To Whom Shall We Go…

Please remember to continue to pray and think through a possible church name to assist us in our church plant. 

If you like ‘viral videos’ then you will like this installment I discovered today on WordPress:

http://radiomilwaukee.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/viral-video-friday-clever-animation/

I like the street drawing one the best… there certianly is some creative folks out there… just think of the time it took to creat the chalk drawing one… Wow!!!!

Thanks for sharing it ‘randiomilwaukee’

Wittenberg Door Magazine had some ‘tongue in cheek’ cartoons today too…

Finally, I regularly tell folks that they should be investing in someone… This article from CT was good today and (lite) regarding that topic too.

Please remember to continue to pray and think through a possible church name to assist us in our church plant. 

One of the great resources I ran across recently was:  www.churchplanting4me.com. I just spent 30+ minutes downloading stuff to read later… highly recommend it.  Somewhere in my vists this morning I ran across this;

Is an existing program or ministry at your church ripe for an outreach makeover — or burial? Here are 10 questions to help you decide:

1. Is the basic objective of this program “To reach people for Christ”?
2. How many people now participate? (percentage of church members)
3. What percentage of participants is non-Christian or unchurched?
4. Who is this program designed to reach?
5. What are their greatest needs?
6. On a scale of 1-10, how effective is this program in meeting its evangelistic objective?
7. If you ended or significantly restructured this program, what would happen?
8. If you ended or significantly restructured this program, who would be upset? Why?
9. What is an idea that would be more effective than what you’re currently doing to build relationships with these people and help them find Christ?
10. How would the people in your current ministry feel if they saw people coming to Christ as a result of this new ministry?

Yeouch… I wonder how interested the ‘newest’ member or ‘newest’ visitor might be interested in your and your staff’s answer to these questions… especially #10…

Another nugget I ran across today was;

Seven Ways to Keep Church Hoppers from Staying…. another stick in the eyeball… and sobering reminder that we need to stop SELLING church and start being the church…

Just because you guilt people from the stage (reminding people to invite - a friend told me his church was doing this), or guilt people into have a ‘target’ or ‘lost person’ in their life, does not mean people are evangelizing… Ask the best evangelist in your church why they are not inviting people… you might find out some good answers… if you can put your pride to the side… I find that most people do not invite to a church because;

1. The unknown on Sunday morning… (what is the preacher going to say, what unbiblical soapbox, church growth, warm and fuzzy or psychobabble is it this week?)

2. The leader is not testifying about his evangelism (many times the leaders are not doing it and are expecting the parishoners to be doing it… duh what is wrong with this picture? I like asking leaders the following questions somewhere in our conversation, “who is the newest unchurched, newest nonbeliever that your building a relationship with and what spiritual conversations have you had? and… Who are you PERSONALLY discipling right now?”) Interesting responses to from Elders I get with these questions… 

3. Evangelism is more about evidential apologetics than being missional and presuppositional. (essentially, “I am right, my worldview is better, and your stupid, Hey, wanna come to church?”)

4. People are not praying, the church is not committed to praying (not the prayer chain) I mean the whole church, consistently, intentionally, and corporately…

5. People think evangelism is a program and is all about form versus FUNCTION (See Matt 28:18-20 and do a word study on the section, specifically “go and make”).

there are probably more to add to the list… but these are off the cuff… for some other possible reasons check out:  8 Reasons Why I Don’t Share My Faith

I still think the best resource on this matter is: From Embers to a Flame, I was telling a brother yesterday, about how the ‘church’ needs to hear about these 3 R’s.

Please remember to continue to pray and think through a possible church name to assist us in our church plant. 

I try to touch the men in my life on a consistent basis… sometimes I wonder why, when there is no phone calls, no response, they call you on when they are having an emergency, you have to beg them to return emails, phone calls, etc….

I was reminded today, in part why I pursue them… 1) God placed my love for men to be men on my heart, 2) they are going to get ‘a message’ somewhere and many times it is not from their Bible.  So on that note,

As I was reading our themed devotion for this week… and before I wrote my blog for today… I wanted to share MY edited version of this devotional…Just because something comes from a Christian site does not mean that it is biblical.

When Your Button Gets Pushed
Theme of the Week: Resolving Marriage Discord
Tuesday, May 13

Key Bible Verse: Live wisely … Let your conversation be gracious and effective (Colossians 4:5, 6). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 25:15, 21-22; 29:11

(DEREK) Pro 15:1-2 NASB

(1)  A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

(2)  The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

Pro 18:13-17 NASB

(13)  He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

(14)  The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?

(15)  The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

(16)  A man’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great men.

(17)  The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.

I have a friend, George, whose wife, Sharon, has had a strong tendency to blame and criticize him constantly. Little things, big things, things that he has done wrong, and things that he hasn’t—all have been fair game for her. George has certainly not been perfect, but in no way has his punishment fit his crimes. (DEREK) Eph 5:25-32…. Women criticize and nag their husbands for the most part because they are not ‘cherished’ or ‘washed with the water of the word.’  Reading a Christian devotional and implementing it in your marriage is NOT “washing your wife” with the water of the word… it is spewing ‘psychology’ all over her without reading your bible and feeding your flesh.)

George began telling Sharon, “I want to know when your feedback is true about me. But when it isn’t, or when I consider your venting inappropriate, (DEREK – so when did we get in the business of judging motives… I thought this was only God’s job?  Jer 17:10 NASB

(10)  “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.  (NASB) Mat_9:4; Mat_12:25; Mar_6:20; Mar_12:15; Luk_8:53; Luk_9:47; Joh_13:1; Joh_13:3; Joh_18:4; Joh_19:28; Joh_21:12; Act_5:7; Act_20:22; Act_24:10; Rom_2:4; Rom_5:3; Rom_6:6; Rom_6:9; Rom_10:3; Rom_13:11; 1Co_15:58; 2Co_1:7; 2Co_4:14; 2Co_5:6; 2Co_5:11; Gal_2:16; Eph_6:8; Eph_6:9; Php_1:16; Php_3:8; Col_3:24; Col_4:1; 1Th_1:4; 2Ti_2:23; 2Ti_3:14; Tit_3:11; Heb_10:34; Heb_11:8; Heb_13:2; Jas_1:3; Jas_3:1; 1Pe_1:18; 1Pe_5:9; 2Pe_1:14; 2Pe_3:17; Rev_12:12)

I’ll go to another room or the backyard and read the paper until you can speak without being so critical.” Sharon would lash out, and George would say, “Okay, I’m going now.” And she would be alone in the room with no one to hear her criticisms. (DEREK – Absentee husbandry or ‘teaching your wife a lesson by punishing her’ is childish and unbiblical.  Just because it is easier to avoid responsibility for this situation (not her sin) but dealing with it… this author suggests that by NOT engaging her or sharing the gospel with her is actually the ‘better thing to do.)

Sharon was pretty set in her position and resisted seeing that any of this was her fault. But over and over again George would restate the approach he’d decided to adopt and then leave the room. (DEREK – wives who have been ‘trained’ like this wife become bitter, resentful, and angry over time for the most part.  Of the ‘punishing’ spouses who applied this ‘crap’ they usually end up calling Connie and I because they cannot see past the bitterness.)

Eventually Sharon realized George wasn’t being mean. (DEREK – Notice the author did not say, she confessed her pride and repented and both were restored?  Did God design marriage to make you happy or holy? )  He wasn’t angry. He returned in a good mood and was pleasant with her. This finally got through to her, and she softened up and became less strident. Persistence, patience, and diligence are your friends with the button-pusher.

—John Townsend in Who’s Pushing Your Buttons?

My Response: How could my loving, consistent patience set the stage for change?  (DEREK) How is avoiding the conversation by walking in the other room and manipulating your wife (like the man in the story above) unbiblical?  Don’t know… check out http://www.peacemaker.net/site/c.aqKFLTOBIpH/b.958145/k.7ECF/Foundational_Principles.htm for how to handle conflicts, a nagging spouse, and restoring them and YOURSELF to Christ and redeeming your covenant marriage as God outlined.

Thought to Apply: All men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner. —Red Skelton (comedian) (Derek – how is this humor appropriate… God says, that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…what is this quote implying…?)

Someone is speaking to the men in your life… it is either the world or the gospel and you can participate with God to do something about it…  Remember ‘people guilt, God convicts.”  If your still unconvinced that the author above is providing unbiblical information to men, then I would encourage you to pick up a copy of 1) your bible and start reading (especially Eph and 1 & 2 Peter), 2) Pick up a copy of “When Sinners Say I Do? and read it WITH your wife!!!

Our church will be studying the topic of ‘psychology: A false gospel’ once per year… a great resource for this topic is quoted below…

Please remember to continue to pray and think through a possible church name to assist us in our church plant. 

Also, on the way to work today, the providential message I listened to was: Blueprint for Survival: Social Concern.

Very pertinent not only confirming my earlier post today, but also where other people are it seems. So what are we doing?

Paraphrasing Josh Hunt (in his Doubling Series), we would rather spend time eating ‘noodle salad’ and (my addition) reacting versus taking action.

One of the reasons Connie and I are fired up about the Acts 29 Network is the missional emphasis. They are right on board with where Connie and I have been for years!!!

The frustrating thing is how many would rather eat ‘noodle salad.’ It reminds me of a passage that has ministered to me GREATLY since September 2007: 

 Mar 3:1-6 NASB

(1)He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered.(2)They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.(3)He *said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”(4)He *said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.(5)After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.(6)The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

My commentary on these verses: Just heal the guy and stop having another meeting about whether you should or not or being worried about what people will think or whether or not it is the “image we want to project” or it is not what our ‘mission statement’ is about.  Verse 5, says that Jesus was “grieved with the hardness of their hearts.”  What happens when you ‘poke’ people about their superficial Christianity, the verse above says, they conspired to destroy Him!!!

Try telling ’some’ leaders that they don’t get it or that you refuse to be concerned with what the people think and this verse shows us they will try to destroy whatever is the vessel or instrument of that conviction!!!

Hmmm…  Don’t get me started… on to the E.G.G.s (I really think some people need the ‘right hand of fellowship’ in face sometimes…)

As you know I am reading ”Planting Missional Churches“, and I am devouring it because 2 of the 6 items left on the 20+ tasks on our Assessment Task list outline that this might be a good resource in working through the theological and time line assessment. Any way, in one of the chapters, there is an example of a ‘pastor’ who interview people purposefully in the community without an agenda other than to just listen. He asked them some questions, and I have been doing that to some extent for years and have some great affirmations from time to time.

Today was one of them.

One of my co-workers who is very patient with and has invested much in my transition from sacred to secular was the object of some of my ‘questions’ today. I prayed for a few days in anticipation for our appointments today and I after getting in the car with him, I told that I had been praying about our time and wanted his permission to ask him a few questions. I told him before the questions, about Connie and I planting a church in Goose Creek and how thankful I was for him sharing his spiritual pilgrimage with me since working there. (This guy is more of a ‘Christian’ than the ones who check their box by going to ‘church’ on Sunday…he is currently ‘un-churched and ‘damaged’ by over zealous ‘tract bombers’). Also, he recently moved from 10+ years of living in Goose Creek (his kids grew up here). Anyway, after that ‘disclaimer’ he says, “Sure go ahead…” Here were my questions…

1. What would cause you to go to a church (and I added) besides Christmas or Easter?

WOW… it would take me weeks to transcribe this GREAT answer… long story short… That the people (not the sermon, the placing the $ in the plate, or the guilt - his words) were real, that they (the church) were investing in them and teaching them how to do live in the midst of their lives!!!! Second that the ‘church’ was giving back to the community and making a difference!

2) Why is it do you think that more ‘men’ don’t go to church?

Essentially he said that it was no longer relevant.

There was much more, but the most impactful moment for me was when he said… “Ya know, I don’t know what is going on but God keeps putting people like you in my life (while driving, he playfully placed a hand around my throat) and throttling me.”  And I replied through some tears and choked up… “Is it possible that God loves you so much that He wants to see more of you than He does?” He too got a little choked up and the rest of our day was “fellowship.”

Another ’friend’ of mine of whom I have the privilege of discipling (received Christ as his Lord and Savior 2-weeks ago Friday night at a Barnes and Noble - lots of weeping and hugging there too) and I talked tonight and he has been calling me and just excited with his NEW bible and our study, said that he was VERY MUCH looking forward to our study tomorrow night and couldn’t wait.

I just ordered him some Bible Tabs and a Bible Underlining Kit (because it really is okay to have tabs and to mark in it, God will forgive you…). He is going to be so excited. LSS (Long Story Short), this guy is so excited about Jesus that even after we have spent 3 hours together, he calls me up on the way home to tell me more about how excited he is about Jesus!

So I share all that because…”Just heal the guy… and stop reacting and start acting…” and you too might just have some E.G.G.s to share too, EVEN after you struggle with FEAR of MAN all day about previous posting…

Please remember to continue to pray and think through a possible church name to assist us in our church plant. 

Now onto my writing…  In talking with a few friends recently, I was the recipient of “embellished” stories and in one particular case it was not embellished stories, but isolationism that left me feeling angry and helpless.

Here is one scenario.  Why is it when we talk to people about ‘our church’ we have the tendency to make it about numbers, a charismatic leader, or programs rather than Jesus Christ or lives being impacted? 

When I asked a friend of mine recently about their ‘church’ they told me that they were having “30-40 new visitors every week” and small groups ended for the summer?  Kinda seems stupid don’t it?  Not once in that conversation did I hear about conversions, discipleship, or evangelism, or engaging the community.  He did mention that there was still no visitor follow up process.  Connie was talking to a friend and was told that the “membership is growing” but yet we still see no community impact.  Is tithing growing too?  How about the benevolence fund?  How many orphans and widows are you taking care of? 

In another scenario, a friend of mine recently had a family member go into the hospital.  I tried to find out which hospital and when I could come and minister and the response I got was…” not having any visitors. We’re keeping it to ourselves out of respect for her privacy and have only told close family when we **have to**. Otherwise no one else knows and hopefully that will make it easier for her to cope when she comes back home” and I was blown away…

Week after week this person talks about struggling, requesting prayer for struggling, and yet when you try to reach out to them, they shut you down.  Do they really want community?  I mean, that is what you told me when we get together and the emails you send me…  Then why won’t you let me do life with you?  Why do I have to beg and cajole to find out what is going on?

This quote from a Discipleship Journel article hit it right on the head I think….  a reminder…

Transforming Relationships

Not everyone is led to live in an intentional community as I do. Yet if Christ is truly alive, if His body is to have real form here on earth, then the relational dimension of our lives will need transforming. Taking Christ seriously is costly; it exacts an effort to intertwine our lives with others. For this to happen we must risk and make the kinds of choices that free us to share our lives in concrete ways. We must help each other deconstruct our individualistic lives. Such an endeavor cannot be reduced to a formula or a set of principles that spell out specific plans of action. To become church with others demands that we take stock of our lives to uncover the many ways we try to go it alone.

You may want to ask yourself, as I continue to ask myself, the following kinds of questions.

• How much of my mental energy is expended on my own life and personal well-being?

• Whose kingdom am I building? Would anyone conclude I was building my own kingdom rather than God’s? Why?

• Does how I use my free time draw me closer to others?

• Who has easy access to my home, my thoughts, my prayers?

• What connections am I forging that help to create a common life with others? Does such a life stand out from those around me?

These are challenging questions and not easy to answer. One way to focus a bit is to take a relational inventory.

• List believers with whom you feel a bond. Now chose one or two people or couples on your list whom you think God might want you to grow closer to. How do you currently spend your time with them?

• Do these people hold you accountable for the way you spend your time or your money? Do they have permission to challenge you in your character or make demands of your time?

• What kinds of changes would you like to see in order to make these relationships stronger?

• Consider what keeps these changes from happening. Perhaps your schedule is already maxed out. What will have to give before more time can be freed up? Leisure activities? Work time?

• You might consider with your spouse and children how your family can better intersect with others. For example, instead of doing lone-ranger family activities, you could enjoy a combined family night once a week, paint each other’s houses, or go on a missions trip together.

As you draw closer to others, it will be important to specify mutual expectations. Because relationships take work and because conflict is inevitable, remember that it is Christ’s body—not your own fulfillment or happiness—that is at stake. This means sacrifice, and it means going beyond the usual social expectations and proprieties. Take finances, for example. We keep our wallets and bank accounts to ourselves; money matters are private. But in the body of Christ, our goods are not our own. Consider laying everything out on the table (checkbook, statements, bills, investments) with another person or couple and discussing ways you can become more radical in your giving and simpler in your living. Share where you find it difficult to cut back or where you overspend. Accept honest feedback on how you are spending resources. Discuss ways you and your friends could consolidate some resources. In this way, the “common life” gets real.

Laying everything on the table includes other “private possessions” such as our sins or burdens, both of which we are commanded to share with one another (Gal. 6:2, Jas. 5:16). Being church together is unlike a gathering or meeting. The wounds of Christ can be touched and felt in a special way because those who join together reveal the scars and hurts that weigh them down. Of course, this includes far more than unloading one’s problems on others. The purpose of baring one’s soul is not just personal edification but building up the body of Christ. Mutual accountability with the aim of undergoing change is essential. The important thing to remember is that to be knitted together in Christ demands the interweaving of hearts and souls.

Whatever changes you make, sharing life with others will never happen if you are hanging on to your own life or if your schedule only allows for a couple of church meetings a week. New lifestyle habits will have to form. Sacrifices of convenience, private spaces, and personal preferences will have to be made. Sharing lives will involve making concerted choices so that others can more naturally and easily be in—and not just around—your life. Only in this way will the world begin to know the difference Christ’s love can make in the nitty-gritty of life.

By being the church with others, one proclaims that discipleship is a common journey—an ongoing, identifiable togetherness that attempts to realize the power of Jesus in the concrete here and now. God has so much more in store for us than what we are experiencing. He wants to give us the spirit of joy and love to such an extent that, in the words of Eberhard Arnold, we have “the urge to reach out to others in such a way so as to be united with them for always” (Why We Live in Community).

As we do so, worship that goes beyond the sounds that echo within the four walls of a sanctuary will resound in the daily life of those of us who sing His praises. Such worship will reflect the reality of God’s church in heaven—the everlasting community of love that is permanently in session.

Publisher Paul Westervelt, Discipleship Journal, Issue 144 (November/December 2004) (NavPress, 2004; 2006).

We have been asking folks to give us ideas for the name of our church (plant).   So far there have been some good ones.  Some boundaries when it comes to names (if you would like to help) are:

• No ‘Christianese’ (i.e. the Lords Table, Church of the Reformed Covenant Depraved Transubstantiation, etc.)
• Catchy (i.e., Sanctuary, Redeemer, Mars Hill, etc)
• Has people wondering (i.e., Vintage 21, Quest 419, etc)
• Relates easily to the Demographic of Goose Creek, Moncks Corner and Summerville (i.e., blue-collar, EGR - Extra Grace Required, messy, marginalized, lower middle income (trying to act like upper income, etc)

So on that note, so far here are some ideas that have come our way;
Oasis (I really like this one… as I think it truly hits all the required pre-requisites above…)
The Anchor
The Edge
Refuge
Calvary Hill
Mercy Hill
Voice
River
Narrow Gate
Olive Leaf (Connie’s favorite thus far)
Olive Branch
Upper Room
Cornerstone

So, for the month of May we are going to be seeking the Lord and soliciting His people on what is the name of His church here in Goose Creek.  This ‘name’ will spur a website, branding, vision/mission, etc.  If you would like to participate please leave your ideas by commenting below… nothing will be turned away, we are literally ‘throwing names up on a white board’ right now and you could be a part of the ground breaking… If your choice is the one the community chooses, then I will mail you a bunch of resources for FREE as our way of saying thank you! (Talking yesterday in fellowship… many so far are agreeing about “Oasis” so post your comments!!!)

We have been asking folks to give us ideas for the name of our church (plant).   So far there have been some good ones.  Some boundaries when it comes to names (if you would like to help) are:

• No ‘Christianese’ (i.e. the Lords Table, Church of the Reformed Covenant Depraved Transubstantiation, etc.)
• Catchy (i.e., Sanctuary, Redeemer, Mars Hill, etc)
• Has people wondering (i.e., Vintage 21, Quest 419, etc)
• Relates easily to the Demographic of Goose Creek, Moncks Corner and Summerville (i.e., blue-collar, EGR - Extra Grace Required, messy, marginalized, lower middle income (trying to act like upper income, etc)

So on that note, so far here are some ideas that have come our way;
Oasis (I really like this one… as I think it truly hits all the required pre-requisites above…)
The Anchor
The Edge
Refuge
Calvary Hill
Mercy Hill
Voice
River
Narrow Gate
Olive Leaf (Connie’s favorite thus far)
Olive Branch
Upper Room
Cornerstone

So, for the month of May we are going to be seeking the Lord and soliciting His people on what is the name of His church here in Goose Creek.  If you would like to participate please leave your ideas by commenting below… nothing will be turned away, we are literally ‘throwing names up on a white board’ right now and you could be a part of the ground breaking… If your choice is the one the community chooses, then I will mail you a bunch of resources for FREE as our way of saying thank you! (Talking yesterday in fellowship… many so far are agreeing about “Oasis” so post your comments!!!)

One of the things that I have enjoyed about music in my life is the emotional deliverance right into the presence of God I experience with some music from time to time in my life. Many of us make Sunday a “have to” versus a “get to” and I was struck by that this morning…

On that note, as I was preparing this morning for going to Sanctuary, I was listening to this…

If that does not engage you or remind you of the gospel… especially for our need of it… I don’t know what will… Thank you Casting Crowns for reminding me of the gospel today…

In seminary, one of my professors told us to keep a box that we should call the “I love me” box, of which would contain all the kind cards, emails, letters, etc that we received in ministry over the years that encouraged us in ministry.  I have always laughed about that box (although I keep one - actually a binder) but very rarely look at it. 

Yesterday, while on my way to work, I was finishing up the 2008 Text and Context Sermon series with, of course, Mark Driscoll.  The title of the message was “Putting Pastors in their Place” and I must confess that not only will this be a part of the “I love me box” but also it was deeply convicting.  Mark had a great statment in the message, “PEOPLE GUILT YOU, GOD CONVICTS YOU” and I said an AMEN out loud in my car.  I said many “Amen!” with this message.

Mark addressed the House Church movement (specifically the book Pagan Christianity - which I am currently reading) and he made some very solid and good biblical points about the House Church movement.  I was also convicted.  Essentially that much of today’s drift in the ‘church’ is the drift away from authority.  I totally agree!  That drift caused me to resign from my last position, that drift has caused us to leave other ‘churches’ and that drift has at times (because of the conviction of it) been a lonely friend.  It was a refreshing thing to hear someone else passionate about authority (elders, biblical discipline, preaching) and the importance of being bold with it. I was asked recently what would cause me to leave a church and my answer has been the same over the years… Lack of Biblical Preaching, Lack of Church Discipline, and Lack of providing a context where I can serve with MY gifts.

As some of you know, my personal email address for YEARS has been ”eph61820″ @ whatever… What does that verse exactly say?

Eph 6:18-20 NASB

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, (19) and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

So I say all that to say this… I recently listened to my ‘last’ sermon at the church we resigned from (I did not listen to it because I thought it was now tainted because of what was told me, I was told I was manipulative, insensitive, spectacular, and out of line, there was much more and essentiallyit had more to do with someone elses preferences versus the Holy Spirit) and Mark was right… “You men cannot be so afraid of what people say, so that your huddled up in a corner in the fetal position while your wife rubs your back.”

He went on to say that one of the main elements missing in the church today is the boldness and courage to call sin sin, to preach the text IN CONTEXT and correctly and it is because of that, I want to share my last message with those who are interested. It is called, “Friendship in the Midst of Suffering” for FREE. If you send me an email with your mailing information, I will drop a cd in the mail for you. I will attempt to also upload it here.

I was recently asked why they could not find my work/messages at ________ church. I told that person that I was asked to remove all my sermons and teaching from the church website. Some reading, are going to head down the road of “oh boy, he is still bitter…unforgiving…”

No… listen to the message… Mark’s first and then Mine and see what I am passionate about… poking Pharisees and sharing the gospel… Mark’s message yesterday healed me just a little bit more regarding the circumstances around why I resigned… This message is staying in my “I love me box” Thank you Mark for being the instrument of conviction and not guilt…

For those who may be looking at this concerned about my salvation… rest assurred, that a couple of verses are keeping me in check and allowed me to start taking communion again recently…

Matthew 5:23-24
Romans 12:18
Luke 15
Luke 17:1-5

If you read these verses, you will understand the struggle I have with daily forgiveness towards this ‘leader’ and how I regularly need to take this to the cross. I even got a call the day before from one of my brothers asking me about my bitterness and unforgiveness… What a gift and kindness from him to be so concerned for me… especially with my hypersensitivity to being ‘reactionary’ with our church plant. Through fasting and seeking the Lord, and especially accountability, thankfully, this is daily being purged in my life… Walking this out when I see that person at the gym, or at a function or out in life…

“Bear more pain than you inflict”
“What has the Father overlooked in me today?”
“What is it about this situation that the Father is trying to teach me about His love?”

it is not easy…

As some of you know, I sent out some ‘request for references’ recently as required for our Acts 29 Network application to join their network and receive assistance with a church plant. 

Also as some of you know, from time to time, I send out feelers to my closest friends who are actively involved in my life and ask for critique and assessment.

This application process recently provided opportunities for both (meeting requirement and an opportunity for feedback). One of the main themes that I noticed coming up in the ones that ’sent me copies’ (even though they were not supposed to) was the fact that many recount receiving care from Jesus from my confrontation, boldness, ‘no-nonsense’, ‘candid’ conversations with them but also listed it as a weakness as well.

I must admit that for the first time in my Christian walk I was not immediately trying to defend these observations and actually was quite open to them. You see, part of ‘prayerfully’ considering things lately has been one constant theme… “Derek…you have still much to learn and I have much to show you through many vessels you may be unprepared for…”

Oh boy… warm and fuzzy, I think was my first response to God with this and then I was thankful because I don’t listen very much to Him and I was listening…..

One of Shawn’s favorite preacher/teachers is Tim Keller, so subsequently, I have been listening to A LOT of Tim Keller recently. Yesterday’s message (I cannot tell you which one it was, I have downloaded so many and they are not labeled correctly or they have sequential ‘goobly-gook’ that it is hard to find and archive them acurately) I think he was talking to some business owners and I heard God again…

Leaders bear more pain than they inflict

Yep, I needed to be reminded of that gospel-centered leadership axiom. I shared it with a couple friends (it seems the phone is ringing much more lately too) and asked that they remind me of that from time to time and to pray for me in this area.

I am asking you… to pray for me in this area… Here is a simple list of some items I need to be reminded of:

1. What has the Father overlooked in you today?
2. What is it about this situation that the Father is trying to teach you about His love?
3. Are you bearing more pain than you inflict?

A devotional I found for today kinda brought this home too:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).
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You are a messenger of peace!
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” He was referring to a special group of people whom God called to restore the peace that was forfeited because of sin. They may not be politicians, statesmen, diplomats, kings, presidents, or Nobel prize winners, but they hold the key to true and lasting peace.
As a Christian, you are among that select group of peacemakers. As such you have two primary responsibilities. The first is to help others make peace with God. There is no greater privilege. The best way to do that is to preach the gospel of peace with clarity, so people understand their alienation from God and seek reconciliation. Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” The early church preached peace through Christ, and that is your privilege as well.
Your second responsibility is to help reconcile believers to one another. That’s a very important issue to God. He won’t accept worship from those who are at odds with each other. They must first deal with the conflict (Matt. 5:23–24). That is especially true within a family. Peter warned husbands to treat their wives properly so their prayers wouldn’t be hindered (1 Peter 3:7).
Peacemakers don’t avoid spiritual conflicts. Rather, they speak the truth in love and allow the Spirit to minister through them to bring reconciliation. If you see someone who is alienated from God, you are to present him or her with the gospel of peace. If you see two Christians fighting, you are to do everything you can to help them resolve their differences in a righteous manner.
Of course, to be an effective peacemaker you must maintain your own peace with God. Sin in your life will disrupt peace and will prevent you from dispensing God’s peace to others. Therefore continually guard your heart and confess your sin so God can use you as His peacemaker.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Pray for those close to you who don’t know Christ. Take every opportunity to tell them of God’s peace.
For Further Study: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17–21. ✧ How did Paul describe the ministry of reconciliation? ✧ What was Christ’s role in reconciling man to God?

John MacArthur, Drawing Near (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1993). April 25.