The Flawed thinking of a "Retired" Pastor

Thanks for Praying for Our Boys

To all of you who have been lifting our Spirit week in prayer, thank you so much.  The week was has been awesome, and that's not a word I use a lot.  The week's activities have been numerous and fun (not to mention winning both of our basketball games last night).  The chapel services were wonderful and team-preaching with our assistant principal, Derek Chirch, was a real joy.  Our altar call on Thursday yielded 8 responses for salvation, and 23 recommitments to the Lord.  On Friday morning we put out of call to all of our young men who desired to "sell out" to Jesus and truly become a man of God.  Over 50 boys responded to be commissioned as a man of God.  Each one received a covenant to sign and "battle paint" applied under their eyes (which we wore all day).  Most of the guys still were wearing their paint at the game last night.  I believe this week will be a turning point for our school.  A number of you have been praying; a number of you have asked.  I thought you'd like to know what the Lord continues to do in our ministry at Victory Christian.  Thanks again.

We Know Him

"You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for you name's sake, lead me and guide me."  (Psalm 31:3)  Discouraged people don't need critics.  They hurt enough already.  They don't need more guilt or piled-on-distress.  They need encouragement.  In a word, they need a refuge.  A place to hide and heal.  A willing, caring, available someone.  A confidant.  A comrade  at arms.  The One called "my Strength...my Rock...my Shield...my Fortress."  We know Him today by another name:  JESUS.

Capturing Our Boys for the Cause of Christ!!

Right after Christmas I posted an article regarding shaping boys into men.  I am tremendously excited about our Spirit Week this next week at the Christian school where I teach (Vcitory Christian Academy).  I'm going to be preaching half of the messages at our daily chapel services on the subject of Capturing Our Boys for the Cause of Christ.  I'm sharing these teaching duties with our assistant principal, Derek Chirch.  The philosophy behind our teaching next week is based upon what I wrote in that December 27 entry.  The Lord has led Derek and me to the truth that if the Lord can capture the hearts of our boys at our school, revival will break out and affect every student, male and female, there.  I believe its a biblical principle.  I'm putting together a girl's prayer group for the week to be lifting our young men to the Lord and for the opening of their hearts.  Our teaching will cover the reality of the battle, putting on the armor, confidence and courage in the walk, the battle belongs to the Lord, and a final wrap-up of "Biblical Heroes and Modern Warfare."  I have a heart for all of our students at VCA, but most certainly the Lord has laid upon me a burden for our boys.   I share all of this for your prayer support.  As you read this, would you pause and pray for our Spirit Week (January 23-27)?  I would personally appreciate your prayer support for my teaching this next week, as well as my interaction with our guys.  Thanks!!

Don't Just Sit There!

So a new year is smiling at us, full to the brim with 12 months of the unknown.  Ahead could be both sun-shiny days and a few storms with howling winds and giant waves.  Uncharted waters ahead!!  And, if we let ourselves, we could become so afraid of the potential dangers, so safety conscious, we will miss the adventure.  Hopefully this won't be a year of "somedays" or "well, maybes" or "in a year or two I'm gonna..."  Sandwiched between January 1 and December 31 are 12 exciting, unlived months of opportunity.  Hopefully, you too, will be shoved out of your comfort zones and required to respond.  Think of the dozens of things God is going to teach you and the many ways you're going to see Him work in the coming year!  Just sitting there isn't an option!  I hope that you will discover God has some wonderful things planned for you that you would never know or experience, unless you accept the challege that CHANGE inevitably brings.  And I warn you, if you're continual growing in Him, you will have to change...and that won't come easily.  Mark Twain was correct when he said, "The only one who likes change is a wet baby."  And one more thing - Breaking out of old, tired routines is one of the secrets of staying young and energetic.  So, 2012, HERE WE COME!!

Journey Through the School of Groaning

My new book, Journey Through the School of Groaning is out and available.  You can order through Authorhouse, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.Com; however the price is higher and includes shipping and handling.  You can get them cheaper directly from us.  I will be doing a signing at LaPorte First Church of God on Sunday, January 8 (8:30 and 10:30 am services) and at State Street Community Church in LaPorte on Sunday, January 22 (9:00 and 10:45 am services).    Hope to see you there.  Hard cover is $25.00 - Soft cover is $20.00.  It is also available at Higher Ground Bookstore in Michigan City.

Next Year...Rest?

I had an older brother say to me some time ago, "If you are God's child, you will seek your Father's face and live in your Father's love."  I probably need to have someone say that to me every day.  How easily we forget.  Why is it that I allow so much "stuff" to get in the way of my living in my Father's love?  Maybe I'm not spending enough time seeking His face.  I think of how much time I wasted this past year in anxiousness and worry.  How many times I let things block my vision and the blessings of my Father.  Why do I do that?  I guess because I'm me.  How often this past year have I tried to orchestrate some kind of awesome prayer life rather than just allow God to meet me and touch me as I lisped my words and groaned through my struggles?  I've spent a lot of time this past year being uptight about "stuff".  A new year begins tomorrow.  The grace of God never fails me; but I often fail the grace of God.  By His grace I look forward to the rest that He has prepared for me.  My prayer for you:  "Perhaps this year, you may truly rest in Jesus."  (Charles H. Spurgeon)

( The above is a section from my book, Journey Through the School of Groaning. )

Finishing Well

So we've reached the end of another year and in a couple of days face a new one.  When we stood on this spot 362 days ago, we looked ahead to what the Lord was going to teach us in the coming year and we anticipated the many ways we were going to see Him at work in our lives.  Perhaps you said, "By the end of 2011 I will discover that God has wondrous things for me which I would never
have known or experienced had I not accepted the challenge that changes inevitably bring."  Today, as you look back over the past weeks and months, what do you see?  How have His grace and His love and His joy touched your life?  When I personally began this year, I journaled about finishing well.  The reality is, of course, that we are not finished.  The race is not over.  Our lives are still being perfected.  We need much more of the Master's touch in our lives (in my life).  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Boys to Men

"Shaping men begins with shaping boys."  (Personal Journal - 11-17-08)

God is at work, reviving the church and restoring men.  It is to be our priority in leadership to lead men to a place of humility, responsibility, and servanthood.  Whoever else I influence as a leader (defined:  pastor, elder, husband, father, grandfather, teacher), whatever else I do, shaping men is a call to which I must answer--a call that first requires my being shaped myself as a man.  Guess where that starts?  Not with men; but with boys.  We who lead WILL multiply something.  What am I multiplying?  I am to be a bearer of the promise that His grace shall reproduce "sons through me."  In the lives of all the boys God leads into my life, I have a call to seed, and to feed, and to lead!!  God give me the wisdom to do just that.  Yup!!  Shaping men begins with shaping boys.

Disappointed? No Way!!

Many people still accept the "holiday myth" that the suicide rate goes up every holiday season.  That's statistically not true.  It isn't any higher in December than a lot of other months.  And New Year's Eve isn't the most dangerous night to drive, either.  (Actually, the most dangerous day to drive statistically is the 4th of July).  Which brings me to to the whole matter of the holidays and disappointment.  I couldn't stop chuckling over the video clips I saw in church last week of youngsters opening some really lame gifts and their reactions and disappointment.  They were set up.  Actually, we can all set ourselves up with a culture filled with rampant consumerism which offers hollow promises that new goodies and stuff will fill our deepest longings.  We know better.  Rolicking holiday parties will not provide the relationships and connections we crave.  And the quest for the "perfect" Christmas can obliterate the whole purpose of why we celebrate the season in the first place.  We in the body of Christ KNOW that Christmas is more than the perfect meal or the gifts or the beautiful decorations.  Christmas is about the profound love of God.  It is the celebration of the arrival of Messiah-our Savior.  Authentic Christmas will never disappoint; it will never break its promise to transform our lives.  Talk about subversive!  Praise God for the gift of His Son.  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  (2 Corinthians 9:15)

A Salty Manger

It was a dark-and-bland society into which Jesus was born.  It was a cold (literally and otherwise) world.  The birthing suite was an animal barn.  The attendants were cattle and sheep.  The crib was a mat of straw in a feeding trough.  The King of kings had come; and his only subjects that night were a bunch of outcast shepherds.  Just a few miles away was a politician who wanted to kill Him.  And we think ours is a rugged, wicked world.  And, yes it is.  We are a stubborn, warring people.  Outside of riots and wars, studies have concluded that the most dangerous place to be is in the American home!  Domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise in our hard, hostile society.  Makes one wonder what possible influence the servants of this King of kings can be.  How much clout do the "poor in spirit" really have?  The odds seemed stacked against us.  I mean, servants of Jesus will always be in  the minority.  Can our presence do much good?  Isn't it pretty much a wasted effort?  Jesus, the One who first painted for us the servant's portrait, both in words and in His own life, did not share this skepticism.  Read the Beattitudes in the Sermon on the Mount lately?  Yes, it's true, He never promised us a rose garden.  He has always been up front with us and admitted that the arena of this world is not a friend of grace to help us to God.  Nevertheless, strange as it may seem, He went on to tell us as godly servants in all generations that our influence can be nothing short of remarkable.  He says we will be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."  Without the influence of His servants in this culture, this old world would soon begin to realize our absence.  Even though it may not admit it, society needs both salt and light.  And that's what God has called us to be - Salt and light servants in a dark-and-bland society!!