Win a Free Copy of Filled Up, Poured Out!

My book, Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose, will be released on April 1.

"Like" the Filled Up, Poured Out Facebook Page by March 15 and you could be one of five randomly selected people to receive a free copy!

Pre-order information here

The God I Never Knew

I recently received a complimentary review copy of The God I Never Knew: How Friendship with the Holy Spirit Can Change Your Life by Robert Morris, and found it to be an delightfully engaging text.

This book is, by far, the clearest explanation I've ever heard of Charismatic-Pentecostal theology/experience, and does a great job of shattering stereotypes.  For instance, "pentecostals are those groups whose women either wear too much makeup or none at all."

Morris celebrates the joy of the Spirit-filled life, while challenging the excess baggage that often comes with people who speak that kind of language.  He's definitely from the Charismatic camp, but isn't pushy or arrogant with it.  Instead, Morris presents a very balanced perspective, reminding me somewhat of Jack Hayford.

As a Wesleyan, I appreciate this book's emphasis on the richness of the Spirit filled life, and agree with more than 90% of it.  My differences are in the details, and I'd rather not quibble over them.  I'm in favor of anything that helps people love God more.   

A concerned mother approached me a while back.  "Pastor, I'm worried sick about my son."

"What's the issue?" I asked.

"He's joined a pentecostal church!  I'm afraid he's becoming a religious nut case!"

I replied, "I know a hundred mothers who would gladly trade places with you."

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The Real Fishers of Men

"Some Christians are close to God, but remote from people;  some are close to people, but remote from God; some are close to neither, and some are close to both.  Those who are near to God and to their fellow are the real fishers of men."
--  Samuel Shoemaker

Wesley's Thanksgiving Prayer

"Eternal and merciful Father, I give Thee humble thanks (increase my thanfulness, I beseech Thee) for all the blessings, spiritual and temporal, which in the riches of Thy mercy Thou has poured down upon me.  Amen."
-- John Wesley

Vibrant Ministry for the Long Haul

"After  more than four decades in active ministry my enthusiasm is undiminished.  I'm not tired or burned out, or discouraged.  In fact, I love ministry more today than ever before.  As long as God gives me stregth I plan to walk through every door He opens and to do everything He calls me today.  I'm not looking for a place to stop, just for wisdom and guidance to do all the Lord puts before me!"
-- Richard Exley

(HT Al Prentice)

What Do You Really Need to Know?

Mark Roberts' take on a fascinating New York Times piece by Harvard president, Lawrence Summers, What You (Really) Need to Know.  What are the implications for church ministry and discipleship?

Blessings in Disguise

The early Salvation Army officer, Samuel Brengle, was preaching on a

Boston street corner, when a young hoodlum attacked him by throwing a brick.  The blow to Brengle’s head caused severe injury, which threatened his very life.

Laid up for eighteen months, Brengle was unable to perform his duties.  Housebound, he could not accomplish important tasks, and felt totally useless.

But Brengle lived by this principle:  when life throws you lemons, make lemonade!

Attempting to redeem time during his housebound recuperation, he began to write a few articles to encourage people in their faith.  To his surprise, the articles were published.

This launched a splendid writing career, which led to the publication of eight books with over a million copies sold.  In fact, today, Samuel Brengle is known far more as the writer of books than a preacher of sermons.

Looking back on that painful ordeal, Brengle realized there was an unexpected blessing in the brick that had been hurled at him, stating, “No brick, no book!”

Similarly, John Bunyan was imprisoned for nearly twelve years in the Bedford jail because of his unbending religious convictions.  This confinement caused tremendous strain and heartache for him and his family, but in those years of captivity, he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, widely known as one of the most significant works of English literature.

Leonard Ravenhill was a pretty good preacher, until he was seriously injured after leaping from a burning building.  The recovery was a long painful process.

Like Brengle and Bunyan, Ravenhill wrote in his confinement, and became a powerful voice of conscience for church leaders around the world.

No brick, no book.

No jail, no book.

No fire, no book.

Sometimes, the greatest blessing comes in the most painful disguise. 

Conversations in Effective Children's Ministry

Jeremy Mavis is posting a fascinating series of reflections on a Children's Ministry White Paper by Daug Paul from Eicon Community Church. (the paper is found here)

Jeremy is responding to each of the ten sections in Paul's paper, and it's really good stuff

1. It All Starts with Discipleship
2. Children’s Ministry Research
3. Parents as the Primary Disciplers of their Children
4. How People Learn
5. Role of the Church
6. What We Want Our Kids to Know
7. How We Will Do Children’s Ministry
8. The Church Equips
9. Parents Disciple Their Kids
10. What If the Parents Aren’t Christians?

Patch the Sidewalk

A few years ago, our church board's annual vision strategy meeting didn't go too well. We talked around a dozen issues but ended up making only one momentuous decision:

Patch the Sidewalk!

Merits of a laying a new sidewalk vs patching the old one were discussed at length.  Strong opinions were expressed from both sides.   After a long, circular debate, frugality won the day.

Looking back, I sure wish I had led that meeting towards a more inspiring end.

Imagine, standing before the congregation the next Sunday with this important announcement:

"Brothers and sisters, last Thursday our church board discussed how we're going to fight evil, stir revival, win the lost, multiply disciples, transform the community, and change the world.  After much  deliberation, our first bold step is to patch the sidewalk!"

In the months that followed, I wondered why my board members seemed less than enthusiastic. 

Here's a valuable lesson from that experience: 

Church boards are meant to tap into God's great adventure -- His mission to bring hope and holiness to the neighbors and nations.  Board meetings should major on the majors and minor on the minors.

In the absence of compelling vision, we end up slogging away in trivialities.