Every week churches and organizations have to improvise at the last minute because volunteers didn’t prepare, show up, or even call to say they weren’t coming. Its not fair to the people they are ministering to, and its not fair to those who must step in at the last minute unprepared. I remember a young couple who stopped attending our church years ago because they seemed to get recruited for some fill-in ministry every weekend.
Its God’s design that in the church everyone finds an area of ministry and stays faithful. That makes a strong church. But, it seems the larger the church, the more people sit back and expect someone else to do everything for them.
Jesus taught the parable of the talents to emphasize this truth. He said, referring to the servant who failed to use his one talent: “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents” (Matthew 25:28 NIV). Fail to use what you’ve been given and you’ll lose it. Use what you’ve got and God will increase it. Down here on earth we’re practicing. Like athletes, we’re training for our big day. Paul said, “They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes…You’re after one that’s gold eternally” (1 Corinthians 9:25). So, practice well.
Tags: faithfulness, preparation, service
General Ulyses Grant had a faithful friend and chief of staff during his war years. He was the Galena Lawyer John A. Rawlins – closer to Grant than any other during the war. Grant gave Rawlins his pledge to abstain from alcohol. When he broke that promise, Rawlins pleaded with great earnestness that Grant refrain from his addiction, for his own sake, and the nation’s great and holy cause. These words were like “wounds” from that friend.
There stands today, in front of the Capitol in Washington, a magnificent monument to General Grant, on his horse in characteristic pose and flanked on either side by stirring battle scenes. At the other end and a little to the south of Pennsylvania Avenue is Rawlins Park, where a very ordinary statue of Grant’s friend stands. One cannot help but think of this other monument when looking at Grant’s grand memorial. For, it was Rawlins, the faithful friend, who kept Grant on his horse.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses (Proverbs 27:6, NIV).
May we be faithful friends to one another and hold one another accountable.
Tags: faithfulness, Grant
In 1853 Commodore Perry of the US Navy was commissioned to develop a trade relationship with Japan. The Japanese culture was to not trust anyone who was not Japanese. After several failed attempts to meet with the emperor,the emperor arranged a cautious meeting with Perry on a Sunday morning. Perry responded that he could not meet with him on Sunday morning because he must attend Sunday worship service, which upset some of his aides, who knew how easily offended the emperor could become.
The emperor postponed the meeting until the next day and said that Perry could be trusted because he was faithful to his God. This trust opened the door to the Orient for the United States. What are we saying to Muslim nations when we, as a nation, attempt to secularize our country? Can anyone trust a people who have no God to guide our values. I’m afraid that in a feable attempt to tell the Muslims that we are not in a holy war with them, we have declared ourselves infidels for having no spiritual values at all.
Do you think our nation should declare its religious roots or should America continue to be secularized? What say ye?
Tags: Commodore Perry, conviction, faithfulness
Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had had bat-infestation problems. “I got so mad,” said the Baptist preacher, “I took a shotgun and fired at them. It made holes in the ceiling, but did nothing to the bats.”
“I tried trapping them alive,” said the Methodist preacher. “Then I drove 50 miles before releasing them, but they beat me back to the church.”
“I haven’t had any more problems,” said the Lutheran preacher.
“What did you do?” asked the others, amazed.
“I simply baptized and confirmed them,” he replied. “I haven’t seen them since.”
Although we smile as we read, we know why that story is so funny. I have seen countless times when a new face appeared at our church and the person immediately wanted to become a member and be baptized. People think that some quick initiation will make them an insider and all their problems go away. When the problems are still there next Sunday, they give up and never come back. They never understood that it was themselves that was supposed to change.
If you’re reading this, I’m glad that you understand. We need to be baptized, but for the right reason. What would you say is the right reason?
Tags: baptism, faithfulness, humor
Over the years as a pastor I’ve seen many people come to Christ when they were in trouble, only to walk away when God delivered them from that trouble. This past year that happened with at least three families I’m aware of. When health or marriage trouble struck in their lives, these three families began attending church and wanted special counseling times with me. I advised them, coached them, referred them, and prayed for them. When the problem went away, so did they.
That’s why I have decided to go public with this personal cancer process. I feel like I need to practice what I preach and be a role model of how a Christian should react when trouble comes. I intend to stay optimistic no matter what and expect good things to come out of bad. And, no matter what, I refuse to distance myself from God or His church (except for the 4-week sabbatical, of course). Expect me to return more committed and wound tighter than ever!
Tags: commitment, faithfulness, trouble
Today is June 6. It is the 64th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy to take back Europe from Nazi control. It was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe, yet it took nearly a year to accomplish that victory.
God promised the Promised Land to the Israelites, but it took them awhile to take it away from the natives of the land.
Has God given you a good beginning but it looks like your spiritual life has bogged down? Remember that true liberation takes awhile. But we cross every bridge one day at a time. This is not a time to get discouraged and quit, like so many I’ve seen, when the going gets tough. We have marching orders to become overcomers. So, go for it!
Tags: D-Day, faithfulness, time