Gimme a Break! Christianity is NOT Boring! Part I

I'm always puzzled when I hear people...people who follow Christ...and people who do not follow Christ, say, "Christianity is boring."  Really?!?!

I guess if your version of following Christ puts you in a recliner, flipping channels...hey, and even landing on Christian channels like TBN or EWTN...if that's your version of following Christ, than yea...I can see why you might think Christianity is boring.  But, is that where Jesus is leading you?  Is that what you see Dad (our heavenly Father) doing?

Jesus said, as recorded in John 5:19, that He only does what He sees Dad doing.  In other words, Dad is always doing something...and Jesus lived life, by first discovering what Dad was doing around Him, and then He chose to agree with...enter into...do that.  What is Dad doing around you?  What do you see Dad doing right now?

So, five courageous people from the church I pastor, RiverRock Christian Fellowship, and I, headed down south on I-295 in two vehicles from Augusta to Portland...to the Glickman Family Library on the campus of University of Southern Maine.  There, on the seventh floor, would be a gathering of pro-choice men and women, to view a movie, "The Abortion Diaries," with a discussion following.  The event was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Association.  The discussion would be framed and facilitated by pro-choice USM professor of Gender and Women's Studies, Nancy Gish.  In the room were two pro-choice legislators, at least one pro-choice professor, the Northern New England Director of Planned Parenthood, the Director of the Family Planning Association of Maine, the grassroots director for Planned Parenthood, and several other leaders in the pro-choice movement, as well as college students, and various other pro-choice advocates.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppnne/roe-anniversary-31315.htm

It's important to note...to arrive at this place...the abortion discussion...we (the six of us) did NOT ask, "What would Jesus do?"...no, I believe that's a question that religious people ask...it's a question about guessing what Jesus might do in this same kind of situation, based on Christian principles and looking at the gospels historically...and, in my opinion, that's what religious people do...

Instead we asked, "Dad, what ARE You doing?" which is a question that someone asks when they have a real, authentic relationship with Dad (our heavenly Father).  It is a question that someone asks when they believe that Father will show His sons and daughters what He's doing because He loves them, and because He wants us to come into agreement with what He's doing, rather than have His sons and daughters try and drag Him into what they are doing.

To the six of us, Dad was clearly driving the more than 1 hour from our warm, comfortable living rooms, down to the library, taking the elevator up to the seventh floor and entering into the discussion.  We went down not to engage the enemy, but to enter into what Dad was doing...and shine the light.

From the room where the event was held, I posted to Facebook from my blackberry phone, "in the devil's playground..."  Surely, some may have read that post and thought I was calling Planned Parenthood or pro-choice people, the Devil.  But, nothing could be further from the truth.  Flesh and blood are not the enemy of Christians...followers of Christ.  Scripture makes that really clear.  No...Satan and his demonic principalities, powers and dominions...those are our enemies.  Now, certainly, in their blindness, Planned Parenthood and pro-choice people have come into agreement with the Devil and his strategy to destroy human life, which is created in the image of the very God he hates.  Yes, they've come into agreement with the enemy, but they are NOT the enemy.  And, the strategy to help them break their agreement with the enemy looks like Jesus interactions with the adulterous woman, and NOT the man who shoots an abortion doctor.

Check out the next post for more on what Dad did...

Personal Growth

Recently, I've felt drawn by the Holy Spirit to spend some time each day reading a book on leadership.  Typically, I'll read one chapter, set the book aside, and then listen to the Master Teacher...Rabbi Holy Spirit.  It's been pretty cool how God has taken leadership concepts I've just read about and given me greater understanding by expanding, explaining, or unpacking them.  Plus, He's been showing me how I can make practical application that will benefit me and my local church.

The first book I read was Christian Leadership I by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

The second book was Christian Leadership II by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

Gaining an understanding of the leadership concepts in these first two books has been very, very helpful to me.  As I've read each book, it's been like having my very own, top-notch, personal mentor sit with me and help me navigate through some very basic, foundational concepts.  Because the material in both books is so practical, I've already begun applying this stuff to my personal life, as well as adjusting the way that I pastor my local congregation.  I'm already seeing some very encouraging results.  I get a sense that I'll be revisiting these two books in the future on a regular basis.

Now, the third book I'm reading is entitled Master-planning by Bobb Biehl.  Bob is the director and founder of Bobb Biehl Leadership Academny.  He's been credited by Bill Bright, Josh McDowell, R.C. Sproul and a host of other significant leaders in bringing breakthroughs to their leadership capacity and their ministry's effectiveness.

I've ordered a copy for each elder, and as I wait for the books to come in, I've been getting a head start on reading the first few chapters.  My plan is to lead the elders through the reading and completion of each of the assignments.  We'll complete the exercises together and as a result, I anticipate each of the elders to gain a greater sense of ownership in RiverRock's ministry.

When we've completed each of Bobb Biehl's assignments in the book, we'll have: (1) articulated very clearly the vision and purpose for our church, (2) identified the 3-7 major ministry focuses that will step us forward toward vision manifestation, (3) established an organizational structure that fits and supports the vision, (4) set immediate/short-term/mid-term/long-term goals, and (5) established a tracking system of accountability for our objectives.

Now, that may bore you to death, but this is the very thing that excites me about ministry.  I get excited about it because it mean we'll be making significant progress in clarifying RiverRock's vision/focus and establish a leadership structure that greatly reduce frustration and encourage growth.  In addition, by illuminating RiverRock's vision and purpose, the day-to-day, seemingly mundane tasks become important and enjoyable!

Selling All That You Possess

This morning I was reading the passage about the rich young ruler and saw something in this passage that I had never seen before.  It was one of those moments, encounters really, with the Holy Spirit that you remember for a long, long time.  It was like the Holy Spirit opened a box that somehow had been either left unopened or slightly ajar and when it was fully opened, and light allowed to come in, it caused all the other previously opened boxes to somehow be illuminated to a greater measure, and thus, fit better in my understanding.  It also may be one of those moments that is far better experienced than shared, but I'll give a whack at it anyway.  Here's the passage...

Luke 18:18-23  18  A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  19  And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except God alone.  20  You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"  21  And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."  22  When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.  NASU

I think we've all read this passage a thousand times or more.  And many of you probably have had the Holy Spirit illuminate what I'll be sharing about in this post, already, what I saw for the first time today.  The Bible instructs us as to Who possesses what...

Ps 24:1
The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.  NASU

The Lord owns everything.  It is all His.  The earth, the entire earth belongs to Him.  Not only does the earth belong to Him, but everything that is in and on the earth, belongs to Him...this includes man.  Every man, woman and child belong to God.  Every human being, every one of them, without exception belongs to God.  Every penny, every ruble, every peso, every yen, every single expression of material and wealth on this earth, belong to the Lord.

Now, since everything belongs to the Lord...how much of what is on the earth belongs to man, or any single man, woman or child?  Nothing!  There is nothing that belongs to any of us.  It all belongs to God.  This is the stewardship principle/concept that the Bible clearly instructs us all to apply to our lives.  This much I had laid hold of already, long before this morning.  What grabbed me this morning in the rich young ruler passage was how Jesus addressed the idolatry and stewardship and prosperity issues with one proposal.  In one offer, "give everything to the poor and I'll give you eternal life"...Jesus brings the rich young ruler face-to-face with what has captivated his heart, more than God.  Now, had the rich young ruler embraced this truth...that all that he possessed already belonged to God...that he wasn't a possessor of anything, rather a steward of God's possessions, the offer would've been responded to differently by the rich man.

Consider this...Jesus only asked the rich young ruler to give up what the rich young ruler possessed.  Had the rich young ruler come to Jesus already embracing in his heart that he was no more than a steward of all the wealth in his hands, he could've truthfully responded to Jesus offer to "give all that you possess" with, "but I don't possess anything, it all belongs to the Father."

Jesus could've very well responded to this by saying, "You are correct, the earth and all it contains belongs to the Father, and since it belongs to Him, He is requiring of you, this very moment, to give all that you manage for Him, to be given to the poor."  The rich young ruler would've then been able to, without fear, without anxiety, without stress, to simply let it all go, because it never belonged to him in the first place...it wasn't his to keep...he was just a steward.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, until this morning, I never saw Jesus emphasizing, "give all that you possess...".  Had the rich young ruler somehow felt that God owned 80% of the wealth that he oversaw, and that he owned 20% of the wealth...in this encounter, by requesting, "give all that you possess," Jesus was only asking for the 20% that had somehow come to possess the rich young ruler's heart.  Jesus was only asking for that part of the wealth that the rich young ruler managed, that he would struggle giving up because he "believed" it was his, and not God's.

If we will manage God's money rather than possess it for ourselves, it sure will be a lot easier when He comes to us asking for a redistribution of it.  After all, can't He do with His wealth what He wants to do?

Great Day Off with My Family

Today was a great day!

My wife, 3 kids and I went to the YMCA this morning.  Lynn and I played racquetball while the 3 kids were playing in childcare.  Afterwards, all 5 of us went into the swimming pool and had a blast.  Sadly, I made little Hannah (4 months) cry by dunking her twice in the pool.  She calmed down and relaxed as long as she sat on Daddy's shoulder, her face next to mine.  David had a blast showing me how he could jump from the side into the pool.  He really, really had a great time doing that.  Later, Lynn took Hannah into the observation room and fed Hannah while I played in the pool with the boys.  We had a blast playing with rubber duckies, learning how to use a noodle, and throwing rings (that sank) across the pool.  David especially enjoyed having me throw him high in the air and landing in the water.  It won't be long before he can take off his floating device and really swim on his own.  He's learning how to doggie paddle and is getting better at kicking.

After we got out of the pool, took showers, and got dressed, we started to head out of the facility and I peeked into the basketball gym and saw a few friends playing 3-on-3.  I asked Lynn if she wouldn't mind taking the kids home and coming back in about an hour to pick me up.  I hadn't played hoops in at least 2 1/2 months and thought I was going to be rusty out there.  Actually, I had a hot hand and everything seemed to work well...passing, dribbling, shooting and defense.

Lynn came and picked me up and we headed home.  I was dead tired!  Eventually, Lynn wanted to go to the store, so David, Joshua and I went up stairs, jumped in Mom and Dad's bed and took naps...ooooohhhh, did that feel great!

Lynn made tacos for dinner while I played with Hannah.  Just before bed, the boys and I played follow the leader and we sat on the floor and played with blocks.  Afterwards, I took the boys upstairs and put them to bed, telling them another thriller of a story about 2 young boys named Prince David and Prince Joshua who rode through a jungle on elephants and came upon a dinosaur and a lion (their choice for the animals) who had been terrorizing a tribe in the jungle.  The dinosaur and lion came after Prince David and Prince Joshua, who had gotten off of their elephants, but because of their faith that Jesus was with them, they stood their ground.  Then, they pulled out their swords and killed these ferocious creatures, saving an entire tribe from any more terror!

Being a Dad is great!  I think I'm starting to catch on how Father God looks at me (us).  Last Sunday night, the "Experiencing the Father's Embrace" DVD challenged our small group to move from a relationship with the Father that was primarily "gimme, gimme, gimme" to "change me, change me, change me."  Jack Frost challenged us with this question, "When you pray, is most of your prayer time consisting of, 'God, give me this or give me that.'"  Or is it simply "being with the Father" and experiencing intimacy with Him?

Jack used the parable of the Prodigal Father (the religious church has focused on the sin of the younger son, and entitled it "The Prodigal Son") to teach us how easy it is to move adrift of the Father and His love by only coming to the Father for the "gimme, gimme, gimme".  We were challenged to move from valuing the Father for what He can give us, to valuing Him for who He is and intimacy with Him.

Luke 15:11  And He said, "A man had two sons.  12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me...'"  NASU

Any thoughts on this?

Who's Feet You Sittin' At?

I've noticed that when I sit at the feet of certain talk radio guys, I begin to see the world from an unbiblical perspective.  Let me explain.  I begin to see people from a certain party or a certain political perspective, as the enemy, as my enemy.  My "blood boils" when I think of them, and soon that turns to rage.  My issue is this...the Bible clearly tells us that "flesh and blood" are not our enemies.  Is sitting at the feet of someone for any length of time, that has an unbiblical worldview, a wise thing?  If, while sitting at their feet, I sense a shift within my heart to see people as the enemy, rather than a mission field to be reached...is it a wise thing to sit at their feet?  Consider this passage...

Eph 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  NASU

Are these very popular talk radio guys viewing the world through accurate lens?  I've found myself having struggles with reaching out to people of vastly different political perspectives.  And I believe it's because I'm putting up contentious walls when I sit at the feet of certain talk radio guys.  Shouldn't I be viewing the devil and his minions as who I wrestle with, who I war against?

How much better it is when I sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what He has to say about the world, about government, about everything!  When I do sit at His feet, I begin to see the world in the way that He sees the world.  Jesus told us it is the one thing necessary for us...to sit at His feet and listen to Him.  He didn't tell us that listening to talk radio was the one thing necessary, or that serving was the one thing necessary...no, He said sitting at His feet and listening is the one thing necessary!

Luke 10:38-42  38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  39  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.  40  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."  41  But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  NASU

I wonder if the Lord would say to me when I'm listening to talk radio..."Kevin, Kevin, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary...choose the better part, sit at My feet and listen to My voice."

I find it interesting, compelling, convincing and inspiring that history is replete with an abundance of people that do this and are fruitful, successful and world changers....Joseph (son of Jacob), Mary, George Washington Carver, Yonggi Cho, and so on and so on. 

May we be those who sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His voice!

Faithing Puts On

Eph 6:13-18  13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,  NASU

Tonight during our cell group, we concluded our study of the personal benefits of the blood, body and Cross of Jesus Christ, by reviewing this passage.  I've typically examined this passage with a magnifying glass-type of perspective, but tonight was a good opportunity to take a few steps back and look at it with a broader view in mind.  A broader view helped me to view this passage from the "battle" perspective.  The terms "armor" and "stand firm" and "sword" and "breastplate," all make it clear that this passage is about battle!  Battle is a hostile engagement by two or more foes.  And our foe is the Devil!  It was encouraging to not only review the personal benefits of the blood, body and Cross of Christ, but to take a stand on that which is promised to us, the inheritance of the saints.

The enemy, the Devil, has come to steal...and, if possible, to steal our inheritance.  Jesus came to give us an inheritance and the Devil has come to take it away.  We receive the inheritance by faith and the enemy tries to take it away by tempting us to doubt what God has accomplished for us on the Cross.  This is the fight that Paul urged his spiritual son, Timothy, to wage...the fight of faith!  I was reminded afresh tonight that we need to contend for these benefits, to "stand firm" against Satan, the one who would desire to steal away our inheritance by deceiving us into doubting the benefits of the Cross.  Paul encouraged Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith."  Who was Timothy to wage this fight against?  The Devil is our foe!  He desires to use our past experiences, or even most recent experiences against us in his scheme to get us to believing amiss.

But the Word of God says we are to embrace the truth only, and not to fall for Satan's deceptive trickery!  And as we stand on the truth, and appropriate the inheritance through faith in Christ and what He successfully accomplished through the Cross, we will defeat Satan!

Let us not be ignorant of the blessings Christ so painfully worked to deliver to us!  He went to great extremes to provide an inheritance to us, how apathetic it would be to not delve into the Word of God and discover the great treasures He has paid for us to possess by faith!

Be encouraged!  Father loves you with an everlasting love, and He desires that you discover every bit of the inheritance that He has purchased for you.  It is not greedy or self-centered to diligently discover what He longs for you to possess!  Will you search the Word of God thoroughly to discover how rich an inheritance you have through Christ?  It's definitely worth the effort!

Equipping Inmates for Ministry

On Friday, Sept 19th, the Greater Augusta Pastors' Society Inmate Ministry (GAPSIM) held a strategic planning meeting at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Vassalboro, Maine. There were 15 people present desiring to plug in to this expanding ministry that purposes (1) to lead incarcerated men and women to Christ, (2) equip them to walk victoriously in their newfound faith, and (3) assist them in transitioning to their new life of freedom outside the Kennebec County Correctional Facility (KCCF).

Currently, GAPSIM has 3 teams that goes in to KCCF to preach and teach the gospel. All 3 teams are reporting that lives are being changed as they minister to these inmates. Team 1 goes into the jail once a week (on Sunday afternoon) and ministers to a rotating segment of the jail population (minimum security, medium security, maximum security, women). Team 2 goes into the jail once a month and ministers to the female population. Team 3 goes into the jail once a month and ministers to the male population.

There is a growing desire and commitment to provide mentoring to interested and willing inmates that begins while they are in the jail and continues for a period of time after they are released. The "reentry" of inmates into society is one of the key elements in grounding these men and women into God's Word and a healthy community that can support them in walking with Christ, and walking free from their "old" life. Many inmates need assistance in starting afresh...finding a new place to live, getting a job, receiving assistance with food, furniture and clothing, and much, much more.

Many of these inmates are incarcerated because of crimes committed to support their drug addiction. We believe that as we bring the Word of God to these men and women, and faith rises in their hearts, they can walk in the freedom that Christ has obtained for them already. Society is ready to put these people out to the curb like garbage. Jesus Christ has a far better plan! The Lord has already spoke about His plan for the inmates, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer 29:11, NLT)

There are many facets of God's plan to bring them out of the slavery they have settled for in their lives, and this plan requires an abundance of laborers...from mentors, to letter/card writers, to those that preach and teach the gospel, to leaders to organize and strategize, to those who will pray for the incarcerated men and women as well as those ministering to the inmates. Will you ask the Lord if He wants you to put your shoulder to the load?