Revitalize Your Church

Holiness, like soap, doesn’t do much good until applied! You can keep it in a box, philosophize about it, and debate its merits at length, without ever getting around to using it.  Soul cleansing is like taking a shower. If you skip a day, you’ll be the only one to notice. If you skip a week, your family will notice. If you skip a month, everybody will notice! Using soap is, indeed, much better than merely discussing it.

Sometimes life seems like an exercise bicycle – we spin our wheels furiously and never seem to get anywhere. Often, we are caught up in a rat race of hectic schedules and deadlines. We become some busy with the urgent that we forget the more important things of life. Wouldn't  it be nice if everyone, including you, would stop right now and appreciate the small, but precious gifts each moment brings? Take time for them and they will deliver much joy. Take Time To Listen:  Most of us are self-centered. We need to step back from ourselves and lend a listening ear to others. God has given you two ears and one mouth. They should be used in that proportion. Take Time to Learn:  Life is a classroom always in session. Never stop learning about your world, your God, your friends and yourself. A living brain is a learning brain. Keep the “learning switch” on all day long and you will make many exciting discoveries! Take Time To Laugh:  Laughter is medicine for the so...

Don't let troubles trouble you. Problems are opportunities in disguise! Some of us are blessed with dozens of such opportunities. Perhaps you would like give a few of them to somebody else. We shouldn't really think it's strange when trials come. That's merely a part of the human condition. Trouble comes to everybody. Jesus Christ, himself, said, "In this world, you WILL have tribulation." The more responsibility you have, the more difficulty you will encounter. If your life is full of struggles, it means you are doing something right. A wise old bard once said, "You know when you are on the road to success -- it's uphill all the way!" The other day I thought I would drive to a place in town where there were no troubles. I couldn't go to the hospital -- problems there. I couldn't go to the bank -- problems there. Couldn't go to church either -- problems there. The only place I could find where the people didn't have problems was G...

Joy is serious business! It is the natural state of the soul. Joylessness is like a toothache, which indicates an internal cavity -- or worse. When we realize the joy has evaporated -- it's time to do some inner heart examination. Where did it go? What toxins have entered my soul, resulting this negativism? What must I do to recapture the joy? Leaking seems to be a part of the human condition. We're all a bunch of "joy leakers!" One lady tearfully prayed, “Please fill me with joy again!" Her husband, overhearing her request, prayed, "Don't do it Lord! She leaks!" It might be a good idea to patch up the holes.  Perhaps we need a spiritual root canal. Holding a small perspective towards life will drain the joy right out of your heart. As the hero in Red Badge of Courage stated, "elfin thoughts made cowards of us all." Ancient desert fathers spoke of "logismoi", the dark thoughts -- the false thoughts and desires that lead us t...

"This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe."said Philip Melancthon to Luther. Martin Luther responded, "This day you and I will go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God."

A poem by Emily Dickinson: I measure every Grief I meet With narrow, probing, Eyes – I wonder if It weighs like Mine – Or has an Easier size. I wonder if They bore it long – Or did it just begin – I could not tell the Date of Mine – It feels so old a pain –  I wonder if it hurts to live – And if They have to try – And whether – could They choose between – It would not be – to die –  I note that Some – gone patient long – At length, renew their smile – An imitation of a Light That has so little Oil – I wonder if when Years have piled – Some Thousands – on the Harm – That hurt them early – such a lapse Could give them any Balm –  Or would they go on aching still Through Centuries of Nerve – Enlightened to a larger Pain – In Contrast with the Love –  The Grieved – are many – I am told – There is the various Cause – Death – is but one – and comes but once – And only nails the eyes – There's Gri...

A friend contacted me, seeking advice as  he began the pastorate of a new church.   Here's how I responded: 1)  You only have four jobs :  preach, pray, lead and love --  not necessarily in that order.  Your prayer life is the single most im portant factor in your ministry -- you must maintain a robust soul, overflowing with Christ for effective ministerial service,. 2)  Loving people is the key -- and not just the people in your  congregation -- but the whole community.  That means intentionally going out to seek them.  By default, most pastors stay in their offices too much, when they need to be out where people are. 3)  Look for those who are suffering and bring love to them -- and better yet, take someone with you when you go.  This is a blessing in more than one respect -- and will multiply favor and blessing when you demonstrate the compassion of Christ. 4)  Don't get worked up about little thin...

1. Determine to have a good day. Make up your mind that you are going to make the best of this day, no matter what! A firm decision to live positively is half the battle. 2. Start your day with a prayer.  Before you get out of bed, pause and thank God for your life and ask for guidance and wisdom. 3. Don't sweat the small stuff.  Isn't it funny how we can become so uptight about non-essentials? My friend, Eunice Walker, calls these petty frustrations "bugs on the windshield of life." Refuse to let minor annoyances get the best of you. 4. Look for postcards from heaven.  Every day God sends postcards that say, "I love you." He hides them in the most unexpected places - and you have to search in order to find them. Each day is packed full of blessings for you to enjoy. Look again! 5. Release your resentment and regret.  Some people are hostage to the past. Regret and resentment (the  Siamese  twins of misery) bind us up so we cannot enjoy the present. Yeste...

Yesterday was John Calvin's 505th birthday. Happy Belated Birthday to You! Happy Belated Birthday to You! Happy Belated Birthday Dear Johnny-Boy! Happy Belated Birthday To You! Q: What do get when John Piper drinks Mountain Dew? A: A Hyper Calvinist!

The rain had ended. The sun was shining. A beautiful rainbow arched across the sky. "Isn't this a beautiful day?" the robin chirped contentedly. "That, my friend," said the snail, as he raised his mud-soaked face, "is a matter of perspective."

When you are under tremendous stress, and life feels like a pressure cooker, then it's time to stop and evaluate what's happening inside of you.  Stress is like the red lights on the automobile dashboard.  It indicates a warning that something under the hood needs attention.  Here are a few questions to consider when you feel the tension rising: 1)  What symptoms indicate that I am stressed out?   2)  What are the immediate and underlying causes of my tension?  Often, the thing that is "stressing us out", is just a symptom and not the cause.  Look beneath the immediate situation. 3)  Am I living at a sustainable pace?  Look back at your schedule over the past two weeks and ask yourself, "Is this sane?" 4)  Do I have enough breathing room between events and responsibilities?  If not, what can I eliminate from my life? 5)  Is this temporary or permanent?  Is there light at the end of the tunnel, or...

To those who want to be Christ’s ambassadors in this needy world (and that should be all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus): make way for Mark Wilson and his purple fish lessons.  You’ll learn how natural it can be to talk about God and build relationships with those who believe differently through embracing our common humanity, encouragement and love.  And that is always good news!  - Mary Schaller, President of Q Place Purchase Purple Fish today!

Several years ago, I was deeply troubled with some issues at the church. Problems overwhelmed me.  Perplexities piled up. Life was hard, anxiety abounded, and everywhere I looked, misunderstandings multiplied. In a discouraged moment, I decided to call my mentor, Loring Peterson. He'd know just what to do. Loring had preceeded me at the church, and I always could count on him for a good word of wisdom and encouragement. "Hey, Mark!" he answered the phone cheerfully, "How are you doing up there in the frozen tundra?" (He'd retired to Florida.) "Don't ask, Loring! It's just terrible! I have more troubles than I can count. Every time I turn around, new problems pop up. Loring, would you please pray for God to take away my problems?" I was astonished when my esteemed mentor shouted, "NO! Heavens, No!" "What? No? I thought you cared! I thought you understood! Why won't you pray for me?" "I'll pray for...

"I'm fishing for men with a certain kind of bait, and the bait I am offering is not candy; it's a very specific thing that I'm offering, which is a deep gospel and a deep conversion." --  Larry Norman Purple Fish:  A Heart for Sharing Jesus