The following quote is from Steven Furtick of Elevation Church. It deals with the frustration many Christian leaders feel when trying to meet the ever-increasing demands of the people under their care. Certainly there are always those in need. But also, there are those who just need to grow up (Hebrews 5:11-14). Which are you? Maybe both. Wherever you find yourself, be warned: your reaction to this rant will be interesting! You may be offended. You may shout, "Amen!" You may think of someone who needs to hear it. Or, you may just be pricked in your own heart. But you'll definitely have a reaction.
OK, so here goes...
____________________________________
Proverbs 26:15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
What a great picture of nominal, noncommittal church attendees! We all know that one of top 3 reasons people leave churches is the (infamous) claim:“I wasn’t getting fed there.”
Maybe you weren’t.
Or maybe the church set the table, presented the bread of life, and you were too stinking lazy to bring it back to your mouth, chew it, swallow, and digest it, like a big boy.
You know, I don’t mind helping my 2 year old eat his Easy Mac. But if he can’t pick up a fork and bring the food to his mouth by age 20, we have a problem.
Churches are filled with those who have known Christ for decades, and still need a bib, a high chair, and want Daddy to do “open wide, here comes the airplane” tricks with the fork before shoving it into their mouths.
I try to serve up the Word, hot and fresh every single Sunday. But if you refuse to apply it, study your Bible and pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others…If you refuse to bring it back to your mouth, I can’t help you.
Get your own fork, and learn to feed yourself. Stop burying your hand in the dish and spitting out every thing that doesn’t give you a spiritual sugar high. Eat some vegetables. Serve. Pray. Practically apply the Bible to your life.
And I’ll keep cooking…
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Life has pain, God has plans...
Today, I attended the memorial service for Karen Witter, the Brookhollow Elementary fourth-grade teacher who died two weeks ago. It was an emotional gathering, as many of her friends and colleagues shared their memories of this special woman. Unique dresser. Passionate leader. Discerning counselor. Faithful friend. But as I sat and listened to the stories, my mind kept wandering back to the 19 children she left behind: her students. A good number of them were in attendance, and I am sure their lives have been forever changed by this unexpected turn of events.
Here enters Cindy Tyson. Mrs. Tyson is the teacher who will take over Mrs Witter's class, and help these students complete their school year. As I stood and talked with her from behind the buffet table of finger foods, the conversation centered around the task that lay before her. For the next 5 months, she will not only be a "substitute" teacher, but also a counselor, mentor, mediator, healer and friend. Hers is not an insignificant role.
What really spoke to me was this: she said she feels, more than ever before, that teaching is her "calling." Formerly a 5th-grade teacher with a class of her own, Mrs. Tyson had most recently been working a part-time support position at Brookhollow. Now, she is the one who is stepping to lead Mrs. Witter's class through some of the darkest days of their young lives.
Like Esther in the Bible, she was "called for such a time as this." And she is ready. But one last thing, get this: Mrs. Tyson also lost her 4th-grade teacher in the middle of the year when she was a child. She hadn't even thought about that in years, but in a recent conversation with her new class, she suddenly realized that she could truthfully say, "I've been where you are." Isn't that powerful?! Who better to care for those students that someone who has felt their pain?
Listen to this:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
Do you see? A teacher "prepared in advance" to minister to 19 hurting students. Only God could do that! And just imagine what things in your future He is preparing you for today! Be encouraged today for you are "God's workmanship," and He has big plans for your life...
Here enters Cindy Tyson. Mrs. Tyson is the teacher who will take over Mrs Witter's class, and help these students complete their school year. As I stood and talked with her from behind the buffet table of finger foods, the conversation centered around the task that lay before her. For the next 5 months, she will not only be a "substitute" teacher, but also a counselor, mentor, mediator, healer and friend. Hers is not an insignificant role.
What really spoke to me was this: she said she feels, more than ever before, that teaching is her "calling." Formerly a 5th-grade teacher with a class of her own, Mrs. Tyson had most recently been working a part-time support position at Brookhollow. Now, she is the one who is stepping to lead Mrs. Witter's class through some of the darkest days of their young lives.
Like Esther in the Bible, she was "called for such a time as this." And she is ready. But one last thing, get this: Mrs. Tyson also lost her 4th-grade teacher in the middle of the year when she was a child. She hadn't even thought about that in years, but in a recent conversation with her new class, she suddenly realized that she could truthfully say, "I've been where you are." Isn't that powerful?! Who better to care for those students that someone who has felt their pain?
Listen to this:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
Do you see? A teacher "prepared in advance" to minister to 19 hurting students. Only God could do that! And just imagine what things in your future He is preparing you for today! Be encouraged today for you are "God's workmanship," and He has big plans for your life...
Friday, December 7, 2007
Saying Thanks is not enough...
Tomorrow is our Volunteer Appreciation breakfast. Since we do not have a building at this time, and therefore couldn't have our annual warm-and-fuzzy all-church-family Christmas dinner gathering, this breakfast is all the more significant.
2007 has been a big year! The church we have in December'07 is dramatically different from the one we had in January '07. With God's help, we've come a long way...and we just want to say "Thank you" to everyone who has worked so hard this entire year. If you are a "volunteer" (which is pretty much everyone in our church with a pulse!), come hang out with us Saturday morning. We'll have catered food, give-aways, and lots of laughter -- and the best thing is: it's all FREE!
Meet us at Glad Tidings from 10:00am to noon. Hope to see you there! We love you all,
David & Michele
2007 has been a big year! The church we have in December'07 is dramatically different from the one we had in January '07. With God's help, we've come a long way...and we just want to say "Thank you" to everyone who has worked so hard this entire year. If you are a "volunteer" (which is pretty much everyone in our church with a pulse!), come hang out with us Saturday morning. We'll have catered food, give-aways, and lots of laughter -- and the best thing is: it's all FREE!
Meet us at Glad Tidings from 10:00am to noon. Hope to see you there! We love you all,
David & Michele
Thursday, December 6, 2007
First steps are fun to watch
Over the recent Thanksgiving holidays, my 13-month-old daughter, Mackenzie, began walking on her own! After all the waiting, and cheering, and practicing, and working with her...it finally just happened. One day, she did it. No fan fare. No parade. No celebration. When the time was right, she just decided to walk.
First steps are great, but what makes them hold-your-breath suspenseful is the constant risk of falling. Maybe a better title would have been, "Falling is fun to watch." One step, two steps, fall. One step, fall. One step, two steps, three steps, fall. Every time Mackenzie fell, she looked up at us and laughed. The more she fell, the more she giggled. And do you know why? Because she knew that her mom or dad would be there to pick her up, dust her off, and set her on her feet again. Because she knows she is loved, the falling is not failure. It's just another opportunity to get hugged!
Maybe that's how we could look at our own failures. They are not the end--they are just falls in between steps. So the next time you fall, look up. Let God pick you up, love you, and set you walking again. He knows very well that one day soon, you'll be running!
First steps are great, but what makes them hold-your-breath suspenseful is the constant risk of falling. Maybe a better title would have been, "Falling is fun to watch." One step, two steps, fall. One step, fall. One step, two steps, three steps, fall. Every time Mackenzie fell, she looked up at us and laughed. The more she fell, the more she giggled. And do you know why? Because she knew that her mom or dad would be there to pick her up, dust her off, and set her on her feet again. Because she knows she is loved, the falling is not failure. It's just another opportunity to get hugged!
Maybe that's how we could look at our own failures. They are not the end--they are just falls in between steps. So the next time you fall, look up. Let God pick you up, love you, and set you walking again. He knows very well that one day soon, you'll be running!
It's finally here...
For several months, I've been thinking about starting a blog. "Why?" you're asking. Well, besides the annals of thought-provoking insights that are sure to fly off my fingertips for your your reading pleasure (OK, maybe that's a bit of an overstatement...), I thought it would be a great way for us to keep in touch. As the lead pastor of The Bridge Community Church, I am excited about the future of our church! But at the same time, I am aware of the challenges that await us. As a "homeless church," we are always in need of more "together" time. No building does not have to mean no bonding. In fact, we must stay connected--both spiritually and relationally--if we want to be a church that God can use to reach the people He loves.
So, here it is. But let me clarify what "it" is... And perhaps it would be easiest to start by saying what it is not:
1. It is not the church newsletter
2. It is not the pastor's diary
3. It is not an online sermon resource
So what in the world is the purpose of a "bridge blog" from the pastor?
"Life at the Bridge" will be a place for us to meet, interact, share our hearts, and do life together. I will share my thoughts about how God is working in our church body. And I hope you will respond by sharing your hearts, as well. Think of it as online living room. Just come in, kick of your shoes, sit down by the fireplace (you can tell I'm writing this is the winter, huh?), sip on some hot chocolate, and let's talk about God. We are a faith family--so this can be our family room.
Bottom line, I want you to be encouraged, educated, challenged, and maybe even changed by what you read. (Pretty big build-up, isn't it? Well, let's just see how it goes.) Who knows, maybe our God will teach us all a little something as we commit to loving Him and loving one another...
I love you guys,
David
So, here it is. But let me clarify what "it" is... And perhaps it would be easiest to start by saying what it is not:
1. It is not the church newsletter
2. It is not the pastor's diary
3. It is not an online sermon resource
So what in the world is the purpose of a "bridge blog" from the pastor?
"Life at the Bridge" will be a place for us to meet, interact, share our hearts, and do life together. I will share my thoughts about how God is working in our church body. And I hope you will respond by sharing your hearts, as well. Think of it as online living room. Just come in, kick of your shoes, sit down by the fireplace (you can tell I'm writing this is the winter, huh?), sip on some hot chocolate, and let's talk about God. We are a faith family--so this can be our family room.
Bottom line, I want you to be encouraged, educated, challenged, and maybe even changed by what you read. (Pretty big build-up, isn't it? Well, let's just see how it goes.) Who knows, maybe our God will teach us all a little something as we commit to loving Him and loving one another...
I love you guys,
David
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