Revitalize Your Church

"Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given." -- Luke 12:48 ISV "There is not one saint in the Old Testament who received a fraction as much as you have in Jesus Christ.  Yet, we act as if all God wants from us is 'Oh, hi Lord', then we go about our way.  And we count millions of converts who have done nothing more than salute the Lord and continue in their wicked ways." -- Richard Owen Roberts

A few years ago, Pastor Alan Newton wrote this tongue in cheek obituary for one of the most valuable members of his congregation, “Someone Else.” This is appropriately fitting, not only for churches, but also communities, schools, businesses, civic organizations and families: Dear Friends, I know all of you were saddened to learn this week of the death of one our church’s most valuable members – Someone Else. Someone’s passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years Someone did far more than the normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Someone Else can work with that group. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s lips, “Let Someone Else do it.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest contributors to the church. Whenever...

“We are put on earth a little space,” said poet, William Blake, “that we may learn to bear the beams of love.” What does it mean to “bear the beams of love?” The Risk of Receiving It: When the light of pure love shines brightly, our natural tendency is to scamper away like frightened mice and hole up in a good hiding place. Hiding is much safer than loving. You can hide from a distance. If you’re going to love, you have to do that up close. This brings the possibility of pain. Loving and pain are Siamese twins; they’re always connected together. The beams of love shine the light of truth on any given situation. Sometimes, we don’t want to know the whole truth. It’s too hard for us to accept. By lingering in the shadows, we do not have to face the brutal facts. Exposing ourselves to beams of love brings a certain vulnerability and risk that many are unwilling to take. You can hardly live without loving, however. A loveless life leads directly to despair. You might feel “safe” behind cas...

A Virginia inmate, Robert Brock, made the headlines a few years ago when he sued himself for five million dollars. It seems he violated his own civil rights by getting drunk and arrested -- and so, he filed a lawsuit against himself. He then asked the state to pay -- as he couldn't have an income in prison. Well, maybe he was insincere -- but he did take personal responsibility! That's better than average. Most of us tend to avoid responsibility by making excuses and blaming others. It's always someone else's fault! It is refreshing when somebody stands tall and takes responsibility for his/her own actions. President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that said, "The buck stops here!" Now, that's taking responsibility. Pope John XXIII, shortly after he was elected pontiff, said, "It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it -- then I wake up completely and remember that I...