"ANONYMOUS" BLESSES AND TRAINS US

The following comment (and my response) on my blog of November 14...TULSA WORKSHOP: LEADERSHIP ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE....was left yesterday.

Anonymous said...
Why bash Garnett and the Elders and leaders so much? I thought we are on the same team doing work for the Lord. Terry, do you smile at these comments? and say nothing? Why would people at Memorial say these things? I am anonymous bc I do not trust these blood thirsty people. No different in Jesus time either.

Terry Rush said...
To "Anonymous-the-last", I feel you must be misreading the comments:
1. Did you read my article supporting Garnett and their elders?
2. Did you see a couple of comments where I got in trouble for supporting them?
3. Where do you get Memorial commentors degrading Garnett? It isn't there.
4. So what am I not understanding from you? Where are you getting "blood thirsty"?
5. I have tried to assure you I am not attacking anyone.

Something is amiss here. I've never attacked Garnett and no commentors from Memorial did either. It is still...I will say once again....difficult to respond to "anonymous". Yet, I try. We love Garnett...and those who are hurt by staying and those who are hurt in leaving. If you should not be satisfied and leave another anonymous note degrading and misrepresenting my efforts....then that will have to suffice. I will not respond again. My duty is to support Wade and Garnett...and I have.

The reason I post this is to encourage those of you who are trying your best to lead, yet continue to take hits. How do we deal with "anonymous"? (I heard last night of a local preacher who's been getting so many hateful letters...unsigned.) Trying to deal with this when it hits one personally is so different than offering advice when you haven't been on the receiving end. I am on the receiving end. So listen up if this would help.

Hateful words aren't of the Holy Spirit. However, He can use them to our advantage. Among the many characteristics of Jesus, he was a master at taking criticism. We must have injury to learn his walk. Injury will hurt; that's its purpose. Use these times to try to learn not to lash back. That's a big difference in Jesus from me. I hit the end of my rope and "kaboom", I begin to swing. I'll take it for months...even years....and then I'll break. Jesus wouldn't. He stayed on the cross.

Being hurt is an important part of ministerial training. When we learn to love those who are trying to kill us, it may be a good signal we are starting to get just a glimpse of what our Friend endured. He did it. We can, too. But, as for me and maybe you...it will take some practice. Nicely said....but difficultly walked as practice can only come from the training of more injurious insult. If we are to grow we must accept the scholarship of pain which is issued often by "anonymous".

WHILE WE WORK TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT ARENAS

We are strugglers. Each finds moments of uncertainty only to be met with renewed surges of clarity and vision. The church is a continual refining process. Three steps forward and two steps back are more than just an old book title of Charles Swindoll's. It's the defining pace of kingdom effort.

We will do well to give each other all the room and all the slack we can as we surely need it from God. He calls it mercy. We need one another when we are succeeding and when we are unstable. Peter had Jesus' complete partnership when he did that walking around on top of the water thing. Jesus is here for us.

A recent note from a dear friend whom I greatly admire says: We are venturing into uncharted and uncertain waters. We are questioning the old "vision" of mega church, and finding out that there may be a better way to be Jesus to the world. I find myself in a new paradigm where "Church of Christ" as we know it doesn't seem to fit anymore. "Unchurch of Christ" seems to fit better and seems to fit better with the vision of the original "Jesus" movement. With sentiment, I miss the Old days and the old ways, yet with courage and strength of spirit I see God working in new ways that I cannot dismiss. I acknowledge that our leadership has weaknesses, but as Paul emphasized in 2 Cor 9:12, God's grace is found in weakness.

If we are growing we are likely to find ourselves in new paradigms where our friends aren't. Patient love is major for such times as these. We are moving forward; some in giant steps and others in gigantic questions. Due to the nature of Jesus we have reason to be full of exciting hope!

WHAT DO WE NEED GOD FOR?

I share this excerpt from John Eldredge that it might refresh our spirits to the continual need for God to be free to be Himself among us.....and within us.

Don't get me wrong----science has given us many wonderful advances in sanitation, medicine, transportation. But we've tried to use those methods to tame the wildness of the spiritual frontier. We take the latest marketing methods, the newest business management fad, and we apply it to ministry. The problem with modern Christianity's obsession with principles is that it removes any real conversation with God. Find the principle, apply the principle--what do you need God for? So Oswald Chambers warns us, "Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as he is with you."

It has been such a subtle maneuver of man to claim theological understanding and explanation of God as if he were to fit on our scales and submit to our detailed analysis. God is the Potter....still. We are the clay...still. Ours is not the job of explaining away his mystery, but to shout from both high and low our marvel at his inexplainability!

DOES GOD ATTEND YOUR CHURCH?

Memorial Drive has a special guest every time we meet. God. We invite Him to sit with us, stand with us, and to take in our praise of Him. Each time we gather, especially Sundays, we have fierce anticipation God will show up. This is thrilling!

We never know when He'll take the stage. It could be during the sermon, but not likely. While the Word preached remains elementarily essential to us, God will show up in random and surprising ways. Often it's in the unplanned; i.e. a response at the invitation song or an announcement or a celebration. We look for God to step in through a special reunion or even reconciliation.

Memorial Drive is a place to start life over.....for each of us....70 x 7. We soak in one another's tears and sparkle at the overall gratitude He builds among us. We are a place where jailbirds get a second chance (and third), the divorced find hope, and the broken find acceptance. We are a place which makes the often trite saying that the ground is level at the foot of the cross become experiential. No one here has mastered faith....or hope...or love.

For the longest time, I'm not certain God attended our church. He wasn't needed. We believed we had it under control. As a result we were missing something vital; yet our efforts at restructure failed us. We needed God to sit with us. Today He's invited, welcomed, and needed. I can't wait to hear what He has prepared for me to preach Sunday by Sunday because I leave it open-ended up the very time of delivery. I want God to participate with me...with us.

I look forward to seeing Him today.

WHAT KEEPS US GOING?

How do we do life....life in the church, in the workplace, on the streets? How do we keep going? Shouldn't we have worn thin by now? Shouldn't we have tossed in the towel with hundreds (even thousands) of others who could no longer stand to endure another day of church?

How do you keep going? Sunday by Sunday I feel less and less. Tomorrow I have a sermon to deliver and I fiercely struggle to step up to the pulpit. I love God and all of Memorial. I am the luckiest man I ever heard about or met! Yet, the sheer load of standing between God and humanity and saying something worth the time of both makes me wince.

How do you keep going? Does it ever occur to you that you have nothing to bring to the table? I'm not feeling God is out of words or ideas. My intake of nothingness is ever increasing and it takes much, much more faith to keep going. For a few years I thought I was the bright star for whatever church I happened to be serving. Later, I began to realize I was much dimmer than imagined. Later still, I am ever-growing to realize my worth is only found in whatever He would choose to let me do.

Such feels contradictory: nothing yet enough, little but big enough, lacking but strong enough. To experience His grace in our bodies is to be positioned over and over and over as the lame man when he heard Jesus tell him to get up and walk. We do. We leap. We dance. We whoop and holler. But we can't explain why except that He passed by and saw us.

What keeps us going? Never our own creativity or masterful organization. It is His gigantic healing touch which makes weak hearts brave and knocking knees strong enough to bow in prayer. Tomorrow we will all do well....only if He shows up. Oh God, please don't leave us alone; don't leave us to ourselves. Only with You are we ever all right.

WHAT ABOUT THE CLEAR VERSES?

It's common to be in the church with a spirit of fighting off "them" and "they". Life in Christ has been reduced for many to protectionistic talk and disgusting chatter. Fear of leaving the foundation of scriptures may be the cry, but such is quite insincere. Hunkering down to ward off liberals who have differing viewpoints on music or women's role in the church is accepted as standard guardianism of the faith.

I say such talk begs for bigger and deeper questions. What about the clear verses? Why are we not as agitated about the clear verses? Where's the stance on the clear doctrines? Let me explain.

Didn't Jesus say something about greeting your brother only? Don't many who speak loudly about the music issue find their practice often ignoring the strangers around them...even in the assemblies....because we are too shy or just don't know what to say? Didn't Jesus have something to say about anger with brothers and sisters? Haven't some sort of "skipped" such a passage as they feel authorized to broil over some gender roles in question?

My point is while exploration of the women's role in the church takes place, deploration of those who explore are vehemently viewed....and this seems perfectly acceptable to the guilty party. It isn't. Hatred and anger and disdain and disgust fall short of the Holy Spirit fruit of light. Really, they enter from the back room of darkness.

Why is it all right to be hateful when we disagree over doctrine? Why is it some feel a free pass to run over a brother's reputation with reckless rumor and damaging innuendo? It never has been acceptable to God for any of us to be ugly about the faith of another. While we do find ourselves with differing views on matters of silence, we have no option to ignore the matters of speakage.

I believe we each have enough failure in the realm of personal prayer, giving, and hospitality to sink our own ship. Add to this short list tongues which set congregations ablaze via gossip and we should find our lips closing tightly.

May we take a good look at the doctrines everyone clearly understands; that are in no way ambiguous. Then may we give one another merciful slack as we spend our lives building a faith upon the Christ of the Cross.

GLOBAL WARMING: A MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

Action groups have much to say about a lot of stuff. Some promote preserving forests, others protect wild-life, and still another segment protests exploration. Global Warming is a hot topic. Much debate and innuendo swirl amidst the winds pressing for this to be a legitimate concept.

The church has its role in preserving, protecting, and exploring. We are called by God to rescue civilization; the inhabitants of earth. We are called to increase involvement of global warming as many hearts have grown cold. They have become indifferent to God and to neighbor. We, as his church, must warm the hearts of men, women, and children globally.

This course of action takes missionaries, visionaries, the business-minded, the homemakers, the school teachers, etc. Our duty is to succeed at globally warming the hearts of disparaging souls. We must do it. We can do it. We shall do it.

There is no individual too remote or a nation too indignant which cannot respond to the gracious and living God if we will join together in global warming efforts to revive one person at a time. Inventory of churches indicates temperatures are rising in a most faithful fashion. Hearts are alive in worship and in service. Global warming is having its impact and we are its promoters!

Preserve, protect, and explore the ways you can save a person. Reach far and near. All hearts need warming at times. We will do our best. Global warming: pass it on.

AWESOME SONRISE

Our communities are awakening each day with hopes of seeing the Sonrise. Such is an integral part of who we are in Him. We are called to break through blanketing, even blinding, darkness which shuts good people down. As we begin to move Jesus about (in our bodies) throughout our early morning coffee shops and workspaces, will the patrons notice the Sonrise in you? Such is our purpose.

Yes, it is you and me who today have picked up his baton and stride with love and peace and joy as Jesus spills over from us into others. We are ones most privileged to encounter an irate customer or a depressed colleague. We are the ones called to strengthen the weak-kneed and the insecure. Yes when the Son rises, paralytics of all sorts shed bemoaning ailments and seem to have gained a new and vibrant bounce in their step.

Our communities share in an area-wide ache which pulls determination down and drains the once highly-intended goals of making a difference while on earth. We must let the Son rise. We must rebel the best way we know how that our friends and neighbors should get to experience the mystery of the living God. We must be their Sonrise.....now!

Henri Nouwen wrote, The revolutionary believes that the situation is not irreversible and that a total reorientation of mankind is just as possible as is a total self-destruction. He does not think his goal will be reached in a few years or even in a few generations, but he bases his commitment on the conviction that it is better to give your life than to take it, and that the value of your actions does not depend on their immediate results. He lives by the vision of a new world and refuses to be sidetracked by trivial ambitions of the moment. Thus he transcends his present condition and moves from a passive fatalism to a radical activism.

Do your part to see that the Son rises in your town. Dispel the darkness of sour grapes and dull apathy. We are talking about very good people. We must do our part to give 'em heaven!

THE PAIN OF BEING US

This week wears on me. I am fine. The burden others carry weighs heavily in my heart. I've heard of one inter-church separation after another. The parting of ways may be, realistically, a good move (and maybe a God-move) for both sides. The pained hearts of aftermath breaks mine.

Will we ever learn we (individually and personally) are too foolish to have much complaint? The line is so fine each of us is vulnerable in possibly disobeying God's command. I'm very likely to complain about those who complain. Yet James wrote, Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

We can afford to be patient with one another because of two things: (1) We have no idea how patient God is with us, and (2) we have no idea how patient others are with us. Paul voiced he was chiefest of sinners because he was actually that. Does it occur to you that you are actually the chiefest; as well as myself? If all we sub-class chiefs realized our sinful condition wrought with repulsive failure, maybe we'd humbly submit to the only one real Chief and the rest of us would be transformed into the intended kingdom Indians.

We talk big. But, we are little. We try to walk tall. Yet, we are fall short. We believe ourselves to be right. However, our fundamental call is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, because our (self)righteousness is putrid and stenchy. I am convinced none of us whether it be President or Preacher, Congressman or Courier, CEO or ADD....none of us fare well when lined up with the Living God. We simply fold as did Isaiah when he saw the throne and could not wait to spill his guts as to his sickening state.

We are like one birthday candle trying to show off in front of the Sun. As loudly as we try to convince ourselves it is we who are quite bright, it ain't gonna happen! May we each find room to accept our deep lack. May we follow up such awareness with genuine worship of the One Who Is All. All of Him. None of me.....we once sang.

MAYBE WE COULD TALK THIS OVER

It has been said of some that they love the church. They just hate the people. Being people is a tough job. Being Christian people has its challenges for certain.

A gust of wind caught my blog of two days ago regarding my comments about Garnett and the future of the workshop. Some comments are strong and some in conflict. At first I was not going to address them, but because this blog reaches many young preachers and missionaries, I've decided to make the following observations with the intention of training/discipling to stay calm, don't panic, stick with God.

Clearly, anytime "Anonymous" makes a critical innuendo, I always regard such a one as quite cowardly. Such a stance may be taken by masked terrorists applying machetes to Christian necks, but it doesn't belong in either the Christian or the leadership arena. Therefore, I highly applaud Michelle for voicing her strong opinion. She stated her case in the open. Thank you.

Now here's what I see by being on the receiving end of those who disagree with me. First, it makes me blue. Division zaps me and such is intended by dark forces. Knowing that, I have great sympathy and love for Anonymous and Michelle. Their pain is brutally clear. They may have been beaten up spiritually. I have counseled many who felt the need to part from Garnett. I am crushed for them. They have given their lives to such a grand work and, for them, the work suffocated and died. Debris is strewn on several fronts and I personally ache for all. We will recover.

The truth is Garnett in general, Marvin/Randy/Wade specifically, have made many poor decisions over the years. I can say it: (1) because it's true, and (2) because I am guilty of the same. How many moves I've made at Memorial over 30 years I wish I could have a mulligan...and then another. My point is I am aware of serious leadership flaws the four of us have possessed over the years. However, during our terms of service, it's just as true each functioned under leadership gifts from a most generous God.

I choose to abide by Ephesians 4:29-32 as best I can. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath an anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Since Garnett let me know they are not sponsoring the workshop, I gave it my best effort to speak with truthful grace. I believe those remaining at Garnett are hurting in many ways. They don't need my feisty criticism. I was not addressing who's left and who stayed. That's the business of others; not mine.

If me speaking supportively and gracefully to my brothers and sisters at Garnett offends you, I make zero apology. They, too, need encouragement. I have lived often in the spectrum of painful division among us. Both sides have my complete sympathy. I can tell you this fact: anger will subside, the Spirit of Christ will arise, and hearts will one by one be healed. He is that powerful and we are that tender. In the meantime, both groups have my sympathy and understanding.

Regardless of comments which will come in, I'll let you have the last word. Blessings and sympathy and love to each regardless of side or position or accusation. Sometimes we get hurt doing kingdom work. That's why God calls it a cross. In every setting, without exception, the secret treasures of God are buried if we will but hold on long enough to discover.

MY NAME ISN'T BUTT

I know you are busy, Butt.

I know you are in the middle of workshop, Butt.

I know you are about to step up to preach, Butt.

My name isn't Butt.

I address one other episode which always calls that name. I know it's your day off, Butt. Do you in ministry find you have an identical name? I get Mondays, Thursday afternoons, and a half a day Saturday off. I need that time away and the church needs me to have that time away. I get called Butt during some of those times.

Nearly all such days have at least slight interruption. Last Thursday evening I had a meeting in my home regarding a golf tournament we are laboring over. It was the only time in two weeks all five of us could get together. The meeting went from 6:30 to 8:00 and at 8:00 one developing an unexpected counseling session arrived in my drive which lasted 'til my bedtime....9:15 (That's a joke....sorta).

Multiple claims on singular time-slots can wear a servant down. Here are some things to consider for where you live:

• It's not up to you to fix things or people....Romans 9:16.
• It is lawful to let your yes be yes and your no be no. When you mean to say no, say so.
• When, in your opinion, no is the proper response, give it without feeling guilty.
• It is important to discern which pressing issues are legitimate and which are from sheer irresponsibility.
• Try to remember that while some are actually interrupting your day, there are other leaders in the church who have full-time jobs and will be interrupted by several we no nothing about as soon as they sit down to eat with their families.
• Remember that recurring characteristic of Jesus' ministry is that he ran into one interruption after another. Such makes his story.

Hold on when the plates begin to wobble. Say no when you need. Be grateful all of the time. Don't complain. One of the things I say to myself when the going gets tough is a lot of good men wish they had my job just one week and I have it every day!

TULSA WORKSHOP: LEADERSHIP ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE

Memorial and Garnett have enjoyed over three decades of workshop partnership. As many know, Memorial Drive is taking Garnett's workshop year for '08 to give them room to weigh their future relationship with the workshop. I count Wade Hodges as a dear friend and Garnett is like a second home to me over these many years.

Garnett has reached a tough decision to step away from leading the workshop. They will remain supportive and involved as they love the event as well as we do at Memorial. Wade gives the most concise explanation for their decision: The consensus here is that on the leadership level there simply isn't the passion for and commitment to the workshop that is needed to design and execute a quality program. We love the workshop. We support the workshop's vision and mission. But we feel like its time for our church to direct it's energy in other directions.

The Memorial leadership has been in prayer knowing such a possibility loomed. We had many options, including whether it is time for the workshop to cease. The future of the workshop is headed in the following directions:

• It will continue until we read from God the event is no longer a needed venue.
• Memorial has three highly qualified ministers in Shane Coffman, Jason Thornton, and Bobby Smith.
• I will train the three in the details of workshop preparation and execution. Eventually they will take the even years as was Garnett's pattern. This will give me a much-needed break.
• We four work in the same office so mutual availability for training is quite simple. While we experience complete partnership, we have differing approaches to the same work. This will give the program a good and new perspective.
• I felt it important that we find those to lead who have strong hearts for evangelism while possessing such leadership strength they would not think exactly as I. We need younger minds to protect the workshop from burrowing into my rut.

I must applaud Wade and Garnett. It takes great courage to step away from what has been any famous and effective ministry when the leadership senses the call from God to do so. It's easier to cave to the pressure of rote pattern as well as fear over potential rumor. They weighed, they prayed, they concluded and they acted. It was time for them to step back. That is courageous leadership. How many ministries now burden congregations because the time had long come to pull the plug, but lazy leadership couldn't endure the pressures of such?

Garnett will remain a partner in assisting with the workshop as are increasingly more area congregations coming on board over the years. The Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop is a desperate mission lodged in our hearts. We at Memorial sweat bullets over its direction. It takes us two years to prepare for one workshop. This means I have been working on 2008 and 2009's workshops for the entire 2007 season. I love it!

Garnett and Memorial remain positive, sweet friends. We need them. They need us. Our admiration remains mutual. Today I find it time to be sharing these decisions so you can be praying for our congregations to do God's work the most effective way possible.

Thanks to many of you for years/decades of support.

THE NICE THING ABOUT TROUBLE

Definition: Trouble (tra' bull), when circumstances or people don't go well and, if not careful, one can find their day ruined (Terry's Dictionary of Brief Explanatory Concepts).

Trouble is a sly blessing. Because it has purpose it is valuable and because it has value one can conclude its purpose. Stress and difficulty are not a wast of time. Trouble is not a non-kingdom item. It fits very well in God's scheme of developing His ministries as well as His ministers. Trouble 101 is required; not an elective. Trouble 201 is also required as is 301, 401, and 501.

Crushing encounters and disappointing information present opportunities to determine whether we are going to be believers only when on the mountain top or in the valley as well. Our spiritual development is dependent on things going wrong. We need people skills to break down. We must have these elements in our path to flush out our own crud. God's children are growers; we are to grow up in Him. So, as I often tell my Memorial loved ones, whether your day is a good day or a bad day....you are having a good day....Romans 5:1-5.

And...then there's that other statement which counts for something: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.....I Peter 4:12-13.

This nice thing about trouble is it both benefits and blesses us. Don't reject rejection. Learn from it; grow through it.

WORN OUT TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE LIKE YOU?

The problem with trying to please everyone is not with the crowd. It’s with the person trying to accomplish a proven impossible task…..me…and/or you. When we engage in narcissism (self-absorption) we are imbalanced with our obsessive focus as to how we are doing; and how we think others think we are doing. Although we say we are trying to keep someone else happy, we are using them as a scorecard about ourselves….how am I doing? I’m doing good. They are smiling at me. Oh, I must be good. Oops! I must be doing badly. They are scowling at me. Bad me. It’s all about me.

We must shift to more of him and less of self. We are as John the Baptist; we must decrease that Jesus might increase. Followers are expected to take up their crosses daily. To please every one is a direct contradiction to the call of the cross. Believers die on the cross because they are persecuted. The reason they are persecuted is they are disliked. We strip the cross of its intended dynamic when we race to keep ourselves on the good side of everyone we know.

How am I doing? What are they thinking about what I’m saying? This turns our mattresses into racks of torture. Such thinking shuts us down. We get to where we’d rather not try than try with the possibility of failing. When that happens we volunteer to take ourselves out of the game and sit in the stands with the other spectators of life. Not me. No more. I feel badly when I hit people the wrong way. But when I walk into a crowd of people there’s a fair chance a few may not like my shirt or my haircut or my speech or my attitude.

I must get it about myself: I have and will make mistakes which will turn people off. I can either quit living….or keep trying to escalate my effectiveness. Oddly, the more effective we become the bigger target for criticism we are. Life isn’t about me…..or others approving of me. It’s about making concerted effort to encourage as many people as we can that God has incredible hope for the hopeless and life for the lifeless. Somebody has to risk their own popularity by daring to risk to help a few.

Jesus is the most criticized man ever. There is no neutral with Jesus; people love him or hate him. He does not call us to be obnoxious. That’s not his style. He does call us to be brave; full of courage. Cease to let everyone else run your show. Awaken to the courageous Spirit of Christ within you. Dare to peek out of your shell and become the man or woman you were intended to be. If some don’t like you? It will be good emotional exercise for them to try to get over it.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

I work on the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop year round. The workshop has a sharp double-edge. It inspires some to win souls and discourages others to the point of division. I hear from the critics and I hear from the strong supporters.

The truth is we have done a lot of good; but made many mistakes which have caused unnecessary damage. I celebrate the former and grieve over the latter. When we err there are thousands who are ready to think on their own, overlook, and keep moving forward with us. Others feel too beaten down and they walk away.

We (Memorial and Garnett) have taken strong negative shots from every year we have put on the workshop. It is evidently not possible to please a certain core group. However, we must continue to exert faith and works hoping to inspire and re-inspire more to join us in the great cause of winning souls to the Lamb.

Bottom line: while the workshop is 33 years old, it has much room for improvement. We have only just begun.

So talk to me. Tell me what you need from us.

• What would help you return to the workshop if you are one who left?
• What would help regarding publicity?
• What can be done to get congregations on board?
• What other possibilities do you see which would build a stronger workshop?

While we've been at this a long time, we remain in kindergarten in wisdom, creativity, etc. Think with me. If you were directing the workshop, what would you do to make it better?

LESSONS FROM A BLOGGER'S PERSPECTIVE

How should I feel about blogging? Should I keep going or phase out this work? Let's look at the number of comments in the last week.

POST/NUMBER OF COMMENTS
When You Don't Know Where to Turn 2
Am I Trying to Run the Show? 3
This Is My Blogiversary 11
The Excitement of Being a Person 1
Thanks for the Long-term Love 1
Will There Be Another Life After Death? 1

When I gauge my effort by responses, I'm not sure this blog is anything but barely breathing. However when the counter says we are having 200 hits per day/1200 per week, this tells me there are many readers and I must trust blessings from this work are happening. I must view this by faith, not by public comment count.

So it is with you, dear friend. You work very hard in the kingdom. If you count the meager few you have baptized or the hand full whom you led to attend a church, the count might plead a failing grade. However, if you walk by faith and believe He is working in your walk, you must be assured more good is being done due to Him than you can imagine or can be reported.

We must continually cheer one another on to lift our eyes to the ones reading our work and benefiting from it knowing they simply choose not to comment. You need to know this about yourself and your work. Hundreds, even thousands, admire you and brag to others about your walk. Most likely they make no "comment" to you.

Be sure. You are making a remarkable difference whether one person other than God ever comments. You are a winner. You are phenomenal. You are effective. You are taking on hundreds and hundreds of hits as friends and family check in to read how you are serving. And, you are looking good. You each are a blog....a walking blog being read by all. Don't count the comments. Praise God for your readership. I do.

You are our letter (Blog), written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter (Blog) of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God....II Cor. 3:2-3.

WILL THERE BE ANOTHER LIFE AFTER DEATH?

Do you ever find your thoughts unintentionally drifting into near unbelief wondering if there will be a follow up to death? Will there be a next life? Is such a feasible course or simply a figment of delusion for weak minds? Does doubt take cheap shots at your confidence as to whether there will absolutely be another realm of living once earthenville is over? Is going to heaven a possibility or simply imaginary but childish and wishful thinking? When you take your last breath, do you ever fear the concept of life after death was a only trick much like the tooth fairy? Finally, what if we die and that's it...done...nothing...ever?

These questions, and multiples more, sometimes give the mind a thrashing for striving to believe in another/next world. Critics have written volumes to draw out we fools who take on such absurd, if not ignorant, possibilities. They basically have no faith nor use for God. Their skepticism is trumped by their dead-end pursuit of human intellect and selective accumulation of scientific data.

However, I don't know of a soul who would not delightfully accept the truth that there is absolutely, unmistakably life awaiting immediately beyond death's veil. If one could just have a signal from "somewhere" or "Someone", might there be an increase of confidence that death is only temporary? I run two thoughts of hope by you:

• Jesus Christ actually existed. When one dates a check on any given day, that marking is testifying of so many days, months, and years since the birth of Christ. Jesus is a historical truth verified by every banking system in town.
• If one wants a signal from God that life after death is not only possible, but actually probable, consider His simple parable of the seed. Not until it dies (whether corn or wheat or apple or acorn, etc.) and falls into the ground, does it have any chance of experiencing the glorious next life it was always designed to be. Which would you like to preserve: the first life of the brown tulip bulb or the next life of the resurrected bulb in full, radiant bloom? We are planted an earthy person and raised a heavenly one.

God has promised life again to be more awesome than any we've experienced thus far. And He proves it over and over through seed being buried only to rise again in stronger and more beautiful fashion? Life after death? The next time you drive by a corn field consider the acres and acres of proof screaming at you year after year. In order to have ears of corn, seed has to die and be buried first.

So it is with us....really. Life after death? Such is merely what we wrestle with on this side of the grave. It's the after part which is the real living. We've just begun. Death is not to be feared. It is simply a stage of the living process. You and I have reason to believe such a phenomenal possibility.

THANKS FOR THE LONG-TERM LOVE

I know it would sound strange to some, but I am a patient man. The reason such might seem odd is I am well-known for my impulsiveness. I would rather think I'm not impulsive but quick. However, I have learned the joy of patience. This isn't easy for a quick man!

Patience waits and doesn't bite its nails in the process. Grown to be a fretter and a worrier, the idea of believing all will work out all right in the long run is, for me, learning of an entirely new world. It is a fascinating adventure.

If we will learn to knock on doors of opportunity and wait for God to respond, we will find ourselves lavishly happy....and productive. I learned patience because I was shown patience. Memorial Drive is stubbornly long suffering. When I arrived in 1977 I was a pulpit pounder and shouter. I thought loud equalled enthusiasm. It didn't and doesn't. It equals annoyance. I saw in Jesus great enthusiasm, but in a different light than my philosophy. Memorial gave me room to operate by trial and error as this Jesus thing was new to my shoe-box answers for ministry operations.

I must admit I am still quick. However, I have steadily gained confidence in the operation of God in our work. He will provide. I learned through writing a young woman for nine years (not hearing from her and not knowing if she was getting my notes) encouraging her to come back to God, that she coveted every note and called me the day she came home to Him. Eight and three/fourths years of nothing to show for patient efforts. But how thrilling to see the eventual fruit.

In school our goal was to last two years at a church. That was the mark of maturity(?). My first congregation lasted one year. Thus, my suspicion that I was most likely a failure was confirmed. I did make it two years at my next place...Quincy, Illinois. Ah, success! Yet God has shown me so much of Himself by holding on at Memorial when I felt either they or I or we were factual failures.....and He showed up 70 x 7.

One can't construct a seminar on God. He does the strangest and most wonderful works. He refuses to fit our scheming molds and rules. Our role is to believe Him. I am thankful to Him and my wonderful congregation as both express meaningful patience toward me day by day, week by week, year by year, decade by decade.

Thank you Memorial Drive and thank you Brotherhood for letting me try and re-try. Patience breeds patience and I am committed to passing your gift to me on to generations of others.

THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING A PERSON

Be glad you are the person you are. Be glad you are you.

Oh I know you must be like me wishing you were so much more and driven to reach as much of the "moreness" as you possibly can. Ambition is a powerful tool in the arsenal of human drive. However, I find too many live their lives disappointed they turned out to be themselves. I lived that way a long time out of the church and then several years in it.

My obsession with inward focus was surely the pits. I could not find reason to get happy. Sadly, I often pointed to the errors of others to bring them down to my level since I couldn't seem to arise to theirs. I know that doesn't make me look so good; yet that's how much of it was.

Jesus changes things. Jesus changes people. Jesus changes me....day by day.

I really like waking up. I can't necessarily give sufficient explanation, but I love facing the next day and the next. I believe God will work. The people I know are phenomenal...really. I work around geniuses. I am connected to those of lavish and generous hearts. No longer do I have the need to live by comparison to others. I am in the body of Christ.

When we all get to heaven, I'm not concerned with what little acreage I might receive. A little bit of heaven will be better than a whole lot of hell. Being saved a little or a lot? Saved is saved and I'm in. I cheer you on.

Be grateful for all the things that have gone right with you, through you, for you. To wake up each morning is to take on life like it's never been lived by anyone like you before. Don't discount your value......really. Every move you make, every note you write, every call you make, and every person you kindly greet is designed with the Living God in the center. Strike out determined in your new day to be so happy you are a person.....that really matters!

You are above average because Jesus has introduced the new normal.

TODAY IS MY FIRST BLOGIVERSARY

(I stole that term from one of Dusty's commentors yesterday. Just so you'll know I don't make up every made up word.)

One year ago today I unintentionally entered the world of Blogville. Merely commenting on Tim's post, I inadvertently set up my own blogspot and Wendy called to inform me I had done such. Too, she continued to say over 200 hits came in on the first day....but there were no words! Ah, words would be good.

C-A-R-D-I-N-A-L-M-U-S-E-U-M became one of the more fascinating works of God in my ministry. Every morning...at least five days a week...I address what I believe to be a class of young leaders ranging from late teens to somewhere below age 90. Readers get my first attention every morning after God and coffee. I've loved this segment of ministry. Once again God fooled me as I fought even getting email. Now look at me. I can email and blog without getting dizzy!

This blog expanded by transferring key posts on over to my hometown's weekly newspaper in Northeast Missouri. The article comes framed with the title, Tossing Life Your Way, and has me pictured standing in my Cardinal uniform. One publishing company is talking to me about creating a book of random posts over the year and titling it, Morning Rush.

Thank you readers for connecting. The counter says there have been over 74,000 hits in this first year. I would initially assume my mom is clicking on 200 times a day...but she doesn't have a computer. Thanks for being a part of an encouraging project.

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY TO US!

AM I TRYING TO RUN GOD'S SHOW?

The longer I live in God's kingdom the more perplexing the work of the church becomes. I seem to have taken on His job in the name of responsibility. Departmentalizing His nature in an understandable way may find me reducing God to fitting human minds. Big mistake! The mystery of God is due in part because He cannot be confined or contained. Yet, how we like to attempt to surround Him and force Him to come out with His hands up so He can be dissected and analyzed.

I'm afraid I have stepped up to the podium similar to a press conference and spoken for God as if He momentarily stepped down the hall. Has He become dependent upon my talent to inform the poor Bible peasants of His immeasurable love and inexpressible workings? I think not. True, He does use each of us to give testimony to our relationship with Him, but I don't believe He is looking to me for Him to have a good day.

I believe the Bible. However, I'm quite selective at what parts I prefer. Comparatively, it doesn't weigh as much as me so I have shifted with ease into giving it direction. The reverse finds the authority and strength. I will not judge the Word of God. It will judge me.

I believe discipleship is a continual call to park my high horse and dismount. If we think politics is an increasingly bitter mess, religion is in worse condition. Arrogant? Bitter? Nasty? Judgmental? Our laundry hangs out on the line for all of our neighbors to see....and they basically want none of it. God has become dislodged from a great and wonderful civilization in part because guys like me forced Him into exile. Humanity can't afford this misstep.

It's time we were known more for our apologies than our winning arguments. Possibly we might find more doors opening if we walked through them with the people instead of handing out religious tracts at them. Perhaps, just perhaps, we religious leaders have spoken for God so long we have begun to believe our thoughts were His and our ways were His. Could it be that over time we have booted God out of business, but we still use His name over the door?

Anyone interested in parking his or her high horse beside mine?

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN

For the most part most of the time we think we are in control. This is important to us. We like to know how things are going to go. We rarely know such facts with great detail; yet, even just a few nuggets of "what's happening now" and we feel we are in the driver's seat of life. On occasion we take our turns at approaching a curve and finding we were totally unprepared for the next hill. Does God happen to have you there this week?

What are we to do when we think we have expended all we had to offer a situation only to discover we weren't even at the right ballpark; let alone the right game? What do we do when we feel desperately undone? Where do we turn when we no longer have a feel for direction? How shall we move when completely paralyzed in attempts to move forward?

I would direct you to a truth which might have slipped by. Do you recall that a part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control? Does it seem odd to you that the love of Christ controls us (II Cor. 5:14) and yet a part of the Spirit's role in our lives is to help us with self-control? What's going on with this?

In my shallow way I'll share with you that one of the things it may mean is that when we feel life is unravelling out of control, the Holy Spirit bears a fruit in us to put control back into our system. When God does any work in us, it is very difficult for us to grasp (or accept) because we like to have full analysis and final explanation. God won't tell us the "how" part. He reveals "He does" part and we are expected to believe it....without charts and media presentations as to how it works.

When you are stumped and don't know where to turn I believe you can expect to hear from Him. What shall you do next? Be responsible and let Him flow into and through your dilemma. He will give you the control to hold on. He will see you through it. You'll succeed, but never because of your own "fix-it" knack. He will take care.

WordPower

Speaking words of encouragement is not a gift. It's a command. Expressing support is not an option. It involves submission. Cheering the world on is not the job of a few. It's to be the tongue, the lingo, of the Christian.

Like anyone, I have always been interested in happiness. However, I was never acquainted with being positive or optimistic until I ran into a man named Jesus. He turned my world incredibly upside down. Even when I was converted and soon rushed off to preaching school, the legalism among us taught me to be mean and suspicious...right in line with my former life. I began preaching as a harsh man....and still have to fight off the demons on occasion.

But Jesus came along much later in my ministry and I began to notice his style...and became intrigued by it. He taught me to believe with nothing in front of my eyes. He showed me acceptance when I felt decayed. Jesus gave me purpose when I was meandering indifferently through the fields of getting by. He lifted my vision. He showed me what faithful words would do to people in the church and out.

I heard him say through Paul to be certain our speech was seasoned that it might give grace to those who hear. Such isn't for the few and the proud. It's for the entire Christian race. We are to speak life into one another. We each need to be cheered on and up. Silence (no comment) is not good enough when His soldiers are battling for their lives on the fields of increasing darkness and destruction. We must become positively, faithfully vocal.

While variations of gifts apply generally to the overall body of Christ, being willing to speak support and hope into our fellow comrades is not an elective. We are called to do it. We are expected to do it. The reason it is so ultimately important is because just as the Creator, we created ones bring good things into existence by our speech. May we become increasingly vocal in raising our voices in support and promotion of one another.

When I really ran into Jesus I found my language had to be transformed. I wasn't speaking curse words, understand. I just wasn't speaking life into people. I left that up to the chatterboxes. WordPower, however, takes no consideration as to whether one has the gift of gab or is fearfully shy. It's a matter of submission to the call of Christ. Don't let unwholesome words come out. Speak life into the ears of so many who are about to give up and give out......Eph. 4:29. We are called into action. May we enjoy the work of giving grace through our raised voices of hope!

ARE YOU AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

Such a topic was requested a couple of days ago. I most likely will not address future requests unless I sense it something God is putting on my heart. However, I'll take a shot at this first one.

Are we an asset or a liability to the church of Christ? I'd say we are! Furthermore I'd say whatever we are...we all are! By these two admissions, I mean the following:

• I Corinthians 12 discusses we are all important in the body. Too, it points out that those we deem less important (maybe even liabilities) are of key importance. We don't know the person in Christ's church who is unnecessary.
• Paul warns us clearly of assuming self-importance/dangerous self-estimation in Romans 12.
• Jesus encountered one Pharisaical setting after another quirky challenge where religious leaders assumed themselves to be God's tool and a weeping woman with expensive perfume or a dinky man in a tree as unworthy. Jesus reversed the faulty assumptions.

I would gage myself to be an asset in the church Jesus is building because I am such a massive liability. I most likely feel stranger in the church than most. I am precisely as Paul; one untimely born. He and I were thrust into the limelight way ahead of our skills, talents, and abilities. He believed himself to be the chiefest of sinners.........but he obviously had not heard of me. Dare I compare myself to this apostle? Only in the sense of me understanding his emotional attachment to his own and obvious weaknesses.

I indeed feel strange as God lets me get to lead in the most amazing stuff; yet I never "feel" the part. I never feel up to the task. I trust Him immensely. I wouldn't trust me as far as I could throw me. Are we assets or liabilities? My best guess is we are all loony liabilities just hoping Jesus will transform us into useful assets by His Holy Spirit. Fortunately, hopefully, mercifully, gracefully....HE DOES!!!

One of the things I love about the kingdom of God is it has such a special place for the misfits. I get to be a part of the greatest movement on earth. How about you?

KEEP SHINING

There's a lot of bad stuff going on. Darkness is being intentionally dispensed throughout. Negativity presses against the heart-walls of random and many victims. We must counter with godly brightness at every turn.

I cheer you on to cease skeptical sighs and pessimistic utterances which dampen the flaming and hopeful interiors of the hundreds who come into contact with you during the week. Your phone calls, your notes, your remarks, your instructions.....each should be packing a hefty amount of good-news light. Applaud and praise. Express your pleasure in other's efforts. Support everyone who tries...whether they succeed or fail....they tried.

Jesus is the Light-out-of-heaven! He left every setting in better condition than when he had entered. Every coffee shop, every encounter at the water fountain, each awaiting in line at the check-out counter or the tag agency, all greetings at the business entrance should be charged with our high voltage shining from the Spirit of Christ operating through us.

Don't hide your light under the bushel of frustration or irritation. Shine on. Lift your spirit in order to lift the spirits of others. We live in dark times. We are not called to curse the darkness; but rather, to dispel it by our brightness. May we so shine before men that we do not glare...but that we do give sufficient hope to transform the ugliest of days.

I HAVE A FUNNY FAMILY

Our family laughs.....a lot! We don't tell many jokes. We simply report life. We see/hear humor in so many things and love to repeat it. My three kids are hilarious. I relish being in the room and listening to them describe the funniest scenarios that, frankly, many others missed.

Our grandson Hayden is a funny little man. He's four. Recently Wendy overheard Hayden singing the Lord's Prayer: Our Father....who is in heaven....Hal....why be thy name? Great question. Why is God's name Hal, anyway?

Yesterday, Hayden got into trouble. His mom told him three times to quit jumping on the living room pillows. He chose to ignore her plea. She took him upstairs to his room for his punishment and she said, Hayden, I told you three times to quit jumping on the pillows. How many times do think I'm going to have to tell you that before you quit? In a most serious and thoughtful tone he gave his best estimation. I'm guessing four.

I'm off to Monroe, Louisiana this morning to link up with Dusty, A Cappella, and Watershed at the Discover youth rally. A grandpa speaking at a youth rally? There's some funny stuff just at the thought of that.

Hope to be back with you next week!

IS RELIGION LOSING WEIGHT?

Jesus didn't come to give us religion. He came to give us life....John 10:10. Religion has become obese. It waddles into one event after another drawing the disdain of skeptics. Fortunately, religion is losing weight. It's shedding unneeded pounds which had been taken on by decades and centuries of man-made doctrines. Churches of all brands seem to be entering this spiritual weight-loss program.

What's the cause of such a turn to better health? There seems to be both a united admission and renewal. The admission is that each denomination has sadly assumed itself more faithful to the Word than its competitors. The renewal is Jesus is gaining popularity in the church.

Isn't the latter a stark realization? It's true of us? The church I am in is increasingly losing weight by being less the competitive Church of Christ and becoming more aware of the biblical world-view church of Christ. For years we have denied ourselves being a denomination and the louder we voiced it, the more we became it.

The good news is the Spirit of Christ is entering through the closed doors of many churches of many brands and quietly leading individuals/congregations to simultaneous renewal. God is increasingly glorified; not our works. God is wonderfully praised; not our form. God is loved; not our rules. Churches are shedding awkward and ill-fitting armor handed down while growing in the true Spirit of Jesus which has always been promoted by a few.

I am just beginning to begin to see the true church arise in this multi-distractional life called ministry. Being the church instead of The Church is much more faithful, freeing, inclusive, exciting, and productive. Congratulations to all churches who are more interested in the name of Jesus than in the name of your denomination.

WORSE CASE SCENARIOS HAVE ADVANTAGES

Resentment and bitterness bully some by bullying through others. The Hatfields and the McCoys are infamous for their perpetuated barbs and threats. Living selfishly is not a good thing. A shift needs to take place....and, fortunately, it often does.

What would puncture the balloon of living out of sorts and being irritated toward others which would bring about needed deflation? Expensive gifts? Counselling? Separation? Move to another state? Avoidance? While many other possibilities loom at dismantling our uglier side, there seems to be one major source proving most effective. Impending death.

A recent Oprah guest is dying of pancreatic cancer. He explained that one of the marvels he's noted is how good people are. He said his neighbors are bombarding his family with generosity and gestures of deep kindness. Why this sudden bold move? Death looms. This dying man is noting the goodness in people. People are noticing this good dying man.

Harsh words seem to have a better chance as long as extended life is assumed. Isn't that a shame? Wouldn't it be better if we could speak words of life and hope as an every day pattern? Why do we have to wait 'til death begins to raise its head to let others know of our approval and sheer delight in them?

I have a friend in her mid-fifties dying of cancer. She has lived a life of steadily being upset, bent out of shape, and being easily offended. Now she's dying. Guess what she told me when we last visited? I'm finding it much easier to say I love you to those near me.

May we each get on with appreciating the abundant life God has afforded and extending kind words in every direction.

I'M SPEAKING AT A YOUTH RALLY!

Dusty wrote about it on his blog, so I know it's okay to say it out loud. I am speaking at the Discover Youth Rally in Monroe, Louisiana next weekend. Really, I'm just a fill-in which explains a few things. Dusty and Walling were scheduled but Jeff backed out. I'm 60 years old! I haven't spoken at a youth rally since Cabbage Patch days.

I was very reluctant to "fill-in" for Walling. I mean that's sort of insulting to the kids. However, I am pumped about stuff God has given me. I really look forward to seeing what He has to say through us and what He does. It will be fun to experience A Cappella, Watershed, and Unbound.

It will be extremely privileging to work with Dusty. When the boys were in grade school I'd take them over to the building and have them preach to me. We'd go over how to read the text, how to illustrate, and how to apply God's Word. It was fun then and it'll be fun this weekend.

If you could be me, what would you want to say at a youth rally?

OUR GRACITATIONAL PULL

God's grace is a marvelous interactive kingdom wow! He spends it on us. We spend it in ministry toward others. Grace (God's favor) is the greatest term to note God's power and unexplainable awe residing in the believer's life. Did you know there are three things we do to pull His grace toward us, through us, and into our ministries? Most likely there are more than three. These are the ones I can define at this point in my life.

We draw God's grace to us as a magnet when:

1. ...WE LEARN TO GIVE. ...for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed....II Cor. 9:7-8.
2. ...WE LEARN TO SUFFER UNJUSTLY. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, it finds favor with God....I Peter 2:19-20.
3. ....WE LEARN TO BE CLOTHED IN HUMILITY. ...clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Grace and favor are interchangeable. Some of the things we can know about Mary, the mother of Jesus, is she evidently was quite generous, could suffer unfair insult quietly, and was exquisitely humble. Mary was greatly troubled at the announcement she would bear God's child. The angel explained why she had been chosen, Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God...Luke 1:30. Mary possessed gracitational pull.....and so do we!

IS GOD MUTE?

For many years of my ministry I thought God couldn't/wouldn't speak. I'd had training. One of the major things taught was much of the good stuff about God had ceased. I understood I had basically been booted from the nest and it was up to me to sink or swim, soar or crash. I thought I had it clear that we talked to God, but He no longer was on speaking terms with us.

Today, I think my understanding was wrong.

God has plenty to say. We just feel weird in discussing it among us because we have a heritage primed to react without giving this concept fair evaluation. God speaks to me. The very admission could throw some into convulsionistic claims of arrogance, ignorance, or foolishness. However, in this case I claim only the latter. (The Word says God works through the foolish and I hope to be included...I Cor. 1:26-29)

I've learned to wait on God and to listen for Him. When I hear from Him, it isn't an audible voice in English. All I can say is it is an awareness. What I once would have claimed as my own imagination or ingenuity, I now claim is God giving me ideas. Not all of my ideas are His. Only the ones from Him are His. He meets me most in three places: showering, shaving, driving. It should be noted that each of these three is while I am still.

In none of the three settings do I consciously say to myself, Now God will be speaking soon so conjure up some spiritual thinking processes. Ideas simply fall out of the heavens when I'm least expecting them. Of course an unbeliever's response is usually something like, How do you know it isn't the devil talking to you? I have to discern the message which is a biblical instruction. But I ask the doubter, why is it doubters believe Satan speaks to us directly, but not the Living God?

Truthfully, I could be all wet about any of this. I know that. What I want to tell you is I experience God. I like it. He has given me ideas I could never come up with on my own. He has done things for me for decades I could never have provided on my own. He's such an active Sort.

I believe God is not mute. I believe He loves to interact with His children. We might do well to develop prayer time where we talk.....and we listen. We speak to Him....and I believe wholeheartedly He speaks to us. Shame on us for believing we can talk, but the Creator who spoke the world into existence is no longer able.

POSITIVE MOVES CHURCHES MIGHT CONSIDER

Over these 30 years at Memorial Drive I've seen a few things work well. Some didn't. I share ideas in hopes that some of them might shed possible light on encouraging/improving your work.

1. We moved to small groups on Sunday night. We felt Sunday evenings were simply Jr. Church. Our small groups have not captured the hearts of everyone in the congregation. We do find them attended better than Jr. Church. And, the fruit of the small groups enhances the family atmosphere a church of 500 needs to assist in maintaining close relationships.
2. We ended the Wednesday evening devotionals consisting of a prayer, a mini-sermon, and an invitation song. We were simply going through dullifying motion. A few balked at it's dismissal; not very many. It gives us fifteen more minutes for classes or an event we have every other quarter for adults called PowerSurge.
3. The elders formed a finance committee comprised of accountants. No one in the church, on the staff, among the elders can spend money unless the finance committee okays it. The elders shed control over the money. They successfully empowered very capable people to handle this important role. It has been a powerful move.
4. The elders ended their weekly and often agonizing meetings which went unnecessarily well into the night hours. They meet with the four male staff members every Monday morning from 6:30 to 8:00. No agenda. No old business. Just random talk which may cover old and new business. We get together for an informal time of listening to our hearts. It's a great part of my week.
5. Four to six of us get together every Sunday morning at 7:30 for 45 minutes to an hour of prayer. I used to do this by myself. I don't recall how it shifted but others began to join me and now this "is" the best part of my week. We pray regularly for God to be honored an praised seeking His participation and leadership in our day, thanking God for those who are moving to Memorial who don't know we exist but are so burdened over finding out they have been transferred, for the next elder(s) He chooses to add to our guys in His timing, for the one(s) who will eventually replace me tomorrow or years from now, and for special needs we know of among the flock.
6. We let everyone place membership. This changed things at Memorial. Membership isn't a Bible term. Someone made that up somewhere in our past. We have seen denominational friends as well as Catholic ones eventually be buried into Christ as He touched their hearts while being in friendship, workship, worship and fellowship with the small portion of His worldview body at this place. How we celebrate how God moves among us!
7. We celebrate! Some raise their hands. Some don't. There are no rules. Some applaud. Others don't. There are no rules. Some stay an hour after services. Others race for the doors. There are no rules. Don't criticize. That is a biblical rule. We simply urge everyone to celebrate God....that is our goal.

ARE WE OUT OF OUR EVER-LOVIN' MINDS?

I've been working on a dream for over twenty years. What could I do to bring my St. Louis Cardinal connection to Tulsa? When Cardinal broadcaster, Jack Buck, passed away five years ago another huge door of opportunity opened our way. I could see 2/3 of a puzzle....but not the other 1/3. Then Memorial became highly involved in adopting local Lindbergh Elementary a year ago. Thus, the final piece.

We announced Sunday to the congregation that, Lord willing, we are having a Jack Buck Celebrity Golf Tournament October 6, 2008. Our goal? We want to raise $1,160,000.00 in this one event for 58 Tulsa Public Elementary Schools' ($20,000 per) art, music, and PE departments.

What? Are we crazy? We just as well have announced we intend to get congress to give us the money. There's no way. This is such a big number that every time I go to type it in I have to study the zeroes to be certain there are enough. This is a huge project. However, volunteers are coming out of the woodwork. Excitement is fervent among so many who don't play golf or like sports. They like school teachers and children.

Our goal is to signal the community that area churches who know God serve. I hope when this project is done that God comes out being the centerpiece for all to acknowledge. Would you, wherever you live, build a prayer team for this event? Tell me if you are in. If you are in a small group out in another territory, would you ask your group to pray for us? We can't possibly pull this off. Nobody raises a million dollars in a golf tournament. I guess we'll raise the bar!

WE CAN SEE THE GOOD IN OTHERS

People get cross ways with one another. Church division is among the ugliest forms as it is assumed the be the very place love would dominate. Yet, at times, such isn't the case. Friends, neighbors, and families get revved up over what to them is a most important issue. Words are tossed. Tempers flare. Blood pressure rises. Attitudes boil.

Occasionally parting of the ways is the only way to bring relief to either side. Separation sometimes is the best move. The unnecessary hatred developed from these strange incubators is both vicious and foolish . Hate grinds teeth and makes inward vows to never ever ever acknowledge anything good about the other....EVER!

By the grace of God and over time it seems hate loses its strength. Really it caves to the true nature of humanity: kindness and compassion and love. Those who choose to live in bitterness forevermore are simply wasting good energy. To fail to forgive anyone and to live in resentment toward them is like drinking poison and hoping the other guy dies. Hate is a momentary facade which will hopefully be replaced by our good senses.

Our country is fed a steady diet of assumed reasons to part ways: politically, theologically, and monetarily. Therefore, we must guard against this darkness which prowls around tempting each to live vindictive and silly lives of disliking others. Such childishness may be understood when arising in the terrain of grade school, but not in the lives of grown up, well-educated, intelligent adults.

Hate is a liar. It cannot hold up under the scrutiny of good hearts which choose to bless instead of curse. One thing we can all count on is we have a choice to see the good in others....and intend to keep doing so.

THE NEED TO SHARPEN A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

An area which congregations can be found asleep at the switch is extra-curricular giving; giving beyond the weekly budget. The double edged sword needing sharpened is: (1) we need to provide a place for extra giving, and (2) our people with extra money need a place to give. Our people have money. They have unexpected money. I know that the large percentage of the church does not experience sudden cash flow. Precisely, that's why we miss this blessing.

Budget committees lay out annual plans and the congregations belly up to the bar in willing support. Yet, we miss another zone. We need what I will term as "special needs" to fulfill those sprinkled among the congregation who have extra money. In the early 90s I was pressing for $82,000 for a film project. I'll never forget the time and place an unassuming member handed me a check for $30,000. I had no idea his family had money. Where would his money have gone if not this church project. The answer is not to this church.

Every so often a member encounters a nice inheritance, has a cushy insurance settlement, or receives a plush bonus. Because 95% of the members don't have such occurrences, we behave as if big money doesn't exist. It does. A few people throughout the year have surprise money. We need to be positioning ourselves with special projects to help them be good stewards. I challenge church leadership to be good stewards of our good stewards.

While our people in general are very good givers, we aren't forking over all we can. I can raise $700 to $1500 at Memorial on any given Sunday for someone or something needed. What this tells us is extra giving will not dent the stability of the weekly budget.

The reason we are asleep at the switch is so many of those in church position to okay such a funding drive are among the 95% who never have extra. I never have extra. I stretch in my giving and have never understood extra to give. However, after years of experience, I think I know what I'm talking about. Various pockets of members have money (for whatever reason) and they are quite generous. We are failing them when we don't have special high-dollar items calling out for a contributor.

I encourage you to put before your congregation a specialty item costing anywhere from $500 to $50,000. Write me back and tell me you received no funds toward that project. It won't happen! Create. Dream. Imagine. Provide avenues for more giving to encourage the entire congregation. Sharpen the sword on both edges. Arise to leadership responsibility of imagining beyond your personal means. Enjoy the promises of God.

"UNchristian" BY KINNAMAN AND LYONS

For those who have a heart for evangelism, get the book UNchristian. Run! And, get a couple of highlighters while you're at it. You'll need them for nearly every page. David Kinnaman is the president of The Barna Group. He offers the results of thousands interviewed regarding why they distance themselves from churches. I want to know what they are thinking. He and Lyons will tell us. Their work is brimming with key points of mistaken moves on our part and what we can do to correct them. For now, I address one of those matters.

Christianity seems to be paying a price for its evangelistic "get saved" tactics. Kinnaman and Lyons point out that while revivals and crusades do find some souls "won" the caluculation of how many more were driven away by our imposing rudeness and pressure is never considered. The in-your-face-make-your-decision-now approach has delivered a few while serving as an even greater wedge for more. Their idea to correct this is to continue enthusiastic outreach through the means of slow and methodical discipleship. Research points to the church's "save'em and on-to-the-next drop 'em" process which eventually adds many of the "newly saved" to the loss column and widens the gap of those yet remaining on the outside.

When you're talking dollars, there is no price too high for a soul. But the problem isn't just cost. In our research with some of the leading "mass evangelism" efforts, we found that often these measures create three to ten times as much negative response as positive. In other words, imagine your church is considering mailing Bibles or videos or other Christian materials to homes in your community. Our research shows that the "collateral damage" of doing so---those whose impressions of your church and of Christianity would be more negative as a result---is significantly greater than the positive impact on those who will respond favorably to these efforts. Moreover, such mass evangelism efforts are most effective with marginally churched adults, while outsiders are usually the ones who respond most negatively.

The point isn't that some are simply going to reject Jesus. That's not it. Our approaches are unnecessarily damaging when we are on a mission to reach out without thought of the slow and tedious care it takes to let our neighbors know we love them, stand by them, believe in them. We are to extend our love for God to others by loving the people. We are to value our friends over our rehearsed evangelistic tactics.

As Christians, we have to keep in mind that response rates are not the ultimate goal but rather the wise and careful stewardship of the image of God......If you create more barriers with outsiders because of your tactics, you have not been a good steward of the gospel. How we choose to share Christ is as important as our actually doing it.

The authors make good points. The book is well-balanced with honest evaluation of our mistakes coupled with corrective possibilities which will eventually draw more outsiders into the transforming nature of Jesus.

THE CHURCH'S AWE FACTOR

The first half of Acts 2:43 could have been thought to have died off when "the perfect came". And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. While it seems legit that some things did cease once the church got its bearings, I don't believe being in awe of God or His works are among them. For many congregations, though, it seems like it.

I love the church's Awe Factor. I enjoy the sheer wonder of walking through our halls at any gathering. I am rich in who I get to know. I know so many enthused, grateful believers...and these numbers are certainly not restricted to our corridors. They are everywhere! You all are everywhere!

It wasn't always that way for me at Memorial. My role was interesting and the benefit of maintaining close ties was certainly rewarding. To say we lived in awe was really only true on random and distant occasions. Not so today. It's perpetual awe. Why?

United expectation. We anticipate God involving Himself in our usual routines; thus, transforming them into utter thrills and excitements. We live in a time of inexpressible joy, as the New Testament puts it. How did we get there?

We got out of His way. It began when the elders went deaf to critics. Critics have no ear from our leadership. If you believe they need at least one, I could give you a list of congregations to call where the critics have plenty of attention.....but there is no Awe Factor living among them.

The staff got out of His way. We still go by the Book which surprises many. We place emphasis upon forgiveness 70 x 7, starting life over, challenging members to freely use their talents, and looking for the handiwork of God to continue. We, as the elders, have developed an ability to not be afraid to let go of the control buttons. We, as the elders, trust the Holy Spirit to run a freer and more productive ship than we could do corporately.

The congregation got out of His way. We called a halt to our criticism of one another. We've learned to speak grace filled words in support. We as a congregation work as a team. There is increasing love and respect at every turn. Competition has become shadow. Harmony dominates center stage.

The result is the church's Awe Factor is a perpetual topic of discussion among our amazed and amazing people. We are more than productive as a result. We are so happy during this process. We live the Awe Factor and only want more of it. We keep having this feeling of awe!

DECIDE TO LOVE MINISTRY

Whether you are employed by the church or highly active in your role from a business person's perspective, I know many of you are enduring pressing (and maybe some depressing) days in your labor in His kingdom. What do we do during the rough times?

• Realize rough times are the signature of the kingdom. Yet, they are merely a part of the overall fabric. The real icon of Christianity is the empty grave, but we don't know how to wear empty graves around our necks nor do we know how to attach empty graves to church steeples. The rough is only the road. The glory is the assumed destination.
• Determine to see the hand of God in all settings. Our God is at work. He'll show up in the oddest places at the oddest times. Jesus' delay in going to Lazarus is pregnant with "God will deliver" expectation. We have the privilege of such anticipation in our work. God let me sit in my own misery for a long time as I tried to organize and fix one event after another crisis. I learned this truth: I can't fix squat. If it is to be it is up to Him....Rom. 9:16.
• Do your work believing in the good people. A mistake I made in my early years is I gave too much attention to the naysayers when there were so many believers vying for my participation. They hungered for good news while I fed them a steady diet of wormy debate. I decided to preach, teach, and reach to those who indicated they just might want to know about the Living, Breathing God. I was robbing the church by continually addressing the critics from the pulpit. When I quit preaching brotherhood issues and began sharing the hope found in Christ, many peeled away. Some of those I desperately loved. But, the more I preached believing in believers it seemed God was doing His thing with those who struggled in doubt and even they began to take on the Spirit of Jesus.
• Trust Him more than you trust yourself. I began as very little and, to my surprise, discovered that the way to grow up in Christ is to grow down. As was true for John the Baptist, it is true of us: we must decrease that He might increase. My ministry remains embarrassing that so much of me continues to run to the front of the line. Yet, I will not give up. Jesus is the thriller. I am not. Jesus is the giver and the hoper and the promiser.....we are not.

Several wise and aged believers read this blog, I feel certain. Would you make yourself vulnerable, perhaps, by sharing your insights as to what you discovered in trying to get ministry to live....and what eventually helped you turn a corner?

THE ESSENTIAL HELL FACTOR

My joy of the kingdom right now is off the charts. It cannot be measured by humanity's weak calculation. Church is fun. The Kingdom is productive. The future is bright. The present is rich.
Getting to this stage carries a deep and dark secret most important to every minister; whether paid or volunteer.

Hell's role in our service must not be ignored. It is the testing grounds for oh so many. My first twelve to fifteen years at Memorial were riddled with rugged days. It was so bad I most likely can't really recall the depth of the pain. (Let me insert that there is no leader among us without sinful lack and flaw. Therefore, I do not assume I was exempt from such a fitting label.) However, the first decade plus was full of daily pain. We had a hand full of elders who were law-driven and control-oriented in their demeanor. The Word says the law kills. Memorial lived in killing fields. I could see it. But I didn't know if I could survive it.

At one point the deacons rose up and asked the elders to step down en mass. Those of humble hearts did. The others tried to wage war with the threat of taking me out with them. It was a time of dark and depressing days. Two more stabs at adding elders proved to deliver more of the same. We kept shooting ourselves in the foot by putting men in to lead who had a hankering for control. My days were miserable. I didn't know if I could survive.

About the last three sets of elders have been rewards for the church's endurance. It's a glory to be a part of such a happy and productive congregation these last fifteen to eighteen years. And, we are just getting started.

For the young leaders who catch this blog, I must insist you take a look at your work and realize you've most likely got Hell coming. Don't flinch. Don't quit. Don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you as if some strange thing were happening. Don't assume you'll die. Moses spent forty years in exile with little hope of hearing from God again. His hellish and lonely endurance built him into the leader we now know he became. Joseph spent time in an abandoned hell-hole. That was his beginning. Before it was over, he enjoyed the pleasures of leading a huge nation.

I am convinced each of us must go through times of severe testing. Will we quit? Will we give up? We will surely be tempted. But, we can't stop. When you take a look at Jesus he no more than completed the torture before and during the cross than he found himself roaming the corridors of hell frantically setting the captives free.

In my early years here I felt the church was being held hostage and someone had to try to set it free. I cried and worried myself sick trying to learn how to dodge the painful flaming missiles of legalism. Get it; a disciple in the twenty-first century still pays the price for faith in the Life-Giving Savior. There is no other route by which one can learn to minister.

Don't quit. Don't read the harsh meetings where you are creamed once again as God abandoning you. He's grooming you to endure the tough stuff. You will live. You'll not barely live. You'll really live because He will see you through to the land of productivity and joy. Hold on.

CATALYST....GOOD EVENT

I've completed half of the Catalyst Seminar for 2007. To see 11,000 Christians gather in one place to contemplate world outreach is still too thrilling to my heart. Erwin McManus is due up tomorrow so I have to wait to hear my favorite. Yet, I heard and saw wonderful things.

Catalyst brings in many of the top-dogs, so to speak, and it's the only time of my year that I get to hear them. Andy Stanley was his usual on target with the Word as he effectively connected it to us....or us to it. A young woman, once a Wall Street mogul, discussed her leaving everything to move from NYC to Texas to work with prisoners helping them rehab with marvelous success stories.

Francis Chaing hit my heart so strongly. He is the only man I've heard address the feeling of sheer weakness while being convinced God is actually speaking through us. The trip was worth it to me to simply hear that someone understands how I feel. I'm assuming many feel as I do; you know, the "Go Moses", "No, I can't" discussion. But, this guy put my feelings in his words and it was such an encouragement.

Overall, I am convinced we are all simply on the hem of believing even greater things to come. I love what God has done; but the is doing and the will do carry intense hope. And....I've even made some new friends along he way. Life is still good and the kingdom is still fun!

HEADED TO ATLANTA

I'm going to Atlanta tomorrow to the annual Catalyst convention for young leaders sponsored by John Maxwell's Injoy group. The crowd is primarily comprised of young men and women thirty-five years my junior. However, I go because I want to see what's working for some who are not Church of Christ. And, 60 is still young compared to a lot of older folks.

I learn a lot from our guys and continually reap the rewards of great speakers among us. But, it's good for me to hear a little of what else is going on. Catalyst has emphasis on cultural shifting and I want to try to keep up. Andy Stanley, Erwin McManus, and Donald Miller top my list of highly challenging speakers.

In thinking about really good motivational or instructional speakers/teachers of our past, it occurs to me that I've heard a few my kids will never enjoy as I did. The speakers were maybe in their prime when my kids were little. And, what speakers did I miss because I had not yet been converted?

Here are some of the best speakers I know of today...not necessarily in any specific order:

• Craig Hicks
• Marvin Phillips
• Mike Cope
• Randy Harris
• Rick Atchley
• Jim McGuiggan

Here are some of the best speakers of the past...some have passed on and others I just haven't heard in years:

• Charles Coil
• Jimmy Allen
• Charles (the guy from the Banks of Onion Creek that everyone loved...but I can't think of his name)
• Richard Rogers
• Mid McKnight

We have been blessed over the years with very good, effective servants who preached/taught. List some you have in mind that we may have forgotten over the years. I feel sure some I will never have heard of. My loss. And, share a few names of the new up-and-coming speakers who you find to be extremely powerful.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS!

The Gospel of Jesus is good news! The irony is its ancientness is so starkly modern. It's good because in it is revealed the right way to get right life moving in the right direction. It's news because it isn't common knowledge. Most Americans don't know about this good news. Frankly, I doubt I do.....and friend....such a statement makes the good news even better good news.

My doubts are not about Him; they are about me. As much as I love the nature of God and relish in the riches He presents, I feel I must surely be blind to the height and the depth; the entire range of God. I don't think I get the term salvation. I don't think I relate to His security. Forgiveness 70 x 7 doesn't chart. Three violations and either I am sunk or they are sunk; whoever the offender is. I don't think I get the cross. Of course I have words for it and thoughts deeply implanted in my spirit. But, I don't think I get it.

Being ignorant of the explanation and analysis of God's handiwork does nothing but escalate the beautiful essence of Truth. If He can work beyond my imagination then I must necessarily be thinking deficiently in every spiritual zone. This is not a slam against me as if I'm lazy or indifferent. It's a glorious credit to the undiscoverable and inexpressible nature of our Living Lord.

Only the foolish-minded can begin to see the DayLight of God. Compared to God, all are foolish-minded, but some are slower in such admission. The good news is we just can't imagine how good the news is!!!! Who can fathom being born into and adopted into a family and yet we are both. We must really be IN THE FAMILY OF GOD to have entered twice.

I cheer you on. Evaluate the miracles of Jesus. Watch him move through the streets and then the hillside. Note his studying eyes. Be impressed at his gravitated body; yet his levitated spirit...always able to receive his truth from the clouds (so to speak) while he is committed to earth walk. Jesus does this kind of defiant life for you and me. We are rewarded day in and day out by the good news of Jesus to the extent we basically know nothing about it....except how to spell it.

The good news of Jesus is too good to be true. Our voices and our prayers and our greetings and our dealings should reflect one thing all day long: our simple Wow!

THE ONE SAFE PLACE

God has a way of signaling individuals when it's least expected. I believe there are some reading this today which will be so astonished as if God is reading your mind. It is time for some who have pondered the question of being baptized to do it. It is time to move on it.

In his final decree in the book of Matthew Jesus sent his disciples out with a message. Tell everyone you meet to be baptized. Why? Why did he pick that one message for all of the people to focus? It's the place we meet Jesus. Romans 6:3-5 and a host of other passages refers to our going to pre-cemetery efforts of dying to ourselves ahead of time by being buried. We are to be buried in a grave of water. Sins are washed away.

Read Act 2:38 or I Peter 3:21 or Titus 3:5-7. Note the cleansing for a new start. Being buried in Jesus is the only safe place to be. Being immersed into the the one who has already conquered death by rising again connects us to the one who has defeated death.

Have you been baptized by bringing your life intentionally to an end? Have you made pre-cemetery arrangements to beat the earth grave? I encourage you to hear God's knock at the door of your heart.

If you have more or even the simplest questions about this idea, email me at trush@memorialdrive.org for a one on one discussion. I struggled with this for years. I'd been baptized as a teen, but surely didn't have even the slightest grasp of scriptures regarding the topic. Baptism is on so many minds. I've been there done that. Later in life I was baptized for the reasons I could read for myself from the Bible.

Many of you are quite secure with all of this....and should be. For those who aren't, maybe God is calling you to His safe place.