Dry Bones

Tiredness grounds me into a quiet stupor of the spirit.

I yearn to be inspired, to be lifted up, set free beyond the place of deadness.

The struggle goes on, however, and you and I, God, we exist together with seemingly little communion.

Yet in the deepest part of me, I believe in you, perhaps more strongly than ever.

I am learning you as a God of silence, of darkness, deep and strong.

I do not wrestle anymore only wait, only wait for you to bring my dry bones into dancing once again.

Joyce Rupp

May I Have This Dance?

All I Hear Is Silence

I have a favorite spot for my quiet time.  When I’m in Decatur it’s a chair next to a window that overlooks a huge oak tree and the corner of Camp Warren’s Lake.  I can also see my office but I try to position the chair so that the office is not in view.  Otherwise I end up thinking about the long list of people to call, articles to write, books to read, preparation for an upcoming weekend with a church and… you guessed it, my quiet time of prayer becomes a “thanks for this day Lord, I’m off to serve you!”

This morning, the chair was positioned just right.  The stack of work on the desk was not on my mind.  It was a sweet time.  A time of the refreshing presence of the Lord.  But it was cold.  I was sitting in my shorts and a t-shirt with a quilt over my legs but I couldn’t get warm.  The draft from the mobile home window was like a fan blowing cold air directly on me. 

My spirit was warm.  Thoughts in my mind were rich.  My body was cold.  As easy as you think it would have been to get up from that chair, I just couldn’t.  You see, for me, moments of God’s presence don’t hit me every morning.  I know it does for some and I’m confident that it’s my issue and not God.  I can blame it on ministry issues, family stuff, or preoccupation with something but the truth is, I don’t always take the time to press into the presence of God.  Life is too loud that sometimes all I hear is silence. 

Even in the silence I know that God loves, guides and cares for me.  What usually emerges on the other side of silence is a day like today when I press into the presence and stand more whole and complete.  I’m not advocating for silence. I’m just saying, it happens.  I don’t fear the silence for I’ve been in this long enough to know that I will pass through the strong, competent hands of the Savior when the silence is gone.  It’s sweet.  Once I stand on the other side of the experience, I say with the author of Romans, that ‘nothing in all creation will be able to separate me (or freeze me) from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do #'s really matter?

You can’t measure anything unless you count.  How do you know if a diet is working – count the pounds.  How do you know if your car is getting optimum gas mileage – count the miles per gallon.  How do you know if you baptized 10 people this year – count!

Numbers are important.  They are not the definition to everything.  There are times that growth is occurring in the life of a congregation and the numbers might not show it.  Unless of course you count the increased number of people praying – studying – meeting together.  Ahh, you see even when some numbers don’t show growth other numbers do.  You can’t get around it – numbers are important.

Numbers are important in the Bible – we shouldn’t be scared of them… 10 Bridesmaids, Forgive 70 times 7, Peter denied Jesus 3 times, Jesus spent 3 days in the tomb.  There are 10 commandments and the shepherd left 99 sheep to search for 1.

How do you know if God is moving?  I’ve heard, “we feel that God is moving.”  That’s weak because some will say, they don’t feel a thing.  Feelings are too subjective when determining if things are moving forward.   You have to know numbers.  It’s a strong method of determining if things are working.

In India – 30,000 people a day are being added to the church.  That number is doubled for China.  In Pakistan one church planted 6 more churches in one week!  While in America – 16% of people far from God are saying – no thank you!  But think about that before you shake your head in disgust.  84% are thinking about it.

Reggie McNeal  recently said, the church should be like an airport – it helps get people to the right destination. The airport is never the destination.  Growing the church is not the mission.  The church doesn’t have a mission – this mission has the church.  

How can we count if the mission has us?

Consumerism

I attended the SLAMA 5^th Sunday Unity Service last night.  Jeanette Flynn gave an awesome talk.  There was too much to relate in a blog but I do want to touch on one side subject she talked about, “consumerism”.  I’ve been thinking about this - in a good way and a bad way.

The bad way is – followers of Christ being consumers.  We are called to follow Christ through the way of the cross.  We need to grow up on things like whether the music speaks to you or the preaching is as good as whoever you happen to listen to on radio, podcast, or livechurch.tv – followers of Christ need to get up, engage in ministry and stop acting like ‘everybody else has a better show than your church.’

We also need to stop acting like the world shouldn’t be consumers of the church.  That’s out culture.  In many churches I’ve seen noses snarl at the thought of people in the community viewing them like consumers.  I’ve heard this type of saying, “The church is not called to be catering to every whim granting newcomers that comes through our doors.  If they don’t like it, they can find another church. “

I’m staying at a Holiday Inn waiting for a meeting in the St. Louis area in a few hours. I like Holiday Inn; I like the breakfast, I like their point systems, I like that they call me “Eric” when I check in.  I like their soap.”  I could stay somewhere cheaper but I choose to drive early in the morning and late at night to skip staying in too many hotels because when it’s absolutely necessary – I like Holiday Inn.

I could stay at adequate places.  There’s Hampton Inn, Fairfield and even a good looking Motel 6 (although I have to use 4 towels to dry off! Where do they find those tiny towels?) but I choose Holiday Inn because it’s better than good and better than adequate.

When a newcomer attends your church – like it or not – they are looking for affirmation and value.  They are looking for a place to say, “you matter!” I know we are called to lift up Jesus and leave the results to him.  I submit to you, however, the fish and the bread – I am confident it was the best fish sandwich that those 5,000 + ever tasted.  And the wine; it had to be the best tasting wine, would Jesus dare serve wine before it was time? 

If lost people matter to God and we know they do…  Our assignment is to make sure people can see Jesus.  This is the very reason we must meet them where they are – consumers.  We must greet them and wow them with unconditional acceptance and respect.  Our goal should be to do anything and everything to help people see Christ.

John 6.26 – You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs and for free (The Message)

They were certainly consumers and Jesus knew it but the amazing thing is Jesus didn’t’ stop healing or performing miracles.  He continued to play into the people’s consumer’s mind set.  He did this because He wanted them to see the Father.  He didn’t seem too worried about motives even thought they were self serving.

Here’s what the pastor from Granger said - The people who come through your doors on the weekend are initially making decisions as consumers.  Whether they return rests on their entire experiences.  They leave asking the same questions they ask of business throughout the week. “Was this worth my time?  Do the people care about me? Am I valued here?  How will guest answer these questions?

I have to go check out of my room – wait – no I don’t, I have a late check-out because I am a Priority Club Member!  Ahh… the Holiday Inn experience.

Engaging God in Worship

I have not been a member of a church community on a regular basis for 16 months. I miss the idea of belonging to an every week worshipping community.  But how blessed I feel to be able to have worshiped with so many new friends and to experience some awesome times of worship.

 I started ministry in 1984 leading worship, directing choirs and trying to craft fresh worship experiences.  I still have a deep passion to see people experience God in worship. Every Sunday, whether I’m in a Spanish church, black church, a small church singing out of a hymnal or a blended worship with words on a screen; I still want fellow worshipers to engage God in worship and experience true fellowship with one another.

Here are a few questions that I wish pastors and worship leaders could honestly reflect on every Sunday afternoon (or at least by Monday Evening).  Try it for a few weeks and see what happens.  By the way, I think most people are answering these questions each week in some way or another so we might as well be honest with ourselves regarding the highest act of adoration to God.

1.       Did the worship service have a clear and unified flow?

2.       Were all the transitions smooth?  Did the service flow well?

3.       Was the worship God-centered and bible based?

4.       Did the worship call for a response?  Was there clear application?

5.       Was the environment positive and conducive to worship?

6.       Was there a good balance between celebration and reflection?

7.       Would guests be able to follow the worship service meaningfully?

8.       Would newcomers feel like “visitors” or “guests”?

9.       Did the service relate well to the needs of the worshipers?

10.   Was the congregation fully engaged in what was happening?

11.   Were the worship leaders prepared for their roles?

12.   Evaluate the pace of worship – fast-paced / drag /

Pastor's and Leadership Conference

If you had one thing that changed your life - you would do anything to let others know about.  A few years ago someone gave me a copy of  Simple Church by Thom Rainer.  I practically highlighted the entire book.  So many of the things he said I had thought but didn't have the guts to say it!  I ordered copies for my leaders and it wasn't long before they started saying to me "Let's do this!"

It transformed the way we 'did church'!  Our structure, our staffing, our schedules, our programs... everything was changed for the sake of the mission.

April 16, 2011 - Thom Rainer, author of "Simple Church" will be leading a Pastor and Leadership Conference at Camp Warren for the entire day!

How sweet is this?  The guy who wrote the book that changed my ministry is spending an entire day with the pastors and leaders of Illinois.

Make sure you have the date saved on your schedule. Don't let anything get in the way of this event!