Writing Goals

 Everyone who wants to write needs to set a written goal. 

Why?

Because for most of us if we don't have a goal to write a day goes by without writing and then two, then a month and you get the idea.

Each of us needs to have a personal one that is reasonable considering the life we live. It needs to be flexible like any writing counts, or if you have a bid day coming up you can write tomorrow's word count today. 

It's also good to make it public so you can be accountable. 

You guessed it, that is what I am doing. 

Here is my goal. 500 words a day on Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Friday is my day off and Sunday is, well I'm a preacher so it's busy. I don't need to justify myself I just know myself and this will work. I also will allow myself to write more one day for up to a week ahead. So if I know Monday is going to be busy I can write 1000 words on the previous Thursday. This also means if I get deep into writing one weekend and pump out 30,000 words I won't take three months off. I actually did this once. Yes the writing and then not writing though I'm not sure if it was three months I went without afterward. I'm also giving myself two weeks off so when I'm on vacation with the family, I'll be with my family. You get the idea and now I do too.

Word Count for 2022 -- 125,000

What is yours?

Good Luck everyone. 

Chained To The Past

I am not telling most of you anything that you do not know. 

If you keep doing the same thing today you have done in the past you will keep getting the same results.

Most of us know this and yet we keep making the same mistakes. So what is the problem? 
Most people are slaves to what they know or have done. I will admit that at times I am. To be honest, there are things that are just easier and even very enjoyable. (I love to cook sweets and eat them)

There is something to be said about persistence and sticking with things, but the problem for most of us is we are persistent in areas where we shouldn't be and are not persistent in important matters.

But what I want to make clear is that when there are things in our life that need changing, we need to work on changing them. If it feels like there are too many things then just start with one, but if you refuse to start then you will never be anything more than you are today.

So start...do that one thing...

let's get some different results. 

Be A Scrooge!!

I hope you enjoy this blog repeat from last year by my friend Garret Lee. I agree with him...be a Scrooge.

An Overplayed Carol

By Garrett A. Lee

Card players warn against “overplaying your hand.”  This is when you are dealt a strong hand, and, rather than settle for simply winning the round, you go for bonus points—only to end up losing the round after all.  What was a strong hand for normal play, was not strong enough for bonus play.  It was overplayed.

I suggest there is a tendency at Christmas to overplay a popular literary hand: Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol.  This cherished tale is so ingrained in American culture we overplay its message (even more than we over-play its myriad media adaptations).  The fear of “being a Scrooge” who doesn’t “keep Christmas,” drives us to distraction and obsession.

Keeping Christmas isn’t what it used to be, though.  We start sooner, wear out quicker, spend more, and enjoy less.  By the time Christmas Day arrives, many are ready to be done with it.  The celebration takes priority over the thing celebrated.  Expectations and obligations have grown “link by link, and yard by yard….It is a ponderous chain!”  We can become so bent on keeping Christmas we end up not having Christmas at all.

We have overplayed our hand.

Dickens dealt a very strong hand when he penned his “Ghostly little book.”  It was a time when many London industrialists and businessmen were taking oppressive advantage of the under classes.  Children, as well as adults, were forced to work twelve hours or more a day in unfit conditions and for meager wages.  Many employees were even denied Christmas Day as a holiday.  Dickens, a social activist, saw this as the ultimate exploitation of the poor. A Christmas Carol  was created to highlight these evils; and, of all his writings, none other have affected more social change.  The Christmas card trumped the business suit.  It was a very strong hand indeed.

Over the ensuing sixteen decades, we have overplayed its revered message.  Dickens’ message was that we really are to be our brothers’ keepers, not merely keepers of Christmas.  He used Christmas as a tool to affect the culture; we have let the culture affect Christmas.  Whatever the culture identifies as Christmas, we must keep—and keep up with—lest we be labeled a Scrooge.

As American society has grown wealthier and more materialistic, we have become more like Old Scrooge than we care to admit.  We see less and less reason to let a good holiday stand in the way of good commerce.  We have played Dickens’ hand so well, that Christmas has become a greater source of business than Old Ebenezer himself could ever have conceived.  To Scrooge, Christmas was an intrusion to commerce, but to the executive today it is the critical figure of the annual balance sheet.  The prize turkey was to Bob Cratchits’ family the ultimate Christmas gift; now Christmas itself is the ultimate golden goose.

At the beginning of the Carol, the miserly Scrooge berates Christmas as an unprofitable, costly waste.  Nephew Fred’s classic speech (which never makes it in its entirety into the movie adaptations) follows:

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited [economically], I dare say,” returned the nephew: “Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in all the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them  as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”   

Maybe it’s the Victorian English, the antiquated phrasing; or perhaps it’s just our short attention spans.  All we hear is, “Christmas is a good thing, even if it’s expensive.”  That’s good as far as it goes.  But Fred’s discourse also includes two primary reasons Christmas is good.  

First, Christmas is good “due to its sacred name [Christ] and origin [religious observance of His birth].”  This is assumed to such degree that Fred doubts it possible to separate any part of Christmas from it.  Yet Western culture has labored hard to do just that.  Though A Christmas Carol is a secular story, in the mid 1800s even a secular story could accept this religious basis, and even vague references to the Christ Child of Christmas would not be wasted on most readers.  Such reference today, however, is easily removed altogether and not missed.  In a morbid twist on the old adage, we throw out the Baby and keep the bathwater.

Secondly, Fred notes Christmas is good as the unsurpassed time of year when people care for others across all socioeconomic levels and collectively take notice of the needs of the less fortunate.  Traces of this still play out today.  Many still attempt to “make some slight provision for the poor and destitute.”  But it is often very slight and more often short-lived generosity.

If we are to stop overplaying this hand, we must become Scrooges all.

“Christmas a humbug!  You don’t mean that, I am sure?”  Not at all.  Most commonly overlooked when thinking of Scrooge is that A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption.  Scrooge repents!  The image of Scrooge we usually hold onto is the “clutching, grasping, wrenching, covetous old sinner.”  But by the end of the tale, remember, he is the model of keeping Christmas.  He sends a turkey to his employee.  He pledges an unspeakable amount for the poor.  He attends Christmas church service.  He accepted his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner.  He raises Bob’s salary.

“Scrooge was better than his word.  He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father.  He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world….And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.”  

Repent the humbug, and be a real Scrooge this Christmas.  Downplay the tinsel and gold, and buy a scuttle of coal for a Cratchit near you.

Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!




What did you expect its busy this time of year.

KEEP SMILING!


CSA

Membership has its responsibilities

I believe that it is the American Express Card that advertises that Membership has its privileges.  Companies spend a great amount of money letting you know the privileges you have if you join them. If you are offered membership in a Gym or Country Club again you are told of the privileges you get by being a member. Yes, the person selling the membership will talk about the cost but the selling point is the privileges you get. 

This is all true but the problem is the conclusion that membership has privileges without many responsibilities has made its way into the church. Are there privileges that come with being a church member? Sure, but actually becoming part of the church has just as many if not more responsibilities than privileges in this life. 

I believe many well-meaning Christians and Pastors have sold church membership as a good return on investment rather than on the commitment it actually represents.

A more accurate example of membership in the church of Jesus Christ is that of joining the military. If you are a member of the armed forces there are privileges, but there are lots of res[ponsiblities and the commitments can cost you your life. 

Remember Membership has its responsibilities...

CS Areson

Why leaders don't follow?

While reading Dr. Ron Lush’s ChristStyle- Leadership,(A lecture in my Master's class At ONU) I laughed and pondered the story he shared.

"I stood by the dim light of a closet attempting to dress without disturbing my wife. It is as though we live in different time zones, so I was shocked when Kay abruptly raised herself on one elbow, looked directly at me from a deep sleep and said, "Here's what I'm thinking about. Everyone teaches leadership. Everyone wants to be a leader. Everyone is supposed to be a leader. Jesus said, 'Follow me.' No one knows how to follow. Jesus is really mad." Then, she just as abruptly fell to the bed, rolled over and went back to sleep ... or, continued to sleep, I'm not quite sure which."

Was this message directly from God? Direct or not, it was a message that Christian leaders need to hear or at least need to be reminded of. We are called first to follow. In Dr. John Bowling's book Grace-Full Leadership, one of the traits he lists for a Christian leader is being “willing to follow as well as lead” (Bowling 97-102). Even in the business world, it is recognized that leaders have to have the humility to listen and follow the lead of others (advisors, employees, customers) if they are going to do great (Collins). 

With all the evidence and teaching, why is it that so many in leadership refuse to follow? I think we all know the answer, PRIDE. Leaders want to be the hero. They want to be Superman not just a member of the Justice League (DC Comics).

 Some Leaders say in their hearts, "I will ascend... I will raise... I will sit enthroned ....I will ascend above...  I will make myself...”(Is. 14:13-14). Afterward, they wonder what went wrong,  why God did not help them, and people oppose them.  (for those unfamiliar these are the words of Lucifer, AKA, the Devil)

Works Cited

       Bowling, John C. Grace-Full Leadership: Understanding the Heart of a Christian Leader. Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 2000. Print.

       Collins, Jim. Good to Great. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 2005. Audio.

       Lush, Ron.  “CHRISTSTYLE - LEADERSHIP” Olivet Nazarene University, 2011. Notes.

Thankful for the Church

Written by Pastor Charles Areson, Tell City First Church of the Nazarene for From the Pastor's Desk

As we enter a season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, our hearts normally turn toward the things for which we are thankful and the gifts we have given and received. In that spirit, I would like to ask you to think of the church, specifically, the churches of Tell City.

Are the churches perfect, no of course not, but neither are our schools, our workplaces, our first responders, nor our government? Our community is made up of people and people even the best are not perfect. We hope to get better, but we aren’t there yet. This is not the point, if you’re looking for perfection outside of God himself, then you will never be happy.

However, when we see the churches of Tell City there is much to be thankful for. For many, they serve as a place of community and support through life’s roughest times. In death, heartache, sickness, the church has reached out to many and stood beside them. We have seen the church reach out with the Great Day of Service to improve the look of our community. In times of need, the church has served as a place of help to the poor and needy. Most know of the Widows Barrel and other smaller food pantries operated by volunteers from the churches of this community giving food to those who are hungry.  If I listed all the works of Catholic Charities does for this community then I could take up an entire page. No one can honestly deny; the church is a force for Good in Tell City.

Are needs still out there, yes, but Jesus seemed to indicate we would always have the poor with us. However, our community would be much, much poorer without the giving and love of our churches.  I doubt we could count the tangible ways the churches of Tell City have assisted this community, let alone the intangible support which has been given. Therefore, in this time of thanks and of giving, let us be thankful for the churches of Tell City.  

Why CS?

Why C.S.?
NO, it's not because my favorite author is a CS.

Above is the copy of the book as it was supposed to look. The author's name is Charles S.(my pen initial, not my real one) Areson is right where it is supposed to be.  

However, I was in a hurry signing up with the publisher, I only put my initials thinking I could change it. I found out that what you place in that section has to be what is on the book cover. You could not go back and change it.

 Oh!

I did not want to redo the entire project, so I just went with it. To be consistent, I have decided that all of my books will carry the name.

The mystery is solved!?

So what does the "S" stand for?

Come on, I'm an author, I need some secrets. ;)

In the church: Too few workers or too many jobs?

Too few workers or too many jobs?

This question was posed to me: What do you say when people say they are working too hard or there are not enough workers in the church to do all the jobs? 

The correct answer is probably, “Your right.” 

The problem is for most people is that they do not want to do what is needed to change these problems. 

There are two possible problems when people say this. 

The first is the people in the church are trying to do too much ministry. God did not call us to do everything, he called us to use the gifts and callings he has supplied us with. There are some churches so committed to doing certain ministries they place people in them who have no business in them. A huge ministry most churches are committed too no matter what is youth ministry. Is this ministry important? Yes, but I would argue that more will be accomplished by teens and children seeing adults growing in Church than by having their own programs running by people who are not qualified. 

Yes, though some churches trying to do too much, I believe the greater problem is people in the church are too busy. 

People's lives are filled with jobs, hobbies, clubs, sporting events, children’s events, and entertainment(look at the TV watching averages). Their issue is they do not want to give anything up. 

The truth is you can not do them all. What will happen is you will do good in a couple of these areas(maybe) but the rest will be lackluster or even failures. (Okay, maybe you can't really accomplishing anything great when you watch TV, but rest is important too, in moderation) 

 I have been just as guilty as others in this. 

The choice we have to make is to let some things go. Some things are nothing more than a waste of time however others in our lives are good things but they keep us from excelling in what we really wanted to do. Choose what is important let the others go,

 And if church work isn't important, then get your life right with God.

The Hospice Pastor

There comes a time when all organizations put together by man either die or are transformed into something new.

I spent many nearly 9 years as a hospice chaplain. I was glad to be able to help people navigate through one of the most difficult times they will face. People appreciated you being there even though there was nothing you could do but comfort the dying and grieve with the family who remained. People appreciated the work it took to be there when nothing could be done, and as far as physical life death was certain. No one looked at you and questioned your faith or saw you as a failure. It was never a thankless job.

However, during part of that time, I had another job. It was nearly the same, it was the job of being a hospice pastor. I won’t go into details but both churches were on the verge of closing. I was asked to go in and “just keep the doors open.” We did. At the first visit to each church, my family doubled their attendance (we have a family of 4). We keep both churches going and paying their bills for 5 years. The first nearly turned around until the death of “the” key person who did live in the community the church was in. The second never showed signs of a turnaround. Both churches saw people saved and lives changed, but when we left the churches closed.

My reward? Two black marks on my record. (Thankfully, the church I’m at now looked beyond that) However, if I hadn’t taken the churches, they would have closed so maybe it was foolish on my part to do as my denominational leader asked? However, the experiences I had and the lives which were helped pleased God, so I try and be satisfied with that.  

So why am I writing this? I’m not going to change the minds of the people who believe that if you just do the right things the church will always grow. However, for those who see pastors with good hearts doing what they can in what may be a hospice church situation, I ask, give them your support and your praise.

For the hospice pastor, be faithful, you’re doing more than you realize. If it is just two mites worth, remember the person who gave two mites gave the most. Know that there are times when you need to let something die. This isn’t failure it’s life in this world. Also, remember this sometimes God raises the dead, so keep trusting him and give it your best.  

Review of IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGIVE

I thought I would share a review written by a retired pastor with thirty years of experience. I was humbled by what he wrote. CSA

A book review on the book, 

“IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGIVE?” What God Can Do When You Can’t by Charles Areson.

As a pastor I often said, one of the most dangerous things we could ever pray is, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12 NLT).  I mean really, do we want God’s forgiveness of us based on how forgiving we have been towards others?  Jesus added the following to these words, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15).  Simple and to the point, if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us.

The same is true of this book.  Simple and to the point.  Areson shows us how God can, indeed will, help us do something that is impossible for us to do on our own.  Forgive others!  No matter what they have done.

In the book, Areson is honest.  He tells us that though God commands we forgive, He was not able to do so.  He shows us how, if we are willing to admit we have a problem (not being able to forgive) and allow God to take us through the process, we too, might reach a point of rebuilding trust and finding reconciliation.

I believe the words of this book are invaluable.  I believe there are many “Christians” struggling with the same problem.  I have already thought of someone I want to purchase a copy for.  Perhaps you will think of some as well as you read and work through it.

Mark Bechtel

Bloomington,  Indiana

Does ministry and love call us to put ourselves at risk ALL THE TIME?

Just thinking out loud...

Does ministry and love calls us to put ourselves at risk ALL THE TIME?

The answer for many Christians is: if a Christian isn’t risking it all then he/she is disappointing God. They give the example of Jesus at the cross, of Paul in Jerusalem, and the Old Testament prophets losing their lives as they spoke the truth. All of these are true but is this the whole story?

Jesus knowing the crowd was going to throw him off the cliff, walks away (with God’s help), Jesus came secretly into Jerusalem when he knew the religious leaders wanted to kill him and then left. Paul on multiple occasions left town after persecution. Peter moved to another house (hid) after an angel released him from prison. Elijah in the Old Testament hid for three years as the drought took place. Obadiah hid the prophets of God from an unrighteous queen. In the book of Acts, the Christians fled Jerusalem during persecution. In all these cases the people took precautions to save their lives and the lives of their families.

Yet today I hear people making accusations toward those that call for precautions as being unloving and being based on fear or hate. I want to acknowledge here that some of those that call for caution is being motivated for the wrong reason, but isn’t it possible that those calling for fewer precautions might have less than honorable motivations? 

This can cover areas from help for the poor, to social justice, to dealing with refugees. What I fear is that both sides have steeped themselves in their own ideas that they can not or will not admit there might be another side on the issue in question. Many can’t accept the other side may love God and are truly trying to follow the example of Christ. 

Perhaps there is a balance between the two? Perhaps not? Perhaps, rather than calling others out to a fight we should just express our thoughts and let it go. Perhaps, we need to ask God to show us what we need to do to change our lives rather than try and change the opinions of others? 

So where do I stand on most issues? In the middle usually, which means both sides hate me but that is okay. As I read it this is where Jesus stood and both sides of the religious community hated him. 

Sign of the Red Flag (A non-horror short story for Halloween)

This is something different from my normal post. This is not a horror story but a fantasy. It is actually a fun little story. I hope you enjoy this rough draft of.....

Sign of the Red Flag

The battle was lost. 

I couldn’t think of anything that we could do. These confused dangerous people that followed the dragons would win. Elizabeth was wore out, her power depleted. We were offered the opportunity to surrender before the battle began but after so much death, I doubted that they would be willing to accept our surrender now. 

I called over my servant and told him to run back and tell the villagers to prepare to move out. He didn’t realize how bad things were. Christy, Martin and Elizabeth had poured everything they had into this battle. My sword was available, but I was no expert. If I fell in battle the alliance would fall apart. 

I knew if they sent forward their main force we and the villagers would be slaughtered. I looked over at Elizabeth and I knew she was thinking the same thing. Maybe if we surrender it could buy the villagers time to escape. 

I looked around and there was nothing to tie my mostly white handkerchief to. I decided that my sword would do. I carefully drew it holding back the flame inside that wanted to ignite. I took the handkerchief stuck it on the end and before anyone could stop me I jumped over the rocks that Martin had moved to protect us.

I noticed the look of shock and fear on the face of the village leader. I didn’t realize why he had such a look but didn’t take time to think what it meant.

When I took the first few steps it seemed that every mental attack was aimed at me. I took a few more steps and stumbled before a small tree. I thought that maybe I should cut a branch and place the white flag of it. I quickly removed the handkerchief and brought my sword down against the tree. It took just a few seconds and the tree was ready. The handkerchief was tied to the top and I held it high in my left hand my naked sword down by my legs but a little out so that they could see where it was. 

I continued to walk slowly toward the enemy. Some of their warriors continued to send attacks in my direction but it seemed as if very thing had paused. I heard some yelling behind me. I knew it was my servant yelling out to the villagers. 

I saw a table sized rock not twenty feet in front of the stones that protected their main force. I planned to go there and lay my sword down. right before I reached the stone I saw it and my heart froze.

 A red flag came up from behind the stones right in front of me.

They meant to destroy us. I didn’t know what to do to show they they didn’t have to do this. As I looked at the stone in front of me rather than lay my sword down I jumped up on it and started waving the flag back and forth. 

I saw more red flags emerge first ten then twenty then so many I couldn’t count.

Then I heard the cheer from the ridge behind. I glanced behind me and the villager that I had sent word to move out had all come to the edge of the battle. The small group of defenders that we had been fighting with had moved from behind their defenses to stand on the open field behind me. 

In the confusion of the moment, I forgot about holding back the power of the sword and it burst into living flame. I looked forward again, now seeing a sea of red flags.

 I yelled “SURRENDER” at the top of my lungs. I meant to say, "we surrender."

Then it happened, weapons were thrown over the stones and men came from behind their defenses with their hands behind their backs (the universal sign of surrender in this world).

We had won but I didn’t know how.

It was explained to me later that the white cloth hanging on the edge of a town was a sign of health. The red a sign of sickness or injury.

Flags had never been used in battle before. The sight of me standing there taking the mental attack of the enemy, holding the white flag told them that we weren’t injured.  They thought we were about to destroy them. 

They had taken more injures than we realized and held up the red flags to show they were injured. Now they were willing to talk. 

When I yelled the word "surrender," it was the act that would make the red flag the universal sign of surrender forever.

Is Dialogue Dead?

I wrote this 4 years ago and it's not gotten any better.

Is Dialogue Dead?

“Dialogue is dead. Welcome to the age of a million monologues. Welcome to the day when people shout angrily at empty space rather than conversing with one another. Today is a day of hearing but not listening, when accusations are made without understanding, and when we fight against one another as we try to reach shockingly similar goals.


I am convinced that we are not as opposed to one another as we think we are, but we have lost the capacity to understand. And I lament that our ignorance appears to be increasingly willful. Rather than disagreeing, we make enemies. Rather than engaging perspectives that differ from our own, we villainize. Rather than recognizing our shortcomings, we cast our sin upon scapegoats.” Pastor Nick Highland


I wish I could say Nick is wrong but it seems that he is correct. Attacks and insults seem to be most peoples’ first response. So, what do we do as Christians? Forget that question, I have been hearing and seeing what Christians are saying and doing. Maybe I should say, “What should we do?” The answer is to live and talk like Christ. How is that? In Love.


No, it isn’t easy to walk in love. Yes, we will take abuse, but that isn’t anything new for the Christian. Jesus said we would face persecution.


Next, in a world filled with the noise of anger and hate-filled monologues, what should we focus on? I suggest we look to the Bible and what Paul said in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”


Finally, I suggest that we practice forgiveness. It is easy to get upset, angry. and bitter. Sports figures, politicians, reporters, bloggers, the twits on Twitter, and the Slander on Facebook, just to name a few, make it easy to lose your cool. However, Jesus told us to forgive and to love. There wasn’t an exception clause because someone was an idiot or because they were evil.


It doesn't matter if Dialogue is Dead, we are called to act one way no matter what other people do.
Think about it.

A Hospice for Sinners

I was talking to a friend about what a church is supposed to be and he threw out the line that many of us in the church have heard, “The church isn’t a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners.”

I understand that statement and mostly agree, but that is not what this post is about. This post is about something that came rolling out of my mouth that I did not expect. It was sad that Too many churches have gone from being a hospital for sinners to a hospice that gives pain medication but doesn’t treat the sin in their lives.

The comment so struck me that I wrote it down. 

My friend commented, “That will be tweeted out later today.” 

It wasn’t I thought about it for a few days before I tweeted and made a few adjustments until I tweeted out: 

“Too many churches have gone from being a hospital for sinners to a hospice that only medicates a sinner's guilt.” 

There are a lot of people out there who will criticize ministers who seem only to preach the good news and positive messages but these messages are important for us as believers. The problem arises when the culture of a church goes from helping people find Christ and begin living a transformed life to a church where sin is downplayed and transformation is actually discouraged. 

There are churches that celebrate people staying in the same state as they have always been in. There is no call for a deeper walk or for becoming more like Christ. Most people will immediately think of the churches that no longer believe in sin and accept anyone as a Christian no matter their lifestyle. However, there are churches that preach against sin, or perhaps I should say certain sins, and ignore the ones going on in their midst. The inner-city church decries the wealth and indulgence of the suburb, yet ignores the sins that are trapping people in poverty. The church in the country cries out against lazy people on welfare but tolerates gossip and selfish power plays.

These churches claim they are helping the sinners, but in truth, they are giving the people in the church the wrong medication. Their lack of looking inward causes them to feel healthy when they are actually dying. 

So what do you do?

As a pastor, my job is to allow the Spirit of God to reveal the needs of my congregation and preach to those concerns. No, not every message is or should be a chance to knock the people in line, but they should be relevant to where they live. The messages should not be directed at Washington, other churches, or the political parties. They need to be true to the people where they live.

If you're in church leadership, talk to your pastor or preaching staff and ask them. Why do they preach the way they do.

If you're just a member then pray. Don’t wait for the preacher to point out what you need to be dealing with in your life, ask God he knows exactly what is wrong in your life. You can also pray for your leadership. 

Finally, this post may seem to be pointing out at other people, and in some way it is but it is also a reminder to me and to my church to help those who are in need where we are, don’t medicate the conscious of a sinner. Bring them to the place where God can transform them.  

Space and Being in the Vine?

Keep reading vines and space will make sense.

John 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

When we look into John 15 it is easy to get caught up in the glories of remaining in Christ and what happens if we do. I don't want to diminish these promises they are great and we need to focus on them and learning what it means to live in Christ. 

However, this is my blog and I write what grabs my attention. Today, while looking over this promise again I was reminded that the first verses aren't the whole of the story. It says further on in verses 5-6, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

Ouch, I truly hope those who believe once in grace always in grace are right, but this doesn't sound like once you're in Christ you are always in Christ. It sounds like a warning. This isn't Christ being mean, as some might want to see it, this is Christ giving us a warning. If you want to live come with me, as it were. It is like telling someone, don't take off your helmet while in space the vacuum will kill you. It isn't said with a villainous laugh, "I'll get you my pretty..." It is Christ laying out the truth.

What I do notice is the warning isn't the end it's in the middle. This means it isn't the most important part of the message and it isn't. It's just a warning. Keep your helmet on now and enjoy this, once-in-a-lifetime experience, the view of earth from orbit (coming soon I hope).

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

God said, "Don't go to church!"

Sometimes God doesn't sound reasonable.

My grandmother, Martha Drake, told me an amazing story. She said God told her not to go to church. I am a pastor and I have heard lots of stories of why people didn’t go to church. Though some have merit most are just smoke and mirrors and I don’t know if they are trying to fool me or themselves. Personally, I don’t think I am as dumb as they think I am considering some of the stories. I have never had anyone tell me that God told them not to go to church and I believed them until grandma told me her story. 

Grandma had accepted Christ and was serving him in spite of the fact that her husband, Ralph my grandfather, was not very happy about it. Grandpa was what some might call an alcoholic but considering how he behaved I would have called him a drunk and a mean drunk at that. Grandma lost 12 children to miscarriage all of them probably due to beatings. I was glad that by the time I came along Grandpa was a different person. 

One night grandma was walking to church and felt God tell her, “Don’t go to church, Martha.” She didn’t think it was right to miss church on Sunday night when she could go so keep walking. God did not let up and a couple houses before the church she turned into her Aunt  Millie’s house and visited with her rather than go to church. Afterward, she went home feeling a little bad for not going to church. 

“Martha,” her friend Treasa told grandma later, “I am glad you weren’t in church Sunday night. Part of the way into the service, Ralph shoved open the back doors of the church. He stood there holding open the doors, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and just stared around looking for you. You could see he was drunk and mad. When he didn’t see you he stomped out letting the doors slam behind him. I think if you had been there he would have dragged you out and beat you.”

 Grandma later wondered if perhaps God did not save her that night, not just from a beating but from losing her life. It is strange to think perhaps I might never have been born if Grandma had gone to church. 

I can do All (okay maybe not)

Strenght to WIN! (?)

 For many people their favorite if not one of their favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. The only problem is we see people who seem not to be doing it. they aren't healthy, rich, or successful. They don't reach their goals or become the best. 

So what is going on? 

the answer for some is that the people claiming this verse just don't have enough faith. I will give the people who make this claim that sometimes this is the case, however not always. There are other reasons people don't do all things.

First, we need to realize that the apostle who wrote this wasn't speaking of human success and wealth or "making it" as we would call it. Paul isn't talking about doing all I/you want to do.  

Second, when we talk about through Christ we need to realize we need to be in Christ and doing what He wants us to do. God isn't normally going to give you the strength to do your own thing when he has something else in mind for you to be doing. 

Finally, and most importantly, Paul was referring to the power to endure hardship and persecution. This verse has nearly everything to do with enduring than making it to the top in this life. Look at the verse previous and you will see Paul says "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Paul here is speaking of enduring not getting what we want. He's talking about learning to hold on to God when things are good and when things are bad. 

I have lived long enough to say that it is those who know how to endure the good and the bad in life that we can admire.

So, God give me the strength to endure All things.

Faith for Exiles - recommended

Negative perceptions. Church dropouts. Prodigals and nomads. It's easy to get discouraged by all that's going wrong when it comes to Christianity and the emerging generation. Yet what's going right? In fact, signs of hope are springing up all around. In Faith For Exiles David Kinnaman, author of unChristian and You Lost Me teams up with Mark Matlock, former executive director of Youth Specialties to unveil major new Barna research that uncovers what's working—five practices that contribute to resilience. Enter the world of resilient young adult Christians and learn how they are sustaining faith. Finally, you can find hope in all that God is doing among young disciples today. ( from https://faithforexiles.com/)

I don't think I have ever recommended a book on this blog before, but here goes. Faith for Exiles is a good book with great information. I'm still trying to figure out how we can do some of the things they recommend in the middle of a pandemic where people are afraid (and sometimes rightly so) about getting sick or getting others sick, but that doesn't change the study. I have just finished this book today and plan to go back through it to see how we might implement some of the ideas in our future ministry. Some of the ideas have had but not been able to put it into words or proper action but I hope to change that. 

Anyway, it's worth a read. 

Keeping strong in easy times.

Consider the promises.

 I'm taking a break from forgiveness this week and look instead at the promises of God. You know the ones: Destruction is coming, people will hate you, you will be lied about, the enemies will be those of your own home...

I bet those weren't the promise you were hoping I would look at. I don't like them either. I want the ones which promise me rainbows and cupcakes (healthy ones but still have all the taste of sugar). There are both types of promises in the Bible, but for the follower of Christ no so much. The New Testament rarely gives us promises of an easy earthly life. 

This doesn't mean we won't get an easy life on occasion, but if our spiritual life is built on easy living then we aren't where God wants us. If we are going to be all God wants us to be we have to be willing to follow Him even if things aren't easy. 

The good news is that God does promise a reward far greater than our suffering so it will be worth it. 

For some of us, we may need to spend more time doing things that aren't pleasant: working in a soup kitchen, volunteering with those who need help, etc. 

Why might you ask? 

Because in doing these things we are reminded of the blessings we do have, and it keeps us spiritually strong when tough times come. 

Think about it.

Pride and Forgiveness

 Last week I posed the question about the possibility that could pride keeping me from forgiving. So what do you think? Can pride keep you or me from forgiving others?

I believe it can. 

When we are filled with sinful pride (this is not self-confidence or feeling good about doing well) and think our ideas, person, or group are more important than God, it can interfere with forgiveness. The reason is we consider our "rights" of greater importance than God. We have in a way put ourselves into the position of god in our life. The "right" to hold on to anger and bitterness (unforgiveness) is more important to us than God and His commands.  

This of course is self-destructive as a host of research has shown, but it doesn't matter if our pride has moved us into the god position in our life. 

This is why I believe pride can keep us from forgiving. 

Are there people filled with pride who do forgive? 

Yes, I'm sure there are (I haven't meet any). They are forgiving not because it is right before God but because they have found letting go is better for them. 

Personally, I think trying to keep pride out of our lives makes everything better and when it comes to  forgiveness, it makes it easier.  

Who Me?

Maybe? NO!

After the Webinar on forgiveness, I was asked to speak on forgiveness to a group of people in an area of the world that has seen a lot of upheaval and violence. I can't help but think, "Who am I to speak to these people?"

Yes, my experience was bad and the person committing it was committing an evil act but nothing like many these people are working with. However, the truth of forgiveness isn't based on the crime of the offended. I have said and believe that there are acts of betrayal that feel far worse than murder, so maybe I can relate and they can relate to me. 

At the end of the day, all I can do is be available. People who want to hear will, those who don't will find an excuse not to. If I consider people dismissed Holocaust survivor Eva Kor's call for forgiveness then no matter what I experience, or didn't, will not matter. It is after all a personal choice, I can only point the way, and I will.  

This choice to speak, however, I hope never takes away the humility I should feel when I'm called to speak to those who have suffered much. I have to remember, if I let pride in, I might let unforgiveness back in as well. That is a subject for another post. 

Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash 

Forgiveness Webinar (recording)

 Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International

The Discipleship Place· Upcoming Webinar Learn more and watch the video replay at Impossible to Forgive Webinar

I was excited to share my testimony this week and share how God can help us forgive what feels impossible to forgive.