Tuesday, September 18, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
There is more to
come. I am excited about the future. God is not done with us. In our
infancy we are just starting to roll over, and then we’ll learn to crawl, and
walk, and run, and leap. Few learn these things over night, but as we grow we
will look back and be amazed at when we stood for the first time. We are His
workmanship fashioned for His purposes and He is working on us! There is more
to come! More of His amazing grace. More of His passionate love. More mercy,
faith, trials, and grace. More, more, more! To the praise and the glory of His
name and of His fame forever and ever. Amen
Sunday, September 16, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson 6
You never have to swim alone. In the Penguins of Madagascar there’s this great dialogue that occurs when one of them gets lost:
Kowalski: Oh, no. He must be out there all by himself.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
Skipper: No.
[Rico speaks Japanese gibberish]
Skipper: No, that's the Walrus Credo. It's "Never swim alone." Private's out there all by himself, and we never leave one of our own.
Kowalski: Oh, yeah.
Skipper: Let's go.
I love this idea, the Penguins Creedo, "Never Swim Alone." Not only are we in this church plant with amazing families and friends supporting it, but the point that you don’t go alone is crutial. He (God) is with you and you don’t carry the weight by yourself, He never leaves a man down. I have taken heart in this; He will never leave me or forsake me. All the prayerful plans we have made for this church, all the things that we dream for it to be and do, all that the current moment has and that the future will have. One; they don’t have to rest entirely on me. And two, if we are pointed toward Him we are in the right direction and we never have to swim alone. That’s good news.
You never have to swim alone. In the Penguins of Madagascar there’s this great dialogue that occurs when one of them gets lost:
Kowalski: Oh, no. He must be out there all by himself.
Skipper: He's one of us, men. You all know the Penguin Credo.
Kowalski: Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick?
Skipper: No.
[Rico speaks Japanese gibberish]
Skipper: No, that's the Walrus Credo. It's "Never swim alone." Private's out there all by himself, and we never leave one of our own.
Kowalski: Oh, yeah.
Skipper: Let's go.
I love this idea, the Penguins Creedo, "Never Swim Alone." Not only are we in this church plant with amazing families and friends supporting it, but the point that you don’t go alone is crutial. He (God) is with you and you don’t carry the weight by yourself, He never leaves a man down. I have taken heart in this; He will never leave me or forsake me. All the prayerful plans we have made for this church, all the things that we dream for it to be and do, all that the current moment has and that the future will have. One; they don’t have to rest entirely on me. And two, if we are pointed toward Him we are in the right direction and we never have to swim alone. That’s good news.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson 5:
The sacrifice is worthy of the calling. AKA, church planting is tough, but it’s so worth doing! This life in Christ will cost you. It will cost you everything. It will cost you your very life. I know that’s not a popular view in today’s culture, but it’s true. This year I left so many things dear to me on the altar of sacrifice; time, family, friends, maybe a little pride and arrogance too. I’m not talking about throwing my family under a bus in some crusade or quest for my glory (Church planters; that is in no way Gods will for you and your family!). I’m talking about laying down MY rights and My conclusions and My way on how things should go. It’s about the internal wrestling of my heart and affections. In my journey I have wrestled, am wrestling, with what this all means, but I know that when I give my stuff up to Him I am a better father, husband, friend and pastor. Sacrifice is worthy of the calling. He is challenging me to sacrifice my rights to participate in His calling. And what has He called me to do? The same exact thing He has called you to do. To follow Him. Lay down my life (daily the Bible says) and follow Him.
The sacrifice is worthy of the calling. AKA, church planting is tough, but it’s so worth doing! This life in Christ will cost you. It will cost you everything. It will cost you your very life. I know that’s not a popular view in today’s culture, but it’s true. This year I left so many things dear to me on the altar of sacrifice; time, family, friends, maybe a little pride and arrogance too. I’m not talking about throwing my family under a bus in some crusade or quest for my glory (Church planters; that is in no way Gods will for you and your family!). I’m talking about laying down MY rights and My conclusions and My way on how things should go. It’s about the internal wrestling of my heart and affections. In my journey I have wrestled, am wrestling, with what this all means, but I know that when I give my stuff up to Him I am a better father, husband, friend and pastor. Sacrifice is worthy of the calling. He is challenging me to sacrifice my rights to participate in His calling. And what has He called me to do? The same exact thing He has called you to do. To follow Him. Lay down my life (daily the Bible says) and follow Him.
Friday, September 14, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson 4:
God loves me. I can hardly type this right now without crying because I know that I am loved. Have you ever been truly loved, accepted, adopted, and cherished? I don’t always feel this way, but I know that is His view of me, and there are times when I feel it. This summer we were getting ready for a driving trip we were taking on Sunday, but Thursday the car broke down. So I start on the process of finding out what’s wrong with the thing, on the process I spend 40 dollars on miscellaneous parts, then narrowed it down to the alternator. 130 bucks for that. We are family of 5 on a budget, only doing cash for everything, and we are on the salary of a teacher. That cost was the difference of gas for our trip, and it had to be paid. You might be guessing the rest of this story, but it’s so good I’ve got to share it. I had told another church that I would come out and speak on Friday night at a special service. I did not want to go. I was in a poor mood, frustrated, upset, sour. But I had committed so I went. And God is so good, on the drive over there I was praying about it and giving my poor attitude to Him, and felt the weight lifting. So I spoke there and had a great time. On my way out, the pastor slipped a check into my hand. He says, “We prayed and felt like we were supposed to give this to you.” Now, mind you, I did not even mention the vehicle troubles or cost at all and was not expecting anything in payment. Politely I said thank you and got into the car. On the drive home I opened the check. It was exactly $170.00 dollars. I was so overwhelmed I had to pull the car over, tears pouring down my face, my breath taken away. Overwhelmed by the love of my Heavenly Father. He loves me. He shows it and I know it.
God loves me. I can hardly type this right now without crying because I know that I am loved. Have you ever been truly loved, accepted, adopted, and cherished? I don’t always feel this way, but I know that is His view of me, and there are times when I feel it. This summer we were getting ready for a driving trip we were taking on Sunday, but Thursday the car broke down. So I start on the process of finding out what’s wrong with the thing, on the process I spend 40 dollars on miscellaneous parts, then narrowed it down to the alternator. 130 bucks for that. We are family of 5 on a budget, only doing cash for everything, and we are on the salary of a teacher. That cost was the difference of gas for our trip, and it had to be paid. You might be guessing the rest of this story, but it’s so good I’ve got to share it. I had told another church that I would come out and speak on Friday night at a special service. I did not want to go. I was in a poor mood, frustrated, upset, sour. But I had committed so I went. And God is so good, on the drive over there I was praying about it and giving my poor attitude to Him, and felt the weight lifting. So I spoke there and had a great time. On my way out, the pastor slipped a check into my hand. He says, “We prayed and felt like we were supposed to give this to you.” Now, mind you, I did not even mention the vehicle troubles or cost at all and was not expecting anything in payment. Politely I said thank you and got into the car. On the drive home I opened the check. It was exactly $170.00 dollars. I was so overwhelmed I had to pull the car over, tears pouring down my face, my breath taken away. Overwhelmed by the love of my Heavenly Father. He loves me. He shows it and I know it.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson 3
God still hears our prayers. So, one thing that I would recommend to anyone; put God to the test. I know that’s dangerous language, but you know what, God is big enough and He cares about you. We don’t preach a name it and claim it message, but we do believe that it is His will for the Kingdom to come here and now. Sometimes we pray and things happen, sometimes nothing happens. It’s just the way works. I am not what I would consider a man of great faith, but maybe I’m learning to be a simple man of honest trust. He loves us, He loves you. We have seen people, in our church, with physical injuries, be prayed for and be healed. We have seen people with significant emotional wounds find a peace that passes all understand. He is not far away, He is right here in the good and bad, joy and pain. I have seen it this first year and I know we can say with confidence God still hears our prayers.
God still hears our prayers. So, one thing that I would recommend to anyone; put God to the test. I know that’s dangerous language, but you know what, God is big enough and He cares about you. We don’t preach a name it and claim it message, but we do believe that it is His will for the Kingdom to come here and now. Sometimes we pray and things happen, sometimes nothing happens. It’s just the way works. I am not what I would consider a man of great faith, but maybe I’m learning to be a simple man of honest trust. He loves us, He loves you. We have seen people, in our church, with physical injuries, be prayed for and be healed. We have seen people with significant emotional wounds find a peace that passes all understand. He is not far away, He is right here in the good and bad, joy and pain. I have seen it this first year and I know we can say with confidence God still hears our prayers.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson 2
The joy of community. For years Joanie and I dreamed of being part of a community of believers (in Silverton) that loved God, wanted go deeper in Christ, and to reach out in His name. I’ve never been a part of a church like this. People genuinely care about each other, pray for each other, and are trying to live life for Him. Some of the community stuff is radical and amazing, but usually it is so simple. Our family came home from a vacation this summer to a de-thawed freezer. All the food ruined. I didn’t even tell anyone, but the next day members from the church (who had heard about it somehow) stopped by with a freezer full of food to give us. We have friends and co-laborers right where we live who have accepted us and become our good friends. Super cool. And it is a sheer joy to walking with this group and growing in Him together. Amazing.
The joy of community. For years Joanie and I dreamed of being part of a community of believers (in Silverton) that loved God, wanted go deeper in Christ, and to reach out in His name. I’ve never been a part of a church like this. People genuinely care about each other, pray for each other, and are trying to live life for Him. Some of the community stuff is radical and amazing, but usually it is so simple. Our family came home from a vacation this summer to a de-thawed freezer. All the food ruined. I didn’t even tell anyone, but the next day members from the church (who had heard about it somehow) stopped by with a freezer full of food to give us. We have friends and co-laborers right where we live who have accepted us and become our good friends. Super cool. And it is a sheer joy to walking with this group and growing in Him together. Amazing.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
7 Lessons I’ve learned this first year:
Lesson #1:
Death is all around us. I know it sounds morbid, but it’s true. I had never even thought about this but within the first three months of church planting I had performed 2 funerals. I knew that pastors did that sort of thing, but I never even had that on my radar as something I would be doing. We had friends diagnosed with cancer. We saw addicts return to their old habits, financial collapse, and much more. The weight of life taking it’s toile. Listen, I learned this year that life is hard, and we all hurt. And if it weren’t for a merciful and loving God, I’d have no place to take the pain of pastoring. There is hurt everywhere, but there is also life, and I have learned more this year than ever that He is the source of life and I/we will cling to Him.
Death is all around us. I know it sounds morbid, but it’s true. I had never even thought about this but within the first three months of church planting I had performed 2 funerals. I knew that pastors did that sort of thing, but I never even had that on my radar as something I would be doing. We had friends diagnosed with cancer. We saw addicts return to their old habits, financial collapse, and much more. The weight of life taking it’s toile. Listen, I learned this year that life is hard, and we all hurt. And if it weren’t for a merciful and loving God, I’d have no place to take the pain of pastoring. There is hurt everywhere, but there is also life, and I have learned more this year than ever that He is the source of life and I/we will cling to Him.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)