Civic Duty

Rotary International started in 1905, Lions Clubs International in 1917, and Optimist Internation in 1919 (though many Optimist clubs started prior to WW I the international organization formed later). Interestingly, all these civic groups started about the same time, just prior to or at the time of WW I.

What was our world and our country like in those days? First, there was an overly optimistic view of the world that said science, technology, and good government will help evolve (still a new concept at the time) the human race into a utopia. That optimism was firmly crushed by the horrific terrors and pictures (also a new invention) of WW I. Following the war, a skepticism about the goodnes of humanity and the ability of science, labor, and government to cure our ills grew and was finally demolished by WW II.

In the days when these community clubs formed, there were no income taxes, no social security, no welfare state. Churches, families, and community organizations carried the load. Often there were places of deep poverty. Now we have government programs to address these issues, but poverty still rages even in America. Who pays for those programs? We borrow, and China increasingly owns our debt.

What is the conclusion? We will soon have 100 years of since the creation of these civic organizaitons. When I was a kid they were highly visible groups in my community. Today, many people give no thought to civic groups and helping their community. Their focus is making money in their business.

"You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else," Melvin Jones, founder of Lion's international. Rotary's best-known motto is "Service above Self", and its secondary motto is "They profit most who serve best." Optimist International's motto is, "By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids." and their creed states, "To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. "

Recent statistics show that 34% of the United States claim to have a born again experience with Christ. In 20 years, that same study projects that number to be 4%. In Western Europe, main-line churches are dissappearing. The old churches and cathedrials are being purchased and used for other things, night clubs, bars, resturants, and exercise facilities.

If churches don't help people, and community clubs don't rally to help people, who is helping people? The government. Why? Because we have raised three generations (Builders, Boomers, and Gen X) with a core value, "Its the governments job." It seems we are more selfish and less giving than ever before. Why is there so much anger and partisanship about government today? Because we have hung all our hopes and futures on the hope of the government taking care of us, insuring us from all possible loss, save death itself!

I issue a waring to us all. With every freedom we hold dear, comes an equal weight of personal responsibility. I mean responsibility for our selves, our communtiy and others. With every move we make toward the government being responsible for us, we must logically, practically, and fianacially give up our freedoms. We are becoming, the land of the land of the lazy, and the home of the hesitant. We the people must committ to our responsibilites, committ to provide everything that our family needs, committ to give to others, and once again committ ourselves to be "The land of the free and the home of the brave."

Re-Gifting

It is just past Christmas and time to think about re-gifting. Seriously, I read a great blog entry that is appropriate for our church as we grow. It is worth your reading. In a way I am re-gifting a blog entry. Enjoy and Enlarge.

Status Quo Bias

Significance

I am up at 3:30 a.m. on Monday morning still thinking about the second point of the sermon on Sunday. The sermon was What on earth Am I Here For?, the first in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign. The second point asks, "Does my life matter?" It is a question about the significance of my life.

The answer is, my life matters because I was made to last forever. At first there was seemed to be a real disconnect logically for me in this point. I kept it in the sermon because obviously, if I last forever, this life matters because it determines my eternal destiny. Here is my trouble, that is selfish and man centered and thus, did not jive with the first point, which says my life has a purpose, to be loved by God. Which means life is all about God, not all about me.

So, how does the eternality of my existence make my life significant? There are several reasons that I have come up with during my insomnia.

First, my life is significant because it matters to God. My individual life was planned for God's pleasure. That does not mean that God planned, or forces, the whole thing to be a bed of roses. As a matter of fact, the rougher the start and the more glorious the end, the greater the glory to God.

Second, my life is significant to me. Obviously, this life determines the eternal reward or punishment that I receive from God. That makes this life eternally significant to myself.

Third, considering the other five purposes, my life is significant eternally because of what I do for others. Worship is often corporate and we learn about the greatness of God often through others worship; the eternal significance of another persons life affects us. Fellowship requires others. For others to fulfill their eternal purpose of fellowship they need my presence and help. Discipleship is essentially learning from another. I know of no true Christian who discipled himself or herself. Discipleship is a team sport, you matter to others. Ministry and service is a social function. You must serve others and they you. Plus, your service may impact them eternally. Evangelism is obviously other focused as well. When you share Christ, you change another persons eternal reward of punishment for them.

Consider Abraham. Through him all nations on earth have been and will be blessed. His one life became eternally significant for all who have had a relationship with God ever since. There was a cost, really, how many of us would like our Hagar, Ishmael, and laughter at God's promises written down for all of history to read? But, because he trusted God with everything, even his greatest failures are teaching us eternal lessons.

Now, I consider many funerals I have preached. Technically, I must preach God's grace and present the family with hope that their loved one is in heaven because I prayed the sinners prayer with them just before the person died. But what I often want to do is scream out to the family, "Don't live your life like this!" "This was a horrible example!" In many cases at funerals I believe that ministers simply allow the message of a life to be, here is how you can live really bad and still go to Heaven.

So, if you choose to live a life that disregards God, it will be eternally significant and you will drag many others to your luke-warm eternal demise. But, if you choose to serve God 100%, you will influence the happy, prosperous, and rewarding eternity of many.

No mater what you do, your life is eternally and immensely significant.

It is now 4:05. Tomorrow will be quite significant and I should go back to bed.

Nursing Home Service

Today I was really sick and my wife was very upset when she heard that I might try to attempt the nursing home service. So, I left it to all the volunteers who have jumped in to help. I have no idea how it went. What matters most is a time of worship, pray, loving the residents and an encouraging visit. I know that the folks who have been interested in helping have this in mind too.

In January I hope to set up a meeting with the helpers and make up a really great pattern for the service so that everyone can be involved and know what to do each time we meet. I must be more organized with Cedar Crest services. This is a great opportunity for some of our helpers, but it must have some structure. Excited and thankful to those who are helping.

The Best of Days, The Worst of Days

Today was a strange mix of really good things and really bad things.

Worst of Days:
Today I arrived at church a little before 7:00 a.m. and there was a very slight dusting of dry snow. By 8:30 is was coming down thick and wet. It became very slick. It kept a lot of people home.

This morning was also the climax of several days of sickness. I felt horrible. I can't believe I made it through second service. My head hurt so bad that I went and sat in my darkened office for about fifteen minutes between the two services. As an associate minister in Jefferson City I got very sick very unexpectedly and had to run off the platform one service and explain it to the pastor later. During worship I had fears of a repeat of that scenario.

Finally, a whole lot of our people were out due to travel plans. One Christmas everyone comes to visit Washington, the nest the entire town vacates to visit other places. You never know what exactly to expect. It always feels awkward when regular faces are missing.

The Best of Days:
Considering how I felt, the messages went really well. I kept to my time limit! I stunned the kids church workers.

We had several visitors today and I love getting to know new people. I always hope that they will choose to come again, but even if they do not, I love new relationships with people.

We also had several old friends back in town. It was great to see Samuel Essary and Lynette DuPray.

Finally, we had a great start to 40 Days of Purpose. I love the buy-in that I am seeing in the congregation. I really think a lot of people are going to grow in this 40 Days. I am very excited for many new Christians. I am also excited because many of our more long-time believers are going to gain a new glimpse of God. I am really serious about this, and excited. The first few times through 40 Days and the Purpose Driven Life we gained rote understanding of doctrinal things. This time I think we will really get it in our hearts and see more life change in mature believers.

"It was the best of days, it was the worst of days."
Charles Dickens

To the Farm

Off to the farm in Jamestown, Missouri today to celebrate Christmas with my parents and siblings and their families. Might squeeze in a few hours of bow hunting. I hope it snows. I love sitting in a tree stand in the silence of the woods while it is snowing.

I am really blessed to have a family that all got saved in the same year! (1987). God worked in each of us in a slightly different way, but it all came together amazingly. I have to say, my family is really fun! Looking forward to some Nert's and other great games.

Christmas Tonight

Tonight we are going to celebrate Christmas in our Wednesday night Bible study by singing some old fashioned Christmas songs and reading the Christmas story. Afterward we will share testimonies of God's help, provision and miracles in 2010.

We will be serving hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Should be a very nice time.

The children's ministry is having a Christmas party in the lower level of the church. The youth will meet with the adult Bible study for the Christmas story since Dylan and Laura are traveling tonight.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas!

God's Timing at Christmas

In the Bible, Luke 2:1 says, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” (NIV) Caesar needed taxes and he wanted as much as possible. The wheels of politics were turning. Those wheels had no feeling for a young woman about to give birth to her first baby. She had to travel 70 miles in her ninth month to be enrolled properly.

Arriving in Bethlehem, the designated town of registry, the young woman and her husband found no rooms in the inns. They did however find a stable, a home for farm animals that would have to do. That night the baby came. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was born into the world.

Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” (The Message)

At just the right time, God sent his son Jesus to earth so that you could be free from sin, the breaking of God’s laws and standards. How exact was God’s timing? Micah 5:2 promised hundreds of years before, "But you, Bethlehem...out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " (NIV) God promised that Bethlehem would be the place of Jesus birth. If Mary had gone into labor a few hours earlier, it would not have been so. If Caesar’s decree would have been a few days sooner or later, Mary would not have been in Bethlehem. God still intervenes in our time. He is working out the details for those who trust him. The global concerns and fears plod on without feeling for individuals, but in the middle of despair, God offers hope. God can work in a horrible economy, political division, fear of the future, or any other difficulty to bless you and your family this Christmas. Call out on Jesus. Trust God with your concerns. Seek God and you will find him. You will find him doing something amazing in the middle of a horrible time. When you trust him, God is always on time. You could call it, “Christmas time.”

Primal - Recent Reading

I have been reading Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. The author is Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington DC. This is his fourth book, and each one gets better.

One thing Mark is right about. We lose the heart and soul of Christianity when anything other than loving God creeps into our religious routine. Ministry, money, business, creativity, style and many other neutral factors can creep into our Christian practice and make it practice only. A set of modern, meaningless, religious rituals. Our walk with God has to be focused on relationship with God and loving him with all our heart.

In Primal, Mark dives into the four parts of the great commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Those areas relate to compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy. I like the organization of material in this book. It is very easy to follow and know where the author is going.

I am not sure how he does it, but the book is packed with interesting information. I am reading it much slower than the other books I have have read from him. I was hoping to be finished by this time today, but I am taking my time on this one. He has really outdone the previous books.

Christmas Time

It is Christmas time. Cold weather and a real hope this year of snow at Christmas!

We took up an offering to help out some families with food this Christmas. I am also raising money for the trip to Africa in January. The benevolence offering was $540, plus some extra that we already had. Since sending out the Africa letters last week we have received almost $200 and the Africa Fund is at almost $400, we need over $2,000. Have to really pray.

I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas week.

A Little Mental Floss

Yahoo news directed me to an interesting blog entry on a blog called Mental Floss. The article is about eight signs of boredom. I don't know anything else about the blog, so if there is other stuff you don't like, sorry.

If you are a Small Group leader or teach anything at church you really need to read this and take parts of it to heart. Think about this. When teens listen to a talk on dating how are they sitting? When they are in the same room a few minutes later how are they sitting while playing a video game? When you are a greeter at church, how often are your conversations with other men are squarely fave to face? You can tell when someone is trying to get away when they don't fully face you. Go check it out!

http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/42350.html

Sharp

Sunday I continued the "Wisdom" series. We are reviewing a few themes from the book of Proverbs. This Sunday was, "The Wisdom of Friendship."

The challenge was for every believer to develop and keep seven friends who meet four strict criteria. This is no one-week project. It is a life goal requiring continual attention. One reason to do this is found in Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (NIV)

Interestingly, this week seems to be a week for me to be with people that make me sharper. I have had several meetings and conversations with individuals who have really helped me stay sharp. Who makes you sharp? Who inspires you to be a great believer in Jesus Christ, a great citizen, a great spouse, a great money manager, or a smarter person? Why not schedule lunch with them this week?

Pleasant

II Samuel 23:3-4

3 The God of Israel spoke,

the Rock of Israel said to me:

'When one rules over men in righteousness,

when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise

on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

that brings the grass from the earth.'

Good leadership is pleasant to serve under. As a Pastor I must also follow my leaders. The truth of the last words of David are more apparent every year I grow older. Sometimes I learn it by seeing the frustration of those I serve, and other times I feel it in the leadership that I am under authority to.

No matter what your political or denominational affiliation, no matter what area of work you are in, good leaders are pleasant to serve. Here are a few hints from David.

1. Lead with righteousness. That is justice, fairness, hard work at the top, appropriate mercy and grace.

2. Lead with humility and fear of God. That is willingness to take criticism, advice, and admit mistakes.

Your leadership could perhaps be measured with a pleasant factor.

Do those we lead feel the excitement and peace of a dazzling sunrise when they think about us? Do they feel refreshed like the earth after rain when we serve them? Do we see signs of personal growth and excitement for the future in those we lead?

In high school choir we sang a piece that quoted these last words of David. When I think about leadership the tune comes into my head and the words tumble around.

"When one rules over men in righteousness,

when he rules in the fear of God,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning."

Why Attend Church?

Go interesting places.

Make great memories.

See more smiles.

Meet great people.

Have fun!

Always good clan fun, but you may need a handy wipe.

40 Days of Purpose

December 27th we will kick off our 40 Days of Purpose Campaign. This is going to be an awesome way to charge into 2010!

40 Days of Purpose is a plan to have everyone in the church study and learn, in an extremely focused way, the five purposes that every believer needs to balance in their life and relationship with Christ. The five purposes include, we are made by God to worship, mature, belong, serve and reach out. By linking the every Small Group, sermon, youth and kids ministry event each week we will focus heavily on each purpose. It is a fun and exciting journey that can change your life and our church.

The 40 day journey is aided by the reading of the book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren. This book is broken into 40 small chapters that function as daily devotionals for you that will also follow the sermons and Small Group lessons.


Next week we will have hard copies of The Purpose Driven Life and copies of the Small Group Study Guide available. You can sign up this week to reserve a copy. The hard cover books are $10 and the Study Guide is $5. If you would like we will also be photocopying the Small Group material, so you could get a photocopied folder for $3 (we have purchased rights for this. It is a lot of copies, the actual printed guide is much more compact).

If you know a person who is out of church or not saved, this is the time to invite them! Bring the for Christmas and then the next week invite them to be a part of 40 Days. The first two sermons are great messages for the unsaved and the others will take them on a very fast discipleship course. Some churches who have motivated members have testimonies of growing by 20% during the 40 days of the campaign. We will have invitation post cards for you to give to friends in the next few weeks. Don't miss this.

Internal Threats

In 2 Samuel 22 David writes a song of thanks to God for all his faithfulness. In verse 44 David says, "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people..." Most of the song is about God saving David from foreign enemies, but there in the middle of the song is this line.

The same day I read this I read a portion of a book that indicated that the Church grows the fastest under persecution. But, U.S. churches (especially in the mid west) it seems that Pastors deal with internal attacks from the church, but almost never deal with persecution from without. Maybe the reason church growth in the U.S. is stagnant nationally is because we spend too much time attacking each other and not enough time attacking the Devil. Let's spend our energy loving people who don't live for Jesus.

If you feel the pressure of attacks from within your organization, begin trusting God like David did. God delivered him from the attacks of his own people. Then, spend your energy loving those who are not, "my people."