A few posts ago, I shared how in the short time it took to read a blog, 36 people had died without knowing Jesus as their Savior.
I talked about the growth of our church, and how although it has been growing, it has not been growing due to new births.
Well, yesterday that all changed.
A man came forward yesterday and embraced Jesus as his Lord and Savior!!!
His wife had been praying for him for many years, and as he shared with me, his heart was heavy and you could see the emotion in his face, especially in his eyes.
His prayer was simple, yet moving. Among other things he said, "God I've been running from you for a long, long time. I'm lost. I want to be found."
He shared with the church what had happened and said, "I was lost, but I've been found!"
There was shouting....especially from his wife....and clapping and cheering!
Please join me in prayer that he will be the first of many. We also need prayer abut space (we are now having more people coming to services than we have seats for), and for me to no longer be bi-vocational. It is getting harder and harder to pastor this group of brothers and sisters, and continue to put in 40 hours a week as an eligibility worker for the Welfare Department.
Oh, and in case you didn't get the title of this blog....it's very simple, 36 people may have died without Jesus normally during the time it took you to read this blog, but this time, it is one less.
I leave you with the lyrics of a favorite song of mine (I will list the author of the lyrics at the end of the post....it just might surprise you.)
"SAVED"
I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I have been delivered
By His spirit I Have been sealed.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord.
By his truth I can be upright
By his strength I do endure
By His power I've been lifted
In His love I am secure
He bought me with a price
Freed me from the pit
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.
Nobody to rescue me
Nobody would dare
I was going down for the last time
But by His Mercy I've been spared
Not by works
But by faith in Him who called
For so long I've been hindered
For so long I've been stalled.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.
(Courtesy of Mr. Robert Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan, from his album "Saved".
Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave
Thoughts on Scripture and life, from a small church pastor. Exploring what it means, that everyone needs the Good Shepherd.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Radical Cross
I have been reading "The Radical Cross" by A.W. Tozer.
It has brought conviction to my heart.
This is not an easy book to read, but I believe it is a much needed book for the church today. I went on an internet search for Tozer, and came up with some quotes I would like to share here.
"Pure Christianity, instead of being shaped by its environment, actually stands in sharp opposition to it."
"Apart from God nothing matters. We think that health matters, that freedom matters, or knowledge or art or civilization. And but for one insistent word they would matter indeed. That word is eternity."
"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere."
"The man who preaches truth and applies it to the lives of his hearers will feel the nails and the thorns. He will lead a hard life, but a glorious one. May God raise up many such prophets. The church needs them badly."
The first chapter of the book all by itself is worth the price of this book.
Find it.
Read it.
Make it apart of you.
I close with thes lyrics from a song by Steve Camp.
"The Cross Is A Radical Thing"
I heard the call of the Lord
He said, "Come and Follow me!"
Once you put you hand to the ploy
You've got to press on faithfully
Like the rich young ruler,
Who wanted heaven on his own terms
We try and find an easy way
But there's a cross to bear and
A lesson to learn
Two roads diverged in my life
I took the one less traveled by
I had to leave my old ways of living
For the cross is a radical thing
Jesus paid for my salvation
On a hill called Calvary
he shed his blood for my sin
So that I could be free indeed
But though I'm free from sin
A slave to my Lord am I
'Cause when Jesus calls a man
he bids him to come and die
I've been crucified with jesus
No longer I live but He lives in me
I've left everything for my King
For the cross is a radical thing
Ok, now I have to go read some more Tozer.
Pastor Dave
It has brought conviction to my heart.
This is not an easy book to read, but I believe it is a much needed book for the church today. I went on an internet search for Tozer, and came up with some quotes I would like to share here.
"Pure Christianity, instead of being shaped by its environment, actually stands in sharp opposition to it."
"Apart from God nothing matters. We think that health matters, that freedom matters, or knowledge or art or civilization. And but for one insistent word they would matter indeed. That word is eternity."
"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere."
"The man who preaches truth and applies it to the lives of his hearers will feel the nails and the thorns. He will lead a hard life, but a glorious one. May God raise up many such prophets. The church needs them badly."
The first chapter of the book all by itself is worth the price of this book.
Find it.
Read it.
Make it apart of you.
I close with thes lyrics from a song by Steve Camp.
"The Cross Is A Radical Thing"
I heard the call of the Lord
He said, "Come and Follow me!"
Once you put you hand to the ploy
You've got to press on faithfully
Like the rich young ruler,
Who wanted heaven on his own terms
We try and find an easy way
But there's a cross to bear and
A lesson to learn
Two roads diverged in my life
I took the one less traveled by
I had to leave my old ways of living
For the cross is a radical thing
Jesus paid for my salvation
On a hill called Calvary
he shed his blood for my sin
So that I could be free indeed
But though I'm free from sin
A slave to my Lord am I
'Cause when Jesus calls a man
he bids him to come and die
I've been crucified with jesus
No longer I live but He lives in me
I've left everything for my King
For the cross is a radical thing
Ok, now I have to go read some more Tozer.
Pastor Dave
Monday, July 7, 2008
3.8 Million
I ran across this information in an article in an old issue of Outreach magazine. I have "adapted" it to fit this blog.
In the 30 seconds it took you to skim the title of this blog somewhere in the world aproxomately 125 people were born, and 53 people died, 36 of who did not claim to know Christ. In 2007, aproximately 3.8 million people died who likely didn't know Christ.
These are statistics.
But statistics have a face.
They represent real people.
How many of these "statistics" have crossed my path? How many of them could I have shared the gospel with, but didn't?
Jesus gave the great comission, but too many of us act like it is the great "omission".
The church I pastor has grown from 12 people to over 60 in less than four years. Today we had 63 people in a church with 70 seats! On top of that, we had a dozen or more people on vacation. While I stand amazed at what God has done in this little church, the truth is, not one of those increases in numbers has been the result of a new birth. I appreciate each and every one of them, and look forward to even more growth, but the desire of my heart is that we would have new births into the Kingdom.
I have been very convicted lately of my lack of actively sharing my faith. I ask for your prayers that I might be salt and light to those around me.
Since you've been reading this blog, aproximately 500 people have been born, 213 have died, 145 of whom likely didn't know Christ. In the coming days, weeks and months, I pray that we will all think about these numbers and the lives they represent. I pray that our hearts will break for those who die....and those who live not knowing Christ. I pray that we will all get very serious so that people will come to the realization that the answer to this life is the amazing, captivating grace of Jesus!
Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave
In the 30 seconds it took you to skim the title of this blog somewhere in the world aproxomately 125 people were born, and 53 people died, 36 of who did not claim to know Christ. In 2007, aproximately 3.8 million people died who likely didn't know Christ.
These are statistics.
But statistics have a face.
They represent real people.
How many of these "statistics" have crossed my path? How many of them could I have shared the gospel with, but didn't?
Jesus gave the great comission, but too many of us act like it is the great "omission".
The church I pastor has grown from 12 people to over 60 in less than four years. Today we had 63 people in a church with 70 seats! On top of that, we had a dozen or more people on vacation. While I stand amazed at what God has done in this little church, the truth is, not one of those increases in numbers has been the result of a new birth. I appreciate each and every one of them, and look forward to even more growth, but the desire of my heart is that we would have new births into the Kingdom.
I have been very convicted lately of my lack of actively sharing my faith. I ask for your prayers that I might be salt and light to those around me.
Since you've been reading this blog, aproximately 500 people have been born, 213 have died, 145 of whom likely didn't know Christ. In the coming days, weeks and months, I pray that we will all think about these numbers and the lives they represent. I pray that our hearts will break for those who die....and those who live not knowing Christ. I pray that we will all get very serious so that people will come to the realization that the answer to this life is the amazing, captivating grace of Jesus!
Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave
Sunday, July 6, 2008
My Three Dads
I just finished reading the book, "Lost Boy" by Greg Laurie.
It has been some time since a biography (in this case and autobiography), has moved me to tears. I saw so much of my life in some of the things Greg went through, especially in the area of his Dad.
I never met my first Dad. He died at the age of 50, when I was in my early twenties. I did not even know I had another "Dad" until I was 12 years old. The story is too long to go into here, but as a young boy, about to enter his teenage years, this revelation rocked my world, to say the least.
My second Dad, the man who raised me, who gave me his last name, who taught me right and wrong, who loved me unconditionally, was as good a Dad as a kid could hope for, and yet, I could not help but wonder what was wrong with me that my first Dad not only abandoned me, but was more than willing to sign me over to this other man. You see, in order for my second Dad to adopt me, my first Dad had to agree to it.
During my teenage years as my second Dad and I grew apart, I always thought it was because I was not his "real" son. As a teenager, I never felt like I was good enough for him. I just felt like I didn't measure up. Of course, time has proven that to be a lie from the devil. My second Dad had his own problems, just like all of us do.
Now, as a 50 year old man, with my "second" Dad having turned 74, I see a man who took a little 2 year old boy and made him his own. He did what many men would not have done. He did not have to adopt me, but he chose to. I am proud to call him Dad. I am proud to be his son.
I am thankful for so much that he has done for me over the years. He has not been, and is not perfect. But he is my Dad. And most of all, he was instrumental in introducing me to my third Dad.
I am so glad that my Dad made sure we went to church. At vacation bible school in the summer of 1968 I met Jesus as my Savior, and became a child of God. My third Dad (God), has been everything that my other two Dad's never have been, and never could be.
You will probably not ever meet my Dad (#2), but I pray that one day you will meet Dad #3.
As the scripture says, He is the Father of the fatherless.
Well, I've got to go now. My son is calling me to come watch him play a video game.
I pray you will come join the family.
Pastor Dave
It has been some time since a biography (in this case and autobiography), has moved me to tears. I saw so much of my life in some of the things Greg went through, especially in the area of his Dad.
I never met my first Dad. He died at the age of 50, when I was in my early twenties. I did not even know I had another "Dad" until I was 12 years old. The story is too long to go into here, but as a young boy, about to enter his teenage years, this revelation rocked my world, to say the least.
My second Dad, the man who raised me, who gave me his last name, who taught me right and wrong, who loved me unconditionally, was as good a Dad as a kid could hope for, and yet, I could not help but wonder what was wrong with me that my first Dad not only abandoned me, but was more than willing to sign me over to this other man. You see, in order for my second Dad to adopt me, my first Dad had to agree to it.
During my teenage years as my second Dad and I grew apart, I always thought it was because I was not his "real" son. As a teenager, I never felt like I was good enough for him. I just felt like I didn't measure up. Of course, time has proven that to be a lie from the devil. My second Dad had his own problems, just like all of us do.
Now, as a 50 year old man, with my "second" Dad having turned 74, I see a man who took a little 2 year old boy and made him his own. He did what many men would not have done. He did not have to adopt me, but he chose to. I am proud to call him Dad. I am proud to be his son.
I am thankful for so much that he has done for me over the years. He has not been, and is not perfect. But he is my Dad. And most of all, he was instrumental in introducing me to my third Dad.
I am so glad that my Dad made sure we went to church. At vacation bible school in the summer of 1968 I met Jesus as my Savior, and became a child of God. My third Dad (God), has been everything that my other two Dad's never have been, and never could be.
You will probably not ever meet my Dad (#2), but I pray that one day you will meet Dad #3.
As the scripture says, He is the Father of the fatherless.
Well, I've got to go now. My son is calling me to come watch him play a video game.
I pray you will come join the family.
Pastor Dave
Friday, July 4, 2008
From The Pastor
I have started putting a little article each week in our church bulliten that I call, "From The Pastor". This week I shared with the church "40 Tips For Young Pators" by Craig Groeshel. I thought they were great (and some were just funny), but that they could apply to others in ministry, not just pastors. The more I thought about them, I realized that several could apply to christians in general, and so I thought I would share the tips with you. Here they are. I've included some comments of my own in brackets. Enjoy.
40 Leadership Tips For Young Pastors
1. Life is short. Make every day count for God’s glory.
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
3. Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.
4. Jesus cares more about the church than you do. (I really need to remember this
one)
5. You can’t please everyone…so why try? (A trap that is easy to get caught up in)
6. People will criticize you. Quit whining. Get used to it. (Hoo-boy...need to
remember this one too!)
7. Three months from now, you won’t even remember most of the
things that are bothering you now.
8. You can’t do it all. Stop trying.
9. God called you because He is good, not because you are. (That is the truth!!)
10. If you blame yourself for the bad results in ministry, you’ll likely also take credit for the good results.
11. Become close friends with other pastors in your town (as many as you can).
12. Your kids will be grown before you know it. Don’t sacrifice them on the altar
of ministry. (I've seen this happen far too often)
13. Your ministry isn’t your god. God is your God.
14. You know how to give and how to minister to others. If you don’t learn how to
receive, you'll burn out and/or die. (Why is this so hard for pastors to do?)
15. Studying for sermons doesn’t replace your personal time with God and in His Word.
16. Err on the side of generosity.
17. Believe in people that others overlook.
18. If you’re going to reach people that others aren’t, you’ll have to do things
that others won't. (This is one for each beleiver, each local church)
19. Your integrity matters more than you can imagine.
20. Hire staff members that you like.
21. When you have a tough decision to make, but you know it’s right, make it
immediately. Like pulling off a Band-Aid: do it fast, and all at once.
22. Hire slowly. Fire quickly.
23. You can’t change people. Only God can.
24. Don’t criticize others’ ministries. Yours isn’t nearly as perfect as you think
it is. (I laughed out loud at this one)
25. Take care of yourself. Eat right. Rest. Exercise. Take time off. No one else can do that for you.
26. If you don’t take much time off, it’s because you’re proud, and you think
you’re more necessary than you really are. (Ouch!)
27. Don’t just delegate responsibility. Delegate authority.
28. Laugh frequently.
29. People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don’t take it personally. (It's hard not too...often the rest of the church
blames the pastor)
30. When you suffer and hurt because of ministry, worship Jesus all the more.
31. Talk about Jesus every time you preach.
32. Be careful what you say. You’re being watched-and recorded.
33. Don’t return emails when you’re angry.
34. Check to make sure your microphone is turned off before you use the bathroom.
Double-check. (This is funny....because I've done this)
35. Check to make sure your zipper is zipped every time before you preach.
Double-check. (And I've done this too)
36. Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not
yours. (I've seen too many abandon their wives for the church)
37. Always be caught speaking well of others.
38. Compliment, encourage, and build up your staff and volunteers.
39. Hand write thank you notes.
40. Smile and look people in the eyes when you talk to them.
Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave
40 Leadership Tips For Young Pastors
1. Life is short. Make every day count for God’s glory.
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
3. Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.
4. Jesus cares more about the church than you do. (I really need to remember this
one)
5. You can’t please everyone…so why try? (A trap that is easy to get caught up in)
6. People will criticize you. Quit whining. Get used to it. (Hoo-boy...need to
remember this one too!)
7. Three months from now, you won’t even remember most of the
things that are bothering you now.
8. You can’t do it all. Stop trying.
9. God called you because He is good, not because you are. (That is the truth!!)
10. If you blame yourself for the bad results in ministry, you’ll likely also take credit for the good results.
11. Become close friends with other pastors in your town (as many as you can).
12. Your kids will be grown before you know it. Don’t sacrifice them on the altar
of ministry. (I've seen this happen far too often)
13. Your ministry isn’t your god. God is your God.
14. You know how to give and how to minister to others. If you don’t learn how to
receive, you'll burn out and/or die. (Why is this so hard for pastors to do?)
15. Studying for sermons doesn’t replace your personal time with God and in His Word.
16. Err on the side of generosity.
17. Believe in people that others overlook.
18. If you’re going to reach people that others aren’t, you’ll have to do things
that others won't. (This is one for each beleiver, each local church)
19. Your integrity matters more than you can imagine.
20. Hire staff members that you like.
21. When you have a tough decision to make, but you know it’s right, make it
immediately. Like pulling off a Band-Aid: do it fast, and all at once.
22. Hire slowly. Fire quickly.
23. You can’t change people. Only God can.
24. Don’t criticize others’ ministries. Yours isn’t nearly as perfect as you think
it is. (I laughed out loud at this one)
25. Take care of yourself. Eat right. Rest. Exercise. Take time off. No one else can do that for you.
26. If you don’t take much time off, it’s because you’re proud, and you think
you’re more necessary than you really are. (Ouch!)
27. Don’t just delegate responsibility. Delegate authority.
28. Laugh frequently.
29. People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don’t take it personally. (It's hard not too...often the rest of the church
blames the pastor)
30. When you suffer and hurt because of ministry, worship Jesus all the more.
31. Talk about Jesus every time you preach.
32. Be careful what you say. You’re being watched-and recorded.
33. Don’t return emails when you’re angry.
34. Check to make sure your microphone is turned off before you use the bathroom.
Double-check. (This is funny....because I've done this)
35. Check to make sure your zipper is zipped every time before you preach.
Double-check. (And I've done this too)
36. Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not
yours. (I've seen too many abandon their wives for the church)
37. Always be caught speaking well of others.
38. Compliment, encourage, and build up your staff and volunteers.
39. Hand write thank you notes.
40. Smile and look people in the eyes when you talk to them.
Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave
Sunday, June 29, 2008
I'm Back.....again
Ok, I've said it before, but here we go again.....I'm back.
I've neglected my blog for too long, but I have undergone a mini-revival (is there such a thing?) of sorts, and this blog is one of the things that I really feel impressed on by the Lord to update and get into gear with.
This post will be short, and to the point.
I have been neglecting the call that God has placed on my life. Now don't get me wrong. I have been preaching, and studying, and praying, etc, etc, etc. But I have also let to much "stuff" get in the way of the calling that God has placed on me.
I have come to the conclusion that I have adopted more of a "westernized" view of christianity and that a biblical view of christianity is needed.
I have just read three books that have impacted my head, my heart and my life. They are, in no particular order:
Secret Believers by Brother Andrew
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
and....
The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas (thanks to my wife Deena for directing me to this wonderful, life changing book!)
All I can say is that if you don't want to change your life, if you're happy with the status quo of your walk with the Lord, if you are comfortable right where you are, then DON'T READ THESE BOOKS!!!
But, if you feel like something is missing, and that God is calling you to something deeper, something radical, something life changing, then READ THESE BOOKS!!!
I really cannot put into words the change that these books, (along with the word of God and time in prayer), have made in my life. I am fired up. I am ready to go. I am ready to lay my life down, and pick up the cross.
I invite you to come and join me.
Please keep me and the church I pastor in your prayers. I beleive that God is at work and on the move in our little church.
I plan on blogging three times each week....Friday, Saturday & Sunday. More if it is possible. If you are a reader, drop me a line. Leave a comment. Email me. Let me know if these ramblings of a 50 year old pony-tailed pastor are worth reading.
Above all, live for Jesus.
By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Pastor Dave
I've neglected my blog for too long, but I have undergone a mini-revival (is there such a thing?) of sorts, and this blog is one of the things that I really feel impressed on by the Lord to update and get into gear with.
This post will be short, and to the point.
I have been neglecting the call that God has placed on my life. Now don't get me wrong. I have been preaching, and studying, and praying, etc, etc, etc. But I have also let to much "stuff" get in the way of the calling that God has placed on me.
I have come to the conclusion that I have adopted more of a "westernized" view of christianity and that a biblical view of christianity is needed.
I have just read three books that have impacted my head, my heart and my life. They are, in no particular order:
Secret Believers by Brother Andrew
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
and....
The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas (thanks to my wife Deena for directing me to this wonderful, life changing book!)
All I can say is that if you don't want to change your life, if you're happy with the status quo of your walk with the Lord, if you are comfortable right where you are, then DON'T READ THESE BOOKS!!!
But, if you feel like something is missing, and that God is calling you to something deeper, something radical, something life changing, then READ THESE BOOKS!!!
I really cannot put into words the change that these books, (along with the word of God and time in prayer), have made in my life. I am fired up. I am ready to go. I am ready to lay my life down, and pick up the cross.
I invite you to come and join me.
Please keep me and the church I pastor in your prayers. I beleive that God is at work and on the move in our little church.
I plan on blogging three times each week....Friday, Saturday & Sunday. More if it is possible. If you are a reader, drop me a line. Leave a comment. Email me. Let me know if these ramblings of a 50 year old pony-tailed pastor are worth reading.
Above all, live for Jesus.
By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Pastor Dave
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Are You My Brother? (or Sister)
Years ago, as a child I remember reading a book called, "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman.
In it a lost little bird goes from animal to animal looking for it's Mother.
I couldn't help but think of a parallel in the church today.
There are hurting brothers and sisters all around us, and often when they reveal their hurts, their struggles, their mistakes and their sins, the church turns it's back on them. They are searching, for fellow believers, asking honestly from broken hearts and broken lives, "Are you my brother?", "Are you my sister?"
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think we should tolerate sin, and I don't think we should try and "manage" sin. We need to run from sin. We need to run to Jesus, and Jesus will heal us and forgive us and cleanse us. But, let's not forget that we all need forgiveness, cleansing and healing of our sin and the affects it has on our lives.
We find it so easy to cast stones at someone else, yet we are all in different stages of our own sin addiction. I'm sure someone will say, "Not me. I'm not addicted to sin." Then, like most addicts you are only fooling yourself. Sometimes I think I need to stand up in church and say, "My name is Dave, and I'm a sin addict."
Why do I call us all sin addicts? Simply because none of us have been able to stop. Oh, we might have cut back, or quit for awhile (seriously, though, how long do you really think you can go without sinning?), but in the end, we all wind up sinning again. As beleivers, we should sin less, but we will never be sinless. Yes, there is a difference.
Scripture tells us in 1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." And then again just a couple verses later:
1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
You might have a problem with me calling us sin addicts, but if it is really buggin' you, take it up with God. He's the one who said in His word that we sin and we are sinners.
So what do we do when a fellow beleiver sins? What do we do when they are struggling? What do we do? We love. We encourage. Not the sin, just the sinner.
Don't misunderstand me, and I want this to be crystal clear, sin is sin and it is layed out in scripture and is black and white. We should not sugar coat it or excuse it, but we must learn to forgive it and to restore the one who has committed it.
Sin is layed out in scripture in black and white. But ever since the fall of man, we have been living in a grey world. Sin gets messy and hard to nail to the wall. So forgiveness and restoration must be worked at and be readily available to anyone who is looking for it.
Now, some want forgiveness and accpeptance of them and their sin. We cannot do that. We cannot camp with sin. We cannot embrace sin, but we must embrace the sinner. If some will not repent (which means turn from their sin....and sometimes the turning is hard work, and a long process, not an overnight victory with a snap of our fingers), then we still need to forgive them, but we will not be able to support them while in the midst of their sin.
But if a brother or sister is hurting because of bad choices (sin), and those consequence, and are desiring to make things right, then we need to be there. We need to support them. Gal 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
When someone runs down another brother or sister we need to not listen, but to work it out according to scripture (which would be a good idea for a future post).
Sometimes our brothers and sisters are just going through a rough time in their life and they need us. Too often we just want to slap a "Praise the Lord" on it and think it will all go away. This is both naive and just plain wrong.
Or we pull out our favorite scripture in the face of the hard things we all go through, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28), and use this as an excuse not to be there for our hurting brothers and sisters, because after all if you love the Lord, this will be a good thing. WRONG! The passage doesn't say that the struggles, trials, tragedies and hard times are good, it says that God will work something good out of them, which should give us encouragement and hope, but does not lessen the pain and suffering we go through while dealing with these things.
So the next time you encounter a hurting brother or sister, whether hurting from sin or from life, and they are asking "Are you my brother?" or "Are you my sister?", let's be quick to say, "Here I am." "Let me walk with you."
I know this is a lengthy post, but hey, it's been awhile, so I'm making up for lost time.
I want to close with a song from one of my favorite Christian artists, Steve Camp.
And I dedicate it to my brother Tim, who even though he is my little brother, spiritually I have always looked up to him as my brother in Christ. I'm here for you Tim.
I Believe In You
by Steve Camp and Rob Frazier
Have you ever felt forsaken
Like nobody really cares for you
They just walk on by
Yeah they walk on by
Is there a hole in your resistance
I thought I saw your lonely heart show through
Oh they just walk on by
Oh they let it pass you by
Because I know you wonder
Will you have to make it on your own
But you can count on me brother
You don't have to face the hurt alone
Cause if there's trouble in your life I'll face it with you
If there's mountains to climb I'll climb there too
We're in this together, I'll see you through
Oh, I believe in you
Well I was cruising down the street
I heard somebody kick around your name
I couldn't walk on by
I don't believe their lies
Cause a friend is always faithful
Through the fire and the rain
I'll stand by your side, I'll be by your side
We'll always be together through the thick and the thin
Through all the stormy weather I want you to know you've got a friend
Cause I know you wonder will you have to make it on your own
You just count on me brother, you don't have to face it all alone
...oh, I believe in you
Still crawling towards the light,
Pastor Dave
In it a lost little bird goes from animal to animal looking for it's Mother.
I couldn't help but think of a parallel in the church today.
There are hurting brothers and sisters all around us, and often when they reveal their hurts, their struggles, their mistakes and their sins, the church turns it's back on them. They are searching, for fellow believers, asking honestly from broken hearts and broken lives, "Are you my brother?", "Are you my sister?"
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think we should tolerate sin, and I don't think we should try and "manage" sin. We need to run from sin. We need to run to Jesus, and Jesus will heal us and forgive us and cleanse us. But, let's not forget that we all need forgiveness, cleansing and healing of our sin and the affects it has on our lives.
We find it so easy to cast stones at someone else, yet we are all in different stages of our own sin addiction. I'm sure someone will say, "Not me. I'm not addicted to sin." Then, like most addicts you are only fooling yourself. Sometimes I think I need to stand up in church and say, "My name is Dave, and I'm a sin addict."
Why do I call us all sin addicts? Simply because none of us have been able to stop. Oh, we might have cut back, or quit for awhile (seriously, though, how long do you really think you can go without sinning?), but in the end, we all wind up sinning again. As beleivers, we should sin less, but we will never be sinless. Yes, there is a difference.
Scripture tells us in 1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." And then again just a couple verses later:
1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
You might have a problem with me calling us sin addicts, but if it is really buggin' you, take it up with God. He's the one who said in His word that we sin and we are sinners.
So what do we do when a fellow beleiver sins? What do we do when they are struggling? What do we do? We love. We encourage. Not the sin, just the sinner.
Don't misunderstand me, and I want this to be crystal clear, sin is sin and it is layed out in scripture and is black and white. We should not sugar coat it or excuse it, but we must learn to forgive it and to restore the one who has committed it.
Sin is layed out in scripture in black and white. But ever since the fall of man, we have been living in a grey world. Sin gets messy and hard to nail to the wall. So forgiveness and restoration must be worked at and be readily available to anyone who is looking for it.
Now, some want forgiveness and accpeptance of them and their sin. We cannot do that. We cannot camp with sin. We cannot embrace sin, but we must embrace the sinner. If some will not repent (which means turn from their sin....and sometimes the turning is hard work, and a long process, not an overnight victory with a snap of our fingers), then we still need to forgive them, but we will not be able to support them while in the midst of their sin.
But if a brother or sister is hurting because of bad choices (sin), and those consequence, and are desiring to make things right, then we need to be there. We need to support them. Gal 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
When someone runs down another brother or sister we need to not listen, but to work it out according to scripture (which would be a good idea for a future post).
Sometimes our brothers and sisters are just going through a rough time in their life and they need us. Too often we just want to slap a "Praise the Lord" on it and think it will all go away. This is both naive and just plain wrong.
Or we pull out our favorite scripture in the face of the hard things we all go through, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28), and use this as an excuse not to be there for our hurting brothers and sisters, because after all if you love the Lord, this will be a good thing. WRONG! The passage doesn't say that the struggles, trials, tragedies and hard times are good, it says that God will work something good out of them, which should give us encouragement and hope, but does not lessen the pain and suffering we go through while dealing with these things.
So the next time you encounter a hurting brother or sister, whether hurting from sin or from life, and they are asking "Are you my brother?" or "Are you my sister?", let's be quick to say, "Here I am." "Let me walk with you."
I know this is a lengthy post, but hey, it's been awhile, so I'm making up for lost time.
I want to close with a song from one of my favorite Christian artists, Steve Camp.
And I dedicate it to my brother Tim, who even though he is my little brother, spiritually I have always looked up to him as my brother in Christ. I'm here for you Tim.
I Believe In You
by Steve Camp and Rob Frazier
Have you ever felt forsaken
Like nobody really cares for you
They just walk on by
Yeah they walk on by
Is there a hole in your resistance
I thought I saw your lonely heart show through
Oh they just walk on by
Oh they let it pass you by
Because I know you wonder
Will you have to make it on your own
But you can count on me brother
You don't have to face the hurt alone
Cause if there's trouble in your life I'll face it with you
If there's mountains to climb I'll climb there too
We're in this together, I'll see you through
Oh, I believe in you
Well I was cruising down the street
I heard somebody kick around your name
I couldn't walk on by
I don't believe their lies
Cause a friend is always faithful
Through the fire and the rain
I'll stand by your side, I'll be by your side
We'll always be together through the thick and the thin
Through all the stormy weather I want you to know you've got a friend
Cause I know you wonder will you have to make it on your own
You just count on me brother, you don't have to face it all alone
...oh, I believe in you
Still crawling towards the light,
Pastor Dave
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