Free, yet not free. (or) Cheap Christians

Posted: May 30, 2012 in Uncategorized, Christianity, Christian Living, cost, Christians
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

“There is nothing free in life.”

“There are no free lunches.”

Are these statements true? Is there really nothing free? Does everything have a cost? What about how you live your life? Most of us are not looking for free but we do like cheap or inexpensive. We want to get the best we can for the least amount possible. That is just good business practice. The problem arises when this thought process enters our Christian mindset. As Christians many seek to find a way to be Christian you it cost them very little. Yesterday I was in a Bible Study and the following paragraph was read.

“In conclusion, let every reader of this paper think seriously, whether his religion costs him anything at present. Very likely it costs you nothing. Very probably it neither cost you trouble, nor time, nor thought, nor care, nor pains, nor reading, nor praying, nor self-denial, nor conflict, nor working, nor labour of any kind. Now mark what I say. Such a religion as this will never save your soul. It will never give you peace while you live, nor hope while you die. It will not support you in the day of affliction, nor cheer you in the hour of death. A religion which costs nothing is worth nothing. Awake before it is too late. Awake and repent. Awake and be converted. Awake and believe. Awake and pray. Rest not till you can give a satisfactory answer to my question: ‘What does it cost?’” J.C. Ryle, Holiness, p.77.

David put it like this:

“No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” (2 Sam 24:24)

It cost Christ for me to be Christian. It cost me to be faithful.

Bored? What it says about you!

Posted: May 29, 2012 in Uncategorized, life, Life Lessons
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

I have said “I’m bored!“. Heard other people say, “I’m bored!“. Now with social media hardly a day goes by that someone is not posting, “I’m bored!”. With summer beginning and school being out the number of “I’m bored!” post will definitely increase. Would you agree that when we are bored it says more about us than the situation we find ourself in. How could anyone be bored? How could I run out of entertaining things to do? Boredom is a symptom of a greater problem. We feel we must be constantly entertained. The TV, computer, and more simply are not enough to keep us entertained anymore. This seems to be an epidemic in the younger generation. The love affair with begin entertained by others is going to result in interesting outcomes I’m sure, but for now I want to help you with your boredom. Spend time developing your mind. Read a book that challenges you on multiple levels. Read a book that takes you on an adventure. Read a book that helps you walk closer to God. A book taps into your imagination and your imagination is usually better than the movie. Develop the discipline of learning.

The next time you say or think you are bored remember its you not your situation. No where in the Bible does it say, “and they were bored”. I doubt Mother Teresa said she was bored. Do you think Donald Trump ever says, “I’m bored!”. I just can’t imagine Billy Graham sitting with Ruth one day and saying, “I’m bored!”. What is the difference in them and me and you? They have and had a clear purpose. Live life on purpose and boredom will be a thing of the past.

Most bored people will not find time to read this. They are too busy.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Rom 12:1-2

Where do you need me today?

Posted: May 24, 2012 in Christian Living, Christianity, servant, serve, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
1

Have you ever felt like your church did not do things exactly like you like them?  I have had people tell me, “We are shopping around for a church.” What? Shopping around? Is there any validity to the thought that we are here with God and for each other. Our first inclination should be how am I going to be able to demonstrate my love for God and others. Comfort has become what we seek in a church. While in Haiti they did not ask us what would make us most comfortable. They told us their area of need. What if you walked into your church Sunday and simply asked, “Where do you need me today?” I mean week after week. “Where do you need me today?” Many of us have a consumer mindset instead of a servant mindset. The consumer mindset has invaded our churches. So many that should be willing to endure anything for Christ have chosen evaluate everything in light of their wants, desires and comforts. “The god of Consumer Christianity does not inspire awe and wonder because he is nothing more than a commodity to be used for our personal satisfaction and self-achievement.”1 That is not the purpose of the body of Christ. It is not about our personal satisfaction but about God, His Will and His people. We all struggle with the consumer mindset that America has raised us to worship. Church is not where we come to consume what makes us feel spiritual goosebumps. It is the Body of Christ coming before a holy God to love Him and love others. What if our daily prayer to God was, “Where do you need me today?” The answer might surprise you.

Jethani, Skye, Divine Commodity, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2009, p. 38

Control Freaks and Selfish Motives

Posted: May 23, 2012 in Christian Living, Christianity, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
2

I think most Christians really do want to enjoy all that God desires for them. We know He knows best. So, what is it that keeps us from enjoying the blessings of God. Why can’t we enter our own Promise Land?

Let’s look at it like this. There is a wall with a gate between me and the best God has for me. The gate opens when I am obedient and I enter into His best. Why does the gate not open?

  1. In order to walk through the gate I have to give up control (like I ever had it). I cannot control my Promise Land. It is God’s to control. When I try to control that which is God’s I quickly find myself outside God’s will. Control freaks have a tough time staying in the place God has prepared for them.
  2. I must remember obedience is motivated by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and not His gifts. I come to Him not because of what He has but because of who He is and His great unconditional love for me.
  3. Obedience that seeks to manipulate God is not obedience at all. Manipulative obedience does not open the gate to God’s best.
  4. Obedience born from legalism is not what God seeks. The Pharisees tried that and failed.

What opens the gate so we can enter into our Promise Land, God’s Will and our best.

  1. A surrendered love relationship with God. (Mark 12:30)
  2. A consistant love for others. (Mark 12:31)
  3. Seek first His Kingdom. (Matt 6:33)

What does that look like in application?

Obey In The Moment – Just do what a love relationship requires at each moment in time.

OITM

Elusive Christianity

Posted: May 22, 2012 in Christian Living, Christianity, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Have you gotten a grasp on what you think real Christianity looks like? What about what the Bible describes as real Christianity? Have you been able to become the Radical Christian that David Platt writes about? Have you experienced the Crazy Love that Francis Chan describes? Have you found the secret? I know this is a constant battle I fight. I know that Paul said that we are not to compare ourselves with others (2 Cor 10:12). Paul also seem to find it difficult to do what he knew he should (Rom 7). I guess there is some comfort in Paul struggling as well. Would it be easier if we were in a place Haiti or Africa. In those places it is easy to see what you are doing for Christ. The difference you make is more visible. If you are like me, you struggle to ever feel like you are doing enough. I mean there is so much that needs to be done and our impact seems so small. Here is how I survive.

  • Be where you are. So often we want to be somewhere else. Just be where you are.
  • Serve where you are. Don’t wait on some “big” something.
  • Be faithful. God will present opportunities for you to serve Him. Just be faithful to what He tells you.
  • Don’t compare. There is only one you. Be the you God desires not the you your flesh desires.
  • Be real. Don’t try to be something you are not. People like real.

Christianity is elusive when you try to grasp that which God never intended for you to grasp.

Grab what He gives you!

The Most Important Place I’ve Ever Been

Posted: May 21, 2012 in Uncategorized
0

What is the most important place you have ever been? What place has meant the most to you in your life? When I began to ponder that thought I came up with it pretty quickly. Once I determined what that place was I found the GPS coordinates and had a t-shirt, mug and cap made. I just want to always remember all that happened at this one place. At N33 12.889 – W87 30.222 I got married, dedicated my first child, was saved, preached my first sermon, surrendered to the call to preach, was licensed to preach, performed my first wedding, was baptized, and spent many Sunday’s there while dating Mary Anne.

Click HERE to find out where the most important place I’ve ever been.

Where is the most important place you have ever been?

Why Would I Quit?

Posted: May 15, 2012 in pastors, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

Yesterday my post Why I Stayed received more hits than most anything I have ever posted. Not sure why but I thought I would follow it up. I’m sure there are some who still wish I had not stayed and if I had not stayed they might have stayed. I was told early in my ministry that if you forget your call you will quit. Right at half of all ministers in the U.S. are quitting. I am not sure why they are but I know why I have fought that temptation from time to time. Here are some of the promptings and they are not in any order so don’t try to read anything into them that is not there. I am going to be real honest here so if honesty hurts quit reading now.

Feelings of inadequacy.

Feeling that no one is standing with you but everyone says they are behind you.

Feeling that every time you get close to someone they bail out.

Feeling that you are not making a difference.

Feeling that the expectations are unreachable.

Feeling that it would protect your family from much hurt.

Feeling someone else could do a better job.

Feeling like the numbers are an indictment.

Feeling the people telling you should leave through various means were right.

Feeling like church was a burden instead of a blessing.

Feeling like a failure.

Feeling like something else would just be easier.

Feeling that what people say about you is true.

Feeling, feeling, feeling……

The lesson is that no one should make decisions based on their feelings. Listen to the voice of God – listen to the Word of God. Know the Spirit’s voice. Just know your feelings will lie to you. Satan loves to use our feelings against you.

Warren Wiersbe’s great book The Strategies of Satan (the best $4.99 you could spend) teaches about how Satan attacks your heart and conscience. He uses Joshua the high priest (Zech 3:1-7) as his text. Here is the lesson in a capsule. Satan’s target is the heart and conscience. Satan’s weapon is accusation. Satan’s purpose is the indictment by God’s will. Your defense is the interceding Son of God.
No minister is good enough to be a pastor, grow a church, save a soul or anything else on his own (John 15:5). It is only through the grace of God that a minister is a minister. Don’t quit until God says quit, but you better know that it is His voice you hear.

Why I Stayed

Posted: May 14, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , ,
1

I was asked by a friend who ministers to hurting pastors and staff to write a testimonial. He feel that my story could be an encouragement to them. Here is my response. I felt others might be a little interested. Here is the request and the answer.

I have a favor to ask: could you write a one-half to three-quarter page summary of a trial you have faced in ministry over the years? You might tell the difficulties it caused but also how God helped you through it. The story can be testimonial….Dan, you have an amazing story! You are to be blessed for your faithfulness at your church. Other pastors need to hear your story.

Here goes….

I guess I am hardheaded. It would have been easier many years ago to either leave the ministry or change churches. There are two things that stuck in my mind. We ministers are most frustrated with members when they change churches when things get tough so why would I do that which I hate. Second, I heard Johnny Hunt say one time, “A church may look better than yours but might have 3 times the problems.” I knew I did not want that. I do not see in the New Testament the whole thing about changing churches for anyone. The problem is that in America we have created an environment where we accept it and think it is part of being Christian. What would you think if in Acts 29 (It don’t exist) it told a story about Peter changing churches, being fired or sending His resume to the church at Corinth because times had grown tough, money was tight, leadership was near sighted or any other excuse we use? You would think Peter took his eyes off the prize. When a church is not where it needs to be there is enough blame to go around and sometimes the pastor and/or staff is either lazy or selfish, but the problem hardly ever resides with one person. We are the body of Christ and God has a reputation for using messed up people. So, I have just believed that ministry is hard because we are in a war against Satan.

Another problem is that we are personality driven in ministry so often. We think we need a new personality in the church to reach people. What we really need in our churches is the person Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. If pastors, staff and members would stick it out with the body they are currently involved with, work through the difficulties and realize that God desires unity God would get much done through all us messed up people.
One of the main reason I have probably survived what most pastors could not is because I was the founding pastor. Why was I the founding pastor? Because I was the first one here. I have a great church that has had it share of struggles through the last 19 years but the good times have been wonderful. I would have missed so many good time if I let the hard times run me off. I have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in ministry but I try to keep on going. Some days are easier than others and some times the hurts come too often, but it is not about this life. It is about the next. I choose to stay, serve and lead this congregation in the direction God leads. He has navigated some pretty sharp, steep, curvy hills in the past and I believe He will do it in the future. So, I keep my hands to the plow.

Tools to Study God’s Word

Posted: May 14, 2012 in Bible Study, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
3

A Good Bible – I use the ESV in most of my study but I also reference many translations. Go ahead a spend the money to get one you will enjoy and take care of.

Bible Software – Here are some links to some good ones.

  • Logos this is what I use and it has iPhone and iPad apps that are all integrated. You can spend as much or as little as you would like.
  • WordSearch
  • PC Study Bible I used this for years and it is really good. You can spend as much or as little as you would like.

One Volume Commentary – Here are some links to some good ones.

Systematic Theology Book

This would be a good start. The Bible Software programs will have many Bible translations, commentaries, and other study tools. My suggestion is to get Bible Software first. If you have any questions, put them in the comments and I will answer.

Getting Darkness Out of Your Life

Posted: May 14, 2012 in Christ, darkness, light
Tags: , , , , ,
0

We all have fought the battle with those things in our life that we know are not right. The things that we know make our life a little darker. The things that we know are not please to anyone around us. The things that we know are not pleasing to God. Then we try to get rid of them. We try to get the darkness out. We work hard with worthy desires to push the darkness out. We continue to push the darkness out but our life still is dark.
I have some good news and some bad news. Bad news first? You will never push the darkness out of your life! Good news? Let Christ and His Word shine into your life and the darkness will depart. It is not about pushing out the darkness (your efforts) it is about letting the light in – what Christ and His Word will do.

John 1:5 (NLT)
5  The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Older Entries