Friday Five

1.  This Sunday’s message is from Esther chapter 4.  The title is:  When Facing a Defining Moment.  Esther’s true colors show, faith and courage, when she faced her own defining moment.  As I was preparing the message this week, I had a few moments in which I was deeply moved by the text.  God really does quicken His Word to those whose hearts are open to it.   His Word is sweeter than honey (Psalms 119:103).

2.  My staff pinned me down in the hallway today insisting that I speak longer each Sunday.  Typically I teach for 30-35 minutes (although I’ve gone about 40 minutes the last three weeks).  I’ve always thought it is better to stop talking with people wanting more, than it is to keep on talking and them wanting me to stop.  Long-winded preachers can be such a bore sometimes. 

However in this instance, the staff initiated this discussion.  They said 30 minutes is not enough for them, as well as many others in our congregation.  They also said that the series on Esther has been particularly interesting, and that the last three weeks of going 40+ minutes was better, so I should extend the message for that reason too.  So I have agreed to give it a try.

3.  Lately I’ve been rushing through the offering talk.  Big mistake.  It communicates to everyone that this is something we have to do, but don’t like to do, so let’s get it over as quickly as possible.  Not good.  Instead, we are going to slow down right there and focus our attention on that component of the service.  My offering talks will be more fully developed, and I’ll take all the time I need to say what needs to be said. 

Never forget, what we put in the offering is just as much an act of worship and an expression of devotion as the songs we sing, or the lifting of our hands, or the Scriptures we study in the service.   That’s why it should be emphasized, not hurried through.

4.  We have added even more chairs to the sanctuary this week.  Arrive early to get a good seat.  If you are a regular attender at PCC, please move as far forward as possible.  This will be a big help to us.

5.  On a personal note, I need to establish new boundaries in my life.  Ambition is a good thing.  Drive is a good thing.  Hard work is a good thing.  The ministry is a good thing.  Leisure, rest, and play are good things.  But there are limits to each.  Myself, I’m over my limit regarding work.  Burnout is just around the corner if I don’t do something.  So I’m taking a hard look at things like my schedule, office hours, responsibilities, and other duties.  Adjustments will be made in my role at PCC pretty soon.  But for now, this much I know: I am going to establish a healthier pace for myself.  I'm going to add "margin" into my life.  And I'm taking some time off.  If I crash and burn my ministry would end anyway, so I'm going to take better care of myself.

See you Sunday!

Forgiving Does Not Mean Forgetting

Forgiving others is not an option.  It’s a sacred duty, demanded by Jesus and reiterated throughout the New Testament.  It’s central to the Christian message.

But when it comes to actually forgiving someone of something…. well, that’s another matter.  It’s tough to do.  Isn’t it?  And it’s made all the harder because so many of us have never been shown what Biblical forgiveness actually looks like.

Some of us have been taught that forgiveness is pretending that nothing happened.  Some of us  think forgiveness is a never-ending series of second chances given to the offender (or ourselves).  Others view it as a fresh start with all the consequences and old baggage removed.  Still others imagine it as the immediate and full restoration of a broken relationship, complete with the same level of trust and privileges that existed before the wrongdoing.

A real problem occurs when forgiving gets confused with forgetting.  The two are not the same. We tend to assume that we should automatically forgive a transgressor, and whatever happened in the past should be a dead issue.  That we should just get over it and forget it.

But that is unreasonable.  It unfairly turns the tables on the one who has been wronged.  It assumes that his or her pain should magically disappear.  And if it doesn’t, then they are an unforgiving villain.

Yet, in reality, healing takes time.  Forgiveness is a decision lived out as a lengthy process.  The expectation that we should simply forget about the wrongs committed against us is not only unreasonable; it’s emotionally unhealthy.  People who bury their pain are not spiritually mature (as we have been led to believe); they are emotionally handicapped.

Anyone who has been deeply hurt knows that painful memories stick.  They can’t be willed away.  Pray as we might, they are not erased.  The pain may lessen.  The memories may fade.  The nightmares may disappear.  But gone for good?  Not likely.

Sure, we can (and should) forget the little stuff – the social slights, the unkind word, or the idiot who cuts us off in traffic.  But when it comes to the true hurts and injustices of life (or in the church), most of us are keenly aware that self-induced spiritual amnesia isn’t in the cards.  It’s just not possible.

So, how do we live out the requirement to forgive others while living in the real world?  How far do we go with second chances?  Does forgiving mean trusting someone again even when we know they are untrustworthy?  Does it give those who have deeply wounded us the right to barge back into our lives?  Do we have to invite them over for dinner…. or Thanksgiving…. or the wedding?

These are the tough questions.

No question about it:  as Christians, we are to forgive.  But that doesn’t mean the same thing as overlooking everything people say or do.  God’s call to forgiveness doesn’t mean that we have to go through life as a punching bag.  It doesn’t mean we can’t speak up.  It doesn’t mean rolling over.  In other words, there is a time and place for confrontation, rebuke, and to point out our displeasure at what is being done.

Ultimately, forgiveness can be given only to those who want it.  For those who don’t want it, especially those who would rather continue to hurt us rather than reconcile, there is another response.  It’s a response that many Christians are not even aware of as an option.

It’s called:  Let God be God and allow Him to do what He wil.

To the surprise of many, there is a New Testament version of revenge.  But it’s a different kind of vengeance than what we understand.  It doesn’t personally return evil for evil.  For a Christian that is not even an option.  Instead, it turns vengeance over to God, asking Him to do the honors in His perfect timing (Romans 12:17-21).

The apostle Paul – the same man who wrote so eloquently about our need to forgive others – saw no inconsistency in his own prayers that God would repay his enemy Alexander the coppersmith for the great harm he had done.  In one passage he wrote of turning Alexander over to Satan (1 Timothy 1:20), while in another he simply said, “The Lord will repay him” (2 Timothy 4:14).  Further still, Paul instructs us, “Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

In other words, sometimes it is okay to turn it over to God in our prayers and say, “God, you repay them as You see fit.”

Two things are accomplished when we do this: (1) We let go, liberating ourselves, and (2) God works His righteousness.

But if and when we do that, we still need to leave room for God’s grace.  He’s been known to turn His (and our) enemies into His friends, you know.  And if He chooses to do so, who’s to complain?  That’ what grace is all about.  That’s part of what it means to let God be God.

Forgiving others is a big deal.  It’s not just for those who have done the little stuff that gets us worked up.  It’s also for those who have done the big stuff – the deep wounds, real harm, and irreversible damage to our lives.

Remember, Jesus died for sins He never committed to forgive people who had no right to be forgiven.  Maybe that’s why it’s such a big deal to God that we learn to forgive even as we have been forgiven…. and that we let Him be God.

Seven Reasons Why I love Our Children's Ministry

#1.  It’s Clean.  No nasty carpet.  No smells.  No dirty floors.  I know that our kids’ area is clean and that really matters to parents.

#2.  It’s Safe.  Background checks have been conducted on every staff member and every volunteer that has any contact with children or students.  Also, there is a volunteer security team that makes sure random people or unauthorized people do not just walk through our kids’ area.  Plus, there is a solid check-in system that clearly identifies each child with the adult who checks them into class, and that same adult must pick them up.

#3.  It’s Fun.  All the children who attend PCC’s Kids Zone absolutely love it!  I also happen to appreciate the fact that “fun” is a value in our kids’ ministry.  Where in the world did we ever get the idea that children have to suffer their way through church?

#4.  Our Children’s Staff and Volunteers are Exceptional!  To begin with, they love children.  They do not serve in this capacity out of forced duty but rather delight.  Secondly, these people are very skilled in what they do.

#5.  Our Children Know God’s Word.  When a church commits to teaching God’s Word to kids in an environment they love to be in, they’re going to learn.  Why?  Because they tune-in instead of tuning out.  You’d be surprised how much our kids know the Word.

#6.  They are Resourced.  PCC invests as heavily in our children’s ministry as we can.  Just take a stroll down Kids Zone and notice the environments that have been created, the equipment being used, and the curriculum being taught.  It’s fresh, current, and costs money.  Why do we do it?  Because children are worth it.  I don’t believe they are the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today!  I believe they matter today.  I believe that if we invest in them today and help them grow up with a favorable view of church, then tomorrow will look a lot different.

#7.  The Curriculum is Current.  While God’s Word never changes, the curriculum used to present God’s Word should change to remain effective.  In case you haven’t figured it out yet, the day of flannel graphs is over. Our curriculum is hot!  It is solid!  It is Biblical!  And its teaching techniques are current too.    Just last Sunday a mother blown away by the things she saw at PCC, and told us how impressed she was.

A premiere children’s ministry cannot be left to chance.  Kids are worth it.

Sunday Mind Dump - Jan 22, 2012

Another great day at PCC.

Attendance has increased the last three Sundays in a row.  The sanctuary was almost packed to capacity.

The number of people indicating they have made commitments to Christ has been steady too.  A good thing.  We’ll have to schedule a baptism soon, and get these people on a growth tract.

After church we held our first Meet-and-Greet for 2012.  This is a lunch for newcomers and a chance for them to meet the ministry staff and senior staff of our church.  More than thirty newcomers attended the event and I got to talk to each one; something I enjoyed immensely.

In a church our size, many people choose to remain anonymous and hidden.  But when we offer events like these some people choose to step out of the crowd to make themselves known, and most of them are ready to take a next step almost immediately.  Maybe this is why most of the newcomers told me today that they have already signed up for our Newcomers Class to be offered in February.

A special shout out to the team who put this event together!  You did an exceptional job!

All things considered, it appears our sails have caught a good wind right now.  We’ll ride it as far as it will carry us, then when the momentum slows we’ll reevaluate and do something different.

Nothing is forever.... and our church structure is flexible, enabling us to turn on a dime when necessary.

I really enjoyed the last song in the song service:  “In Christ Alone.”  This song is filled with good theology in every verse, has a thunderous beat, is appealing to men, and makes me want to shout.  Besides, our worship team presents it in a way that is as good as anybody can.

One of my favorite lines: 

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

How about the offertory?  It was an oldie:  He Touched Me.  Nan (Renee Jones’ mother) did a good job on her solo too.  A lot of people spoke favorably of the song, telling us how much they enjoyed it.

I spoke from Esther 3 today.  The main theme was “evil” in the world.  Chapter 3 is where Haman (the murderous conspirator) enters the picture.  This man is a portrait of undiluted evil.

It’s easy to think of evil as some invisible influence out there in the world somewhere – and certainly it is, having it origins in the unseen world.  However, evil unusually manifests or personifies itself in “people.”

Yes, there is such a thing as “evil people” in the world.  And without repentance, such people ultimately become the objects of God’s wrath.

Haman is a name that has gone down in infamy… especially in Jewish culture, even to this day.

Today I told a personal story of the day that Renae and I visited the bombed Federal Building in downtown Okalahoma City shortly after it happened.  Timothy McVeigh is a name that has gone done in infamy in American culture. 

I can’t believe how many new faces I see each week.  Since God has sent us these people, they are future disciples.

I had an extremely good workout yesterday (Saturday).  Exercise it an important part of my life.

Also yesterday, my uncle died.  He was my father’s brother.  Very nice man.  My memories of him go all the way back to the earliest days of my childhood.  Fond memories.

I’m ready to go fishing again…. soon.  I have twelve fishing poles, a cast net, a bait net, and a boat.  Now I’m just waiting for the weather to cooperate.  Oh yea, I’m also waiting for RH and DS to get it in gear.

In the last sixteen years I have owned only two vehicles (a Ford Explorer and a Chevy Tahoe).  And both were used when I purchased them.  This was a deliberate choice on my part.  By doing so, I have saved a lot of money that would have otherwise gone to the bank.  You can spend a small fortune buying vehicals too often.  BTW, my Tahoe has 207,000 miles on it.  I’m going to drive it one more year.

Friday Five

1.  The message this Sunday is:  “Malice in the Palace” from Esther chapter 3.  We’ll learn three very important lessons from this chapter.

2.  Next week your 2011 contributions statements will be mailed.

3.  We have added more chairs to the sanctuary to accommodate the growing attendance.  I would suggest arriving early this Sunday to get a good seat.

4.  Over 30 people have signed up for this Sunday’s Meet & Greet (Newcomers Lunch/Coffee).  Wow! 

5.  Reconciliation.  If you have read my blog over any length of time you know that I often write about the importance of reconciliation, particularly in the context of church relationships.  I write about it a lot.  Why?  (1)  Relationship conflict/tension is a fact of life in church (2)  The Bible commands us to seek reconciliation and shows us the process how (3)  Far too many people simply run, finding it too easy to just leave a church or change churches.  By doing so they keep the conflict alive and remain immature having never even made an attempt to resolve their issue (4) Conflict resolution leads to spiritual growth and maturity, and, (5) Disunity is a sin.  I could go on and on.  I’ve written about this dozens of times.

Well, good news.  It is a rare thing, but every now-and-then someone steps up and owns the process.  It happened yesterday.  A person called on the phone. They asked, “Can we talk.”  A meeting was arranged.  Two hours later restoration had occurred.  It was a good day. 

I am hopeful that many more of these will occurr.

….thou hast gained thy brother (Matthew 18:15).

Why I Am Believing God for a Breakthrough

1.  Found People Find People.  We will not stop doing what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20.  The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:35-38) and the people of PCC are willing to step up.

2.  Saved People Serve People.  We will not stop doing what the Bible commands in I Peter 4:10.  We understand the fact that the world is not going to be reached by a “screaming church” but rather a serving church.  We are discovering our gifts to become more like Christ and serve.

3.  Growing People Change for the Better.  We will continue to pray Psalms 139:23-24 over our lives.  We are fed up with religious attitudes that are extremely focused on the lives of others but refuse to deal with the sin in their own lives.  We will continue to beg God to make us more like His Son, to fill us with His thoughts, and to show us areas in our lives where we fall short so that we can repent and move forward.

4.  We Don’t Do the Christian Life Alone.  We will obey Hebrews 10:24-25.  We understand that we are not strong enough on our own to make it on our own; that we need God and that we need each other.  We live by the “one another” commands found in the NT – about fifty four of them.  We are committed to growing larger and smaller at the same time:  Larger in the weekend services, and smaller through life groups.

5.  We Cannot Out Give God.  That’s why we obey Malachi 3:6-12.  We refuse to be a church full of people who believe God’s Word in regard to salvation, but then refuse to believe the passages about giving, generosity, and financial blessings (Proverbs 3:9-10; II Corinthians 9:6-15).  We know that Jesus Himself said that money is the number one competitor for our heart (Matthew 6:24), and we also know that people who love money end up in a lot of trouble (I Timothy 6:6-10).  We’ve seen God bless our church and people in our church family because of their financial faithfulness… and we know the best is yet to come.

 

 

Let God and Let God

You can weep over the people leaving your church or you can weep over those coming to your church, but you won’t have enough tears for both. There have been seasons in my life when I really stressed over each departure, taking it personally.  There have also been plenty of seasons when I took low attendance as a personal defeat.  Until one day I had an insight:

GOD OFTEN EMPTIES SOMETHING BEFORE HE REBUILDS IT.

In my case it was exactly what was needed.  Almost every departure that has ever occurred was for PCC’s benefit.  God scatters people to other churches that best fit their liking (although some people never find a church they like) so that He can raise up people here that want to go in the same direction we are headed.  It’s like a slingshot that is pulled backwards and stretched it to its limit just before it is launched forward.

Call it pruning the vine, culling the sheep, or purging the church, the end result is the same:  God takes it down to a remnant.  These are the people He can best work with.

The most liberating thing I ever did was to let go of my personal expectations, seek the purity of motivation in ministry, and get back to making the honor of God as my highest commitment.  My anxiety lifted.  This resulted in me loving the people who remained more than ever before, and gave me clarity about our mission and who we’re trying to reach.  Suddenly, I realized there was a major work to do – of building people – and I could no longer judge our kingdom impact by the ebbs and flows of people who come-and-go so easily.

I’m beginning to sense that PCC is poised right now for one of the best periods in our church’s life cycle.  2012 is going to be a great year.  I have clarity.  We’re going to serve our church family to the best of our ability. All of us collectively are going to serve one another.  When people are well-served and well-fed, they don’t want to go anywhere else and they can’t help but invite their friends.

Churches that reach people and keep them are healthier than those who don’t.  They not only draw in spiritual window-shoppers and lead them to Christ; they also lead them up to maturity. And that, after all, is what Jesus called us to do. He didn’t tell us to go into all the world and “sign people up.”  He told us to make disciples – a task that includes baptizing people and teaching them to obey everything He commanded.

Frankly, that’s a task that takes a lot of time…. and since I’m not leaving PCC any time soon, I’m not having an anxiety attack over it.

Sunday Mind Dump - January 15, 2012

Awesome day.

The place was packed.  Attendance was up from last Sunday and there was a ton of new people.  I couldn’t believe the amount of registration cards turned in.

Several people made commitments to Christ today too.

Very proud of our people for spreading the word.

I’m astonished at the number of military personnel showing up to PCC.  God seems to have really given us ministry to these people over the last five years or so.  They just keep coming every week.  Aside from my admiration for them, my prayer and hope is that we effectively minister to them before the goverment transfers them to new places. 

We are experiencing a very strong momentum right now.  The new service time seems to be the right call.  Plus, it’s the beginning of a new year, the weather has been cooperating, and all the makeover changes have added a fresh touch in everything.

The energy in our services is electric.

I took a stroll down the children’s wing as service began.  The place was full of kids, excited teachers, and happy parents.  What’s not to like about that?

No words to describe the music today.  The worship team was in the zone.  I especially liked singing How Great Thou Art and it was a nice touch to have it tagged to How Great is Our God.

Made my job of teaching real easy.

Dr. Jay Webster did an exceptional job on his solo part.  It was his first time being out on a limb like that.  He manned up and did a good job.  Thankfully, he wasn’t wearing skinny jeans (:-)

How about Shawn, the man who was in the wheelchair, being brought to the platform to help sing during the second set?  It was heart-warming.  The picture is of the pre-service rehearsal.

No matter how large we get we still operate like a “family.”  I like that about PCC.

BTW, the guy in the hat…. as handsome as he is…. didn’t wear the hat during service… only for practice.  Although it’s not skinny jeans, it’s dangerously close (:-)

Over 30 people are now signed up for the Greet-and-Meet next Sunday.  Fifteen of them signed up today!  I hope this is a good sign of what our future looks like.

Today’s message was from Esther chapter 2.  We went verse-by-verse through the text and talked about the Sovereignty of God, being pressed into difficult circumstances by God’s will, maintaining your spiritual equilibrium while there, and developing depth of character.

I find the story of Esther absolutely riveting.  The plot only thickens as we progress through the chapters.

The first two chapters have been risqué.  All this talk about virgins, eunuchs, harems, concubines, and spending a night with the king has has been challenging for me to navigate my way through.  I think the teenagers have found it fascinating while the parents have squirmed in discomfort.  Yet, it's in the Bible.

Thank God I have a youth pastor and other ministers who can answer their questions on Wednesday nights (:-)

Oh, I almost forgot.  We also talked about “Honoring thy Father and Mother.”  The parents seemed to really appreciate that part of the message.  The applause that erupted in the middle of the sermon was a dead giveaway.

Here are few Facebook comments:

--Courtney B said, AWESOME worship service at church today! If you don't have a church home of your own I invite you to come to PCC next Sunday at 9:30 an you will be glad you did! Actually come early an enjoy great fellowship an refreshments too! :-)

--Samantha W. said, Renae the worship this morning was on another level...thanks for all the hard work you do to help your church family enter into a true place of spirit filled heart affirming worship! You and your team are such a blessing!

--Wade H. said, The kind of worship that came from Shawn is exactly what God wants from each of us. No self glorifying, just pure worship from the heart, to a God that deserves nothing but our best.

--Martha H. said, Absolutely wonderful worship service this morning! Truly entered into God's presence through the music and then through Pastor Ron's message in the book of Esther. Really enjoying this series.

--Cathy D. said, Church was awesome this morning - great worship experience and wonderful message!

--Carole B. said, The last two Sunday’s have been awesome.  We are worshipping God together as a family in one service.

One of the things I enjoy about the services at PCC is our vertically focused emphasis on God.  We sing more about Him than ourselves.  The messages are about God, and less about us.  The call to discipleship we extend is about sacrificial living to serve the purposes of God, and less about God meeting our purposes.  The call to worship each Sunday sounds something like this, “We are here to worship Him for Who He is, not only for what He has done for us.”  This is the general tone in PCC’s culture and it’s a good thing.

To God be the glory.

Soli Deo gloria    

Another favorite thing I like about pastoring PCC is that our church family is a beautiful picture that we serve the God of Second Chances.  I get the honor of talking to people every week who need a reminder that God hasn’t given up on them even after they have made a royal mess of things.  Our church is full of people who came from complicated backgrounds (everyone has a story) who are now redeemed and living beautiful lives.

Only God can do that.

God put a list of very sinful people in Hebrews 11 who lived and died in faith.  That’s why it’s important to get back up.

I’m going to plant a serious garden of field peas this year.  I planted a small patch in my back yard last summer and had amazing success.  Now that I know what I’m doing, I’m going to expand this spring.  I have the property and equipment to get it done.  Can’t wait.

Renae and I want to establish a small blueberry farm out there too.

I’ll also be planting scuppernong and muscadine grapes for my vineyard (:-)

I really like the smell of freshly turned soil in the spring.  Feels earthy (not worldly) and helps me find my bearings.  The simple things in life are most pleasing to me.

Land Clearing...

It's a work in progress...