Here's proof that testimonies can be brief.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Testimonies
David started this ball rolling. He was the first to add his testimony here and challenged the rest of us to do the same. The idea being that we take turns each month. The one who offers the thoughts benefits from the exercise of ‘writing it out’ and the reader gets the opportunity to hear how God has transformed a man’s life. It’s a great idea.
When we lived in BC, I was asked to share my story at a Christian Businessmen’s Banquet. The organizers asked me to fill 45 minutes. 45 minutes! I can write and I can speak…but 45 minutes to say what’s on my mind is way too long.
I somehow managed to pull it off but left the meeting feeling like it must have been dreadfully dry and dull. When I think back on that event…and consider what to say here I am struck by the fact that most men are never invited to tell their story. Nobody asks to hear it. When has someone asked to hear your testimony?
What bugs me is that men are generally perceived to be not the ‘sharing’ kind. Consensus is that men do not want to share much of anything…maybe the odd power tool but heaven forbid a serious spiritual thought, question or response. I think that most guys are happy to be perceived in this light…wrong as it may be. Why is it easier and strangely more acceptable for a man to be a goof than a genius? Get too serious about life and you run the risk of being pegged a freak or a sap.
Regardless, I think that every man wants to tell his unique story in context. He needs to share his heart, he needs to be understood and he needs to know that he is accepted as-is. It may not pour out all at once but over the course of weeks or years. So long as it happens. With trust comes a confidence and openness to share. So, let’s start asking for more of the story.
“Father, thank you for the men this community of faith. Help us to share earnest support for each other by our actions; may we care enough to ask for more of the story, to listen intently and respond with the love of Christ. Amen.”
When we lived in BC, I was asked to share my story at a Christian Businessmen’s Banquet. The organizers asked me to fill 45 minutes. 45 minutes! I can write and I can speak…but 45 minutes to say what’s on my mind is way too long.
I somehow managed to pull it off but left the meeting feeling like it must have been dreadfully dry and dull. When I think back on that event…and consider what to say here I am struck by the fact that most men are never invited to tell their story. Nobody asks to hear it. When has someone asked to hear your testimony?
What bugs me is that men are generally perceived to be not the ‘sharing’ kind. Consensus is that men do not want to share much of anything…maybe the odd power tool but heaven forbid a serious spiritual thought, question or response. I think that most guys are happy to be perceived in this light…wrong as it may be. Why is it easier and strangely more acceptable for a man to be a goof than a genius? Get too serious about life and you run the risk of being pegged a freak or a sap.
Regardless, I think that every man wants to tell his unique story in context. He needs to share his heart, he needs to be understood and he needs to know that he is accepted as-is. It may not pour out all at once but over the course of weeks or years. So long as it happens. With trust comes a confidence and openness to share. So, let’s start asking for more of the story.
“Father, thank you for the men this community of faith. Help us to share earnest support for each other by our actions; may we care enough to ask for more of the story, to listen intently and respond with the love of Christ. Amen.”
Saturday, June 14, 2008
See a Need, Fill a Need
If any of you have seen the movie Robots then you'll recognize the title of this post. It's very simple yet something we don't always do. As summer approaches and we bring everything down a notch to try and relax a bit, let's keep that statement in mind.
Things in our Church, home and community still go on. A brother may need some help, an ear to listen or a verse to inspire. We not only need to keep moving forward, but to keep our eyes open and if we see a need........
Monday, June 2, 2008
Behind closed doors
"Most men live lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them" - Henry David Thoreau
One of my all-time favourite quotes. It’s a quote that can be interpreted several different ways, but if you research Thoreau, it appears his meaning applied to the masses who toil day after day at a job they despise, but do not have the means - or perhaps the courage - to walk away and do what it is they really want to do.
There could be nothing worse than living a life of quiet desperation. Yet it seems so many people do. To me, it relates not only to what you do in life, but who you are. Not that long ago, I remember waking up one day and thinking, “This is not my life. This cannot be my life. This is NOT what the rest of my life is supposed to be.”
So I changed it. But it wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t simple. It was kind of like standing on the edge of a precipice and preparing to jump, not knowing how far down the bottom was, or if you’d even land safely, or if there’d be anyone to catch you.
But I jumped anyway. Don’t get me wrong – there is nothing ignoble or desperate about working 9-5 to pay the bills, feed the family, maintain a roof over your head - all the things society and obligation and responsibility demands of us. But even if that is so, even if your livelihood is not your passion, then it behooves you to find passion somewhere else – be it in a hobby, a cause, your spouse, your kids, your friendships, whatever.
Do not settle, do not let your one shot at life be filled with moments of doubt and despair and regret over what might have been. Find your song, and then…sing.
To those not living lives of quiet desperation, I salute you, I admire you. To those who believe they have no choice but to go to the grave with the song still in them, I feel your pain. I urge you to reconsider.
It was missionary Jim Elliot who said, "Until you find something worth dying for, you're not really living."
Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life, lived to the full." (John 10:10) In one respect, as followers of the Master, we are called to live life in the extreme - this is so far from 'quiet desperation', behind closed doors, isolated and alone.
Let me leave you with another piece of classic Thoreau for your reflection: “When it’s time to die, let us not discover that we have never lived.”
CP
One of my all-time favourite quotes. It’s a quote that can be interpreted several different ways, but if you research Thoreau, it appears his meaning applied to the masses who toil day after day at a job they despise, but do not have the means - or perhaps the courage - to walk away and do what it is they really want to do.
There could be nothing worse than living a life of quiet desperation. Yet it seems so many people do. To me, it relates not only to what you do in life, but who you are. Not that long ago, I remember waking up one day and thinking, “This is not my life. This cannot be my life. This is NOT what the rest of my life is supposed to be.”
So I changed it. But it wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t simple. It was kind of like standing on the edge of a precipice and preparing to jump, not knowing how far down the bottom was, or if you’d even land safely, or if there’d be anyone to catch you.
But I jumped anyway. Don’t get me wrong – there is nothing ignoble or desperate about working 9-5 to pay the bills, feed the family, maintain a roof over your head - all the things society and obligation and responsibility demands of us. But even if that is so, even if your livelihood is not your passion, then it behooves you to find passion somewhere else – be it in a hobby, a cause, your spouse, your kids, your friendships, whatever.
Do not settle, do not let your one shot at life be filled with moments of doubt and despair and regret over what might have been. Find your song, and then…sing.
To those not living lives of quiet desperation, I salute you, I admire you. To those who believe they have no choice but to go to the grave with the song still in them, I feel your pain. I urge you to reconsider.
It was missionary Jim Elliot who said, "Until you find something worth dying for, you're not really living."
Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life, lived to the full." (John 10:10) In one respect, as followers of the Master, we are called to live life in the extreme - this is so far from 'quiet desperation', behind closed doors, isolated and alone.
Let me leave you with another piece of classic Thoreau for your reflection: “When it’s time to die, let us not discover that we have never lived.”
CP
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Power of Man
Last Sunday the men of Bridgewater Baptist stood up to publicly show that we are united as men in Christ.
This was a very powerful statement because, well let's face it, we're not always together as a group. We are all in different places in our life due to age, health, family situation, you name it there are differences. What is the same and is a constant is Christ. We may not be at the same place on our 'walk' with the Lord but the path ends at the same location. There is no reason why we cannot take this journey together. Last Sunday we told our Church, by taking our stand together, that is what we are going to do.
This is going to be an amazing time for us all and I would invite anyone reading this to join with us. You may not go to our Church or even live in Nova Scotia but there is no reason why we cannot pray, support and basically be there for each other. Women have been doing it forever, we're just catching up.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sons Of Thunder Study Beginning Soon!
Many of you signed up to be included in a Men’s Study at the church. With nearly 40 guys on the list there will not be an ideal hour during the week that will work for everyone. And, having said that – there may be opportunity for a 2nd or 3rd group study…breakfast, mid-week…whenever. For the moment, I will get us underway on Sunday, June 1st at 7pm at the church. I hope you can make it.I’ve picked out “EPIC” – Discover the story that God is telling. It is designed to help reveal every man’s crucial role in the God’s Larger Story! I believe you will appreciate John Eldredge’s perspective. This is a short study – only 6 weeks, and that could be good as we head into summer. Format will be simple: Watch a 20 minute thought provoking, dramatic presentation on DVD and follow with some more thoughts, questions and reaction. It will be casual.
Please know that by committing to this you will not be put on the spot in any way. I do not presume to know your personal story and you may be questioning, for the first time, what faith in Christ really means. At the same time if you’ve been a Christian for many years there is definitely a place for you too. Trust me, every man will benefit! So please come, feel welcome and comfortable!
Oh, best part…you won’t need to buy anything – no materials required. Come as you are.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Without Permission
I'm giving the author credit so I should not be sued for uploading this article. Corey emailed it to me and I thought...why not post it on the blog. There is lots to consider. Some strong talk here. Feedback is welcome.
----------
The author is David Murrow, author of "Why Men Hate Going To Church" You've heard it said that fathers are the spiritual leaders of the home. Now there's a study to prove it.
Researchers from Switzerland examined whether parents' religious habits were transmitted to their offspring. They studied different variables, but one critical factor towered above the rest: the practices of the father determine whether children grow up attending church or not. And here's the shocker: the habits of the mother have almost no influence over their kids' future devotion.
Consider these findings:
When Mom is a regular churchgoer but Dad attends infrequently, just 3 percent of their kids go on to become regular churchgoers.
When Mom is regular but Dad never attends, just 2 percent become regular attenders.
Now, let's flip the chart. What if Dad is faithful?
When both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 33 percent of kids grow up to attend regularly.
When Dad is regular but Mom only goes once in a while, the figure jumps to 38 percent.
Here's the real bombshell: when Dad is faithful but Mom never attends, 44 percent of the kids end up as regular church attenders!!
Bottom line: in spiritual matters, kids take their cues from Dad. If Papa doesn't go to church, chances are very slim that his children will become regular worshippers. If the kids see religion as "Mom's thing" they are more likely to become disenchanted. But if Dad leads by example, children are twenty-two times more likely to become lifelong churchgoers.
Curtis Burnam, a 20-year veteran of youth ministry has seen it time and again. "Kids who are taken to church by Mom but not Dad are harder to keep in church. They tend to drop out at higher rates when they reach adolescence. They are also harder to engage when they do come to youth group. This is true for girls as well as boys."
Why are these findings so alarming? Because men are dropping out of North America's churches. Consider this:
In 1952, the typical protestant worship service drew an adult crowd that was 47 percent male. Today that figure is 39 percent, or less -- and falling.
On any given Sunday there are 13 million fewer men than women in the pews.
Almost a quarter of married, churchgoing women attend services without their husbands each Sunday.
According to Barna Research, men lag behind women in every area of Christian endeavor (except the senior pastorate).
Few churches can establish or maintain a viable men's ministry.
The majority of churchgoing men do nothing midweek (other than pray) to grow in faith.
Two obvious questions come to mind: why are Christian churches losing their men? And why are churchgoing men so uninvolved?
Jesus enthralled men. Rival faiths such as Islam inspire fanatical allegiance from young men.
What's the difference?
I studied this phenomenon for five years, and wrote my findings in a book titled, Why Men Hate Going to Church (Nelson Books, 2005). If I had to summarize my conclusions in one sentence it would be this: The modern church system is not designed to do what Jesus did: reach men with the Good News.
No, today's churches, without even realizing it, create an environment where women and tots thrive, but men feel hesitant and restrained. How so? Without even realizing it, modern churches default to a feminine spirituality. For instance, we focus almost exclusively on Christ's gentle side. A good Christian is always soft, sweet, and sentimental, focused on family and relationships instead of goals and achievement. Common church practices such as handholding, sitting in a circle and sharing your feelings, public reading and singing make men feel uncomfortable or incompetent. Today's praise songs present Christ as lover rather than leader. I could go on.
So men depart (or go passive). This in itself is a tragedy. But the greater loss comes years later, when the next generation turns its back on church, despite their mothers' superhuman attempts to grow them into spiritual champions.
It's time to face the truth: if we're going to pass a lifelong faith to our children, we must re-engage men. No amount of Sunday school, VBS, or youth group will do the trick. We might as well fold up our flannel-graphs and go home. In fact, we might reach more kids by canceling the entire children's ministry and focusing our efforts on men. This strategy would, in the long run, produce more lifelong followers of Jesus.
Kids need one thing: to see their fathers following Jesus. The question is: do we have the courage to transform the local church into a place where your average guy can connect with God?
----------
The author is David Murrow, author of "Why Men Hate Going To Church" You've heard it said that fathers are the spiritual leaders of the home. Now there's a study to prove it.
Researchers from Switzerland examined whether parents' religious habits were transmitted to their offspring. They studied different variables, but one critical factor towered above the rest: the practices of the father determine whether children grow up attending church or not. And here's the shocker: the habits of the mother have almost no influence over their kids' future devotion.
Consider these findings:
When Mom is a regular churchgoer but Dad attends infrequently, just 3 percent of their kids go on to become regular churchgoers.
When Mom is regular but Dad never attends, just 2 percent become regular attenders.
Now, let's flip the chart. What if Dad is faithful?
When both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 33 percent of kids grow up to attend regularly.
When Dad is regular but Mom only goes once in a while, the figure jumps to 38 percent.
Here's the real bombshell: when Dad is faithful but Mom never attends, 44 percent of the kids end up as regular church attenders!!
Bottom line: in spiritual matters, kids take their cues from Dad. If Papa doesn't go to church, chances are very slim that his children will become regular worshippers. If the kids see religion as "Mom's thing" they are more likely to become disenchanted. But if Dad leads by example, children are twenty-two times more likely to become lifelong churchgoers.
Curtis Burnam, a 20-year veteran of youth ministry has seen it time and again. "Kids who are taken to church by Mom but not Dad are harder to keep in church. They tend to drop out at higher rates when they reach adolescence. They are also harder to engage when they do come to youth group. This is true for girls as well as boys."
Why are these findings so alarming? Because men are dropping out of North America's churches. Consider this:
In 1952, the typical protestant worship service drew an adult crowd that was 47 percent male. Today that figure is 39 percent, or less -- and falling.
On any given Sunday there are 13 million fewer men than women in the pews.
Almost a quarter of married, churchgoing women attend services without their husbands each Sunday.
According to Barna Research, men lag behind women in every area of Christian endeavor (except the senior pastorate).
Few churches can establish or maintain a viable men's ministry.
The majority of churchgoing men do nothing midweek (other than pray) to grow in faith.
Two obvious questions come to mind: why are Christian churches losing their men? And why are churchgoing men so uninvolved?
Jesus enthralled men. Rival faiths such as Islam inspire fanatical allegiance from young men.
What's the difference?
I studied this phenomenon for five years, and wrote my findings in a book titled, Why Men Hate Going to Church (Nelson Books, 2005). If I had to summarize my conclusions in one sentence it would be this: The modern church system is not designed to do what Jesus did: reach men with the Good News.
No, today's churches, without even realizing it, create an environment where women and tots thrive, but men feel hesitant and restrained. How so? Without even realizing it, modern churches default to a feminine spirituality. For instance, we focus almost exclusively on Christ's gentle side. A good Christian is always soft, sweet, and sentimental, focused on family and relationships instead of goals and achievement. Common church practices such as handholding, sitting in a circle and sharing your feelings, public reading and singing make men feel uncomfortable or incompetent. Today's praise songs present Christ as lover rather than leader. I could go on.
So men depart (or go passive). This in itself is a tragedy. But the greater loss comes years later, when the next generation turns its back on church, despite their mothers' superhuman attempts to grow them into spiritual champions.
It's time to face the truth: if we're going to pass a lifelong faith to our children, we must re-engage men. No amount of Sunday school, VBS, or youth group will do the trick. We might as well fold up our flannel-graphs and go home. In fact, we might reach more kids by canceling the entire children's ministry and focusing our efforts on men. This strategy would, in the long run, produce more lifelong followers of Jesus.
Kids need one thing: to see their fathers following Jesus. The question is: do we have the courage to transform the local church into a place where your average guy can connect with God?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A Rising Tide
One time Irish Prime Minister Sean Lemass said, “A rising tide lifts all boats”. My dream is that men continue to grasp the exciting vision we share and join us. The tide is rising.
The highest tides in the world are right here in our backyard in the amazing Bay of Fundy. Consider the impact of 1 billion tons of water moving in and out twice a day. The terrain is unmistakably changed. Do you see how we can change the landscape of our community? Pray for vision.
And, pray for Rob travelling in Indonesia. Pray for Rob’s family here at home. Pray for Paul & Janice on their Alaskan Cruise. Pray for Sarah & John getting married in 2 weeks. Pray for Kerstin as he has decided to take on something huge! Pray for the young guys in our church. May the older guys be available and strong examples to all young men. Pray for the Red Rally that David has organized. Pray for our families – parents, brothers, sisters and children. Pray for Harry Gardner who will speak this weekend. Keep praying for Eric and the mission and vision in our church and the Capital Campaign that’s taking shape. Just keep praying.
The highest tides in the world are right here in our backyard in the amazing Bay of Fundy. Consider the impact of 1 billion tons of water moving in and out twice a day. The terrain is unmistakably changed. Do you see how we can change the landscape of our community? Pray for vision.
And, pray for Rob travelling in Indonesia. Pray for Rob’s family here at home. Pray for Paul & Janice on their Alaskan Cruise. Pray for Sarah & John getting married in 2 weeks. Pray for Kerstin as he has decided to take on something huge! Pray for the young guys in our church. May the older guys be available and strong examples to all young men. Pray for the Red Rally that David has organized. Pray for our families – parents, brothers, sisters and children. Pray for Harry Gardner who will speak this weekend. Keep praying for Eric and the mission and vision in our church and the Capital Campaign that’s taking shape. Just keep praying.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A Lesson In Lawn Maintenance
A few days ago I circulated a quick email plea for help. A senior couple in our church needed some yard work done so I put out a call to the guys. No need to identify the folks. No glory is sought from the experience – I simply post this to share what I learned last night.
First, let me tell you how blessed I am by my friends. It is rare these days for men to share in a warm, inviting and supportive fellowship. It seems almost anti-guy doesn't it? Society somehow paints a picture of the man who stands alone as the strong man...alone and strong like the Malboro Man. Truth is we need each others’ strength. As men, we are busy with the stuff of life – kids, wives, work and our own lawn maintenance. So much is asked of us on a daily basis.
A dozen guys came to share the work last evening. The number alone speaks powerfully to me.
Secondly, I was impacted by the lady of the house who openly shared her fears of what lies ahead for her ailing husband. There will difficult decisions to make. There are so many questions that remain unanswered. And, where is God? Well, God showed up in the work last night. God showed up as we prayed for her and her husband. God was there in our fellowship and in our meeting the need.
And, God spoke directly to me. Truthfully, when I first arrived I wondered what really had to be done because the yard appeared flawless. There was even a WEEDMAN sign out front. Did I have the wrong address?
From the street one would never know there was a mess out back…not a huge mess – but it did need some attention. I thought about my own life – how, from the curb – or from the front you might not see the ‘mess in the backyard’ of my life. We need to invite God into those dark, shaded places where the leaves and debris collect. It takes continuous maintenance – prayer, reading the Word, support from each other. We need to shine the light into those areas of our lives; expose those regions of pain or shame and invite healing and renewal from Christ.
There’s some stuff I’m working on. I am reluctant. I hesitate. And, God calls me forward just the same. I struggle to accept His prompting in my life because it is so much easier to remain in the shade. To wait and watch others do all the work is just dead wrong.
And, how many men wait on the sidelines to be invited into the game? Some guys seem happy to observe from a distance as mere spectators but something deep inside each man is longing to be called into the adventure. Think of the men you know. Encourage them. Invite them off the couch of doom and into the fray.
First, let me tell you how blessed I am by my friends. It is rare these days for men to share in a warm, inviting and supportive fellowship. It seems almost anti-guy doesn't it? Society somehow paints a picture of the man who stands alone as the strong man...alone and strong like the Malboro Man. Truth is we need each others’ strength. As men, we are busy with the stuff of life – kids, wives, work and our own lawn maintenance. So much is asked of us on a daily basis.
A dozen guys came to share the work last evening. The number alone speaks powerfully to me.
Secondly, I was impacted by the lady of the house who openly shared her fears of what lies ahead for her ailing husband. There will difficult decisions to make. There are so many questions that remain unanswered. And, where is God? Well, God showed up in the work last night. God showed up as we prayed for her and her husband. God was there in our fellowship and in our meeting the need.
And, God spoke directly to me. Truthfully, when I first arrived I wondered what really had to be done because the yard appeared flawless. There was even a WEEDMAN sign out front. Did I have the wrong address?
From the street one would never know there was a mess out back…not a huge mess – but it did need some attention. I thought about my own life – how, from the curb – or from the front you might not see the ‘mess in the backyard’ of my life. We need to invite God into those dark, shaded places where the leaves and debris collect. It takes continuous maintenance – prayer, reading the Word, support from each other. We need to shine the light into those areas of our lives; expose those regions of pain or shame and invite healing and renewal from Christ.
There’s some stuff I’m working on. I am reluctant. I hesitate. And, God calls me forward just the same. I struggle to accept His prompting in my life because it is so much easier to remain in the shade. To wait and watch others do all the work is just dead wrong.
And, how many men wait on the sidelines to be invited into the game? Some guys seem happy to observe from a distance as mere spectators but something deep inside each man is longing to be called into the adventure. Think of the men you know. Encourage them. Invite them off the couch of doom and into the fray.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Open Letter To The Men Who Will Stand
Hello Men
Thank you for meeting with us this morning and for listening to our shared vision. We are not asking for much really - just that you stand...and join us at the front of the church during the chorus of "Bring the Rain" on Sunday, May 25th. We'll provide more details very soon. In fact, you don't have to sing or even know the words. Essentially, by standing with us you will be adding to an incredibly powerful moment of unity and strength! As of today, 30 - 40 men will be standing with you. You will not be alone.
As men, we need to do more 'standing' together. I mentioned at the beginning of this note that we are not asking for much...I do believe, however, that we offer much; We offer the love of Christ. And, together, we strongly believe in the power of prayer, accountability, discipleship and support. Who doesn't need more of that?
A bit of history: The Sons of Thunder began several years ago as a loose group of musical friends. Through the inspiration of Robin Churchill, the group decided to commit to a weekend trip to the Bowery Mission in New York City last month. It was a life-changing experience and lately the guys have been asking, "what now Lord"? "What's next for this group"?
God has opened the eyes of these men. Life is more fragile than we guessed...life is short...and life can be hard - but together, with a supporting network of Christian men, we can work it out. We are stronger together and our church and families will be strengthened! I really appreciate the range of ages in our group...from College Age to Senior Sage! You all have so much to offer. Confession time: As one who thought he knew most people in the church...I don't know all of you. Wow, was I mistaken!
So, you get the idea. And, you'll hear from us quite often. Email makes it easy to stay in touch. So jump right in - don't be shy! And let me tell you straight up that if you ever need someone to pray with or talk to - call me. I will make the time. I am sure the other guys will do the same. Please feel welcomed and supported. The original group of guys is already praying for you.
I heard at least two of you ask about a 'Men's Breakfast'. We'll do that. The men's study I want to launch is called "Epic - Discover The Story God Is Telling". It's a short 6 week DVD series by John Eldredge, author of "Wild at Heart". I'm sorting out the logistics and will give you lots of advance notice. We may even offer it a couple of times through the week. We'll see.
Visit the Sons Of Thunder blog at http://www.bridgewatersons.blogspot.com/ Read all about the trip to NYC and various thoughts, testimonies, reaction and ideas! Let me know if you would like to become an 'author' on the blog and I can set that up for you.
Thank you for agreeing to take a stand. Invite those you know to join us!
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
Thank you for meeting with us this morning and for listening to our shared vision. We are not asking for much really - just that you stand...and join us at the front of the church during the chorus of "Bring the Rain" on Sunday, May 25th. We'll provide more details very soon. In fact, you don't have to sing or even know the words. Essentially, by standing with us you will be adding to an incredibly powerful moment of unity and strength! As of today, 30 - 40 men will be standing with you. You will not be alone.
As men, we need to do more 'standing' together. I mentioned at the beginning of this note that we are not asking for much...I do believe, however, that we offer much; We offer the love of Christ. And, together, we strongly believe in the power of prayer, accountability, discipleship and support. Who doesn't need more of that?
A bit of history: The Sons of Thunder began several years ago as a loose group of musical friends. Through the inspiration of Robin Churchill, the group decided to commit to a weekend trip to the Bowery Mission in New York City last month. It was a life-changing experience and lately the guys have been asking, "what now Lord"? "What's next for this group"?
God has opened the eyes of these men. Life is more fragile than we guessed...life is short...and life can be hard - but together, with a supporting network of Christian men, we can work it out. We are stronger together and our church and families will be strengthened! I really appreciate the range of ages in our group...from College Age to Senior Sage! You all have so much to offer. Confession time: As one who thought he knew most people in the church...I don't know all of you. Wow, was I mistaken!
So, you get the idea. And, you'll hear from us quite often. Email makes it easy to stay in touch. So jump right in - don't be shy! And let me tell you straight up that if you ever need someone to pray with or talk to - call me. I will make the time. I am sure the other guys will do the same. Please feel welcomed and supported. The original group of guys is already praying for you.
I heard at least two of you ask about a 'Men's Breakfast'. We'll do that. The men's study I want to launch is called "Epic - Discover The Story God Is Telling". It's a short 6 week DVD series by John Eldredge, author of "Wild at Heart". I'm sorting out the logistics and will give you lots of advance notice. We may even offer it a couple of times through the week. We'll see.
Visit the Sons Of Thunder blog at http://www.bridgewatersons.blogspot.com/ Read all about the trip to NYC and various thoughts, testimonies, reaction and ideas! Let me know if you would like to become an 'author' on the blog and I can set that up for you.
Thank you for agreeing to take a stand. Invite those you know to join us!
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
Friday, May 2, 2008
What's Coming?
I can’t help but wonder what is next. You’ve heard me say that we’ve got to get more gigs. The music part has been a total blast and it has really drawn us together but maybe what I really long for is for us to continue meeting and sharing our exciting life-changing message. Hey, there’s only one pastor in the band but we each have a powerful, impactful story of our own. Each one of us is capable. Each one's story is different and meaningful.
Thank you David for the challenge and for being the first to step up and boldly post your testimony. Trouble is, for me, is I doubt that I can wait a whole month to be next.
Thank you Jeff for the passionate and supportive message. Hey, it could go down as one of the most famous speeches never given. I love it! “Burn The Ships”! Such a great statement of faith!
You may know this about me. It’s no secret - I am not much of a reader. Now and then, however, I stumble upon something that stirs me. Victoria actually pointed out this piece from Oswald Chambers’ devotional “My Utmost For His Highest” (May 2nd): “If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. If we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God.”
Phillipians 3:12,13: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”. (NIV)
The Message translation puts it this way: “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.”
So, we keep moving ahead. We must. There is so much to say about how God is working and how I see him changing me and the hearts of those around me. Silence doesn’t say much.
It would be sad if the band was never invited to play again but it wouldn’t matter because The Sons of Thunder could go on a speaking tour. Who can keep quiet?
It is so good to be coming alive. Remember the movie Braveheart and the words of William Wallace, “All men die, few men ever really live”.
“To settle for less, or to have less, sounds like a compromise with misery.” – Craig McConnell
Thank you David for the challenge and for being the first to step up and boldly post your testimony. Trouble is, for me, is I doubt that I can wait a whole month to be next.
Thank you Jeff for the passionate and supportive message. Hey, it could go down as one of the most famous speeches never given. I love it! “Burn The Ships”! Such a great statement of faith!
You may know this about me. It’s no secret - I am not much of a reader. Now and then, however, I stumble upon something that stirs me. Victoria actually pointed out this piece from Oswald Chambers’ devotional “My Utmost For His Highest” (May 2nd): “If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. If we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God.”
Phillipians 3:12,13: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”. (NIV)
The Message translation puts it this way: “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.”
So, we keep moving ahead. We must. There is so much to say about how God is working and how I see him changing me and the hearts of those around me. Silence doesn’t say much.
It would be sad if the band was never invited to play again but it wouldn’t matter because The Sons of Thunder could go on a speaking tour. Who can keep quiet?
It is so good to be coming alive. Remember the movie Braveheart and the words of William Wallace, “All men die, few men ever really live”.
“To settle for less, or to have less, sounds like a compromise with misery.” – Craig McConnell
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
David's Testimony
I would love it if each one of us took a month over the next year and each month we would post our personal testimony. I think it would be a very powerful example and may reach people in a way we simply can't in regular conversation. I am willing to go first and post mine here now.
Some of you have heard this before but here goes.
I was born and raised in Toronto, an only child to two working parents. We went to Church most Sundays. We were Anglican and went to the "short service" early in the morning that was only 30 minutes long. Every week we would open the Bible in the pew to page 67 and go through the same motions as the week before. Despite this boring ritual I did believe in God as did my family. What I'll mention later is how there is a difference in simply believing there is a God, and having Faith in God.
Anyway my childhood was nothing overly exciting. I wasn't the easiest child and my parents were older then most when I was born so I think I tired them out rather quickly.
My father was an alcoholic and I still remember nights being woken up by my mother and placed in the front seat of our old VW beetle, being told we were going to a motel and waiting for her to come back out of the house. We never made it to any motel as every time this happened, she would come back out and hour or so later, put me in my bed and life went on.
Eventually we moved out, for almost a year. This was not so much my Mom leaving my Dad but her way of us getting out of his way while he found help. He did and I am very proud of him. He has saved a lot of people over his 25+ years of sobriety by sharing his story of recovery and in that way, is a little bit of a hero to me.
I was a very hyperactive child and my parents, on the advice of teachers, put me on Ritalin. This didn't help and as my dosage was upped on a regular basis they started to run out of ways to deal with me.
As a teenager I was very hard to deal with and although I never got into trouble with the law, never touched drugs or even alcohol, we couldn't seem to find a way to exist together without fighting. Looking back on it, and again, I will touch on it later, there was never a point where we, as a family turned to God for help. We believed but had no Faith.
When I had just turned 17 my parents kicked me out of the house having had enough of me and really, me of them. I lived with friends and eventually moved two hours north of Toronto, in a tent, to be closer to my then girlfriend, now wife, Trina.
The separation of over 6 months from my parents did wonders with how my Mom, Dad and I interacted and after that time, I came back home. It was still far from perfect but at least it was civil. Now almost 18 and still none of us was looking upward for help or guidance.
As time moved on Trina and I got married, bought a home in Toronto and had two boys. We then decided, from what I thought was out of the blue, to move. To move to Nova Scotia, to a town we had never been to before in a Province where we didn't know anyone.
Trina took the bull by the horns and decided that the Baptist Church was where we should go that Sunday. Well, I didn't know what to do, we hadn't been to Church more then four times in ten years and I wasn't Baptist I was Anglican. Not really caring enough to argue, I went along not knowing what lay ahead for me or our family.
That Sunday, I'll never forget it. Fire prevention week in 2002 and Tom Harvey was preaching. We sat down and just as we were getting ready for the service, these people turn around and introduce themselves to us, then stand up and introduce us to the entire Church. Those Rands!! Needless to say I didn't like Tom's message that day (sorry Tom) and the Church was too full with all the firefighters that were there and I didn't want to go back. Funny thing is, we felt we had to because the Rands had introduced us and then invited us to Thanksgiving dinner to boot. The funny thing is, I owe Paul and Janice my life. If they hadn't done what they did, I may never have gone back to Church. I may never had gone down the path they helped put me on that would lead me to Christ. I am saved because two people thought to turn around and say hi, welcome. I love you both for that and I will never ever forget what you did.
So we went back the following Sunday and Tom's message was a little better. The Sunday after that better again and then a few months later his message just seemed like it was meant for me. He was talking to me and things were starting to become clear. Why we were in a Town where we had no reason to move to in the first place. Why we were at a Baptist Church when we weren't Baptist. Why everything that had happened, had unfolded the way it did. God. So simple. We were here for no other reason then God wanted us in this place at this time. I wept that day in Church and every Sunday after that as Tom spoke. Every message was for me from God through Tom. I was filled with a purpose. Then Tom left, and I felt empty. I was lost for almost a year, wondering where God was, not understanding how it all stopped so suddenly.
Then Eric came to give his "job interview" message to the congregation to see if we thought he was a good fit. I cried in Church that day (not sure Eric if you'll remember that or not), for the first time since Tom had left for the South. The void had been filled and I felt God was back in my life. I know now he had never left, but sometimes we can't see that so clearly.
There have been a few moments in my life where God has spoken to me clearly enough that I know it is Him. Springforth 2007 He spoke to me and I took action (which we don't always do). Our recent trip to NYC, well actually since being back from NYC, He is talking and I am listening and I am taking action. I am no longer willing to cover my ears and pretend that I didn't hear anything.
I have Faith in God. It is much more then believing. It is more then simply knowing He is out there, it is knowing He is in here, in us, for us without fail. How many people do you know that you can talk to at any hour of the day, never have them tell you they are unavailable or too busy to listen? How many people do you know would lay down their life for you without question? How many people do you know, accept you no matter how you look, where you're from or how much money you have? How many people do you know, made a way for you to live forever with your Father? I know one. Jesus Christ. I have Faith now that I never had growing up. I have Christ in my life and it is awesome.
I hope that others will share their Testimony here and as we grow, we learn from each other, how to see, how to hear and most importantly, how to take action when God speaks to us.
Rock On!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Something I once thought I needed to say...
Robb, you've got a big job on your plate as chair of the Capital Campaign (not that it's up to you alone, we're all in this together). Ideas may be powerful tools in this work, so I think we should share ideas with you. Before Christmas, I was disturbed by the slow pace of progress with the land and the new building plans and also by some of the comments from the congregation I heard directly or through the grapevine. This and ALL the sermons week after week and the lessons in youth group and sudden insights that seemed to come directly from God all piled up to the point where I was compelled to get them out of my head and onto paper. This was an outside-the-box experience for me; I'm not a writer, I don't keep journals, this is my first blog activity. Once it was written, I felt released. My vision at the time was to make it part of the building committee presentation of the new design concept. Between the time of writing and now, though, the atmosphere has changed and, so far, the opposition I was expecting is not happening. God is at work here. It seems unnecessary to beat people about the head now. There may be some ideas you can use in it, though, so I'll add the text at the bottom of this post. Read it, forget it, use it, whatever. It's all yours.
For some years, now, we’ve been looking toward expanding the capacity of our church, whether through renovation or new construction. Setbacks and delays seem to have dampened the spirit of enthusiasm we once had, and this is bothering me. Lately I’ve been hit with a number of convictions about the way we’re approaching the project. I’ve also felt the need to share these convictions, so here we go.
I want to start by telling you about my first car. It was a 1977 Mustang, 2.8 litre, V6, 4-speed. It was blue. My dad discovered it and thought of me. He even bankrolled me until I found a job to pay for it. Although it wasn’t new, this was the car I’d always wanted. I’ve never since been closer to loving a car. It was peppy enough to suit me. The wheels would chirp in second gear just from putting my foot down and it sounded like a V8, not noisy and irritating, but throaty, like it had intentions. I looked good in it and it felt good on me.
The job I got required me to travel over most of the province carrying lots of gear. Cargo space was not a strong point in my Mustang, but I managed, by making more frequent trips to the office and spreading into the back seat when the trunk was full. Lots of business miles on an already old car led to a breakdown now and then, and eventually my boss told me I needed a more dependable vehicle with more cargo space. What was I to do? I loved my car, but my work required that I let it go. I traded it in on a new Capri hatchback that had much more cargo space and better reliability. I soon wore the Capri out and upgraded again, this time to a Mazda truck with a cap. It wasn’t long before the box was loaded to capacity. This need for change was driven by the requirements of the job.
Let’s look further back in history. The Baptists in and around this town purchased “The Lord’s Barn” in 1849. After five years and a lot of hard work, the “Baptist Meeting House” was opened. Over the years, through times of struggle and victory, the congregation grew. Improvements were made to the building; a new baptistery was added, the pulpit was lowered from its elevated position to be nearer to the people, a 12’ X 15’ extension was built behind the pulpit to allow the choir to leave the elevated gallery behind the assembly and face the people from the front, new pews were installed, a 28’ X 35’ vestry was built at the back of the church, new windows were installed. In the early 1900’s, the church body was thriving and they had outgrown the previously expanded ‘Baptist Meeting House’. Take a moment right now and imagine we are there wrestling with many of the same problems we have right now… You, your family and your friends have been saved, baptized, nurtured, married and buried in the Baptist Meeting House. There is a great deal of sentiment, nostalgia, intrigue and history attached to this old town landmark. Do we find a way to continue to renovate? Do we need a new structure? What will we do…? What did they do? Well, sometime between 1912 and the start of WW1, a building fund was established. At the annual meeting in January of 1920, the building committee was authorized to proceed with the erection of a new church; this building we’re in now. Work began that year and the grand opening was held on Jan 30, ’21.
This structure has harboured us for almost 90 years, but now, I believe, our boss is telling us our Mustang doesn’t have enough cargo space and we need something more reliable, metaphorically speaking. Why doesn’t this structure meet our requirements any more?
We don’t have enough room for the people we have attending now. At times, people have had to leave because there was no place to sit. We have a full house even when many regulars are away. The ‘overflow’ seating has become regular and even preferred seating.
Stairs are everywhere we need to go. This causes difficulties for some seniors and others with mobility difficulties.
The aisles are narrow and crooked creating difficulties for weddings and funerals.
We don’t have adequate or convenient parking.
There are three old buildings, each with high maintenance and heating costs.
There is no A/C.
Platform and front floor space are too small.
We have to prohibit jumping in the sanctuary because there is not enough structural integrity in the floor to support it.
Poor sight lines from overflow and choir.
The lighting is insufficient to allow us to air our services on local cable.
Inadequate, poorly positioned washroom facilities.
Offices and annex meeting room are far removed from main building.
There is no reliable Internet access in the main building.
The gym is small, noisy, and inadequate.
There is a woeful lack of storage space.
I suspect each of you can add to this list.
Through surveys, interviews and discussions, church workers have told two building committees what was needed to support our present and expected future needs. The solutions are in the new plan, which addresses and fulfills all the identified needs.
Many reasons are given to argue that we stay here.
We can’t afford our current bills. How can we build a new church?
It’s such a nice old building.
I grew up here. It holds a lot of meaning for me.
What about the organ and the stained glass windows; we don’t want to lose those, do we?
These are all nuts-and-bolts issues; important to consider, but, I believe, not of paramount significance in the matter. Let me talk about them for just a bit. In the end, though, it’s important to remember that we must be obedient to God’s call and leading.
It’s not unexpected that people would develop attachments to this place. They’ve laboured long and hard to build this body of believers into the family we are today. That work must be respected and honoured, but the honour and respect must come from the rest of us who follow their example, not from the structure. The building housed us, but it was the communion of believers within the walls that created those fond memories and the comfortable feelings of security and peace. It was not the pews and organ and pulpit and stained glass. This is a building where we have come together to worship God. It must not be that which we worship. I don’t know of any place in Scripture where we are commanded to maintain buildings because of their historical or architectural significance or character. The building we use is a tool in the work, but the tool itself sends a message. I think we should want that message to speak to today’s, and tomorrow’s, cultures with relevance and authority. Today’s culture is one of media bombardment, using steadily evolving technology in more ways every day. How long can we expect constantly changing culture to find post WW1 form and function appealing and compelling?
The issue of finances is always a thorny one. I’m not going to take the time to preach to you about how you should use the money God has placed in your hands. I will, though, quickly relate the high points of a Bible study I recently led for the senior youth. It was part of a series on social justice and our responsibility in the fight against oppression. The lesson was called “God’s Vision Brings God’s Provision.” The scripture text was the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. The theme was, “If YOU show up, GOD will show up.” Jesus asked Phillip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed these people?” They were in an unpopulated countryside with no grocery stores and even if there had been stores, eight month’s wages couldn’t have fed the crowd, according to Phillip. He saw the problem as one of economics. Another disciple saw the problem as an opportunity. He had found the only food there, a boy’s lunch, and brought it to Jesus. This was a ridiculously small amount of food compared to the number of hungry mouths, but the boy gave it willingly, without holding anything back for himself, without telling Jesus that he was nuts for thinking it would be enough. You know what happened. Jesus blessed it and started passing it out. Everyone ate until they were full and there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. The message is this; if YOU show up at the picnic with your lunch and whatever meager resources you have and bring a willing, obedient heart, GOD will show up with his limitless resources, use your lunch to feed 5000 people and have leftovers for the food bank. That same Jesus is the one who is telling us our Mustang is too small.
Please take a moment, right now, to think back to the time of your conversion, or another significant time that you and God had together… In every case I’m sure you had the realization that God was there to meet you exactly where you were. He was totally relevant to your situation in that moment. To have a continuing, effective outreach to the people of this community, which is our primary goal and an element of the Great Commission, we must be prepared to meet them where they are so they can know that God wants to meet them there, too. Our society is constantly morphing, being shaped and reshaped faster than most of us can keep up, but it’s our job to show that God remains relevant in all this change, that he’s not an old-fashioned concept that is no longer of any use or interest in our present society. We must make our message current. The building we use is one tool that gets used in our presentation of the good news and that tool becomes part of our message. It needs to be as current as our message for the message to have teeth.
Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song that I think could be our anthem throughout this process.
Burn the Ships
In the spring of 1519, a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors, ‘This mission must not fail.’
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world made them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, ‘Let’s sail back to the life we knew.’
But the one who led them there was saying,
‘Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.’
In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that will not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill and destroy
Quietly he whispers, ‘Go back to the life you know.’
But the one who led us here is saying,
‘Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.’
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone
Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.
I want you to know that I’m not suggesting that we set fire to our buildings. That would be dangerous and irresponsible, but I think it would be more dangerous to place our affection for this present location ahead the opportunity for growth that God has presented to us. Do we dare to limit God’s work through us in this town to the size of the four walls of this old tool that he’s already filled? I don’t. This building has been in use for close to 90 years. Do you dare tell the people of the next 90 years that their vision of God’s work for them in this town has to fit in this building? I don’t. Are you prepared to deny future generations the joy of seeing God fill a larger, more functional, socially relevant, albeit unfamiliar structure? I’m not. Where in scripture are we told to get comfortable and bask in the glory of previous spiritual victories? Can we say, “I’m sorry God, but I don’t believe you have the skills and resources to be able to afford a project this big?”
I can see three responses to the challenge God has placed before us;
God, we can’t afford to grow any more. Could you please stop working through us and, instead, use some of the other churches around us that still have room to grow?
God, thank you for using us to grow this body to the capacity of the building. Please keep bring us new people, but just a few at a time, so we can get them started in a new life with you. Then we’ll pass them on to another nearby church that still has empty pews.
God, thank you for blessing us with each other and using us to create a body that cares for each of its members and the lost of the community around us. What You’re doing here shows, and people are coming to see what it’s all about. We prayed that you would increase your flock and you answered with a ‘Yes.’ Now we’re full and we ask that you give us a new prayer. Lord, please make it possible for us to pay for what we need to continue your work. And give us the faith to start now with the assurance that you’ll do it.
To me, the proper response is clear. Our work in this mission field isn’t ended just because we’ve filled this vessel. Thank you faithful Mustang. It’s been a sweet ride, but now it’s time to burn the ships!
I want to start by telling you about my first car. It was a 1977 Mustang, 2.8 litre, V6, 4-speed. It was blue. My dad discovered it and thought of me. He even bankrolled me until I found a job to pay for it. Although it wasn’t new, this was the car I’d always wanted. I’ve never since been closer to loving a car. It was peppy enough to suit me. The wheels would chirp in second gear just from putting my foot down and it sounded like a V8, not noisy and irritating, but throaty, like it had intentions. I looked good in it and it felt good on me.
The job I got required me to travel over most of the province carrying lots of gear. Cargo space was not a strong point in my Mustang, but I managed, by making more frequent trips to the office and spreading into the back seat when the trunk was full. Lots of business miles on an already old car led to a breakdown now and then, and eventually my boss told me I needed a more dependable vehicle with more cargo space. What was I to do? I loved my car, but my work required that I let it go. I traded it in on a new Capri hatchback that had much more cargo space and better reliability. I soon wore the Capri out and upgraded again, this time to a Mazda truck with a cap. It wasn’t long before the box was loaded to capacity. This need for change was driven by the requirements of the job.
Let’s look further back in history. The Baptists in and around this town purchased “The Lord’s Barn” in 1849. After five years and a lot of hard work, the “Baptist Meeting House” was opened. Over the years, through times of struggle and victory, the congregation grew. Improvements were made to the building; a new baptistery was added, the pulpit was lowered from its elevated position to be nearer to the people, a 12’ X 15’ extension was built behind the pulpit to allow the choir to leave the elevated gallery behind the assembly and face the people from the front, new pews were installed, a 28’ X 35’ vestry was built at the back of the church, new windows were installed. In the early 1900’s, the church body was thriving and they had outgrown the previously expanded ‘Baptist Meeting House’. Take a moment right now and imagine we are there wrestling with many of the same problems we have right now… You, your family and your friends have been saved, baptized, nurtured, married and buried in the Baptist Meeting House. There is a great deal of sentiment, nostalgia, intrigue and history attached to this old town landmark. Do we find a way to continue to renovate? Do we need a new structure? What will we do…? What did they do? Well, sometime between 1912 and the start of WW1, a building fund was established. At the annual meeting in January of 1920, the building committee was authorized to proceed with the erection of a new church; this building we’re in now. Work began that year and the grand opening was held on Jan 30, ’21.
This structure has harboured us for almost 90 years, but now, I believe, our boss is telling us our Mustang doesn’t have enough cargo space and we need something more reliable, metaphorically speaking. Why doesn’t this structure meet our requirements any more?
We don’t have enough room for the people we have attending now. At times, people have had to leave because there was no place to sit. We have a full house even when many regulars are away. The ‘overflow’ seating has become regular and even preferred seating.
Stairs are everywhere we need to go. This causes difficulties for some seniors and others with mobility difficulties.
The aisles are narrow and crooked creating difficulties for weddings and funerals.
We don’t have adequate or convenient parking.
There are three old buildings, each with high maintenance and heating costs.
There is no A/C.
Platform and front floor space are too small.
We have to prohibit jumping in the sanctuary because there is not enough structural integrity in the floor to support it.
Poor sight lines from overflow and choir.
The lighting is insufficient to allow us to air our services on local cable.
Inadequate, poorly positioned washroom facilities.
Offices and annex meeting room are far removed from main building.
There is no reliable Internet access in the main building.
The gym is small, noisy, and inadequate.
There is a woeful lack of storage space.
I suspect each of you can add to this list.
Through surveys, interviews and discussions, church workers have told two building committees what was needed to support our present and expected future needs. The solutions are in the new plan, which addresses and fulfills all the identified needs.
Many reasons are given to argue that we stay here.
We can’t afford our current bills. How can we build a new church?
It’s such a nice old building.
I grew up here. It holds a lot of meaning for me.
What about the organ and the stained glass windows; we don’t want to lose those, do we?
These are all nuts-and-bolts issues; important to consider, but, I believe, not of paramount significance in the matter. Let me talk about them for just a bit. In the end, though, it’s important to remember that we must be obedient to God’s call and leading.
It’s not unexpected that people would develop attachments to this place. They’ve laboured long and hard to build this body of believers into the family we are today. That work must be respected and honoured, but the honour and respect must come from the rest of us who follow their example, not from the structure. The building housed us, but it was the communion of believers within the walls that created those fond memories and the comfortable feelings of security and peace. It was not the pews and organ and pulpit and stained glass. This is a building where we have come together to worship God. It must not be that which we worship. I don’t know of any place in Scripture where we are commanded to maintain buildings because of their historical or architectural significance or character. The building we use is a tool in the work, but the tool itself sends a message. I think we should want that message to speak to today’s, and tomorrow’s, cultures with relevance and authority. Today’s culture is one of media bombardment, using steadily evolving technology in more ways every day. How long can we expect constantly changing culture to find post WW1 form and function appealing and compelling?
The issue of finances is always a thorny one. I’m not going to take the time to preach to you about how you should use the money God has placed in your hands. I will, though, quickly relate the high points of a Bible study I recently led for the senior youth. It was part of a series on social justice and our responsibility in the fight against oppression. The lesson was called “God’s Vision Brings God’s Provision.” The scripture text was the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. The theme was, “If YOU show up, GOD will show up.” Jesus asked Phillip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed these people?” They were in an unpopulated countryside with no grocery stores and even if there had been stores, eight month’s wages couldn’t have fed the crowd, according to Phillip. He saw the problem as one of economics. Another disciple saw the problem as an opportunity. He had found the only food there, a boy’s lunch, and brought it to Jesus. This was a ridiculously small amount of food compared to the number of hungry mouths, but the boy gave it willingly, without holding anything back for himself, without telling Jesus that he was nuts for thinking it would be enough. You know what happened. Jesus blessed it and started passing it out. Everyone ate until they were full and there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. The message is this; if YOU show up at the picnic with your lunch and whatever meager resources you have and bring a willing, obedient heart, GOD will show up with his limitless resources, use your lunch to feed 5000 people and have leftovers for the food bank. That same Jesus is the one who is telling us our Mustang is too small.
Please take a moment, right now, to think back to the time of your conversion, or another significant time that you and God had together… In every case I’m sure you had the realization that God was there to meet you exactly where you were. He was totally relevant to your situation in that moment. To have a continuing, effective outreach to the people of this community, which is our primary goal and an element of the Great Commission, we must be prepared to meet them where they are so they can know that God wants to meet them there, too. Our society is constantly morphing, being shaped and reshaped faster than most of us can keep up, but it’s our job to show that God remains relevant in all this change, that he’s not an old-fashioned concept that is no longer of any use or interest in our present society. We must make our message current. The building we use is one tool that gets used in our presentation of the good news and that tool becomes part of our message. It needs to be as current as our message for the message to have teeth.
Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song that I think could be our anthem throughout this process.
Burn the Ships
In the spring of 1519, a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors, ‘This mission must not fail.’
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world made them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, ‘Let’s sail back to the life we knew.’
But the one who led them there was saying,
‘Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.’
In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that will not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill and destroy
Quietly he whispers, ‘Go back to the life you know.’
But the one who led us here is saying,
‘Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.’
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone
Burn the ships; we’re here to stay
There’s no way we could go back
now that we’ve come this far by faith.
Burn the ships; we’ve passed the point of no return.
Our life is here
so let the ships burn.
I want you to know that I’m not suggesting that we set fire to our buildings. That would be dangerous and irresponsible, but I think it would be more dangerous to place our affection for this present location ahead the opportunity for growth that God has presented to us. Do we dare to limit God’s work through us in this town to the size of the four walls of this old tool that he’s already filled? I don’t. This building has been in use for close to 90 years. Do you dare tell the people of the next 90 years that their vision of God’s work for them in this town has to fit in this building? I don’t. Are you prepared to deny future generations the joy of seeing God fill a larger, more functional, socially relevant, albeit unfamiliar structure? I’m not. Where in scripture are we told to get comfortable and bask in the glory of previous spiritual victories? Can we say, “I’m sorry God, but I don’t believe you have the skills and resources to be able to afford a project this big?”
I can see three responses to the challenge God has placed before us;
God, we can’t afford to grow any more. Could you please stop working through us and, instead, use some of the other churches around us that still have room to grow?
God, thank you for using us to grow this body to the capacity of the building. Please keep bring us new people, but just a few at a time, so we can get them started in a new life with you. Then we’ll pass them on to another nearby church that still has empty pews.
God, thank you for blessing us with each other and using us to create a body that cares for each of its members and the lost of the community around us. What You’re doing here shows, and people are coming to see what it’s all about. We prayed that you would increase your flock and you answered with a ‘Yes.’ Now we’re full and we ask that you give us a new prayer. Lord, please make it possible for us to pay for what we need to continue your work. And give us the faith to start now with the assurance that you’ll do it.
To me, the proper response is clear. Our work in this mission field isn’t ended just because we’ve filled this vessel. Thank you faithful Mustang. It’s been a sweet ride, but now it’s time to burn the ships!
Well Robb, there it is. At this point in time, some of it sounds a bit like a rant, considering the change in mood. I still think that there are some important points, though.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
That Burning feeling ain't hemoroids....
I asked myself what I thought was a simple question today and from that came a whole bunch of other stuff that could fill 10 posts on this Blog but lets just start with the one.
Do I want my boys to be just like me?
Not in a stay-at-home dad, David Jr. kind of way but as a husband, father, Christian man kind of way. The answer to the first couple was easy. Yes I think I am a good husband and a decent father so that wouldn't be a bad thing if they were like me. What about the Christian man part though? What kind of Christian man am I? Do I set an example, any example to them in that regard or do I blend in. Am I lost in the crowd of people where you cannot tell one man from another, a non-believer from a follower of Christ? This goes back to the Clark Kent vs. Superman thing that Tom talked about and I have had on my heart since NYC but I want to take that a few more rungs up the ladder.
Do I set an example, as a Christian man for anyone? Is there anyone I know, scratch that, is there anyone I don't know, that can see me, hear me,watch me and say, that is a good man, a leader, a Christian. Certainly up until a few weeks ago I think the answer would be nope.
I feel that today, God placed on my heart, told me in a way that only God can, that it is time for not just me but us, the Sons of Thunder, to stand up as Christian men in our Church, take off the Clark Kent glasses and suit and show others that we are in fact Supermen. That we are to take the fire that is burning in each one of us now, the fire that started to burn the minute we got back from NYC (yes Robb you've got it too brother), and use it to bring together the men of our Church. Some of us have had a number of men come up to us and ask how they can get on this ride that we're on. What do we say to them, New York City 2009 here we come? I hope we go next year but that's next year. What do we say to these men now? The fire is burning and I don't want it to go out. I feel like God wants us to take these men and make them a part of the Sons of Thunder. Let us be 20, 30 ,40 strong and just watch what we can do. I want to stand up with my brothers, be the leaders that we are supposed to be in our homes, our community and our Church. Then I'll be able to say, yes, I would love it if my boys were just like me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
