one another. How can someone tell if I am a disciple of Jesus? They should look at my life and be able to find love. Not just love for those who I already get along with or like being with me, but love for those who differ with me on issues, don't want to submit to authority I've been given, or don't fit into my "comfort zone" of people I normally hang around. We need to check our pride in at the door and realize that we aren't as great or as important as we think we are (or that others tell us we are).

Whose the one Christian you totally can't stand right now? Go and love that person. Go and pray for that person. Go and show the world that you've decided to place yourself below that person in order to lift them and esteem them in others eyes. "Yeah but what about me?" Who cares about you! You let the Lord worry about that because ministry has nothing to do with us but everything to do with Him. And we are all called to minister to one another.

Love one another...not a suggestion but a command!