Winter Light

The people walking in garkness have seen a greta light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

It seems that each year about this time of season the Lord impresses upon a one word theme. This year it is "light."

For some reason, this Christmas season my attention has been drawn to Christmas lights. There is something fascinating about light. As I vacationed this past week on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, I was mesmerized by the lights that lit up the hillside surround the harbor of Frenchman’s Bay. I was reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14, "A city on a hill cannot be hidden..."

A couple of years ago I was able to walk through Ezekiels' tunnel in the City of David, Jerusalem, Israel. As our tour group weaved its way through this 3 1/2 foot wide and maybe 5 foot tall tunnel, the power failed and the lights went out. We had to grope our way through darkness, feeling the sides of the tunnel, hoping that we would not trip or hit our head in the darkness. Fortunately, a few of us had cell phones and were able to sort of light our way with the back lit screens. what a welcom sight was the daylight. Sometimes we find ourselves on a dark journey in life.

With the coming of winter our nights become longer and our days shorter. Winter light casts longer shadows. The shadows appear to be longer than the actual object that projects the shadow. And so it seems within the thoughts of our minds as we struggle to overcome the dark shadows of our life’s struggles. Sometimes our dark or shadowing thoughts appear larger than they really are.

Many people are affected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This condition occurs as a result of a lack of light. Depression, oversleeping, daytime fatigue, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain are some of the symptoms. Lethargy, hopelessness, lack of interest in normal activities, and social withdrawal often accompany SAD. An increase in artificial light is often the cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Some Christians seem to have a spiritual form of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Instead of the use of artificial light (a substitute), there needs to be an increased dose of the Son of God, Jesus, into their lives.

Every morning I get up before the break of dawn and sit down in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and turn on the lamp beside me in order to read my Bible. Almost every morning without exception, if I don’t twist the on/off knob just right, the bulb flickers on and off. You would think I would get it fixed or just replace the thing. But I don’t. Jeanne likes it, so it won’t be replaced. And it’s not like I don’t know how to fix it. My dad was an electrician and I learned a lot from him. It's just that I find myself either too lazy, too busy, or too distracted by other things in my life to bother with it. So, I live with this flickering lamp. Sometimes I find myself and see other Christians living like that flickering lamp, going on and then going off. Sometimes we become dimmer and then get brighter. It can be very irritating, yet I choose not to change the lamp or fix the loose connection. Some of us remain in the same state in which my lamp is. Frustration and irritableness radiates outwardly from deep within instead of the light of life sparkling through.

I am reminded of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mat. 25:1-13). Five virgins had their lamps lit and full and were prepared with an additional container of oil as they waited for the bride groom. Five only had the oil that was in their lamp. The bridegroom delayed in his coming. The five that had not additional oil ran out and sked the other five to share their oil with them. They were told to go and buy more. But while they were gone, the bridegroom came and received the five that were prepared and had sufficient oil for their lamps. It is in the winter of our soul that we need to have additional oil and to hold on tight to the oil that we do have in order for our light of life to keep burning.

Paul wrote to the church at Rome these words (Rom 13:11-12 NIV):
…the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Robert Caro wrote a book about former president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Many will remember or know that Johnson ascended to the presidency through the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Others will remember him for his conduct of the Viet Nam War. Still others will recognize him for his war on poverty. But Caro found, however, that the Hill country of Texas where Johnson first began his career as a congressman remembered him for something else.

While interviewing people of the Hill country, no matter who Caro talked to, he found people repeating one phrase over and over about Johnson. “He brought the lights! No matter what he was like, we love him because he brought the lights.” In 1937, when Johnson was elected to congress at age 28 there was no electricity in the Hill country. By 1948, when he was elected to the Senate, most of his district had electricity. ”He brought the lights.”

Isaiah proclaimed: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..." (Isa 9:6 NIV).

The apostle John expressed best what the coming of the Christ Child meant for mankind when he compared it to light coming into the world of darkness:

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5 New Living Translation)

Jesus brought light. More than that, Jesus is the light of the world.

A few years before 1920, the Sadacca family arrived in the U.S. from Spain. At that time they were manufacturing wicker cages with artificial birds inside, which contained tiny battery operated flashlight bulbs. But sales were slow and finally petered out. The novelty had worn off.

Then 15 year old Albert Sadacca read a newspaper account of a house fire caused by Christmas tree lights. The thought came to him, “Why not make strings of lights for Christmas trees? They would be much safer than candles.” It seemed like a good idea, so he was able to persuade his family to switch from caged imitation birds to Christmas lights.

Up to that point, North America and most of the rest of the world lit up Christmas trees dangerously, using small candles in metal holders. The only problem was that periodically, a tree would go up in flames. Sometimes not only the tree but the presents as well went up in flames, and sometimes even the entire house, and even death resulted for some of the homeowners.

The Sadacca family sold only 100 bulbs in their first year of operation. Now the firm, Norma World-Wide Inc., has sold over 700 million bulbs in a single season and reaches out in several countries of the world. Safe Christmas lights are now a part of the Holiday Season inspired by a 15 year old boy named Albert Sadacca.

Jesus, the light of the world, is an inspiration to a multitude of people who live in darkness!

It was Christmas lights that saved Captain Stewart Spurr and his crew of Pacific Western Airlines. They were flying over Vancouver, B.C. to Kelowna, to pick up passengers when one engine cut out completely. The plane was at 30,000 feet over the town of Hope when the failure occurred. The pilot turned back toward Vancouver. About five miles from Vancouver, the second engine began to sputter and fail. Captain Spurr knew he had to find a place to land fast.

In recounting his story, Spurr said, “Christmas lights, decorating the houses, showed me where the residential area was. Then I spotted a patch of black among the lights. I dared not lower the landing gear. I knew I had to belly flop the plane.” He did, right smack into James Tonaski’s strawberry field.

Captain Spurr and his crew will always be thankful that the Sadacca family came all the way from Madrid, Spain to North America to originate lighting by light bulbs at Christmas time. Because of it all four crew members were saved from death.

Jesus is that light that the world is seeking this Christmas. Jesus is the true (authentic) light that you are seeking to lift the darkness and shadows that are present in your life.

John 8:12 VIV
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

We, the followers of Jesus Christ have the light of life. Our lives are to lighten darkened homes and darkened communities.

Matt 5:14-16 NIV
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

I like how The Message phrases these verses in Matt 5:14-16:

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

The light that is within us is a powerful message! It is one of salvation, one of deliverance, one of hope, one of overcoming, one peace, one of contentment, one of protection, one of victory.

Isa 9:6-7 NIV
...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Again, I like The Message:

"...His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this."

Jack Jones was a Welsh coal miner’s son. In his auto-biography, Unfinished Journey, he tells about a terrifying incident as a boy. He was down in the mine with his father, when something went wrong, and the men had to find another way out.

They struggled through a maze of tunnels. Jack’s father was one of the best miners and he was a devoted father. He took Jack on his back and led his fellow miners over the dangerous ground in search of a way out. In the foul air, the flames of their lamps began to weaken

As they came near the dark water in the mine, Jack’s father said, “Careful, son, hold fast around dad’s neck.” Slowly he worked his way through the murky water which was almost up to his chest. Across the water, they started up a steep incline. After a time, he stooped and knelt down and pointed. “Look son.” And there in the distant was a bright disk about the size of a half dollar, on what appeared to be a distant mountain. “That’s what we’ve been looking for, son – the light of the world. Come on!” And the light grew in size as they climbed their way to the world’s surface.

What a beautiful picture – being led out of our darkness. And leading others to the light of the world.

"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

A Lesson from the Ducks

I know it is only August, but the fall season is not too far off. Then, before you know it, winter will be settling in on us here in lovely Northern New England. If you are anything like me, you are already thinking about the rising fuel costs. They will probably double our previous season’s fuel bill. How are we going to make it and keep warm this winter? It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was sitting in my boat watching a momma duck float by with her little ducklings following close behind her. As I replay that scene in my mind, I am struck by the seemingly lack of concern or care that they had. The scene reminded me of Jesus’ words, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:26 NIV)

In the greater context of this passage, Jesus could have summed it all up in two words: worry and finances. Jesus used birds as a way to illustrate God’s care for us. If He will take care of ducks, how much more is He interested in us? In fact, Jesus sumed up the context of this passage with these words, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33 NIV) One word could sum up these words of Jesus: priority. You are a priority in God’s greater plan and purposes. God is to be of greater priority in your life. Here are some prioritizing steps that you and I can take toward aligning ourselves with God.

Step One: Make sure you are honestly (a matter of integrity) tithing (10% of your income) to your church. This opens the windows of blessings from God (Mal. 3).
Step Two: Ask the Lord, prayerfully, to help you distinguish between personal needs and personal wants. Learn how to say “no” to your appetite for more possessions.
Step Three: Avoid the easy credit trap. If you can’t afford it without borrowing, don’t buy it. Apply as much as you can above the minimum monthly amount to pay off your debt.
Step Four: Live within your means (reality check). Reject the mindset of this world in which we live that says you deserve more.

Our Heavenly Father wants to give the very best to His children, regardless of economic situation. He often withholds the very best from those who fail or refuse to live within the reality of their provisions and giving. Realign and prioritize your finances according to biblical principles in preparation for this winter season. These steps will result in greater joy, greater peace, and greater fruitfulness during your winter season.

Right Worship

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Prov. 14:12 NIV

Is possible that our act or action of worship can displease God?

In 2 Samual 6, we read the story of David bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem. It was a festive occasion with great celebration. "David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals." (v.5) What happens next is a shock. The oxen which was pulling the cart, on which the ark rested, stumbled. the ark began to tip and Uzzah, one of the individuals assigned to guide the oxen and cart, reached out to steady the ark so that it would not fall to the ground. "The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God." (v.7) David became angry and refused to bring the ark to Jerusalem. He left the ark with Obed-Edom for three months. David again went back to get the ark of God to bring it to Jerusalem. This time read, "When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (vv.13-15)

Act On the Unreasonable and God Does the Impossible

In Luke 5:1-11 we see Jesus working the miraculous catch of fish. In order for the miracle to occur, Jesus asked, no instructed Peter, to launch out into deep water for a catch after having fished all night and caught nothing. In fact, Peter thought the request was unreasonable (v.5) "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything..." Sometimes we allow the methods we are accustomed to, the traditions we are conditioned by, and the repetitions of daily life that we are familiar with, limit what we think God can do. In order to stretch our faith God asks the unreasonable of us. When we act on the unreasonable, He does the impossible which is the miraculous.

Get Up

John 5:1-15

Thirty-eight years is a long time to lie around. Nothing can be accomplished without desire. Jesus asked this crippled man an important question. "Do you want to be healed?" Jesus started with the man's desire.

The difference between a winner and loser is desire. There was a heavy weight champion who had the motto, "Fight One More Round!" It rallied him when his arms were weak and he seemed to tired to lift them up. It brought him out of the corner when every muscle cried out, "Give up!" It kept him going when others would quit. His motto made him into a champion.

This crippled man enjoyed a measure of comfort within his discomfit. I have visted the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. I can imagine its past beauty. Where he lay was one of the most attractive pools or health clinic of his day. Bethesda was surrounded by five covered porches. It wasn't an unpleasant place to have to lie around day after day. There was shade from the sun and cover from the storms. He could listen to the sound of the rippling water. Thousands outside of that pool area had to work hard and toil in the heat. I can imagine the merchants pushing their dirty carts. Farmers would be clearing and preparing their fields outside the city. Shepherds probably searched for green pastures for their sheep. It might have been easier to lie down. For this man, suffering ill health may have been easier by lying down. It was his comfort zone in the midst of discomfort.

Casey Stengel is a baseball legend. He led my New York Yankees (Yes you read right, this New Englander is not a Red Sox fan) to five successful league championships and world series victories. How did he do that? Through failure! He failed as a manager in Boston and Brooklyn. There was one season that he was paid in full not to manage. He simply refused to accept failure as final. He did not give up or give in. He pushed on. He stirred up the gifts as a leader and manager within him and out of such desire an amazing string of victories occurred. He got up!

Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be free of whatever it is that is holding you in bondage? Have you become accustomed to lying down?

The crippled man's response is interesting in verse 7. "Sir, I have no one..." That's a favorite alibi of those who lie around. No one seems to want to help me. I've never enjoyed the advantages that others have. The doors closed just before I arrived. I've been neglected my whole life. I have tried, but it never seems to do any good. Self-pity is like a parasite.

Don't look at difficulty. Look at opportunity. The man had a choice to make. There were a multitude of sick and impotent people under those colonades. They were all waiting. He could have chose to look at those problems or he could look to God through Jesus. He exercised his faith on hearing Jesus' words, "Pick up your mat and walk."

Jesus' prescription for healing was simple: (1) desire faith, (2) exercise your faith, and (3) don't do what you have been doing anymore.

The Real Lord's Prayer

So often we call the prayer by Jesus found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 as "The Lord's Prayer." There he was teaching his disciples and us how we are to pray. In those verses Jesus provided us a model or example as to how to pray.

As I was reading Jesus' prayer in John 17, the thought occurred to me that this is the the real Lord's prayer. He is not giving us just a model of prayer in this passage. He is literally and passionately praying for his disciples and for all in the future who would come to the faith. His prayer was for the present and future followers of Jesus Christ.

Regarding this passage in John 17, The Serendipity Bible for Groups asks the questions, "How are your prayers for others like and unlike Jesus' prayer? Do your prayers reflect the short-term urgent, or the long-term important needs that people have?" Those are good questions for each of us to reflect on. I want my prayers to have lasting impact into the future.

Looking at Jesus' prayer in John 17, I notice the following concerns and cares that he prays:

1. Jesus prays that I would have an intimate relationship with him (vv. 2-3) and his Word (v. 17).

2. Jesus prays that I would not fall away because of the world in which I live, or because of Satan's temptations, or false teachings (vv. 6,11,14-17).

3. Jesus prays that my joy would be full (complete) in him (v. 13).

4. Jesus prays that I would have holy thoughts; to be holy in character and deed (v. 17). "Sanctify" means to make holy, to be separate or set apart. God's Word is "truth." The apostle Paul instructs us how to have holy thoughts in Philippians 4:8.

5. Jesus prays that I would be one in purpose and fellowship with fellow believers even as he demonstrated his unity with the Father (vv. 11, 21-22). This requires constant action or vigilance on my part. It is not to be an artificial unity, but authentic.

6. Jesus prays that I would lead others to Christ through my authentic relationship with him and with my fellow believers (vv. 21,23).

7. Jesus prays that my faith would persevere and that I would finish strong (v. 24).

8. Lastly, Jesus prays that I would constantly live in his presence and God's love (v. 26).

Wow! Surely such passionate praying on my part, following Jesus' prayer in this passage, will have lasting and impacting long term affects. We see in Jesus' prayer, the heart of a Shepherd, who truly cares for his flock. What do our prayers reveal about us?

8 Distrinctive Traits of New Englanders

Stephen Macchia in his book, Becoming A Healthy Church: 10 Characteristics, identifies eight distinctive traits of New Englanders. They are:

1. New Englanders tend to resist change.
2. New Englanders tend to value tradition.
3. New Englanders tend to be Roman Catholic.
4. New Englanders tend to have a secular mind-set.
5. New Englanders tend to be self-reliant.
6. New Englanders tend to be reserved.
7. New Englanders tend to favor insiders.
8. New Englanders tend to operate locally.

What think you? Are these really reflective of only New England? Or do they reflect 21st century culture in general? Do these affect how you do ministry? If so, how? If not, why not?

Stay Connected

This morning, Jeanne and I began reading the Holy Week story from the Gospel of Luke in The Message for our devotions. We had an interesting discussion over Luke 22:4

"Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them."

Our discussion centered around the phrase "Leaving the others..." How often when we separate ourselves from others, we stumble and fall. When we no longer want to be subject to accountability or we lack followership we become vulnerable. Judas left the group. He did what he had to do. He did what he wanted to do. Don't wander off by yourself. Stay connected and avoid a fall.

Time Travels

I have been on the road the past two weeks attending our sectional councils. These meetings are attended by our pastors and their church delegates. The purpose of these councils are business (election of sectional officers) and fellowship (relationship building). So far, I have traveled over 1900 miles across three states (ME, NH, VT) by car. It has been worth every minute and every mile in spite of some poor travel conditions due to bad weather. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with our pastors. I think Northern New England has many of the best and faithful pastors in the country. They aren't well known names, but they are doing great things for the kingdom of God in the churches that God has planted them in. These men and women are incredibly talented and gifted.

During my free time in my motel room in the evenings, I have been reading the book Come Back Churches by Ed Spetzer and Mike Dodson. They made the statement, "Most American churches today are well suited for ministry in a different era. All churches are culturally relevant; the question is whether they are relevant to a culture that currently exists in their community or to one that disappeared generations ago." (65) This statement got me to thinking about our rich Pentecostal history.

Maine is rich in Pentecostal history. Charles Parham, led the first revival of the 20th century at Bethel Bible School in Topeka, KS. He was one of the founders of the Apostolic Faith Movement. He was among the first to teach that speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Assemblies of God has its early roots tied to this event in Kansas. However, did you know that Parham had visited Shiloh, Maine and studied under a man by the name of Frank Sandford for several weeks in his Bible school. It was there in 1900 that Parham first witnessed "speaking in tongues." It was from here that Parham went to Topeka, KS and opened a Bethel Bible School and challenged his students to study the book of Acts and determine what was the evidence of the baptism in the Spirit. It was the birth of our present day pentecostal movement.

One of our Aroostook Sectional Council was hosted by Washburn Pentecostal Church in Washburn, Maine. This church was the first pentecostal church organized in the state of Maine. I was excited about being able to visit this church and step back in history. Its history began when a few ladies from Washburn traveled to an Advent camp meeting in Framingham, MA. They came back from those meetings on fire for God and found a railroad engineer named Nelson Magoon, a pentecostal, to begin a church in Washburn. Magoon and his wife rented a small vacant Morman church on main street and held meetings throughout 1915. The church grew rapidly and eventually built a new building (on it present location). When Magoon and others heard about Aimee Semple McPherson's ministry, they invited her to come to Washburn to hold meetings in 1917. A tent was pitched on the ground behind the church (now their parking lot) and hundreds came from Caribou, Presque Isle, Easton and the boader towns of Canada. Before McPherson left for parts south, Magoon laid hands on her and ordained her as an evangelist. Although I was standing in an independent pentecostal church, I recognized I was standing in a moment of history that connected the Northern New England District Assemblies of God (formed in 1954) to a past that very much identified who we are now. It was an awesome moment. Thank God for early pioneers of faith.

We can't live in the past. Museums are nice places to visit and learn but eventually we must walk back outside into the present where culture has evolved over time. Living in my past does not necessarily make me relevant to the present. The message remains, but our methods will change.

Recommended Book to Read

I just finished reading a book that was recommended by our General Superintendent, Dr. George Wood. It's title is "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day: How To Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars." The author is Mark Batterson, an Assembly of God minister, who is lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington D.C. You may even want to check out the church's web site.

The title and premise of the book is built around two verses: 2 Samuel 23:21-21.

"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear."

Mark's book is a thoughtful and challenging writing regarding our faith journey and making an impact in our world for the kingdom of God. My favorite passage in the book is found on page 17:

"I have a simple definition of success: Do the best you can with what you have where you are. In essence, success is making the most of every opportunity. Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities. Think of every opportunity as God's gift to you. What you do with those opportunities is your gift to God. I'm absolutely convinced that our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities."

Faithfulness and Fruitfulness

I have been following some discussion on another blog called AG Think Tank about ministry fruitfulness. I couldn't help but post my two cents worth and decided that I should add it to my own blog as food for thought. So here it is.

As I was reading I began to reflect on my own personal story and “faithfulness lesson” as a church planter in Ellsworth, Maine (1981-1986). In about the second year of my church plant, our church was averaging seven people on a Sunday morning and three on Sunday night. Two of those people in that average was myself and my wife. I was very discouraged. The Pentecostal Evangel had been highlighting church plants that took off with overnight successes marked by seventy-five to two hundred in Sunday attendances. One Sunday night I was lamenting my disappointment to my wife and dear Margret, my other faithful Sunday night attender. Margret was full of Godly wisdom, gentleness, and kindness as she asked me the question. “Pastor, are you ready to pastor a hundred people?’ That question stopped me cold and caused me in that moment to reflect about my own abilities and understanding. In that moment, I verbally had to answer Margret honestly saying, “Margret you are right. I am not ready to pastor a church of a hundred.” There were things that I needed to learn that only God could teach me. Lesson One: Sometimes our churches are not ready for the harvest because we leaders are not thoroughly prepared to receive the fruit of our labors.

On another occasion that same year, I was running down the Surry Road during my daily marathon training crying out to God about my disppointment in the lack of fruitfulness and growth that I was not seeing when the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my tracks. I can take you to that exact spot. Standing on the side of the road, the Spirit of God, spoke this question into my mind. “What is succes?” I had all kinds of answers. I was very animated (I wonder what the drivers thought of this crazy guy apparently speaking to no one on the side of the road with my hands and arms moving about). After several minutes, I stopped my discourse and finally said, “I don’t know God, you tell me.” God asked me one more ( well two) question. He asked, “Are you in my will? Are you called to be here in Ellsworth?” That was easy to answer because God had validated my call to Ellsworth to plant a church in too many ways to have had any doubts. I responded quickly and with firmness, “Yes, Lord. I know that I am called here and am in your will because…" I then listed off to Him all the confirmations and validations that had brought me to this place on the side of the road. When I finished, the Spirit of God spoke into my mind these words, “Success in being in God’s perfect will. Whether you pastor a church of a hundred or a church of three, you are successful.” I ran home that day with new vigor and assurance that Ellsworth Assembly of God would be a success. In the third year of our plant I began to see the fruit of my labors. By the fourth year we were able to purchase property and in the fifth year build a building. Twenty-five years later I was invited back to participate and preach at their anniversary service. Lesson two: Success is determined by our willingness to be in God’s perfect will.”

One response from Lane Douglas to my post at AG Think Tank is included because I happen to have a great deal of interest in Cival War and World War II history and can relate to the posting. Here it is:

"Growing up in a home where parents were Civil War buffs, many of my summer vacations consisted of learning U.S. History. Rather than Disney World, we frequented such locales as Antietam, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and, of course, Gettysburg.

One of the factors attributing to the Confederacy’s loss was the passion their leaders had for their men and for what they perceived as not so much a “war” as a defense of their homeland. This translated into many captains and generals moving themselves too close to the battlefront wanting desperately to be in the “action.” As a result, many of them were either wounded or killed from sniper fire or stray bullets.

What does that have to do with what you wrote? The result of these leaders being taken out of commission (many of them West Point trained) was that their spots had to be filled. Thus, sergeants and captains of small brigades would receive field commissions and end up being promoted before their time. They would find themselves in charge of units of soldiers larger than they had yet learned what to do with. The result was a degradation of command over time with large portions of the military being led as if they were local units since these newly commissioned leaders had yet to receive the proper training or experience.

So… not only in the church, but in the realm of leadership in general we see that fruitfulness before faithfulness can be detrimental to long-term success."

That last sentence is important.

Drifting

We are having an above average amount of snowfall to date this winter. It must be expected when living in Maine. I enjoy watching the snow fall. There is something peaceful about it as the flakes float downward and are moved about by the wind. I just don't like cleaning the driveway up after a storm.

The idea of floating snow flakes causes me to think about the words in Hebrews 2:1 which I just recently read.

"It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language)

Drifting faith is the warning. Drifting snow is alot like some people's faith. The flakes are all over the place with no other purpose than to land wherever the wind blows them. Some people's faith is like that. There is no spiritual foundation or purpose to life.

As a youth pastor in New Jersey many, many years ago, I took the youth group on a 6 hour canoe trip down a stream. It was a peaceful, sort of lazy trip. Because there was an odd number in our group, I ended up with a canoe all to myself. The current just moved us along. I didn't have to do much in the way of paddling. I just moved silently along enjoying the warmth of the sun. But every once in awhile, as I was day dreaming and not paying attention I would bump into another canoe in our group or end up stuck in some shallow water. I think that is kind a what the Hebrew writer is warning us to be careful to avoid.

On another occasion as a child, my family went to the beach one hot summer day along the Jersey shore. The ocean water was warm, the sun shone brightly. It was a perfect day to be in the water. And that is exactly what I did. I would swim out as far as I dared and let the crashing waves push me back to the beach. I would swim back out and let the waves bring me back in. This went on for quite some time. Finally, after tiring and desiring to be in the company of my parents I came back up on the beach only to discover to my surprise and shock that my parents and the family blanket were not where I had left them when I first went into the water. After some panick and some scouting about I found them. What had happened was that the ocean currents had moved me some distance down the beach because I had not been paying attention to my location in relation to our beach blanket. I was too busy enjoying myself.

Drifting off course is one of those great evil influences that affects the believers life. There are so many currents, so many elements that can catch us unexpectantly. They move silently, carrying us about without our ever taking notice because we are so absorbed by our own inner desires or surrounding distractions. It's a kind of our own spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder.

Are you paying attention today to the One who is our spiritual foundation?

Looking Backward

As a former cadet at North Georgia College, I am on the school's Foundation mailing list. Last night I received their latest mailing. In it was an article that caught my eye, "Vietnam Vets Remember NGC of The Sixties." Since I attended the school in 1969, I was interested to find out if I knew anyone in the article. Of course, I didn't recognize the two individuals as they both graduated before I arrived. However, their stories were extremely interesting, especially that of Ralph Colley.

Ralph Colley was a 1966 graduate of North Georgia College. Speaking about his Viet Nam War experience, he called it “8 very exciting months in Viet Nam and one really bad afternoon.” Near Cu Chi (1967), Ralph Colley, then a 1st Lt. and platoon leader in a rifle company of the 101st Airborne Divison, came in contact with a land mine, and lost his left arm and both legs in the ensuing explosion. Colley said that at the time, “My spiritual dimension helped, of course.” In the article he also said:

“My war period was four decades ago. Even with all I’ve done since, that was the most exciting, interesting, demanding, challenging period of my life, a time lived more fully and with greater intensity than any other. Despite all the negatives – and I will say I wouldn’t ever want to do it again – I got immense satisfaction from showing myself I could be tested and found capable. North Georgia was a huge part of that.”


I was inspired by the way he was looking backward with no regret and reflecting on how those experiences "tested" him and he determined he was "found capable." Oh that we might all look back with "immense satisfaction" knowing that it has prepared us well for the present and the future.

Paul wrote Timothy saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV)

Can you look backward on life with no regrets? Facing our hardest trials and testings of life become our greatest moments. They prove us.

The Taste of God

Jeanne & I read these word this morning from The Message in our devotions:

1 Peter 2:1-3
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. 2 You've had a taste of God. 3 Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.

I like the comment, "You've had a taste of God." Once we have a taste of something good, we want more. And the more we eat of our favorite food the healthier (or unhealthier) we become. Spiritually, what are you tasting? How is it changing you? for good? for worse? Peter points out that as we taste of God our talk changes. It becomes less hurtful and filled with kindness.

You Make Others Complete

A New Year is before us. Happy New Year everyone!

I was reading James 5:7-12 this morning in preparation for a small group study wth some really awesome twenty-somethings on Friday night. As I was reading the words "Just say yes or no" (James 5:12 from THE MESSAGE) my thoughts turned to a gift that I had received from a dear friend many, many years ago. I was about to begin a passage or spiritual journey as a church planter here in Maine. I was leaving the comforts and the known of New Jersey for the unknown. Jean gave me a framed, hand painted picture of vines surrounding the words "Yes Lord" written in Old English. That gold framed gift still graces the wall of my office and is a daily reminder to me of my commitment to God and His plan for my life, regardless what it might be, whether known or unknown.

"Yes Lord" has led me a long way in my 36 year (and unfinished) spiritual journey. Which brings me to my point this morning found in Hebrews 11:40. I turned to Hebrews 11 after reading the James passage to refresh my thoughts of those who have gone before me in the past in their journey. Men and women of the past who also had said, "Yes Lord." I was facinated with the concluding words in Hebrew 11.

Hebrews 11:40
God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours. (THE MESSAGE)

The previous verse says that none of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 got their hands on what was promised to them, even though their lives were lived in an exemplorary manner. Yet, they were commended for their faith. The writer concludes by letting us, the readers, know that their lives of faith will not be complete or made whole, without our completing our faith journey. Wow! Stay true to God in 2008. Your faith will make me complete. My faith will make you complete.