Revitalize Your Church

“How much more will the grace and the gift overflow to the many?” (Rom 5:15) Sin overflows the bank.   We live in a part of the country where it often floods when it rains.  Water gushes like a mountain stream from our next door neighbor on our right into the backyard of the next door neighbor to the left -- creating temporary scenic, lakefront property.   Often, my backyard is a water soaked spongy swamp mingled with red clay.  When I tromp to my shed, I come back with red feet -- it overflows. Sin overflows like that. Just yesterday, I read about a pastor who shot his wife, then killed himself this weekend during a parking lot argument shortly after she had preached an inspiring sermon.  I also read about a youth pastor behind bars who attempted to hire a hit man to knock off his senior pastor. Just google pastor in Google News and see what you will find is depressing-- plenty of evidence that sin is overflowing like raw sewa...

 One day, after making a hospital visit in Duluth, Minnesota, I was drawn by the spire of the old First Presbyterian Church. A kind secretary opened up the sanctuary for me to sit and pray for a while.  Gazing around, my eyes fell upon a beautiful stained glass window. It was the picture of a gravestone with dark purple and black hues overshadowing it. But at the top of the window, squarely in the center of a black night, shone a bright golden star -- which seemed to exude hope and light. The star was the focal point of the window.  At the bottom, the following words were inscribed: In memory of Sarah Agnes Graff  1853-1889  Build a little fence of trust around today.  Fill the space with loving work and therein stay.  Look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow.  God will help thee bear whatever comes, of joy or sorrow. I wondered what the story was behind Sarah Agnes Graff -- who passed into eternity at the ten...

While celebrating our anniversary in Stillwater, Minnesota last week, my bride, Cathy, graciously agreed to accompany me to Loome Theological Booksellers -- a treasure trove of used and rare books.   I was like a kid in the candy store! I found Albert Outler's work on John Wesley's theology for $2 on the bargain table, and snapped it up immediately.   What a find!  I've heard of this book for years and am now reading it during my daily quiet time. It contains so many rich insights. John Wesley was a practical, rather than systematic theologian.  He was a thinking doer --  too busy leading a revival movement to sit down and write a comprehensive book of doctrines.  Wesley's beliefs, however, can be gleaned from his vast collection of journals, sermons and letters.  Outler does exactly that: drawing John Wesley's thoughts into grand themes that reflect Methodist understanding and priorities.   I found this excerpt from the introduction...

Rick Warren's Pastors.com  recently featured an excerpt from my book, Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose .  It's the story of my friend Timber Tina:   The Grace Bubble That Saved a Survivor.

A few weejks ago, as the young people led us in worship, they sang the strangest song about hurricanes, sinking oceans, and a sloppy wet kiss. I struggled to make sense of all those metaphors. Sloppy wet kiss? Where in the world did that come from? Why were we singing such sophomoric emotings? I scratched my head, and jotted a note for Tuesday's staff meeting -- "No more sloppy wet kiss songs." In the days that followed, I couldn't get the chorus out of my mind, "O, how he loves us so. . ." I went online to see if I could find out a little more about the meaning behind the song . . . and WOAH, was I ever surprised. I'd misundertood the meaning and context. "How He Loves Us" was written by John Mark McMillan, after the death of a close friend. The main point is that even in our pain and anger, through the darkest fog of confusion, God's love breaks through. The song captures a heart of praise, from the crucible of suffering. Understood in t...

O God, I have tasted Your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire, O God, the Triune God, I want to want You; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Your glory, I pray, so that I may know You indeed. Begin in Your mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow You up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. A.W.Tozer, The Pursuit of God

"The church is redemptive, and when it ceases to be redemptive, it ceases to be the church." -- J. R. Mitchell

Today- The Holy One The Lowly One The Lonely One The Only One - Died To reconcile us to God- Amazing Grace! -- Leonard Ravenhill, in Heart Breathings

"Have you found Jesus??" the youth pastor implored. To this the astonished 9th grade girl replied, "I had no idea he was lost!!"