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...