Would You Die for Her?

Jason was 30, divorced, with two little boys when Jesus transformed him. Jason told everybody. He influenced many lives, especially his old friend Jimmy. When Jimmy got out of prison with no one and nothing, Jason took him in. Jimmy met Jesus too.

Jason brought his boys to church. He told his ex-wife, “Just come to church with me. That’s all I want.” She refused.

A motorcycle accident ended Jason’s life at 31. His Good Friday funeral was unbelievably powerful.

Jason’s ex-wife has been in church most every Sunday since.

What a price.

We miss him.

Glory be to God.

A Church Planter's Lie

While guest speaking at a conference, I heard a church planter’s presentation.

He said, “There is no gospel witness in many US cities.”

That got my attention. He repeated.

“Many of our biggest cities no longer have any church that preaches the gospel.”

Afterward, I told him I personally knew many great churches in his target city.

“They’re good,” he replied unconvincingly.

Apparently churches not using the right Bible version or in the wrong political camp don’t really count.

I’ve heard the “no gospel witness” phrase from missionaries my whole life. I wonder. Did any of them also distort reality?

Squabbling Church Disproves Christianity?

After a troubled church in Middletown, Pennsylvania had four pastors in eight years, the denomination sent a new guy to "clean house." It's not going well. 

In his July 10th sermon, the pastor said, "if you aren't  willing to accept my authority, there's the door." Some stood up declaring he should leave, calling him dangerous, and voicing other complaints. 

The arguing and name calling have spilled into the community and onto the internet. One non-Christian commented: "This fragment of idiots is more evidence of...how untrue Christianity is."

What an egregious spiritual collapse. Only God can resurrect ministry from such death.

 

5 Signs Your Church Promotes Controversy

1. You love to speculate on what might happen.

2. You are always looking for new and different teaching.

3. You take a minor point and make it major.

4. You take a major point and make it minor.

5. You focus more on what not to do than on what Christ has done.

Church people can turn life into lists of ‘dos and don’ts,’ leading to pride when you keep the rules, and despair when you don’t. But knowing what is right and the power to do what is right comes only by loving Jesus.  

We don’t need more controversy, we need more Jesus.

Are You Addicted to Unkindness?

Author and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin often asks audiences if they can go 24 hours without saying unkind words about, or to, another person. Invariably, a few raise their hands, signifying "yes." Others laugh. A large number call out, "no!" 


Telushkin responds: "Those who can't answer 'yes' must recognize you have a serious problem. If you cannot go 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. If you cannot go 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost control over your tongue."

Vacation Decimates Social Media

Normal life is a frantic cycle of content creation. Articles, books, blogs, emails, policies, posts, reports, and sermons. Not in that order. Social media takes a back seat to life’s more important duties. 

Surely vacation would provide a time to respond to Twitter friends, write fascinating blogs, post pictures of relaxing activities. Wrong.

Vacationing leaves me even less time for social media endeavors. The mind blurs at the thought of content creation of any sort. The fun event is over before the idea of announcing it to others crosses my mind.

Must stop...wife is pushing me to walk the beach.

Internet Connectivity Hell

Visiting my extended family means good food and stories from the past in a bucolic setting. The rural location also means spotty cell phone service, and little internet connectivity. As a result:

·        I learn about the resignation of a staff member two days after it happened.

·        All the questions that come up in conversation cannot be answered by a quick Google search.

·        I can’t live-stream our worship services.

·        The text message keeps failing until I hold the phone above my head on high ground.

Two days without access is challenging. Do I miss times of prayer and Scripture as much?