Revitalize Your Church

"Do not lose yourself in your everyday work and activities. Rather, lose yourself in God. When you are doing work, let your innermost heart be centered on Him. Live in His presence and abide in Him. Then your work will follow you into eternity, and you will reap a rich harvest." ~Basilea Schlink (HT http://christianquotes.mobi/ )

A terrorist lurks in your heart’s dark shadows, waiting to attack at any moment.  His name is Fear – though he often uses such aliases as Concern, Care, or Upset. Fear keeps us from achieving success. It destroys our dreams. It dashes our hopes. Immeasurable damage is caused by this small four-letter word. As we run the race of life, fear is a rope which twists and tangles itself around our legs, causing us to stumble, falter, and fail. Theologian, Paul Tillich, stated that our fears put frightening masks over people and things. They appear to be more dreadful than they really are. When we remove the mask, the terror disappears. Strangers are not so terrible when we view them as fellow human beings. The future is not nearly so fearful when we see it as it is -- realizing that life will go on. "There is nothing to fear," quoted Franklin D. Roosevelt, 'but fear itself." It is the greatest enemy of courage, progress, and enthusiasm. As Pogo said, "We ha...

As Chuck Swindoll departed from Evangelical Free Church, Fullerton to become the President of Dallas Theological Seminary, he shared the following reflections with his congregation in a letter: While going through the final month of pastoral ministry in Fullerton, I decided to include in my journal several of the things I had learned since coming to the church back in the summer of 1971. It occurred to me that you might benefit from knowing what those things are. . .so let me list them for you. I have learned that. . . I should tell people how I feel about them now, not later. things I'm not even aware of are noticed and remembered. being real is a lot better than looking pious. when you "fit" most things flow; they don't need to be forced. it doesn't pay to talk someone into or out of a big decision. days of maintenance are far more in number than days of magnificance . some people aren't going to change, no matter what. time spent with my family i...

These little gnats are such a nuisance Buzzing around my head Flying up my nostrils Swirling in my mushroom soup. I'm trying to strain the little critters out Before they're down the hatch. Strain! Strain! Strain! Such a bother. What a chore. There is no task so strenuous as straining little gnats. Gulp! Uh Oh! I think I swallowed a camel!

Great post by Artie Davis , "Seven Reasons I Love the Underdog Pastor"

This Man is Living Every Boy's Dream: Hasn't Bathed in 37 Years

Yesterday, I was saddened to hear that my friend, Ron Carlson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Ron, founder of Christian Ministries International , was a noted author and speaker, who travelled the globe for the cause of Christ.  He was a great champion of Christian apologetics, and biblical world view. When he had a break in his demanding schedule, Ron and his wife, Marge, would come up to their cabin in Hayward -- and a few times each year, they attended Hayward Wesleyan Church. Ron was always a real encouragement to me.  I know he could preach circles around me -- but every time, after hearing me speak, he would come up to bless me, telling how the message had ministered to his soul that day.  Ron was always affirming -- always lifting -- always positive and respectful.  Every time, I walked away from my "Ron Encounters" with extra confidence and enthusiasm.  He always made me feel valued.  I...

Scientifically Validated:  City Life More Stressful

Leith Anderson, Tim Pawlenty's Pastor, Stays Out of Partisan Politics   (Includes a great quote from my friend, JoAnne Lyon) Calvinists Who Love Wesley   (I think they're on to something) Evangelicals See Declining Influence in U. S.   (But it's the opposite in Latin America) Atheist Converts After Mock Prayer to Win $1m Lottery is Answered .  (I wouldn't recommend this method of evangelism.) Glen Campbell Diagnosed with Alzheimer's   (So sad -- a wonderful musician.) Long Lines at 9:00 a.m. Sundays at Crystal Cathedral  (for the 1:00 p.m. Spanish service, that is)

Take this church out of the sanctuary. . . This is the heart of worship

"Never argue against Motivated Reasoning.  People who've set their views EMOTIONALLY can't accept logic & facts without losing face." -- a tweet from Rick Warren

Yesterday, I preached on being led by the Spirit. ". . . those who are led by the Spirit are children of God." --  Rom. 8:14. How does the Spirit lead us? 1)  Scripture:  Search the Scriptures daily, and God will give you a special word that fits your situation.  Whatever you're going through, God has a word for it!  You will never go wrong by living in the Word. 2)  Prayer:  We fail to find guidance in our prayers because we are too prone to tell God what He should do, rather than asking Him what WE should do.  If we ask, He has promised to grant us wisdom (James 1:5.)  Consider your pressing issue:  Have you seriously prayed about it? 3)  The Grand Purpose:  Rather than getting hung up on "What is God's will for me?" it might be better to ask, " What is God's will for the world?"  Then, join Him in that glorious cause.  The Spirit moves us -- a bias for action!  You are meant to DO som...

"The true test of leadership is not what happens when you're there, but what happens when you're NOT there." -- Ken Blanchard  (HT John Maxwell)

This creative little video made me smile

Some great photos and video have been uploaded on the Banderdinker Website.   What an inspiring event!

Nobody likes to be criticized -- but a lot of people can dish it out. Some folks seem to have a natural talent for fault finding. With all this criticism flying around, sooner or later you are going to get clobbered! What is the healthy way to deal with criticism when it comes? 1. Consider the source. Has this person earned the right to speak into your life? Pay attention to criticism from those whose opinion you respect. Don't worry too much about "blab-a-holics" who can't tell when to turn off the spout. 2. Take the kernel of truth and discard the shell. You wouldn't think of swallowing a whole walnut and you shouldn't swallow a whole criticism either. Almost every criticism has a nugget of truth in it. Receive the truth as a gift, and get rid of the rest. If you can learn to do this, you will become a better person. 3. Don't throw criticisms back. Hurling back negative remarks will only make matters worse. Refuse to waste your breath by argui...

Certain foods are linked to specific moods. Sad?  Ice Cream and Cookies. Happy?  Pizza or Steak Bored?  Potato Chips Sometimes, we use food to mask feelings of anger, fear and guilt.  Many people in our congregations, struggling with this complex issue, find themselves in a destructive cycle of emotional overeating and binge eating. Unlike other addictions, one cannot just abstain.  An alcoholic achieves sobriety by staying completely away from booze.  The recovering drug addict stays away from drugs -- but a person suffering from disordered eating cannot simply stay away from food. We must reimagine our relationship with food, so it is our fuel rather than our focus.  In other words:  eating to live rather than living to eat. Hope, Help & Healing for Eating Disorders , by Dr. Gregory L. Jantz , is a helpful resource for pastors, counselors and friends of those struggling with food issues, and is a good tool fo...

"The secret to my success?", responded Al-Zawahri, "I simply took the Dale Carnegie Course on "'How to Win Friends and Influence People.'"

Here is the sum of the perfect law; this is the true circumcision of the heart.  Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of it's affections. "Unto the place from whence all the rivers came," thither let them flow again.  Other sacrifices from us he would not not; but the living sacrifice of the heart he hath chosen.  Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. "Desire not to live, but to praise his name:  Let all your thoughts, words and works tend to his glory.  Set your heart firm on him, an don other things only as they are in and from him.  Let your soul be filled with so entire a love of him, that you may love nothing but for his sake." "Have a pure intention of heart, a steadfast regard to his glory in all your actions." "Fix your eyes upon the blessed hope of your calling, and make all the things of the world minister unto it." --  John Wesley, "Circumcision of...

There are four different kinds of thinkers in every organization, and they are all equally important. “What If” Thinkers: These are the folks who look for the possibilities rather than the problems.  They are the kind of people that would see something that hasn’t been made yet, and ask, “Why not!”  They creatively seek possibilities, and are quick to see potential.  They look beyond present reality to what could be, and thrive on positive change. Sometimes, “What If” thinkers are criticized for being naïve and unrealistic.  They can exhaust more practically minded people --   but it always takes an idea person to get things launched.  Every great accomplishment starts with a good idea. “Why” Thinkers: “Why” Thinkers look beyond the surface to the deeper meanings.  In order to buy in, they need to understand the reason behind it.  They live on purpose, and are intentional in what they do.  “Why” Thinkers look underneath every idea f...

William Jennings Bryan once likened the mystery of God to a watermelon seed: “I have observed the power of the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of it a white rind and within that again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight–when you can explain to me the mystery of the watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God" HT Mark Batterson

"The church often does not really encourage an inner life. It substitutes belief systems and belonging systems and moral systems for interior journeys toward God." -- Richard Rohr

An old man and woman were married for many years, even though they hated each other. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, 'When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!' Neighbors feared him. They believed he practiced magic, because of the many strange occurrences that took place in their neighborhood. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. ---To everyone's relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 98. His wife had a closed casket at the wake. After the burial, she went straight to the local bar and began to party, as if there was no tomorrow. Her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, 'Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?' The wife put down her drink and said, 'Let him dig. I had him buried upside down.' And you know ...

"The heart of the gospel is the cross, and the cross is all about giving up power, pouring out resources, and serving." -- Tim Keller

1. What the speaker intended to say. 2. What the speaker actually said. 3. What the speaker thought he or she said. 4. What the hearer needed to hear. 5. What the hearer actually heard. 6. What the hearer thought he or she heard (HT Richard Dobbins )

Every church needs mission maintenance and regular recalibration.  Sometimes, we need to go back to the very beginning and ask ourselves, "What kind of Christians are resulting from our ministry?  Is this what we've been aiming for?" Jesus said, "Go and make disciples" (Matt. 28:19), and the question remains, "What kind of disciples are we trying to make?" Our answr:  Gospel People! The Grand Story: God calls us to be citizens of His Kingdom. This is the first message of Jesus recorded in the books of Matthew (4:17) and Mark (1:15). The God’s Kingdom on earth was initiated at Creation (Genesis), first modeled by Israel (Exodus—Esther), celebrated through worship (the poetic books), made new by Jesus Christ (Gospels), exemplified by the early church (Acts & Epistles) and will be culminated in the coming age (prophets & Revelation). The Gospel is our invitation to join this sublime story, participating in Christ’s grand mission of rede...

Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace. –John Greenleaf Whittier (photo coutesy of Bloomquist's Woodhaven Resort )

A friend recently e-mailed me with a few questions about the nature of the soul.  I'm wondering how you would answer them: Does everyone have a soul? Does only the soul go to heaven? What does a soul look like? Has anyone ever seen a soul? I have heard the expression, "I looked into his eyes and saw his soul". Is this possible? Can one physically touch a soul? Can one communicate with a soul? What's inside a soul? Does the holy spirit reside inside the soul? Does satan have a soul? Is "soul food" good for the soul? Where is the soul located? Is the soul any certain color....white, black, red??? Does God, the angels, any spiritual being communicate with the soul? Does the soul ever leave you.....visit heaven? Go on vacation?

The Banderdinker, a kayak and canoe event, was held this morning on Nelson Lake.  Over 150 enthusiastic people paddled around Big Island and over 100 eager volunteers served with gusto -- including the Boy Scouts. Special thanks to Backroads Coffee, who served as the major corporate sponsor, Northwoods Strings who provided fiddle music for the day, and Pam Ruetten, who provided inspiring leadership for the event, and loaned me her personal kayak. Funds raised from this special event will go towards Hayward Wesleyan Church benevolence fund, Northwoods Strings, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Everyone involved had a great time -- and it was a smashing success all the way around.  I heard that someone from Georgia is so inspired by the idea, that they are launching a Banderdinker of the South in March of 2012.

Wesleyan Native Ministries Board Casts Vision for Growth

A wife asks her husband "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk, and if they have eggs, get 6!" A short time later the husband comes back with 6 cartons of milk. The wife asks him, "Why the heck did you buy 6 cartons of milk?" He replied, "They had eggs." (Thanks to Daryl Coons for sending this to me.)

Lord, help me to be kind to those who are unkind, Compassionate in heart to those who cannot find In me, what they have sought in vain. That I may have a love for those who love me less, A patient tenderness for those who would not bless But curse me, in their bitter pain. -- Haldor Lillenas