ECIPLESHIP for Passionate Christ-Followers

That’s what fellow pastors called this young enthusiastic uneducated Christ-follower. The late 1700’s in England was a season in the church’s life when the tried-and-true methods reigned supreme. “If it wasn’t done this way before it shouldn’t be done this way now.” One person broke the mold.

A young passionate disciple was gripped by God and given a vision for greater things than the church of that day had currently dreamed about. He was smitten with a vision for missions — bringing the kingdom of God to other lost nations around the world. On the evening of May 30, 1792, this young man was given the rare privilege of addressing the annual Baptist association meeting. He preached from Isaiah 54:2-3:

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”

His message? Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. It made a noticeable impact. The hair-brained enthusiast had left his mark. The next day, a special offering was taken to begin what would eventually become the Baptist Missionary Society. It was collected in a snuff can, by the way. Fit that into your theology.

The man’s name was William Carey.

This man, of course, became the father of modern missions. His mark was left in Asia, too. His list of accomplishments are too numerous to list here, but they are stunning. Let me mention just one: He translated the entire scriptures into six different languages — portions of the scriptures into twenty nine others! Those of you who work with languages can appreciate the immensity of this accomplishment alone.

As I reflect on William Carey and the impact he made, I cannot help but think of all those people who mocked him, thought he was crazy, who ridiculed his dreams and strategies, who talked behind his back, who thought they knew better. You see — they didn’t hear the voice of God about these things like Carey did. They had no right to mock or hold on to their “we never did it that way” resolves.

A fellow pastor that I admire, who is extremely successful at what he does, made a statement to me a couple of years ago that I have not forgotten. He said, “If I don’t get at least four nasty emails a week about what I’m doing, I’m not doing the right things.” I can’t say that I really agree…nor do I long for nasty emails, but his sentiment is worth considering. When God calls us to do something great, there will always be those who are waiting to criticize, those that “know better”, those that have perfectly good biblical support for not giving their support. But it’s the crazies that God uses so often — those that break the mold, that hear the voice of God and press through, those that risk friendship and reputation for the sake of Kingdom causes. Jesus knows. The first disciples know. Martin Luther knows. So does William Carey.

Hmmm….

Ok — so vacations do this to a person. I’ve been on a wonderful hide-a-way with my honey and it’s thrown me way out of my normal routine. Which is good, of course. That’s the idea. For all you bloggers, it keeps you looking back at…nothing. Sorry. I think I may do a little more posting the rest of the week. Between getting settled in to our secret spot and having a few issues with the available technology, I’ve retreated to an old standby nook. Caribou gives me two things — great coffee and a reliable wi-fi haven. So I’m with you again.

Susan and I are happy. We’re together. We’re away from normal life. We’re trying to figure out how to do nothing again. It’s always a little stressful going on vacation because of the type A withdrawal affects that are involved. We’re surviving. Actually — we’re thriving. These escapades away remind me of what an amazing wife God has given me. She continues to be my strength, stability, joy.

We went to church today, too. Catholic. And we worshiped. I was reminded of how powerful the simple reading of the Word can be — and responding with verbal affirmations too. We felt the beauty of the body of Christ as we mingled with the crowd that packed out the church. Shortest message I’ve heard in a long time too. Five minutes! But it was a good five minutes. And then the highlight — participating in communion…with Susan right in front of me. By the time we reached the front, the communal cup was so near empty, Susan actually asked, “Should I take a drink?” With a little smirk, the server kindly said, “Yes please.” I’m sure the young lady who served us thought, “It’s about time those heathens get back in church. They forgot how to partake of communion!”

Well, I’m reminded of the good blessings of the Lord in these days. It’s good to rest, reflect, enjoy, and refocus. Isaiah 30:8 declares, “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.”

I know that God is always with me and that I do not need to retreat to experience His presence. But there are also seasons when it’s good to get away and just let His presence saturate me. That’s happening — through silence, relaxation, change of routine, loving my wife…and she loving me, time to think, read, reflect, and wait. I want God to “show me His love and compassion.” And so I wait for His help.

It’s already coming…

Just had a “light bulb” go on yesterday. We all have motivational DNA. Different things motivate different people. My DNA is PVI, which means I’m PRODUCTION oriented (I’m always on a mission), VARIETY (change excites me and infuses me with energy), and INTERNAL (I would rather feel satisfaction at what we accomplish than have any external rewards).

Just as an example, an CSE would be my total opposite — someone who is CONNECTION (relationship is what matters most), STABILITY (predictability, consistency, tradition is a high value), and EXTERNAL (money, benefits, and public recognition really matter). In fact, what may motivate me is what discourages another!  Bling.

So–sometimes people get frustrated with what we’re doing at Edinbrook. There has been lots of change. Of course, I’m convinced that we need it. After all, if we do the same thing in the same way we can only expect more of the same results. Now this would really discourage me! We can and must do better than what we’ve done in the past — not only at Edinbrook, but in the Church at large. We need to start taking back some captured territory.

But here’s the deal: Some people may be frustrated or discouraged because their motivational DNA is not in sinc with what we’re doing. I don’t know what the answer to that is — honestly. The unique characteristics of my motivational DNA is that it wires me to lead a cause with vision, creativity, good motives, and increasing effectiveness. God has placed me here. I must use what God has given me to lead in the place he has positioned me. That’s why He chose ME.

Knowing this motivational DNA helps, though. I’m coming to a new awareness of the dynamics present…and maybe some solutions to consider.

PS — You can take a free online profile assessment at http://www.getmotivatedbook.com/Test.aspx

Guess what I’m doing on my day off.  I’m spending my day at the Target Center listening to a host of great communicators, hoping to learn and be inspired. The gospel demands my best. As the apostle Paul stated, “I press on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He also said, “I run in such a way that I may win!”

I love what Ecclesiastes 10:10 gives us: “If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.”

I’ve cut enough wood and split enough logs to know the tremendous value of a sharp axe. When Susan and I lived in northern Minnesota, we needed to keep the woodpile supplied or we would have no heat in our house. A simple wood stove was our only source of warmth. After cutting my initial woodpile that first fall, I came to a new appreciation for firewood! Every time I saw cords of wood stacked along the road or beside a house, I would subconsciously calculate how many hours and aching muscles that must have required. Of course, the calculation all depends upon how sharp the tools might have been. A sharp axe gives great advantage.

The key is not just working hard — it’s working smart.

So today I plan to get my axe sharped. “Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.” I can always use a lot more wisdom…and a little more success.

I’m just finishing a great book today called “Primal” by Mark Batterson. His blog in listed in the right hand column here. I would recommend this read to anyone who is serious about a fresh look and renewed perspective on living out biblical Christianity. You can find his book at the following link: http://www.christianbook.com/primal-quest-the-lost-soul-christianity/mark-batterson/9781601421319/pd/421311?item_code=WW&netp_id=646211&event=ESRCN&view=details

Listen to a few words from his chapter called “One God Idea”.

“If God is infinitely creative and we are not just created in His image but called to be conformed to His image, then creativity isn’t optional. Creativity is a dimension of spiritual maturity. …It’s one way we love Him.

Have you ever noticed how many times Psalms tells us to sing a new song? That creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen times. Evidently God get tired of old songs. He doesn’t just want you to worship Him with your memory; He wants you to worship Him with your imagination. Love isn’t repetitive. Love is creative.

The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet. In too many churches, there is at best ambivalence toward creativity. And at worst there is downright animosity. We’re suspicious of creativity because creativity breeds change. And change threatens the status quo. It’s far easier to find something wrong with something new than to admit something is wrong with the old way of doing things. So we assume that creative churches are somehow watering down or dumbing down the gospel. And there are instances where that is true. I’m certainly not advocating biblical compromise for cultural relevancy. But maintaining the status quo is not good stewardship.

Faithfulness is the courage to incarnate the gospel in creative ways. Faithfulness is experimenting with new ways of doing discipleship. Faithfulness is playing offense for the kingdom even if some Pharisees find it offensive.”

Thank you, Mark. You have encouraged, inspired, and challenged me today…

My priorities as a Pastor are:

Love God and nurture my relationship with Him so that it is real, alive, vibrant, life-giving and life-changing on an ongoing basis. This takes focus, honesty, humility and faith.

Love my family. Susan first (we are one flesh after all!) and then children and extended family. I have seen the essential value of cultivating this area of my life — it leads to life in all other areas. Men–ever have a brokenness in your husband-wife relationship and then try to function at your peak performance? It simply doesn’t work. And for good reason. This is our foundational human relationship that breathes life into us every day. Important…

Lead the church. This is my specific calling. This endeavor falls into three primary categories:

• Spur us on in loving God. This is the greatest commandment and is the key to us being who are meant to be in Christ. We will never have our intended impact until we live in our designed contact. In my pastoral role, my number one objective is to help us grow in a very real and dynamic relationship with the living God…one that is informed, balanced, and relational.
• Call us to love people. This, of course, is the second half of the great commandment, “we must love our neighbor as ourself.” In the church context, this means that we do not exist only, nor even primarily for ourselves, but for the sake of others. We are to be salt and light. We are to make disciples. We are to be workers in the harvest. This is HOW we love God effectively. We must be about loving people and helping them find their place in God’s plan too.
• Ministry engineer. The unique calling in my life is that God has given the lead pastor unique insight, gifts, and wisdom in leading the church. This is from the Lord, so I have nothing to brag about in this. I am entrusted with a tremendous responsibility and humbly carry this out with complete reliance upon the Lord, along with checks and balances from others called to leadership in our church. No one else sees what the senior pastor sees, hears what he hears (from the Lord), and is entrusted with what he is entrusted with. This is simply fact. This is the role God has called pastors to. No one else in the church has quite the same perspective nor responsibility for doing what’s right. As God calls me to “shape” our ministry, I must do what He leads. The uniquenesses of our style of ministry is ultimately my responsibility. I could not expect everyone to understand everything that I do. This is my life, my calling, my passion, my constant focus, my stewardship calling. It is my awesome privilege and sobering responsibility. I do not take it lightly.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership. I am blessed to be God’s man in God’s place in God’s time.

Several years ago, Edinbrook Church asked the question, “If our church ceased to exist, would our community care?” After painfully wrestling with an honest answer to that question, we had to say, “No.” All of this in the context of Jesus’ compelling command to be salt and light!

• Salt must get out of the salt shaker to make it’s needed contribution. Only when salt makes contact does it fulfill its purpose.
• Light is needed only where it’s dark. It is irrelevant where the light has already invaded. We need to get to the dark places.

The result is that we have grown in our cultural awareness and participation.

• We have adopted Edinbrook Elementary School as our partner in community impact. We have many individuals who serve there weekly…just because it’s the right thing to do. With that, we have initiated numerous projects, like Christmas packages for some of the less-fortunate families, supplying back-packs for children that cannot afford them, and other worth-while efforts.
• We have had small groups regularly serving in our community in creative ways, simply attempting to bring some Jesus-Style Love to others.
• Our teens have stepped it up and engaged in many daring projects to help the less fortunate among us.

TODAY is Service Sunday. We will gather at 9:30 only, worship the Lord, prepare ourselves for service, and then go out and lay some Jesus-Style Love on others. We will worship by serving others. We will choose to be the presence of Jesus in our community today.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 5:16.

Maybe, just maybe, after today we can say with a little more confidence, “Yes–our community would miss us if Edinbrook Church closed its doors.”

I met with some high-potential young leaders this morning. I am always encouraged by these guys…and also inspired. These men are seeking God, passionate to sell out, genuinely humble, committed to walking in obedience, and hungry to learn. These are the kind of people God is looking for to change the world. I get to meet with them on a regular basis. Nice.

We focused primarily on one verse today: “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked,” 1 Timothy 1:19.

Let me share a few of the observations we discussed:

• Faith is not static. It’s active. So when it says, “cling to your faith”, it’s not talking about a set of beliefs in your head or lists scribbled on paper. It’s talking about active trust. We are to be actively trusting in Christ with a determined passion to never live without that orientation.
• Some deliberately violate their consciences by living in a comfort zone of their own making. That was something we decided we never wanted to do. We must be careful about finding an appealing plateau on which we camp out forever while still looking fairly spiritual to the rest of the world. True faith is risky, edgy, and rarely comfortable. If we fail to live by always stepping out in trusting activities, we will find ourselves with violated consciences. We will decide that we’re pretty spiritual when in actuality we’re fairly pathetic
• When faith is shipwrecked, we stop going places. Our journey is done. Who wants that? The key, according to this passage, is to always live by active trust in Christ with a clear conscience. This is a huge challenge in our modern, logical, middle-class American motif of Christianity. But the challenge is clear — break that mold in order to keep pressing on for the glory of God.

See why I love meeting with these guys?

Information is the means to transformation. Over and over in scripture God declares His desire to “be known”! The apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians (chapter 1) “asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.“

The greatest commandment, to “love the Lord your God with all your…mind” highlights the essential nature of knowledge in our pursuit of God. When Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well, He told her, “You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews,” John 4:22. To worship God in ignorance is to worship a god of our own making. We move right back to idolatry in this mode.

When you love someone, you become filled with wonder at all of the mysteries to be discovered in that other person. When I counsel couples before marriage, I always tell them to be students of one another and never stop learning about one another. That is love! This is also why God said, “If you seek for me, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart,” Jeremiah 29:13.

The mind and heart are not enemies. They are allies. To love God is to know God — to know God is to love God. So go ahead and keep asking questions. Don’t get into the mode of simply defending your current understanding of God. He is infinite, incomprehensible, and beyond finding out. Whatever understandings we have of Him today is less than we should have of Him tomorrow. Be filled with a holy curiosity. Be driven by divine wonder. God wants us to completely love him…”with all our mind”.

I was a guest presenter in a local high school yesterday. Religions class. I was on a panel of four — a Catholic priest, conservative Lutheran priest, Episcopal priest, and myself. Just to give you a feel of things — they all had their nice clothes and white collars on. I was in blue jeans, a nice dress shirt, and flip flops. I didn’t get much respect from the other panelists, but I think the teens were OK with it.

During the course of our presentations and answering questions, I was reminded of a primary difference between myself and many others in vocational ministry. Their focus was theology, mine was biblical application. I say that with some reservations, because I also know the essential value of theology. Knowledge is good and absolutely essential in order to live in a right relationship with God. Still–there are limitations to how far theology can take us. There must be a careful and balanced weaving of theology and practice in order to be in a right relationship with God.

The Pharisees are a clear example of those who focused so much on acquiring knowledge that they overlooked living out the heart of the gospel in their lives. They devoted their lives to learning, and even application in that motif, but got so lost in the details of that information that they missed the Provider of transformation.

One of our common evangelical fallacies is that knowledge equals spiritual maturity. Yes–if we can just learn more, we will be more pleasing to God. This is simply not true. We need to get past this. We need to see that real spirituality is not so much based on knowledge, but rather, the living out of what God has told us to do.

Jesus made that abundantly clear when He said to the pompous Pharisees, “You honor me with your lips, but your heart is far from me.” It is not only knowing about God, but more importantly, knowing God that really matters. Living a life-style of authentically and sacrificially loving God must be the result of whatever theology we embrace.

A seasoned sage once said to me, “My problem is not that I need to know more. My problem is that I need to start living what I already know.” I can relate very well…