Temptation Cave

In preparing a talk about temptation this Sunday at Southbrook Church, I realized a few things....

- Temptation hits everyone in different ways
- Temptation always leads to destruction
- Temptation is easy to rationalize

Have you found these to be true for you as well?

Good thing we have the story of David in the books of First and Second Samuel.  David's life is a powerful exploration of both the victory that comes from rejecting temptation as well as the desolation that follows sucumbing to it.

3000 years ago the soon-to-be king, David was hiding deep within the bowels of a nearby cave.  King Saul roamed the land, looking to kill David.  One night, after eating some Hot-Pockets he found the need to relieve himself.

David's men urge him to go and Kill Saul; and David refuses.

David comes face to face with temptation and stands firm.  To kill the King would be an offense to God, he reasoned; since God put Saul on the throne it stands that God would remove Saul from the throne.

David was tempted by power, convenience and safety.  These aren't bad things, in fact had David killed Saul it could have made things a lot easier for David.  By refusing to give in to temptation, David stands as a role model for the rest of us.

Talking about temptation is difficult, for everyone of us is tempted in some way by someone or something.

There is good news, which is that God's power is stronger than our weakness.  Religion offers rules, whereas God offers true, internal life-change.

I have found great comfort in this verse from First Corinthians 10.13
  'No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to all.  And God is faithful; he will not let
  you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out   so you can endure it.'

Would You Buy Groceries for the Man Who Stole Your Wallet?

You are in the grocery store and feel a bump. Instantly you notice that your wallet is missing from your purse and a suspicious man is quickly walking away.  What do you do?

Jessica Eaves, mother of four from Guthrie Oklahoma knew what to do. Track the guy down and offer to buy his groceries.

She followed him through the store as he was trying to exit. While tracking him down she remembers thinking to herself, '...this scripture from Luke kind of jumped out at me that said if someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other cheek.  If someone steals your cloak, give them your shirt.  So I thought, 'Well I'll just be nice.'"

She corners the man and tell him that if he returns the wallet right now she will forgive him and even buy his groceries.  But if he refused, then she would turn him in to the police.

Eaves explains what happened next...

“He just kind of stared at me for a second and he reached into his hoodie pocket and handed it to me,” she explained.

Eaves then proceeded to pay for the man’s groceries, which consisted of items such as milk, bread, bologna, soup, crackers and cheese. He became emotional and was moved to tears as she covered his $27 bill.

“The last thing he said to me was, ‘I’m embarrassed, I have kids, I’m broke and I’m sorry,’” she told local television station KOCO.

However, the story didn’t end there. Eaves states that she never carries cash on her, but just happened to do so that day. Even more amazing to Eaves was the fact that she had just the right amount of money in her wallet to cover the man’s groceries.

“When I got to the check-out counter that day, his total was just a little over $27 and I had $28 in cash in my wallet,” she told the Christian Post. “And so I knew in that moment it wasn’t me. It was Christ that played in that moment.”

Imagine what the world would like if we could put into practice Jesus' command to love our enemies and our neighbors!

Jesus is not a Republican, what?

'Is Jesus a Republican or a Democrat? Well pastor, what is he?'  'Neither,' I replied, leaving the questioner rather disappointed in both me and my answer.

The desire to capture Jesus and twist him to fit our individual political personality is one that every age wrestles with.  After bringing Israelites out of Egypt, they formed a golden calf so they can worship a god that they could control, that would obey them.  God resisted this and punished His people.

During the time of Jesus, the Jewish people tried again to fashion a god that would do their bidding. Once while Jesus was healing people and feeding thousands, a political/military group tried to seize Jesus by force. 'Here is the perfect leader,' they thought, 'let's force him to be our King.'  Jesus resisted and fled from his people. The lesson learned is this: Jesus rebuffs any and all attempts to be made the poster child for anyone's political party.  

Celebrated author Marilynne Robinson, recently spoke about her perception of the Republican Party and Christianity.  She spoke to The American Conservative here.  Her main quote:

Well, what is a Christian, after all? Can we say that most of us are defined by the belief that Jesus Christ made the most gracious gift of his life and death for our redemption? Then what does he deserve from us? He said we are to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek. Granted, these are difficult teachings. But does our most gracious Lord deserve to have his name associated with concealed weapons and stand-your-ground laws, things that fly in the face of his teaching and example? Does he say anywhere that we exist primarily to drive an economy and flourish in it? He says precisely the opposite. Surely we all know this. I suspect that the association of Christianity with positions that would not survive a glance at the Gospels or the Epistles is opportunistic, and that if the actual Christians raised these questions those whose real commitments are to money and hostility and potential violence would drop the pretense and walk away.

How about a civil discussion on Robinson's quote.... Are both political parties acting in ways that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus?  Does one party have a spiritual monopoly on Christianity?  Would Jesus resist today trying to be a poster-child for a wing of American politics?

Interview with a Catcher

Recently CoffeeShopPastor had the opportunity to interview the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Catcher, AJ Ellis about his Christian faith.

AJ has been vocal about his relationship with Jesus, speaking at various events about his faith.  Last year he joined Milwaukee Brewer Corey Hart at an event where they both talked about the pressures and joys of being in the Major Leagues and the challenges of being a Christian athlete.

Two weeks ago, right before the 2013 MLB Post-Season began, I asked AJ a few questions about his faith...

CoffeeShopPastor: 'What is it like being a Baseball player who is a Christian?'
AJ Ellis: 'As my teammate, friend, and accountability partner (not to mention best pitcher in baseball) Clayton Kershaw told me once, "Our goal is not to be a "baseball playing Christian" but to be a known as a "Christian who happens to play baseball."

Sometimes I feel Christian ball players have it easier than those who aren't in that we have the peace to know that God has already determined the outcome and course or our seasons and careers. God is much more concerned in:

1. Our work ethic as we prepare to compete using the talents He has graciously given (Proverbs 21:31). 

2. Our response in the outcomes of our performance. Do we praise Him when we succeed? Do we still thank Him and accept our failures as part of his pan?'

CoffeeShopPastor: 'How do you stay focused on Christ during the long season?'
AJ Ellis: 'We are so fortunate as a ball club to have a strong Christian presence in our clubhouse. We have an average of 20 men, including our coaching staff who regular attend our Sunday Baseball Chapel service. The accountability and common passions of my teammates allows me to freely and openly praise God and honor Him with a community of believers. It also has created an environment where I can be approached when I am not acting or being a witness of God's grace in my life.

In addition to our Sunday Chapel we have weekly Bible Studies at our home stadium and in hotel rooms across the country that allow us to dig deeper into God's Word and also share more in depth about the struggles and temptations of the professional athletes life.'

CoffeeShopPastor: 'How does your faith in Christ affect how you approach the game?'

AJ Ellis: 'I know the camera is on me all the time as a catcher and I know the example I want to set. I want to compete with all my heart and do so not to receive praise from others but to honor God like it says in Colossians 3:23.   Through my determination and my passion I can be someone who people say "what's different about that guy" and hopefully they find the answer is my relationship with Christ.'


CoffeeShopPastor: 'What advice do you have for young ball players who want to pursue a career in Professional sports?'
AJ Ellis: 'Work ethic, healthy competition, desire, passion, determination, team-work, fairness, serving others, leadership, etc, are all wonderful and important things Sports has taught me. Those attributes are things that help me as I approach every day life. That's been my ticket to a better life. It's not the financial rewards or the minimal fame that has made my life better. Those will both quickly evaporate and fade away but the way I conduct myself, my attitude, and my relationship with others will last this lifetime thanks to the opportunities I've been blessed with through baseball.'

The Happiest Job in America -by Forbes Magazine

According to this Forbes.com article, Clergy rank the highest in Job Happiness!

Firefighters, Physical Therapists, Authors and Teachers round out the Top 5.

Why do Clergy take the top ranking...?

Hours: Working one day a week is great!
Boss: Fair and Just
Co-workers: Some of the best in the business
Retirement Plan: Lasts for ever and ever
Benefits: Comprehensive and complete
Employee Handbook: Contains everything that I need in Life

Curious to hear your thoughts as to why Clergy get the top spot?

Did God Send an Evil Spirit to Torment King Saul?

Alert reader Rachel S. asked some thought provoking questions...

'I noticed that at least twice in the scriptures we read Sunday that it said that Saul was overcome with an evil spirit from the Lord after which time he did something to try and harm David. Can you explain what that means? How could an evil spirit be from the Lord? If from the Lord, is Saul responsible for his actions?'

On a couple of occasions in First Samuel we read that God sent an evil spirit to King Saul.  We see this in 16.14-16, 18.10, and last Sunday in Chapter 19 and verse 9.

Remember that Saul was allowed by God to be King, even though the people knew that this was in direct disobedience to God's plan.  God didn't acquiesce; rather He gave the people what they asked for as a way to demonstrate the negative results of their failure to follow His plans.

Saul reigned as King for 27 years before David was chosen to be the next King...and then for another 13 years till his death.  We do not have have many stories from Saul's first 27 years, but the Bible indicates that Saul quickly turned to his own devices, placed God second, and often used God to get what he wanted in life.  This greatly displeased God, and so in First Samuel 16 we find see the intersection of Saul and David. Saul begins his great descent and David his divine ascent.  

In First Samuel 16.14 we read, 'Now the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.'

There are a few options as to what this means...
1. God directly sent an evil/tormenting spirit to Saul.
2. God removed his protection from Saul, which allowed an evil spirit to get to Saul.
3. Saul's actions demonstrated that he wanted to turn away from God; so God now allowed Saul to experience the consequences of his actions.

A few thoughts...
God is not the author of evil.  He is all-powerful, which means that when evil happens it does not catch Him off guard.  Evil occurs within the bounds of of God's sovereignty.  Can God use evil spirits/demons to do His will, to punish, and as judgement?  Certainly.  What we know is that God gave Saul 27 years of ruling and a direct line to heaven -via Samuel the Prophet. God provided Saul with the tools that he needed to succeed, yet Saul consistently rejected God's plan.  

The Hebrew word 'spirit' is 'ruach' and can also mean a 'human spirit.'  Also the word 'evil' can also be translated as 'bad' or 'harmful.'

With this in mind, I believe that a combination of 2 and 3 above may be the best answer to this difficult question.

If you are wondering, 'What type of God would do this to any person?', keep this thought in mind.... God did not just abandon Saul to his actions, but He continued to show Saul grace by allowing Saul to experience relief through David's harp playing...  A consistent picture of God in the Bible is one who holds both Justice and Grace in perfect harmony....and that is what He is doing with Saul in Chapters 16-19 of First Samuel!

Sunday Morning Leftovers - September 29th, 2013

"The Hot Beast of the Middle East," Losing in Life and a Bag of Philistine Foreskins....

Ah just another happy story in the life of David the soon-to-be-King of Israel.

David just defeated Goliath and led Israel's troops over the Philistine armies and everyone is singing his praises!  Girls are tweeting about David, the Paparazzi follows his every move.  Israel's GQ put David on its cover with the headline, 'David: The Hot Beast of the Middle East!'

King Saul put David in charge of Israel's armies and David's winning streak continued.  Battle after battle brought only victory and success.

David had everything going for him in life... a successful job, a wife, and a best friend in Jonathan.  He was a man of character, whom the Prophet Samuel had anointed to be the next King.

Then, over a period of 12 years, David enters one of the most desolate stretches of his life... One by one, everything and everyone that David relied on in life was removed.  He lost his position -and was forced to run like a common outlaw.  He lost his wife after her father (King Saul) hatches a plan to trap David.  David could marry the King's daughter after he delivers a wedding present of 100 Philistine Foreskins!  Let's just say, I've given many mediocre gifts in my life, but this one takes the cake!  (oh by the way, David brings 200 to the King!).

David loses his best friend Jonathan, only meeting up with him once during this time. Same with the Prophet Samuel... David truly is alone... And finally when he seemingly had nothing else to lose, he defaced his own dignity and self-respect, by going to the enemy king and acting insane....


God has a way of allowing us to go through difficult times so that we end up relying on Him.  He often will remove those things in our life that we put before Him.

We may long for those times when all of life seems to be perfectly aligned... We call these 'Mountain Top Experiences.'  The reality is that our life is lived not in the mountains, but through the abrasive reality of our messed up lives... Billy Graham said it best, 'Mountain tops are great for views, but fruit grows in the Valleys.'

David reminds us that we will often lose in life.  Knowing this ahead of time helps to not only prepare us, but to cause our dependence to grow on God and his love for us...

Mountain Tops...

We long for those Mountain Top experiences, right... those times when we feel that we are truly connecting with God.  Maybe it comes after a Church Service, or hearing a particularly inspiring speaker, or after visiting a scenic location...

Occasionally we have these moments where everything in life just seems to align perfectly. They are rare, and when they do occur our position should be one of thankfulness to the Lord for allowing us this experience.

The reality is that our lives are lived in the Valley...  Our lives are lived in the mundane of laundry, homework, occupying your cubicle and running to doctor appointments...

David had a few moments when he was on the Mountain Top.  He had defeated the Philistine Army and their champion Goliath.  Everyone was singing his praises... Men wanted to be him and Women wanted to be with him!  As his nation's top military leader, he only tasted victory!

Then all of a sudden David is forced into the Valley of Despair.  During a 12 year period of his life, God sees fit to remove every single thing that David relied on in life.  He lost his job, his wife, his spiritual support, his best friend and finally he lost his own dignity.

God often removes those things that we rely on in life, so that we end up with no where else to turn but towards Him.  The lesson of David's life can be summed up in this quote, attributed to Billy Graham, 'Mountain Tops are great for views, but fruit grows in the Valley.'

If we are in a Mountain Top time in our life, our response needs to be one of thankfulness and humility to God.  It is also wise to be prepared for what is to come, as the Valley beckons all of us...

Overwhelmed

One of the most consistent comments I hear is the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Often this feeling comes from deteriorating relationships: rebellious children, straying spouses, or aging parents.  Sometimes when sharing a cup of coffee with someone, I hear stories about being overwhelmed with tragic medical maladies.  Job related stress also seems to be a struggle for so many.

My feeling overwhelmed arrives on Monday morning and seems to slowly dissipate throughout the week.  There is something about the amount of work that accumulates in time for daybreak each and every Monday that allows me to feel overwhelmed.

The question I want to know is, 'How do you handle feeling overwhelmed?'

3000 years ago the people of Israel faced a battle with an opponent that had advanced weaponry.  In addition the Philistines boasted their massive warrior-hero, a giant named Goliath.  Israel felt totally overwhelmed, outmatched, and at a loss for a proper response.

Into the battle arrives young David, maybe a 16 year old teenager, who arrives delivering cheese. Not the most noble of missions, I admit!  But David sees something no one else sees, he sees an opportunity for God to act in the most powerful of ways...

We all know that David ends up defeating Goliath.  But the true battle was not between David and Goliath, but between the one person who relied on God when feeling overwhelmed, and everyone else.

Take a minute and read through First Samuel 17 and see for yourself that only God can provide us with the help we need when we are feeling overwhelmed with life...

Sunday Morning Leftovers - September 15th, 2013

Clarification...

I mentioned in one of the services today that King David reminds me of James Bond, Bill Clinton and Billy Graham all rolled together.  Here is why: In some ways David is like James Bond: always victorious in battle and with many beautiful women by his side. He is like Bill Clinton -reaching the political pinnacle of success, but unable to control his personal lusts. David also reminds me of Billy Graham in that he has a unique connection to God.

Today's sermon covered a couple of chapters in First Samuel, setting the stage for David to be King. One of the things we learned today is, 'God may give us what we want, even if it is not what we need.' The challenge for us is not to present God with our list of wants/needs; but instead seek God's desire for our lives and then we follow.

I love the fact that God chose David for a Purpose and a Destiny.  David was as insignificant as humanly possible.  His own father didn't even think that he was worthy enough to come and visit when the Prophet Samuel arrived.  He lacked everything that a leader needs, except one thing: David had a heart for God.  David's Purpose was to experience God's love and his Destiny was to reflect God's love to his people.

As I think of young David being chosen to be the next King, it hits me that there are some similarities between David and Jesus... Can you think of some similarities between David being chosen to be king and Jesus' early years?

Send in your answers or any questions in the Comments section below...

King David Series -Starts this Sunday at Southbrook Church

I can't wait for Sunday, as we will start our fall sermon series, 'King David.'

Let me tell you, I am so excited about teaching through David's life!  I have been attending the Thursday morning Any Given Men's Bible Study group for a little while now, and recently we have been studying the books of First and Second Samuel.  I have learned so much from these men, as exploring the Bible is so much richer when doing so in the company of others.

David's life is just flat out crazy.  He is chosen to be king and then has to wait for 15 years until taking the throne.  He shows up at a battle armed with cheese-sticks for his brothers, and ends up killing a giant warrior.   He has many wives, and one of his father-in-law's is out to kill him.  He is the hero of the nation, and yet is forced to run and hide in the wilderness for years. He is called a 'Man after God's own Heart', yet he murders others, sexually assaults whom he wants, and once pretended to be insane in order to escape an enemy king.

This Sunday we will mark his ascent to the throne by looking at a few key passages.  In First Samuel 10, the prophet Samuel warns the people to stick to God and not in their desire for a King. In Chapter 13 Israel's first king -Saul- is about to face a huge battle, and instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel, Saul tries to manipulate God.  As you can guess, this does not go over well with God. Read through Chapter 16 where God chooses the young David to be the next King.  First Samuel 16 is a chapter that is rich in dysfunctional family dynamics, a scared prophet, and which also reveals God's counter-intuitive leadership methods.

I hope that you follow along with this series and come to love the study of King David as much as I do. Each episode in David's life is packed with lessons that relate directly to us today.  May God bless the study of His Word and may our lives be transformed...

Ethnic bias found in Church's Statement of Faith

I was looking at an out-of-state Church's Statement of Faith and was shocked to learn that my ethnicity doesn't fit within the confines of Christianity.

Of all the possible ethnic groups, I would have certainly chosen others to exclude; like the French, the Irish, or those from the 51st State -Canada.


Read it for yourself and see if you can spot the error.

WHAT DO YOU TEACH?

The Bible is our creed. Therefore, any effort to define the basis of our teaching necessitates emphasis on the whole Word of God as the sole source of our beliefs. Furthermore, it seems unwise to adhere to the labels of much of Christendom, whether it's Fundamentalism, Pentecostal, Calvinism, Armenianism, Charismatic, Dispensational, Reformed, etc. It is unrealistic to think that any individual man-made system of beliefs is completely error free or, conversely, without merit at all. It is therefore our sincere desire to simply teach the Bible true to its original languages and respectful of its historical context, the context of each passage, and the accepted and normal use of language (i.e. being able to discern the difference between a parable and a proverb, a prophecy and an historical account, etc.). We trust that this will enable us to understand the intended meaning and truth that is to be found in God’s inspired Word.

Running Towards Destruction

Today Americans pause to remember the attacks of 9/11.

Of the many who lost their lives fleeing from the chaos, Father Mychal Judge lost his running towards destruction.

Into the North Tower Lobby he ran, caring for those around him. Moments before being fatally struck by falling debris, he was overheard praying, 'Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!'

Chaplain Judge lost his life caring for complete strangers. To honor his sacrifice Father Judge was certified the first fatality of 9/11, being given the fatality code 0001.

Father Judge prayed to the God that ran towards destruction of the cross.  

Father Judge prayed to the God who promised to renew the universe.  

Revelation 21.4 
   'He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  
   There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, 
   for the old order of things has passed away.'

The Church is the Alternative to War

Christians have long fought over the justness of war. Take a look around the world and you will be sure to find not only scores of armed conflicts, but also many Christian views on these battles.

As President Obama leads the United States into possible
military action with Syria, Christians seem to be divided in their support.

A recent National Association of Evangelical report shows 62% opposing war with Syria and 37% in favor.

While many can argue the tactical, diplomatic and strategic efficacy of bombing Syria; I wonder about the spiritual influence of this possible action.  What is the role of the Church when it comes to war?

Stanley Hauerwas, long time advocate in the Christian Pacifism tradition, recently wrote: 

'That is why Christian realism requires the disavowal of war. Christians do not disavow war because it is often so horrible, but because war, in spite of its horror - or perhaps because it is so horrible - can be so morally compelling. That is why the Church does not have an alternative to war. The Church is the alternative to war. When Christians lose that reality - that is, the reality of the Church as an alternative to the world's reality - we abandon the world to the unreality of war.'

Is the Church the alternative to war?  Can it be?  What prevents the Church from living this alternative?

Embrace the Mess -Sunday Morning Leftovers- September 8th, 2013

Southbrook is in a state of tremendous flux. We are now at three services, adding additional staff, building a new parking lot, and preparing for a future building campaign.  It has been great to meet so many people who are coming to find a church home at Southbrook.

Being on Sabbatical for the past three months, I thought it best to start our year with a talk about Southbrook's Purpose and Identity.

Luke 15 teaches us two truths that speaks to Southbrook's heartbeat.  God Actively Seeks the Lost and our need to Embrace the Mess.

Just as God searches us out, it is our desire to seek out those who don't know Him.  Just as Jesus embraced the mess of those he connected with, so too should we.  Southbrook continues to be motivated by the fact revealed by the most recent census data which shows that there are 1 million unchurched people in a three county area...

How can we seek out those who do not know God?
-Open our eyes to the opportunities God regularly sends us
-Look for common ground
-Live our faith -our actions often speak louder than our words
-Invite someone to Church - statistics show one in four will come along!

I have attended churches that put on a facade of perfection, and never felt like I belonged. Many have shared similar church experiences.  I would much rather we be authentic and transparent, then pretend we have our acts all together...

So are you willing to have the same heartbeat for those who do not know God -as God does?  Are you willing to embrace the mess of those around us, for a chance to tell them about Jesus?

I am and I hope you are too...

-Any questions or comments, leave them below.


Thanks to Erin P. for creating this image after hearing todays sermon.

How a Harley Biker Threatened My Life Over a Pickle - or - What Harley Davidson Can Teach The Church

Over the Labor Day 2013 weekend an estimated 500,000 Harley Davidson enthusiasts are set to attend Harley Davidson’s 110th Anniversary Party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  This unique gathering of bikers from all over the world is Harley Davidson's highlight of the year.   This festival consists of concerts, rides, exhibits, vendors, and great food.  But this is more than just a biker rally, Harley Davidson’s 110th Reunion provides three key lessons for the Church.

But first, a quick anecdote of how I nearly died because of a pickle...

In High School I briefly worked at the local Hardees.  During one of these massive Harley Anniversary Rallies a group of bikers strode up to the counter.  ‘I want six hamburgers with no pickles, or I will kill you,’ the leader growled.  I quickly turned to the line-cook and in my high-pitched voice relayed the order.  When I delivered the pickle-less hamburgers (after double checking them), he gave me an extra $20, and thanked me with a crooked smile.  The money was timely as I needed to order a new pair of uniform pants, to replace my newly stained ones...

Here is what Harley Davidson can Teach the Church

-People Want to Belong to Something Greater than Themselves

We are wired to connect with someone or something greater than ourselves.  Even the most fiercely independent bikers share their love of Harley’s with other Harley owners.  The popularity of Harley Owner Groups, or HOG Chapters speaks to the innate desire to belong.  Over 1,400 HOG Chapters exist all over the world.

Christians affirm that we are created in God’s image, which means that we are hardwired to want to connect with others and to Christ.  The British writer G.K. Chesterton once commented that, 'The man knocking on the door of the brothel is actually looking for God.'  His point: people want to connect to something that will provide them with meaning.

-We Enjoy Diversity within Unity

Harley owners live in paradoxical reality.  On the one hand they long for freedom and the lure of the open road.  They relish the ability to uniquely customize their bikes to be as individualistic as themselves.  But on the other hand everyone owns the exact same brand of motorcycle and these rallies are always well attended.  Where else do over 500,000 nonconformists gather at the same location and at the same time for the same reason!  

God’s Church is just as varied- from High to Low, formal to informal, liturgical to Holy Spirit driven; yet within this massive diversity, a unity exists.  Our unity is centered upon Jesus, his life, his death and his victory over the grave.  Maybe instead of trying to ensure uniformity the Church should embrace its diversity.

-We Will Gladly Sacrifice for What We Believe In

I once rode on the rear saddle of a large Harley.  The guy driving was a friend and he fit the stereotypical image: skull tattoo’s on both arms, an untamed beard, and always jeans and flannel shirts.  His love of all things Harley drove him to permanently alter his body, to pour thousands of dollars into his bike, and to join several biker clubs.  When the cause is one that evokes strong passions and actions, people will gladly make significant sacrifices!

I often hear pastors lament the commitment level of their congregations.  Sometimes churches try canned approaches to getting people to ‘buy in’ to their preferred ideal.  I wonder if instead of trying to motivate people to be more involved, Churches should instead focus their efforts at creating an externally focused culture -one that is truly worth sacrificing for... 

As always your thoughts and comments are welcomed...

Finding God in the Ordinary

It has been tough to find time to write.  The routine of life has consumed our spare time.  Do you go through seasons of life like this?  Over these past few weeks we have been in the process of getting Lynn ready for her fifth year as an Elementary School Counselor, preparing our son for his freshman year in High School, refinancing our house, celebrating our son's 14th birthday, hosting friends for coffee, and officiating a funeral for a friend's relative...

After climbing the spiritual mountain tops of this Summer's Sabbatical, these past few weeks have delivered me to the lower ends of the valley.  Nothing dramatic, no spiritual epiphanies or insights.  Just the routine, the day to day stuff of life...

I have learned something about God during these concluding weeks of this Sabbatical.  I have come to realize that for as much as we yearn to seek God in a mountaintop encounter, He more often than not meets us in the routine of life...

Christians have long realized the value of the ordinary.  For those who grew up in liturgical churches,
the longest period of the Christian Calendar is the time from Easter to Christmas.  These 33 weeks are called 'Ordinary Time' and are symbolized through the color green.

Finding God in the Ordinary means different things to different people.  The Apostle Paul knew of the value of finding God in the ordinary when he wrote in I Corinthians 10:31 'So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.'  This would make a great life-verse, as Paul encourages us to see that our daily activities are just as honorable as our time together at Church.

I found God in the Ordinary of life through doing the dishes, having coffee with a friend, preparing a funeral service, weeding the garden, and running errands with my family.  God shows up in the most unexpected of places, surprising us and reminding us that all of life belongs to Him.

The mountain tops are enjoyable, but it is in the valleys that He finds us...

Tuesday Morning Sabbatical - August 12th, 2013

A 48 hour fast, terrifying prayer, and being alone in the woods.  More adventures in my Summer 2013 Sabbatical.

So last week I did something that I have never done before -No, not finally preach a good sermon or get a decent haircut-  For five days last week I took a solitude retreat, isolated in a cabin, just God and a pile of books...

Have you ever taken a solitude retreat?  I want to hear what you did and how you felt about it...  I found that a solitude retreat it can be both imminently rewarding and hauntingly terrifying all at the same time.

My friend Pastor Pete recommended that I start my time away with a 48 hour fast.  This is designed to get my heart focused on God and allow Him to speak into my life. So from Monday morning to Wednesday morning I only drank fluids; using my time to read through the first four books of the New Testament and to pray.  On Wednesday I drove to the nearby local cafe and broke my fast with this tasty breakfast.

(I love the local color of hometown cafes...  BowHunter Magazine and Field and Stream jammed in the periodical rack, every man in the place was both over 60 and wore a farm implement hat, and every neck swiveled as I placed my order.  Guessing no one had ever ordered cottage cheese with their breakfast).

The retreat was more ascetic than what I had planned.  Left my toiletry bag at home so I could not shave, and I was not able to figure out how to make the shower hot (yes I am slow like that).  I tried to use as little electricity as possible, so only natural lights and candles to assist in reading, with meals consisting of fresh fruits and simple foods.

Saw plenty of animals, deer, the rare black squirrel, wild turkey (the bird not the beverage), and all sorts of rabbits.  For exercise I ran three miles every morning and walked an hour every evening. The balance of my time was spent studying and preparing for a fall sermon series on the life of David, Israel's greatest King.  (I am so pumped about this character study and preaching the Life of David. Southbrook Church will kick off our fall ministry year on Sunday September 8th, which is also our first Sunday of three morning services 8, 9:30 and 11am!)

Here is what I learned while in the woods:
-Intentional Rest is Tough.  I am so used to a life of instant access: news/sports/entertainment/stock quotes, etc... even instantly connecting with family and friends.  The benefits that come from intentional rest are amazing.  Rest allows you to become more in tune with God, your environment, and even your own soul.

-God Rested, We Should as Well.  Genesis tells us that God rested on the 7th day. He did not need a break or to catch his breath.  By resting God models for us a reminder that He holds everything together.  He rests because he can.  We are wise to follow His example.

-Technology promises salvation, but delivers captivity.  The next time you are at your doctors, read a copy of Popular Science- circa the 1950's.  Promises of 12 hour work weeks, flying cars, and robots who do all the housework and cleaning -fill its pages.  Technology promises a life of health, exercise in a bottle, and wrinkle free looks.  Taking a sabbatical from our technological dependence is a way of reclaiming our humanity, a way of resetting our souls.

-Prayer Can be Terrifying. Yes it is great to know that we can communicate directly to God, anytime, anywhere.  But to be alone with God, where He has access to your innermost of thoughts -well this can be terrifying.  The need to regularly confess is critical to a healthy prayer life.

I had hoped to end my solitude week by connecting with a local pastor.  So a few weeks earlier I found a local bible church, emailed the pastor and inquired if he wanted to meet up for coffee.  The final morning of the week Pastor Tim and myself sat and talked for 3 hours about life, ministry and being pastors to our communities.  What a great way to end a powerful week!

Thanks to our good friend Erica for encouraging me to go, along with my wife Lynn and our son Jacob for creating the environment which would allow me this rare time away.

As much as I am enjoying this Sabbatical rest, I can not wait to get back into the ebb and flow of Southbrook Church!

Finding Myself Unnecessary Is A Wonderful Thing...

We all like to be loved and needed, right?  This is a key part of being a human. We like to be recognized and appreciated for the work that we do, for our friendships and care towards others.  But what if you found that you are unnecessary?  How would that make you feel?

As this summer sabbatical nears its end, I have come to realize two important truths; The first is that I am unnecessary to the life of Southbrook Church and the second is that this is liberating and healthy.

Pastors are real people.  We like to care and lead others.  We enjoy both the routine aspects of our calling as well as serving in great and public ways.  I can attest though that it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on God.  It is easy to get so caught up in using our gifts and skills that we ever-so-slowly substitute our abilities for God’s power.  We can become addicted to hearing, ‘great sermon,’ or ‘I am so thankful that you are our Pastor,’ or ‘we came to this church because of you.’  And like other addictions, we start to adapt so that we can receive more of this...

Over time an attitude develops which says, ‘God needs me to lead this Church.’  Or ‘God needs my skills for this task to be finished.’  Of course we would never verbalize this to others or to God.  But our lack of prayer life, our lack of dependence on God -speaks louder than our voices.

I believe that once we start to think of ourselves as necessary for the work of the Lord, that is when we lose our effectiveness.  Does God need me to be a pastor at Southbrook Church?  No!  The reality is that seminaries graduate thousands each year, many of whom would be an improvement.  Does God need me to teach and preach and care for others?  No.  God continues to give others these gifts, many of whom are waiting for an opportunity to use them.

Here is the truth boiled down as concise as possible: God does not need us, but He chooses to use us to accomplish His plans.  If He needed us, then we become more important than God.  If He needs us, then our whims and desires control Him.  If God is dependent upon me, then I have usurped Him.

He didn’t need Moses to lead His people out of Egypt (Why would anyone chose an 80 year old murderer turned sheep-herder anyway?).  He didn’t need Rahab to safely harbor the Jewish spies (What type of God chooses to bless a prostitute?).  He didn’t need a slave like Joseph to free His people from Egypt (There had to be better choices than him!).  And God certainly does not need you or I to Build His Kingdom!

What a Great God we serve, for He chooses to use us to accomplish His plans....!  This is why finding myself unnecessary is one of the greatest joys of being a Pastor.

Monday Afternoon Sabbatical -August 5, 2013

Marrying my friend Mike, Finding God through the Sikh Temple Shooting, and the Joy of having Coffee with a Good Friend...

Love the Despicable Me desserts that Ginny V, Wanda C, and Kelly B. made for Sunday Night's Youth Group Party. When I dropped off my son and a bunch of his friends, I found these guys in the kitchen, waiting for me to take them home!

August begins the final month of my summer 2013 Southbrook Church Sabbatical.  As much as I am enjoying my time of rejuvenation and refreshment, I realize that this gift is made possible through the extra efforts of Southbrook's Staff and Elders.  It is such an honor to serve alongside these great women and men and I look forward to carrying the load for them, when it is their time to be refreshed.

After 3 straight weeks of being on the road, we finally were home for a few days; which means: more house projects!  This time Lynn and I did a full-blown reorganization and cleaning of our basement. Now we are organized and have much less...!  Do you also find that getting rid of stuff brings a sense of accomplishment and joy, as you are also able to help others?

Coffee and Friendship
Have you ever had a coffee meeting with a friend and afterwards you realized how blessed you are to have that friend?  Well, what a joy it was to spend some time with Dave.  He has been such a strong encourager and role model for me.  Here is a man who lives his love for his wife and kids in such a way that others want to follow his example.  He is open with his failures, always ready to encourage, and truly cares about you and your family...  I am so thankful that God continues to provide strong Christian men to assist me.

During this past week we had a great God-moment while eating at local burger joint.  My wife Lynn is a school counselor, and she did her internship at a nearby school district.  Well it just so happened that our waitress recognized Lynn, and had a strong memory of how Lynn encouraged her to persevere through some tough personal circumstances... Here we are eating together and she starts to tell Lynn of the influence that Lynn had on her life...!  So glad that God brought them both back together, very cool, very proud of my gifted wife.

Marrying my Friend Mike
I've known Mike for the past 12 years, and last fall he asked if I'd perform his wedding ceremony to the beautiful Leigh... So this past weekend Lynn and I were up in Sheboygan at the gorgeous Whistling Straits Golf Course, the site of their wedding.  Perfect weather for this outdoor event.  This was the first wedding that I have done for someone who used to be in my Youth Group, while I was their leader.  A true honor to celebrate their love....!

A great and rare opportunity to put on our best...!

On Sunday Lynn and I went to New Hope Community Church, which is located just one block N. of Southbrook on St. Martin's Rd, in Franklin.  We are sister churches, with almost identical statements of faith and similar demographics.  I am so thankful to be friends with their pastor, Dave Bluhm. He is a passionate and awesome pastor. We truly felt welcomed and loved by Dave and the entire congregation.  I was excited to hear Dave preach on New Hope's core values...!  It is great to be able to model the unity that is found by being servants of the Kingdom of God!

Afterwards we slipped into Southbrook to catch our second service... what a great feeling to be at Southbrook after being absent for two months. Richard Brown, the director of The Captive Project (which is a Central City Discipleship Ministry that uses Rap and Hip Hop to spread the new of Christ), spoke on Faith, and man, can he preach!  Thankful that the quality of sermons actually has increased this summer....

Finding God in the Sikh Temple Tragedy
Today, August 5th, marks the One Year anniversary of the Sikh Temple shooting.  Gunshots rocked the neighboring City of Oak Creek, during the Temple's morning service.  The gunman fatally shot six worshippers and wounded four more, before turning the gun on himself.  Officers from Oak Creek arrived on the scene first, followed quickly by four Franklin Police Officers.  One of the first Officers was Patrolman John Finco, who later was honored by President Obama at a White House Awards Ceremony.  When asked how he handled the shooting, Officer Finco said, 'The way I handled it is, number one, my faith in God... that's primary.'  I called Officer Finco today and thanked my friend for his service to the city and to the nation.  Again he reminded me that God is in control and that it his faith in Christ which gives him the strength to be an officer of distinction.

Christians can affirm that in the middle of the worst of tragedies, God comes through in unique and powerful ways...

Thoroughly enjoying this Summer 2013 Sabbatical, though truly missing the Southbrook Church Community.  Looking forward to three services this fall!