The Day After Christmas

I am reading slowly through Luke in my morning devotions. Yesterday I just happened to be reading the traditional Christmas story. It's familiar and warm, like a comfortable sweatshirt or an old pair of slippers. Images of famous paintings of the Nativity, candlelight church services and Christmas carols seemed to rise up from the page.

Today was different. Luke 2:25-40 tells of them bringing the baby Jesus to the Temple to be dedicated. Simeon spotted the family at the Temple. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that this little baby was the long awaited Messiah. He told Joseph and marry that their baby was the salvation of God, a light for the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel.


All parents think that their baby is the cutest, but to have these words spoken about your son must have been a strange experience for Joseph and Mary. What would they say in return? Would they be filled with pride? Awe? Hope? They might have even wondered what their role in all this might be. Would they have front row seats at the coronation?


Then Simeon added words that made me sit up and take notice this morning: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."


In a flash, the warm fuzzy feeling of Christmas were gone. Here was something ominous. Like a fast-moving thunderstorm descending on a summer picnic, these words ruined the idyllic moment. Warm, fuzzy thoughts were replaced with fear and anxiety. Their child was to be controversial. He was going to expose the hearts of people and that exposure would not be popular. He would be spoken against. He would bring pain as well as joy.


This is understandable. Jesus was God-in-the-flesh. God is not someone that most people want to deal with. Sure, they might say they believe in God, but usually the "God" they believe in safe and kept at a distance until needed. He is merely a concept, not a person. God-as-a-concept might be a good idea. God-as-a-concept brings hope in times of trial. God-as-a-concept brings comfort to the mourning. But God-as-a-concept is never in control. We control God-as-a-concept.


God-in-the-flesh is something else again. Suddenly God is a reality that must be dealt with. God as-a-reality calls the shots. Jesus will expose what people really think about God. He is God. How people respond to Him exposes what they think about God. Sometimes that exposure isn't pretty at all. It would lead the religious to demand his crucifixion.


As a pastor, it is easy to fall for the "God-as-a-concept" mentality. If God is merely a concept, then I am in control. I get to guide what happens. After all, as pastor aren't I responsible for the flock? Leadership books are full of tips and techniques for controlling what happens in church. They fit in well with the God as a concept mentality. It seems much safer and much more secure.

This morning I prayed that I would never fall into the "God-as-a-concept" mentality, as peaceful and reassuring as that might be. Instead, I want "God-as-reality" or "God-in-the-flesh." I want God to truly guide me and lead me. Even if that means feeling like I'm out of control at times. Even if that means being unpopular or controversial.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always a special time. As I sat in our Christmas Eve service I couldn't help but think about the wonderful church we have and how great it is to be surrounded by so many friends and to have such a tremendous family. In case you missed it, here were some of the highlights for me:

• My seventh grade son played the prelude on the piano. Sure, I've heard him practicing at home, but it is always a thrill to see one of your kids using their gifts to glorify God.
• Amy K. came up to me minutes before the service started saying that she was unable to copy the backup music for her solo onto a CD. We scratched it from the order of service, but then she decided to sing it without any accompaniment. Wow! Can Amy ever sing! The song even included a key change, which is hard enough to do with music playing, but she did it flawlessly without instrumentation!
• Little kids are always a blast during the children's sermon. I asked them "What's your favorite thing about Christmas?" and one shouted out "Dinosaurs!"
• As I sat and listened to the choir sing, I was amazed at how good they sounded. I also couldn't help but think about how special each person standing up there is to me.
• When I stood up to preach I noticed that we had to bring in extra chairs in the back of the Sanctuary...a good problem to have.
• For the ?th year in a row the slide for "The First Noel" was wrong. Several years ago I typed, "Born is the king of Bethlehem" rather than "Israel." Each Christmas Eve I think, "I've got to fix that." Every year I forget. Every Christmas Eve day when I put together the slides I double check them. Once again, I messed up. After the service I suggested to my wife that I change it to "Born is the king of Nashwauk." It was vetoed. I guess it will probably stay "Bethlehem." I probably won't remember to fix it this week.
• Seeing my sister was another highlight. She came up with her daughter and my mom and a bunch of other family members. I thought about "calling her out" during the sermon, but she has a much quicker wit than just about anyone I know. I decided that anything I might say would be quickly turned around and used against me.
• Closing the service with Silent Night always brings a tear to my eye.

All in all, it was a great Christmas Eve. I hope that you enjoyed the service as much as I did. I'm looking forward to the coming year. I think God has a lot of great things planned.

Ten Shekels and a Shirt

Occasionally I find a sermon that has much to chew on. Paris Reidhead's sermon "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" has a message that is incredibly relevant to our day and age. I highly recommend that you read it and ponder its message.

As you begin to read it, you might think that it is aimed only at pastors, but that really isn't the case. Instead, it deals with the issue of what true Christianity really is. So many times I see people who view religion as a utilitarian thing. If it works, great. And by working they mean that they want to know if religion helps them get what they want...a new car, a better marriage or a leg up on the competition then religion is fine with them. These people see religion as a buffet table. You take a little of this and a little of that, and pretty soon you have a fantastic meal. It kind of reminds me of the TV commercial for buying a car on the internet. You pick the model, color, options, press a button and Presto! there's your new car!

The reality is that we don't get to pick what God is like. He is God. The question then is not, "what do we want our designer "god" to be like?" but "what has God revealed Himself to be like?" The answer to that question is found in Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ, God-come-in-the -flesh.

Read the sermon. Its a good one.

The Judgment Seat

As a pastor, one of the things that I am committed to is the systematic teaching of God's Word. Over the years I have found that this provides a balanced diet for the people of the congregation. There is no temptation to dress up the same six sermons in different clothes or to preach on my favorite themes over and over again. It causes us to deal with difficult issues and hopefully I stay true to the Bible.

Sometimes, though, it can make for some interesting moments for people who are visiting the church. This coming weekend is no exception. There will be people in town for Christmas, but as we work our way through 2 Corinthians we find ourselves in chapter 5 verse 10:

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

That's not what most people are expecting to hear two days before Christmas! At the same time, it is a passage that is incredibly real to me right now. Last night Celinda Johnson, who had recently started attending our church, was killed in an accident not far from our house. Earlier this week I was stopped in traffic on 169 while officers cleaned up after a head-on collision. Earlier this month I blogged about almost sliding into 169 after picking up one of the boys from basketball practice.

The truth is you never know when your days will come to an end. Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is given man once to die and after that to face judgment." Everyone needs to be ready for that day...our "day in court."

I also know that most people will not think about what might happen. To cause people to think about their day of judgment takes an act of God. John 16:8 says that the Holy Spirit will "convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." That's what I'm praying for this Sunday: that the Holy Spirit will convict people and apply a "pre-test" to let them know where they are standing now in light of that day.

Take time to read 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 and 1 John 5:11-13 and pray that people would be ready for that awesome day when they stand before Him.

Opening Presents Early

The end is in sight! I've been reading through the Bible this year and can see the finish line. It's been a great discipline for me. I've had a direction and goal as I sit down with the Lord each day to read and pray. In an earlier post I talked about trying to decide what to do in my devotions after the first of the year. I've elected to start in the gospel of Luke and simply spend time meditating on the life of Christ. I'm really excited to get started, but that has created a problem.

Reading through the Bible in a year has become a habit. There have been days I have forced myself to read. There have been other days I have forced myself to stop. Over the last 350 days there have only been a handful of days that I haven't done the "required" reading. Now I just have a few of the little Old Testament prophets to read and I will reach the finish line.

This has created a silly internal struggle. I want to race through the prophets and get on to Luke. I feel like a kid at Christmastime. "Can we open the packages early?" "How about one package now?" "Do we have to wait until Christmas?" Mom and Dad always said no. The disciplined part of me that has forced me to read each day says no. The carefree part of me asks, "Why not?" The peacekeeper in me tries to settle the argument by suggesting to myself that I sit down and read the rest of the Old Testament today and have fun with Luke tomorrow.

Like I said, it's a silly struggle, but it does show the power of habits. My routines drive me in certain directions. Having developed the discipline of running, my body actually hurts now when I don't run...it expects, needs and even demands running in order to feel good.

This silly struggle has caused me to think a little bit about some of my habits. If my habits drive me in certain directions, what would I like to change? For example, I have a habit of heading to the kitchen for a snack whenever I come home from anywhere. Why is that? Do I really need a snack after the church potluck? I keep talking about wanting to spend more time with friends, but can I create a "routine" like having someone over after church every week that would make it feel strange not to be spending time with friends?

I've decided that when it comes to my devotions it's okay to do both. I will continue to read through the Old Testament and finish the Bible on December 31. I am also going to start Luke now. There's nothing wrong with that! In fact, the greatest habit I want to reinforce over the coming year is spending time with Jesus. It hurts when I don't spend time with Him. What was it the psalmist wrote? Oh yeah, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1).

A New Church

One of the advantages of reading this blog on a regular basis is that sometimes you can be one of the first to know about new things that are happening in and around the church. This morning I shared with the elders an exciting development that is taking place in Hibbing that I believe the Lord wants us to play a significant role.

Tim Maki, a frequent speaker here and a friend of many, has announced that he is going to step down from his position in the disctrict as Director of Church Planting. That's bad news for the district. Tim has done a great job and we have seen numerous churches started around the state under his leadership. He will be hard to replace, but God has something else in mind for Tim.

Tim is going to be starting a new Alliance Church in Hibbing! Tentatively called North Star Church, the church will be designed to reach the unchurched and will have as part of its foundational vision the starting of other churches around the Iron Range.

I believe that Nashwauk Alliance is called to be a part of this effort. Prayer, finances and people will all be needed to make this new church a reality. We will be having Tim come to share his vision after the first of the year, but you are now "in the know" and can begin laying the foundation in prayer.

You may be asking, "Why a new church?" Here are some facts to consider:

• According to recent studies 85% of the people in St. Louis county are unchurched. (Itasca county is at 80%).
• 40% of the workforce at the mines will be retiring soon. This will bring new families to the area as these businesses seek to replace retiring workers.
• MSI's impact will be felt throughout the western range bringing 2000+ jobs.
• Church planting is one of the most effective ways to do evangelism.

There is plenty of room for another church targeting the unreached!

I don't want to steal any of Tim's thunder, but I am excited about what God is doing and challenge all of us to be in prayer so that the foundation of this new church will be well-laid.

A New Building

I walked around the new church building this morning. It was Saturday, so the workers were gone and I had the place to myself. What an incredible experience. The holes for the windows are framed. The doorways are framed. I could picture the Sanctuary completed and could almost smell the coffee brewing in the kitchen.

I would have stayed longer, but it was cold. Ten minutes of walking around was enough for me before I retreated to the warmth of my car.

But then I thought for a moment about the workers who have been out working on the building for the last several weeks. The temperatures have been bitterly cold. The wind on the top of the hill never stops blowing. "Fun" and "exciting" are probably not words that the carpenters are using for describe their days when they get home at night. Sure, its rewarding to see the progress being made, but there is a discipline involved in "getting it done."

I think that's true of ministry as well. There are a lot of people who enjoy a warm building, but fewer that are willing to do the work of erecting one in the winter. There are many people who would love to see people find Christ, but fewer that are willing to do the work of building relationships and sharing the gospel. It can be hard work trying to reach those who are far from God. Discipling them is rewarding, but demanding.

Sometimes I want things to be easy. I want to take the path of least resistance. I want to be entertained. I want church to be "fun" and "exciting." When it isn't I wonder why.

It struck me that God is looking for the types of people who are willing to get out in the cold and do the difficult and demanding work of building the church (which is people and not a building). They don't demand that every moment be "fun" or "exciting". Instead, they know the call of God and are doing it, regardless of what it might cost them or the pain it they might experience.

Those who are simply looking to be comfortable and to be catered to are not going to qualify for the blessing that God wants to impart to those who are willing to step out in obedience to do the radical work of building the church. No, the Lord is calling us to be a part of something greater than being entertained. God is calling is to be a part of building something for His glory. Again, I'm not talking about a physical building, but a spiritual house made up of living stones.

That's what I want to be a part of building.

How about you?

Treasure in Jars of Clay

One of the things that I am constantly aware of as I study 2nd Corinthians is that Paul's perspective on life is radically different than mine tends to be. His is healthier. His is sustainable.

For example, Paul talks about the ministry in terms that make some sense to me. He calls us the "aroma of Christ" and says that we "reflect the Lord's glory." It is easy for me to think about trying to "shine my light" when things are going well.

But then Paul talks about having this treasure in "jars of clay" (2 Corinthians 4:7). That the weakness, troubles and problems of life are part of the deal. In fact, sometimes the trials come so that it can be more plainly seen that it is God who is working in our lives. The confidence we have knowing that God is in control dazzles people without Him. When tragedy strikes and we truly find our comfort in God, his presence shines through us. When the job is lost and we rely on God for our provision and he meets our needs, his hand is most clearly seen.

Sometimes people wonder why the difficulties of life come their way. Could it be that in the midst of the the troubles God wants to shine our light the brightest? No one notices the light of the lighthouse during the day. But when the wind is howling and darkness has fallen, then the light penetrates the darkness and points the way home. Could the storms of life be designed by God so that your light will have the greatest impact?

I'm not saying that God wants us to suffer, rather that in the final scheme of things the suffering that we go through here is momentary in comparison to the joys of eternity. Could it be that God allows us to go through trials in part so that others may see that He is at work in our lives? When the trials come, isn't it best for us to continue to look to Him...and to let others see that we have an "invisible means of support"? Sure it is.

Thinking this way helps me deal with the troubles that come my way. I try to look at the problems and pray, "Lord, let me shine for you through this." And usually he helps me to keep bobbing on the surface of the water during the storm. Sometimes, though, it feels like I'm going under and I wonder what's going on. In Paul's terms I feel "hard pressed and perplexed" (2 Corinthians 4:8). In the midst of it though, God truly is in control. I'm learning that I can trust in him. And even when I'm wondering where He is and feel like I am going under He is using me to shine His light to others.

What's the Plan?

December is here and the 2007 calendar is almost used up. Last year I decided that I was going to attempt to read through the Bible in a year. For the first time in my life, I think I am actually going to accomplish the feat. I usually get bogged down after a few weeks, fall hopelessly behind and give up. I don't stop reading, but the "get through the Bible in year" usually doesn't work for me.

Now I am trying to decide what to do with 2008. I know one pastor who reads through the Bible one year, and then studies a Biblical theme the next year. This year he is studying the term "bless/blessed/blessing." He's gained a lot of insight from this approach, but I'm still wondering what I should do. Here are some of my ideas:

• Meditate on the life of Christ in the gospels. Simply slowly read through the four gospels again and again...spending time with Jesus.
• Memorize the book of Colossians. I've done other books before, and its a great way to go deeper in a book of the Bible.
• Read through the Old Testament in a year. Meditate on various New Testament books.
• Meditate on passages related to the various fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 (love, joy, peace, etc.).
• Meditate on passages related to how we are to treat each other (love one another, bear one another's burdens, etc.).

I'm not sure what I am going to do next year. But I know that having a plan helps. It gives direction and a sense of purpose to my devotional life. At the same time, I want it to be God's plan for me. So I am holding these things up before him and suspect that as the days of December wind down, there will be some clear direction from Him.

What's your plan?

It Can Happen in a Flash

It is amazing how quickly things can change in life. Last night I picked up one of the boys from basketball practice at the Middle School in Bovey. He got in the car and we turned left, headed out of town and we visited about practice. As the town's lights faded in rearview mirror, I accelerated to highway speed. Well, not really. The roads had a little snow on them in places so I was taking it easy. I consider myself to be a safe defensive driver. I probably qualify to wear an "old man's hat." I was paying attention to the road.

Suddenly, there was a totally unexpected Y in the road ahead of me. I was confused, but knew that the left was oncoming traffic, so I veered right onto the snow-covered fork that was fading quickly to the right. I hit the brakes and started to skid, struggling to maintain control and avoid ending up in the ditch.

My headlights suddenly illuminated a stop sign. It was then that I realized what had happened. In the midst of my routine of picking up kids from school and heading home, I had forgotten about the new Bovey bypass and had headed out of town thinking that the road was the same as it was the hundreds of other times I'd picked up the kids. Only now the "old highway out of town" is the "new entrance." So new that they haven't put up any warning signs. There were no "stop ahead" or "keep right" or "curve" signs erected yet. The first clue that I wasn't on the old highway was the Y in the road. And the stop sign confirmed the harsh reality: I was skidding and spinning toward Highway 169 at 5:30 in the evening.

This was not good.

I looked to the left and saw oncoming traffic coming in the distance. If I came to a stop in the highway I doubted that I could make it back to safety before they t-boned me. Now the snowbank became my friend. I used what little control I had to try to hit the snowbank hoping that it would stop me from sliding onto the highway. Fortunately, the back of the car hit the snowbank and we came to a stop pointing back into town without sliding into the oncoming cars. Exhaling for the first time in what seemed like an hour, I looked at my wide-eyed son and said, "That was close."

What struck me was how suddenly everything could have changed. A few more feet and we would have been in a serious . Perhaps even life-threatening. In a flash, the whole ballgame could have been different if not over.

I thought of a couple of things last night. I thought about the security that I have in Christ. How good it is to know without a doubt that I am going to heaven. How good it is to know that He will provide for my family regardless of what happens to me. How good it is to know that He is in control.

The other thing I thought of was other people. On Sunday we talked about people that we are trying to share the gospel with that seem unresponsive. Last night I thought about the fact that their lives can change in a moment. I'm not talking about the real possibility of , but about how circumstances can change and suddenly open a person's heart to the gospel. Tragedy, sickness, marital strife may be in the future for your friend.

Perhaps that's why God is bringing you close to that person now...so that you will be there then. Perhaps that's another reason why we should not lose heart and give up even when we are discouraged about the hardness of heart of the people we are trying to share the gospel with. You never know when they will face an unexpected Y in their road that will make their eternal destination suddenly seem extremely important. When they do, will you be ready with your light and your salt (Mt 5:13-16)?

(update: I picked up the boys tonight...and there is a "stop ahead" sign, So I was wrong about there being no signs. However, the intersection is confusing. For example, there is a "right lane must turn right" sign immediately before the apparent Y in the road. I wanted to turn left onto 169 so what was I to do? One youth group member's parent took the "left fork" and went zooming down the one way...the wrong way! Anyway, it looks to me like an intersection that needs improving before someone gets hurt).

The Aroma of Christ

Wow, its been a while since I've posted. Perhaps its time to get the internet at church so I don't have so much competition for the computer.

The last couple of Sundays we've been studying 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6. We've talked about being the aroma of Christ and the fact that God uses us to spread the fragrance of life to those who are being saved. Last week we talked about being involved in a spiritual ministry. True ministry consists not in attempting to get people to behave by following rules, but in being used by God to help transform the human heart. We are competent for this type of ministry only because of our relationship with Christ. It is obedience to Him that allows us to be competent to minister to others.

I was thinking about the disciples this morning. They had spent three years with Jesus. They heard the teachings, saw the miracles and watched Jesus up close. They were blown away by the resurrection and spent time with Him before he went back to heaven.

They certainly knew enough about Jesus to teach a Sunday School class or lead a Bible Study! But Jesus had an important message for them. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptized by the Holy Spirit and that this Holy Spirit would empower them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:4-8).

Why was this necessary? They knew enough to teach others, but they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit. As we read the book of Acts, we see that the disciples were led by the Spirit in their ministry. Being "led by the Spirit" is not a blanket phrase to cover all that is done in the name of Christ, rather it is a description of how they did ministry. They waited on and followed the directives of the Holy Spirit as they sought to spread the gospel. This was a key for their ministry.

How much more do we need to be Spirit-led in all we do! Yet many are unfamiliar with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. Let us all take time to examine our lives regarding whether we know the Holy Spirit by experience. If we don't, let us ask God to fill us with His Spirit that we might be truly led by the Spirit.

How Old is Too Old?

This morning I just got finished watching Brett Favre throw an 80+ yard touchdown pass to win the game in overtime. What makes this amazing so amazing is that he is 38 years old and is playing with the joy of a kid in the backyard. His experience and enthusiasm, along with his ability to influence his teammates (many of whom are almost young enough to date his daughters), has led the Pack to a 6-1 record this year.

Brett Favre, when it comes to football, is old. For the last several years retirement rumors have swirled, but he's kept playing. This year the team is enjoying phenomenal success. Quite simply, where would the Packers be this year without him? (Answer: They'd be a lot like the Vikings!)

Let's think about the church for a moment. Sometimes as people get older they think, "I've done my job, now I'll retire from involvement" or "The young people don't need me" or "I don't have much to offer anymore." The fact is that older Christians have a lot to offer. They provide experience, leadership and wisdom that younger believers need.

I know most of the readers of this blog are young so let me challenge you to hook up with some older Christians and learn from the battles that they have fought. Gain from their wisdom. Ask them to be your mentor. Ask them to be your prayer partner.

Some of you who read this consider yourselves to be "old." Be challenged by Brett Favre. He's having an incredible year. Not only that, he is using his experience for good. This month he and his wife are working to raise people's awareness of breast cancer. The Favres are using what they have to have as much impact as they can during the remainder of his career.

Does the Kingdom of God deserve anything less from us? Why not make the decision to have as much influence as possible during the rest of the years the Lord gives?

Why not leave it all out on the field?

Revival...It is Possible

I read some startling comments the other day about the conditions on college campuses and on the conditions in the United States generally during the 90s.


Substance abuse is epidemic. The streets are not considered to be safe after dark. A poll taken at Harvard discovered not one believer in the whole student body. At Princeton they discovered only two believers. A mock communion was held at Williams College, and anti-Christian plays were performed at Dartmouth. A Bible was taken out of a local Presbyterian church and burned in a public bonfire. Christians were so scarce on campuses that they met in secret and kept the minutes of their meetings in code so that no one would know.

These comments are adapted from J. Edwin Orr's message on "Prayer and Revival". They describe America in the 90s...the 1790s!

It is hard to believe, but its true. America was turning away from God. But then something happened. It started in Great Britain through William Carey as he and others founded the Union of Prayer. Then it jumped across the ocean and landed in America. People began to pray and soon the Second Great Awakening occurred. As the Spirit moved across America, missionary societies were formed, slavery was abolished, Sunday School was invented, and Bible Societies distributed the Bible far and wide.

Could it happen again? The first thing God does when he sends revival is he burdens his people to pray. Not surface, selfish prayers, but sobbing, soul-rending prayer that grabs a hold of the throne of God and won't let go.

Let us pray.

And pray some more.

Until revival comes.

Growing a Healthy Church

On Tuesday I attended a "Growing a Healthy Church" seminar in St. Paul put on by our District Office. The seminar covered the basics of what a healthy church should be doing. Surprisingly, many churches are not doing what the Bible says should be our primary task: Making disciples.

We should be working at reaching those who do not Christ and helping them become mature reproducing followers of Christ. As one person put it, "The task of the church is to turn atheists into missionaries." If all we are doing is educating, edifying and entertaining believers and their families, we are not doing what the Lord wants, nor are we a healthy church.

The seminar talked about measuring the number of people that become Christians through the ministry of the church and go on to be discipled by the church. The teacher urged us to focus on that number. "How many people are becoming disciples through the ministry of the church?" Most churches that are growing are growing because of transfer growth rather than conversion growth.

How many people should a healthy church be reaching? They suggested that churches should expect 10% conversion growth. That is, a healthy church of 100 should see 10 people come to Christ and become integrated in the life of the church each year.

That sounded like a lot to me until I started putting it in perspective. If every family in our church committed themselves to and were successful at leading one other family to Christ every 10 years, that would give NAC a 10% conversion growth rate. That sounds very doable to me, how about to you?

Do you think it is reasonable for you lead another person to Christ in the next decade? If not, what is standing in the way? Let's remove the obstacles and go for it!

Rushing Through the Bible

Growing in our relationship with Christ takes commitment. There needs effort needs to be put forth or the relationship will slowly wither. An one of the best things that you can do to grow your relationship with the Lord is to set aside time each day to spend reading the Bible and praying. Some people call this their "quiet time." If you are married, you might associate it with setting aside time each day to enjoy the company of your spouse.

This year I have been reading through the Bible in my quiet time. I've amazed myself. It's the end of October and I'm still on schedule! Most years my attempts to read through the Bible in a year end about the third week in January. I'm not sure why this year its working and other years I have failed, perhaps I am just getting older and can stay on task longer than I used to be able to.

Yesterday I noticed something, though. There is a danger to what I was doing. I read throught the chapters assigned for the day, closed my Bible and started to do some of the chores that needed to get done around the house. Then it dawned on me: I had read my Bible, but I had not encountered Jesus. Reading those chapters had become just something on my "to do" list. Instead of nurturing my relationship with Jesus, I was rushing through a task that needed to get done. It was like saying to my wife, "You pick up the kids and I'll pick up the milk. See ya, bye." Necessary? Perhaps. Better than nothing? Maybe. Growing a relationship? No.

Years ago I heard someone say that one of the keys to growing in your Christian life was a daily unhurried time in the Word of God. Unhurried, because we need to take the time to really enter into God's presence. That is what I was failing to do. I needed to slow down and realize that reading the Bible was good, but it was only a means to the end...a relationship with Christ.

So today I'm going to slow down for a moment. When a passage seems to be speaking to me, I'm going stop and listen. If when I read I don't seem to hear anything, I'm going back and reading a second and perhaps a third time because I know that Jesus is talking. I just need to tune in to what he is saying.

I know some of you are struggling with the issue of time. Who has any unhurried time? One way to deal with this during your quiet time is to cut down on the amount of things you think need to happen during your quiet time. For example, to read through the Bible in a year you need to read 3.5 chapters a day. Maybe that's too much to do in an "unhurried" fashion. Perhaps it would be better to take a book like Philippians (only 4 chapters) and make that your "book of the month". Better an unhurried encounter with Christ than rushing through some to-do list in order reach some goal that isn't what you were after in the first place!

God's Timing - Another Thought

God has promised to lead and guide us as we seek to follow him. Sometimes, his way seems perfectly clear, but there are other times when that still small voice of the Holy Spirit does not seem to make much sense. Obedience to the Lord usually brings clarity over time. I recently had an example of this in my own life.

Ever since the snow melted I have been training to run a half-marathon. Each week my mileage inched higher until my training was complete. I could cover the distance comfortably and even enjoyably. I was ready to race!

I planned on running the race in Ashland, Wisconsin. The Whistlestop Marathon and Half-Marathon looked perfect. It was held on a Saturday (most runs are on Sunday mornings), the weather should be cool, and most of the route was on crushed gravel which would be wonderful for these old joints. I was ready to rock!

The funny thing was, the closer race day came, the more uncomfortable I became about going. Something just wasn't right, so I delayed sending in my entry form. As I prayed about it I became more convinced that I shouldn't participate. There was a part of me that really, really wanted to...but that still small voice directed me not to. So I canceled my plans, not really being sure why I did.

Now I understand. You see, the race was the Saturday after Kelli died. There was no way that I could have driven to Ashland, run 13 miles, and driven home. I was emotionally spent, had a sermon and Sunday School lesson to prepare. It just wouldn't have happened.

Hindsight is 20/20. I can now understand why the Lord was telling me not to run the race, even though I had prepared all summer to do so. So was my training wasted? No, I am in much better physical shape than I was. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I can cover the distance. I have developed some healthy disciplines. I don't regret the training or missing the race.

Even more, I have had an experience of hearing the voice of the Lord and learning afresh the importance of obedience.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heard and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.

God's Timing

It has been a while since I've posted, but I have to stand in awe of the things that God has been doing. I had no idea how "prophetically" I was writing in my last post. I wrote about how amazed I can be at the way God seems to weave the passage that we are studying into the life of the church. As we started 2 Corinthians we were going to be looking at a passage that talks about the troubles and hardships we face as Christians, the ways God comforts us and the reasons for our afflictions.

I had no idea that the day after we started 2 Corinthians that Kelli would be taken to the hospital and would pass away from cancer later that week. As a church we have been living in the middle of 2 Corinthians. It hasn't been fun at all, but God is the God of all comfort and he has been there in the midst of it.

It has been fascinating to watch how the truths of the passage have played out in our midst:

• We have found that the Lord is there with us in the middle of the storm.
• We have discovered that the painful experiences of the past help us to minister in the present.
• We have been joined together in prayer and supporting one another.
• We have been put in the position of relying on God.

While I would rather not go through the struggles and somehow be able to simply learn about them in a book, I know that God's ways are always the best ways. He is building his Kingdom here. He is using us. As we continue to follow him, he will be with us and will bring comfort during the times of trial thereby allowing us to do greater things for his glory.

2 Corinthians Begins...

This week we start a new sermon series. As most of you know, when we start going through a book we are going to be at it for a while, so its a pretty big decision. I spend alot of time praying and seeking God for a sense of direction. As I've done that this time around I've found myself settling on 2nd Corinthians.

Why this book?

To begin with, I have to say that each book we've gone through has been a bit of an adventure for me. I've started with a sense of what God wanted to teach us, but have been amazed at the direction He takes us as we study the book together. The work He does is always far beyond anything I could have planned. It always blows me away when the text we are looking it on a particular Sunday matches either what we are going through as a church or what someone is dealing with in their life at the moment. So when I look at the the "reasons for doing a particular book" I have to admit that I don't have much of a clue what God is going to do when we start.

At the same time, 2 Corinthians has a lot of stuff that's pretty relevant for where we are at these days.

• Paul shares his passion for sharing the gospel...and isn't afraid to talk about the cost.
• Paul calls people to an undivided walk with Jesus.
• Paul talks about generosity and its rewards.
• Paul shares details of the spiritual battles he's been through and is currently fighting.
• Paul reminds us that it is when we are weak that God's strength shines strongest.
• Paul teaches about the importance of personal integrity.
• Paul talks about the love that binds us together as a church.

I could go on, but would rather encourage you to read through 2 Corinthians on your own. It's a great book and I can't wait to dig in!

Against All Odds...from Nashwauk, Minnesota

Several years ago I was asked to speak at a small Bible college in southern Minnesota. The professor, a friend of mine, wanted me to talk about being a pastor in a small town. He sent along a list of questions from the class to help in the preparation of my lecture. I used one of the questions to open my talk. The student had asked, "How do you view the potential of your church in a small and perhaps declining community?" I could almost picture the student...a young, upper middle class suburban kid who dreaded the thought of being "banished" to a small town.

I remember saying to the class, "Someone wanted to know how I view the potential of my church. I suppose the person wonders what kind of impact a church could have in a town so small it doesn't have a stoplight. Let me tell you the potential of my church: Every people...every nation. That's the potential of my church. And I mean that. I believe that God has called us to reach the nations. The promise of Acts 1:8 wasn't just for the first century. I believe that it is for today and applies to the church I pastor. Don't tell me there is no potential in a small and perhaps declining community...God has said otherwise."

I really believe that.

In fact, during the missions conference this year God really reaffirmed that truth in my life. I believe that God has called us to reach our friends and family members. But if that's all that happens, I think we will have missed the majority of what God wants to do through us. I long to see a time when our missions conference(s) will feature speakers from our own church each waiting to report what God is doing in the far corners of the world.

I came to realize the potential of our church colors my thinking about church life. The kids that are coming to our programs are potential missionaries. The teachers are learning skills that they could use on the mission field. The Bible studies we attend teach us the the truths we need to apply to be in the middle of God's will...and they are truths that we can pass on to believers. As we struggle to discern creative ways to reach out to the people around us we are doing "missions thinking" that will serve us well in other places. As we stretch our collective faith in our building project, we are exercising "faith muscles" that will be in demand if we are to reach the nations.

Do I know exactly how God wants to do this through us? No. I just know that he wants us to walk closely with him and he will use us. I suspect that the hows and the whens will take care of themselves as we follow him. I do know that the ride he wants to take us on is beyond our imaginations. He wants to reach the world.

Against All Odds...the Iron Range for Christ

As we are about to start the missions conference, I've been challenged about the risks we take in our own church life. What are we involved with that is "Against All Odds"?

I know, we are in the process of putting up a building. That involves risk. But beyond that, what is God calling us to do as a church? I believe that our calling is going to involve obedience to Christ in a tremendously radical way. There just isn't a way to complete the Great Commission or even reach our own community without obedience. And sometimes Jesus calls us to take uncomfortable risks.

Recently I was talking to a pastor of an established church about the need to occassionally rethink everything we routinely do as a ministry. We cannot assume that because God called us to do something years ago it is what he wants us doing today. Many times we become established in the way we do things and continue to do them because it is easiser and more comfortable than changing things. In fact, one of the problems is that the people who currently attend the church do so because thye like it that way! As a result, we do the same things over and over even after they have served their purpose or lost their effectiveness.

It's healthy to hold things up and ask "Why are we doing this?" Are we doing it because "we've always done it that way?" Is it because if we don't someone might be mad? Is it because we know for sure that God has called us to do it? Is it because it is the most effective way for us to reach and disciple the world around us?

It has been said that church plants are the most effective means of evangelism. I think that's because church plants are face to face with the reality that they must reach out...or die. Actually, that's true of any church, it's just that an established church can continue operating long after it has "died". I know that you'll agree we don't want that to happen to us.

I recently came across a blog post by Drew Goodmanson that is worthwhile reading. Take some time to read it and tell me what you think. How do you think it applies around Nashwauk Alliance? How can we become more effective in reaching people for Christ?

Against All Odds...Missions Conference

The missions conference is around the corner. I am always excited about the missions conference because I think that it helps people connect with the purpose of God for their life. Simply put, as Christians we are called to make disciples of all nations. That means that we are called to reach out to others with the love of Christ. Sure, that begins by reaching out to our neighors, but it goes beyond that to reaching out to those who have no opportunity to hear about the love of Christ.

I think that one of the reasons that I think that the missions conference is particularly healthy for us in our little corner of the world is that we don't have a lot of opportunity to rub sholders with people from other cultures. Nashwauk is monocultural to the max! Don't think that's true? I know of one neighborhood in Chicago that covers the same area as Nashwauk where over 50 different languages are spoken at home!

It's good for us to be reminded that there is a whole world out there that needs to hear the gospel message. I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in us over the next few days. It is my prayer that over the coming years we will see people sent out from out little church to the far corners of the world. Wouldn't that be cool?!

I'm wondering how God might be challenging you this conference? Is it to go on a short term trip? To prepare to serve long term somewhere? To dedicate yourself to prayer in a particular area? To give more radically? What is he doing in your life to reach the nations?

Let me know!

Introduction to Thoughts on Revival

There is something powerful about the writings of those that have experienced revival. I've decided that as part of my spiritual disciplines this fall I am going to do some reading on revival and then post some thoughts about what I am reading for others to read and perhaps interact with.

Arthur Wallis, in his book In the Day of Thy Power, describes revival as being "Divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. It is God revealing Himself to man in awesome holiness and irresistible power." Examples of revival in American history include the Great Awakening in the 1700s under the preaching of Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and George Whitefield. The Second Great Awakening in the mid 1800s under the preaching of Charles Finney led the way to the abolition of slavery in this country.

On a large scale, revival can change the moral fiber of a community or a nation. On a smaller scale, revival can be personal, resulting in renewed passion for Christ and the lost.

As I reflect on the reading I've done and the people I've talked to about revival it seems that they fall into two categories. The first are people who have witnessed or experienced true revival. They have sat in the presence of a holy God and their lives have been forever changed by an encounter with the Almighty God. There is profound humility and deep faith.

The second category of people I've met bother me deeply. They talk about "revival" almost as if it were some spiritual thrill...like a cool ride at Valley Fair. They brag about strange manifestations that appear to indicate the presence of God. They go running to places that have reported that "revival is happening" hoping to get in on the action or a stamp on their "spiritual adventurer passport" so they can say that they have been there. I could be wrong, but it seems to me like this group of people are chase revival reports like a drug addict looking for a fix. I don't want to be judgmental, but sometimes I feel like people in this category have only experienced revival like I experience an NFL game...from the stands or in my living room, but never on the field. In fact, I don't ever really want to experience an NFL game on the field...the personal consequences are too high.

Ah, but maybe that's the point. True revival carries a price. It's not a simply a spiritual high. It is in part a manifestation of the awesome holiness of the All-Powerful God. When we see him for who he is we either run in terror or fall to our knees in repentance. Revival cleanses from sin. Revival breaks the self-life in all of its forms. Revival is costly.

Sammy Tippit, in Fire in Your Heart describes ministering behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany during a period of revival. A young new believer came forward and told him that there were some things in her life that were not right and as a result that she had no joy. He asked her if she was willing to repent and forsake her sins. She said she was, knelt and prayed. She concluded her prayer with, "Lord, please take control of my life egal was es Kostet." In English, "no matter what the cost." She was embracing the cross.

He asked another young believer how she was doing now that she had become a follower of Christ. A tear formed in her eye as she told him that she had been the top student in her class but her profession of Christ meant that she could no longer go to school. She looked at him, smiled and said, "But it's worth it!" She had embraced the cross and discovered the power of the resurrection.

That's the type of heart that has been forged in the fires of revival. It burns with a passion for Christ that cannot be put out. It has counted the cost and said, "Jesus is worth it."

How about you? Have you experienced revival? Have you decided that Jesus is worth it? That's where it all begins.

Sunday's Service

It's strange, but some of the things I like the most about Sunday mornings are the things that I have no control over. As a pastor, I spend a lot of time thinking about our time together on Sundays. There isn't alot of "suspense" when you've been heavily involved with the planning of things.

I guess that's why I enjoy the spontaneous things more. Like this last Sunday when we one person shared some pretty intense struggles concerning their wife's cancer. We dropped everything and the whole church gathered around him to pray. I had tears in my eyes as I considered how much this church cares about each other. What an awesome place.

Or like when we had the children pray for the teachers. I had no idea how that would go...but it was great to see the teachers kneeling and hearing their students pray for them. Kids can teach us tons about prayer.

Or like when we have a chance to hear about how God orchestrating the details in someone's life in answer to prayer. It reminds me that when the world around me doesn't quite make sense that God is control. He is weaving the tapestry together.

As we grow as a church, that's something that I hope we never lose. We are a family doing this "following Christ thing" together. May our family grow and grow...but may it always be a great spontaneous family!

Keeping Focused in a Mixed Up World

The BWCA is one of my favorite places. It is great to get away from the crowds and spend some time in the beauty of the creation. One of the things that I have learned (and relearned) is the importance of using a compass and a map. Sitting low in the water it can be difficult to determine just where you are. On a cloudy day it can be maddening to keep your sense of direction. In fact, most people discover they don't have one.

That's where the compass comes proves itself to be indispensable. By carefully studying the map and the compass, you can pick a point and head there, confident that you are going the right way. Mistrust your map, or your compass, and you will quickly become lost. Actually, I've never been lost, but I've taken a number of detours as I searched for the right way. I like to call them short cuts.

Psalm 73 is a psalm that talks about the disorientation that can occur when we take our eyes off of God. Suddenly the world around us appears alluring and we begin to wonder if following God is "worth it."

This week we will look at the importance of allowing God to be our compass and map as we navigate the wilderness of life.

The Prayer Room

The alarm clock went off at 1:15am Tuesday morning. I was sleeping in the living room so I wouldn't wake my wife up at that early hour. I dressed, put a english muffin in the toaster and ran a comb through my hair. As I headed out the door I thought about how most of the sane people in the world would be sleeping, but I was heading off to church. It was foggy so I had to drive slowly. That's a good thing, because I would have hit a raccoon and two deer if I had been driving my normal speed through the woods. I guess they were surprised that anyone was out at that hour.

I pulled into church and relieved the person in the prayer room. It was a familiar place, yet somehow at 2:00 in the morning it was different. There was something radical about being there. After pouring a cup of coffee, I spent a few minutes reading the prayer requests and the scribbles of the people who had been there before me.

I tried to pray, but I found it hard to focus. My mind kept wandering. Finally I asked God, "Lord, what am I doing here? Why am I here in the middle of the night? I could come here anytime and pray. Why 2 in the morning?"

It wasn't an audible voice, more of a sense in my spirit of what God wanted to say to me. It was only four words, yet it cut through all of my defenses right to the heart of the matter. "Do not be afraid." As I sorted through what I had been experiencing over the last days, it became clear that I was full of anxiety. Things are in flux here at church. We have programs starting up, there are a lot of people I'm trying to connect with, counseling I'm working on, a construction project starting as well as working on the sale of our current building which could upset all of our current ministry plans.

In the midst of that uncertainty the four words "Do not be afraid" pierced me. I sat down and remembered that those words are the most frequent command in the Bible. And why not? After all, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. I thought about the many times God said "Do not be afraid" to people. There's no reason to fear if we recognize that God is with us.

I had to repent and confess to God that I hadn't been trusting him with the future. As I did, a tremendous peace filled me. Suddenly, I knew how to pray. I began to pray for the people I knew. I prayed that they would not be afraid. I prayed that they would be able to put their anxieties at the feet of Jesus, look into his face, and realize that He is in control. I prayed for people facing sickness, struggling with their marriages, their kids (or their parents), their jobs. I prayed for the missionaries God laid on my heart who are ministering in difficult places. I prayed for my family.

The doorbell rang. My two hours in the prayer room was over and it was time to head home. My fears were gone. I had experienced a touch from God and had spent time in intercession. I sang a praise song as I drove through the woods, "God is good, all the time..."

The Corner Gas Station

You know you are getting old when you start remembering the "way things used to be."

Yesterday I was thinking about the service station a couple of blocks from the house where I grew up. I'm already dating myself because they don't call them service stations anymore. In fact, the old service station was torn down years ago and replaced with a more modern "convenience store." I'm really not sure why they are called convenience stores. The old Marv's Phillips 66 service station was the pinnacle of convenience as far as I am concerned. Rain or shine when you pulled up Marv would come out and fill your tank, wash the windshield, check the oil, fill the washer fluid and check the air in the tires. He'd then return with your change or credit card slip and a kind word. He wasn't done, though. After you rolled up your window, Marv would listen carefully as you started your engine and if it passed his audio test, he'd give you the "thumbs up" and send you on your way. What could be more convenient than that? Well, it would be convenient if he also fixed your car if there was something wrong with it. Guess what? Marv did that, too. In fact, Marv was an excellent mechanic. He was an even better person.

One day Marv taught me a lesson that I have never forgotten. It was late afternoon and I stopped by to see if he was finished with the brake job he was doing on my first car (a bright yellow Plymouth Arrow). He had sent the other employees home for the day so it was just the two of us. We were talking as he worked when there was a loud "ding" as a car pulled up. Marv wiped the grease off his hands and went out and pumped gas. In a few minutes he was back and resumed working on my brakes. We talked for another two or three minutes and there was another "ding" and Marv went out and pumped another tankful of gas. It seemed like every time Marv started progress on my brakes, a car would pull up and Marv would have to go pump gas.

I wondered how he could stand it. The interruptions seemed constant. Finally I said, "It seems like every time you are set to get down to work you have to stop and pump gas. That must drive you nuts."

He looked at me and said simply, "Pumping gas is my business, its not an interruption at all."

That simple sentence has been a constant companion of mine. Its so easy to get locked into some project that we are working on that we forget that the greatest ministry we have is frequently in the "interruptions" of life. Sometimes we pray that God would allow us to have a greater impact and we dream of doing something "great" for God. We get frustrated when our daydreams or our "work" gets interrupted by people who call or stop by with a problem or a question. God may very well be expanding our impact, but not in the way we expected. The interruptions of life are our ministry.

I also have thought about what it must have been like to have a college student standing there watching you work. We had a pleasant conversation, but my standing there certainly wasn't speeding up the brake job. If I were Marv, I might have been thinking, "Why doesn't this kid know how to do a simple brake job?" or "Doesn't this kid have something else he could be doing?" Instead Marv saw the opportunity to build a relationship and without knowing it said something that I've carried with me for many years. I try to remember the possibility of being a "Marv" for the people that cross my path.

The old service stations are mostly gone now. Its too bad, I learned a lot there.

What is Sin?

Lately I've been reading "Lectures on Systematic Theology" by Charles Finney. Okay, that probably qualifies me as a nerd. Actually, I find it kind of interesting because Finney was one of the greatest evangelists the United States has ever seen. One of the things that he stresses in his writings is the importance of understanding what we have to do versus what God has to do.

While this could very easily slide into a Calvinist/Arminian debate, I think that it is really worth pondering. Finney was concerned with the matter of our will or the choices that we make. He would argue that sin is a choice. We choose to disobey what we know to be God's will. He would say that we sin by making a decision to live by our desires rather than God's will. Rather than choosing to live a life of loving God and others people choose to live selfishly.

Conversion and regeneration happen, according to Finney, when we choose (under the influence of the Holy Spirit), to live a life of loving God and others supremely, rather than living selfishly. As I understand him, he would say that someone who "prays a prayer to avoid going to heaven" has not really been converted, because they are still acting selfishly. True repentance occurs when change happens at the root of the problem. We need to choose to love God as the foundational principle of life because it is the right thing to do, rather than the emotional response or the future security it provides.

Finney was adamant that too many people are expecting God to do for them what he cannot possibly do: repent. God has given us the means and the opportunity to repent and return to a life of obedience, but he cannot do it for us. He would also argue that to believe that one is "secure" when living a life of sin is foolish. A person who is content with sin believing that "God will make everything okay" is headed in the wrong direction. God, according to Finney has done all he can to make things right...but they won't be right until we do what we must do: choose to obey. In fact, Finney would argue that a selfish Christian is a contradiction in terms. A true Christian, according to Finney, has chosen to live a life of "disinterested benevolence"... meaning that they have chosen to love God supremely and love others regardless of what they themselves get out of it because God and others are worth loving.

Its an interesting thought, and one that I will be studying more carefully in the weeks to come, but I would appreciate any feedback you could give me.

The Impact of a Life

This morning I sat out on the dock visiting with a longtime friend. She shared the story of how her pastor had left a note a church one day saying that he resigned, was leaving his wife and family and moving in with awoman in her early twenties. He had officiated the woman's wedding about a year before. The devastation that this man left in his wake is incredible.

Sadly, we've all heard stories like that. Some of us have been personally affected by the flagrant sins (not "moral failures") of Christian leaders. Those who are closely affected are hurt and their trust destroyed. Those who are more distant wonder how things like this can happen. Non-Christians openly mock the church.

Christian leaders fall for a number of reasons. First, there is a false understanding of what the Bible means when it says that Christian leaders are to be "above reproach". This has been interpreted to mean that the Christian leader must not struggle in any area of his life (with perhaps a little tolerance for overeating). As a result, many Christian leaders do not feel that it is safe for them to admit any problems that they are having. If their marriage is struggling or if they are having problems with their thought life Christian leaders feel like they can not bring it up for fear of losing thier job. As a result, they ignore the symptoms that could have led to healthy preventive action. This needs to be replaced by an understanding of what Christian leadership really is: demonstrating what it takes to follow Christ. This means being willing to deal with sin issues in an appropriate way. At the same time, churches need to be safe places for leaders to admit and deal with struggles in their own lives. I'm not saying that churches should excuse sin, rather that churches need to be willing to help pastors live holy lives. I have to wonder if my friend's pastor had elders that he could have turned to when he began having ful thoughts long before he destroyed his marriage and his ministry.

Second, we have created in many churches and atmosphere where the pastor is put on such a high pedestal that no one dare question him about anything. I know of one situation where staff members "knew" something was going on in the life of their senior pastor, but no one had the courage to talk to him about it or to share their concern with the elders of the church. The church culture prevented them from acting. This needs to be replaced by an attitude of encouraging one another and active concern for one another. Pastors need true friends who are willing to come alonside them and ask them important questions. The relationship needs to be solid enough to insist on an honest answer.

Third, pastoral minsitry is draining. The pastoral calling is not a 9-5 proposition. I've noticed that I can put all of my energy into the church and there will still be more to do. There is a real danger here. The desire to help other people can lead to the neglect of family and personal emotional health. Spend too many hours away from home and the pastor's wife can become resentful. The pastor then begins to wonder why she isn't so supportive of the ministry. The pastor feels that she doesn't appreciate how hard he is working. Suddenly a beautiful young woman comes along who laughs at his jokes, strokes his ego and an affair begins. This is not the fault of the pastors wife. It is the pastor's fault. Believe me, you are warned about the danger many times in seminary. That's why I am so grateful for this church. I've got a team of elders that care about me. At times they have told me, "Karl, you need to back off a little." Their advice has always been right on time.

I cannot leave the subject of failure of Christian leaders without reminding us that all of us are leaders. Each of us is having an impact on the lives of the people around us. Other believers and non-Christians are watching our lives. How are we doing? Do we think that we can tolerate sin in our own lives without it having an impact? Are we whitewashing the sin in our lives hoping that no one will notice? Are we demonstrating to others how to deal with sin? Are repentance, brokeness and accountabilty words that describe how we live? What kind of impact are you having?

Why I Run

I am a runner. It's a strange breed, not normally seen on northern Minnesota's Iron Range. So why do I run? Certainly it isn't because I am fast. In fact, I was usually a back of the pack runner in school. No one would ever ask me to be on the track team. Nor is it because running is a highly social sport. I rarely see other runners out running. It's not in an attempt to be part of the in-crowd. Most of my friends think I am a little nuts. So why do I run? There are several reasons:

• A healthy lifestyle. Both my father and his father died at a relatively young age from heart attacks. Both of them were smokers and lived sedentary lifestyles. An occasional walk around the block was the limit of their exercise program. By keeping active and trying to keep the weight off, I am trying to outlive my ancestors who shortened their lives by unhealthy lifestyles.
• Physical fitness. I suppose that some people would think that being a pastor is a relatively sedentary life, but I find that there are times of tremendous physical, spiritual and emotional exertion. For example, studies have shown that preaching a sermon requires an effort equivalent to working a physical job for eight hours. I don't know if that is true, but I do know that during the years that I stopped running and put on a few pounds preaching became exhausting work. Now that I am more physically fit, I find preaching to be less draining.
  
• Leadership. We live in an era of excess. All of our meals are super-sized and we don't even have to walk across the room to change the channel. Obesity is a major problem. Diabetes, hypertension and heart problems all stem from a lifestyle that way out of balance. Perhaps by setting an example I can inspire others toward a more healthy and more fun lifestyle.
  
• Endorphins! Believe it or not, there really is a "runner's high." It's not something you encounter on your first run. Your first run consists of gasping for air, sore muscles and a side stitch. But once you have achieved a degree of physical fitness and can run a long ways with minimal strain, you discover the exhilarating euphoric effect of endorphins. It really is hard to describe what this zone feels like but it is wonderful.
  
• A time to think. When you are out running there are few distractions and it gives a person a chance to think about things. Sometimes I will meditate on a Bible passage. Other times I will be thinking about some situation that I am dealing with. Usually I just enjoy being in the outdoors.
• Discipline. There is value in living a disciplined life and forcing yourself to do something that is a little uncomfortable. I've run three marathons and I can tell you that the hardest part of running 26.2 miles is not hitting "the wall" at 20 miles. The hardest part of running a marathon is getting out of bed in the morning...every morning...getting your shoes on and doing your training runs.
  
• A Love of Athletic Competition. I enjoy being around athletes. One of the great things about road racing is that 99% of the runners are not expecting to actually win the race. That is reserved for an elite few. Instead most runners are seeking to beat their own personal record. That means that before the race they have put in the grueling efforts to train. During the race it means knowing what pace you can reasonably keep up. And yes, it means taking aim at that person up ahead and trying to beat them to the finish line. You might not win the race, but you can still beat that runner and perhaps set a personal record. Not only that, there is a camaraderie among runners on race day that is a lot of fun.
  
• A sense of accomplishment. There are few things better than setting out to achieve a big audacious goal that will require enormous effort and accomplishing it. Every marathon I've finished and every personal record I've beat has brought tears of joy to my eyes.
  
• It's God's will for me. Perhaps the major reason I run, though, is that I sense that it is a part of God's plan for my life. In the movie Chariots of Fire there is the line, "When I run, I feel His pleasure." That's certainly true for me as well. It's one of the reasons that I unashamedly make running a part of my routine. I want His will for my life. Right now running is a part of that.
  

Years ago I cut out a Nike ad and tacked it to the bulletin board above my desk. It's still true today.

He's fat
and he's soft
and he's wearing your clothes
and he was born on your birthday
and you are afraid if you stop running
he'll catch up with you.

Just do it.

A Full Speed Ahead Summer

If you are a pastor, summertimes in the northland can be a downer. Momentum seems to build in the throughout the winter and spring but then summer comes and people disappear. Camping, vacations and baseball tournaments seem to steal people away from church. Most churches experience a drop in activity, attendance and giving during the summer months. Looking out and seeing a half-filled sanctuary week after week causes many pastors to battle depression during the last weeks of July and the first weeks of August.

I have struggled with the summer blues as well. Over the years, though, I've discovered that there can be a healthy rhythm to life of a pastor. There are periods of intense activity followed by periods of relative calm. I've learned that the midsummer blues can be avoided by remembering that it can be a time of rejuvenation in preparation for the hectic days of autumn. This has allowed me to relax a little and recharge my batteries during the time that many pastors become depressed.

Back in May I figured that this summer would have even more time than usual for fishing and working on some projects around the house because the boys decided not to play baseball. I was wrong.

There hasn't really been much of a summertime slump this year. While I still look out on Sundays and notice that some of the regulars are missing, the sanctuary has been full. We've had a lot of newcomers this summer. Not only that, but the Great Northern FallFest is coming and we've had a lot of special meetings to get ready for it. The counseling load hasn't dropped much. The building project has been moving quickly forward. Now we are in the middle of VBS which will be followed by the Trap Shoot and the last minute flurry of preparation for our fall programs.

Then things will get really crazy.

The fact that there wasn't a slowdown this summer is another sign of the growth that is taking place in our church. I'm excited about it because I believe that God is calling us to have an even greater impact on our world. Growth will mean changes in the way we've done things in the past. That can be uncomfortable. For example, I've enjoyed the green pasture of midsummer in the past, but it really hasn't happened this year. That creates a little anxiety in me, but I know that I can trust God to have a different pasture up ahead. He is the good shepherd.

I also have to realize that God may be calling me to do things differently this fall. That there is a limit to the craziness that I can handle effectively. The reality is that as I look around me I see many people who are ready and willing to handle some of the things that I have been involved with in the past. Growing in delegation will be important for me and the growth in the ministries of the people around NAC is going to be awesome to see.

Through all of this, I am excited to be surrounded by friends that encourage me, inspire me, laugh with me and urge me on in the Lord.

I cannot wait for summer to be over. Let the craziness begin!

Create in Me a Clean Heart

This week we are looking at a powerful Psalm of repentance...Psalm 51. This psalm is written by David after he had committed ery with Bathsheba. It was a sin that he thought he had "gotten away with." Perhaps he thought that no one knew about it. I think it is more likely that he believed that he was "man enough" to handle the situation without consequences, much like a person takes up smoking and believes that it won't hurt them. It took the prophet Nathan to expose his sin and bring him to his knees in repentance.

When we lived in Chicago we attended a church that would occasionally have guest speakers come in for a weekend of ministry. One of the men that would come had a prophetic gifting. When he prayed for people God would often reveal things to him. Normally these things would insights into a person's situation that would give the person a sense of hope or direction, but sometimes there would be a revelation of hidden sin. It would be a powerful time of ministry that brought great healing and cleansing in a person's life.

As I look back on it, I can remember that I attended those meetings with anticipation and fear. Before I went, I would always spend time searching my heart to see if there was an area of sin in my life that I was hiding. The threat that my sin would be exposed led me to repentance. It was like going on a diet before the doctor's appointment.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Heb 12:1). I sometimes wonder how much sin we tolerate in our lives. Do we really think that sin is no big deal? That's what David thought.

He learned that sin had consequences. When he faced his sin and saw its horror, he repented. He asked God for mercy, cleansing and renewal. He discovered that when he repented, God forgave. He found joy and his relationship with God moved to an entirely deeper level.

What about us? Do we think that we can live with sin and avoid its consequences? If a Nathan came to church this Sunday what would he say about us?

Before you come to church this week, take time to read Psalm 51 and ask the Lord to search your heart. Get right with him.

The Falling Bridge

By now we have all seen the pictures of yesterday's collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis. Before we left for Reynosa, Janet and I crossed that bridge during rush hour. I can remember passing all of the construction equipment including huge cement trucks and feeling a little uneasy. I wondered what they were fixing. It looked to me like they were resurfacing the bridge deck. They were pounding out the old concrete and replacing it with new concrete. We all know how brutal winters can be on the roads. Like everyone else who was on the bridge that day, I shrugged of any reservations I had and continued on my way. I figured that the experts knew what they were doing. How wrong we all were.

In the conversations I have had with people today they all remark about the uncertainty of life. "You never know when you're going to die," they all say. And while that statement is true, my thoughts have been running in a slightly different direction. I've been thinking about the foundations that people build their lives on. How can we know that we are not only heading in the right direction, but that our road is safe?

Simply following the person ahead of you is not the right answer, nor is following a large group of people. 140,000 cars a day drove on that bridge. There is comfort to be found in the crowd, but not security.

The prophet Isaiah wrote this,

"The Lord will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure" (Isaiah 33:6).

The only solid foundation for life is the Lord God himself. He is the only one who knows the best and safest road for us. His Word (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit will guide us through life and cause our lives to be secure.

That doesn't mean that the road he will lead us on will be easy. Frankly, people yesterday would have been safer parking their cars, walking to the river, swimming across and hiking home. Others might have laughed at them, but who would have been right? Remember, Noah was right and everyone else thought he was crazy until their "bridge" collapsed when it started to rain.

I just want to encourage us to think about the foundation of our lives. Is it really secure? Only a life built on the Lord God and his word, the Bible, is secure. Are we building our lives on that foundation or are we simply following the crowd assuming that "everyone" must be right?

A Sobering Read

I receive a magazine called Mission Frontiers. I scan the articles when it arrives, but most of them deal with topics of interest to mission strategists rather than a northwoods pastor. The most recent issue brought something to my attention that broke my heart and became a matter of prayer.

Did you know that there are more slaves in the world today than there were at the height of the North Atlantic slave trade? According to many sources, there are close to 30 million people in slavery today. Some of these slaves are involved in forced prostitution, while others are forced to work for others for little or no pay under the threat of violence if they refuse.

The US State Department's 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report, the slave trade generates almost 10 billion dollars in revenue a year. Cases of forced labor have been documented in over 112 countries...including the United States. In some instances families sell their children into slavery in order to survive. Rich business owners make loans to people in poverty and require them to work to pay off the loan. This doesn't sound bad, until you understand that there is no way to possibly work enough to repay the loan and that there is severe physical punishment for failure to work long or hard enough each day. In other instances a foreign "savior" offers to take charge of a person and provide them with a good job in a different country. The impoverished person then finds herself in a strange land, unable to understand the language or their rights. They are forced to work for nothing and intimidated by threats against themselves or their family members back home if they fail to cooperate.

Certainly the church of Jesus Christ needs to put the issue of slavery on its radar screen. We need to make the issue one of prayer and ask God to raise up a new abolition movement around the world that would put an end to this diabolical practice.

Here are some web sources of information (some of these are faith-based and others are secular):

• The Amazing Change Campaign
• International Justice Mission
• American Anti-Slavery Group

Reynosa - Part 2

I had hoped to spend some time adding another post while in Reynosa, but the days were too full of ministry. We will be sharing some of the highlights of the trip on Sunday...it was an awesome time of learning, growing and sharing the gospel.

Perhaps one scene I will remember forever happened one hot and humid morning. We walked several blocks with a translator and another church member down a dusty road crowded with concrete block homes. We were delivering a bag of food to the friend of a church member. When we arrived, we found a thin and frail woman lying on a bed. I guessed that she was probably about 50 years old. She struggled to sit up as her friend explained that she was suffering from depression.

I asked her to share a little of her story. I was shocked to learn that she was only 24. She said that her husband had left to find work in the United States four years previously and had not returned. She has had no contact at all with him for six months. They had a four year old son who was at the moment attending a VBS being put on by another one of our ministry teams. When I asked her how long they had been married, she said that there had never been a ceremony. I wondered whether her "husband" had even seen the boy. Her heart ached from the abandonment and she worried about how she would raise her son when she had no job.

Her friend from the church explained that she wasn't a Christian, but was a very nominal Catholic (many in Mexico are Catholic in family background, but have no relationship with God or Christ). As we prayed for her, two phrases popped into my mind: "God the Protector" and "God the Provider". I shared these phrases with her and told her that God loved her so much that he had sent people from thousands of miles away to encourage her. We gave her a New Testament and urged her to read it. We explained that the Bible helps us understand who God is so that we can trust him more.

As we walked back to the van, I talked to her friend. I told her that I thought his relationship with her was very important in her eventually giving her life to Christ. The previous Sunday the pastor had shared a plan to use something like "The Daily Bread" in evangelism. The thought was that church members could meet with their friends or neighbors several times a week for a few minutes and share the Scriptures and a short meditation together. I told her friend that I thought that was a perfect idea for this woman. I did not think that she at the point of receiving salvation because she did not know enough about the character of God in order to trust him. The seed that had been planted needed watering. He agreed and left our conversation encouraged to keep ministering to the family.

I'm not sure what the end of the story will be, but I wanted to share it with you to illustrate the power of a short term missions trip. Think about some of the things that were going on:

• We were engaged in a ministry that was new to us. How many have hand delivered food to a needy family they don't know and sat down to pray with them? It is a routine ministry for the church we were partnering with. We learned a lot from the Reynosa Alliance Church.
  
• We were used to point someone to Christ. This woman has some really problems that will only solved through a relationship with Jesus. We were able to point her in the right direction. The fact that God had sent us from so far away was a tangible demonstration of his love for her. The Bible we provided will continue to water the seed that had been planted.
  
• We were used to encourage the local believers. Our ministry to this woman's friend was also important. We were used to spur him on to continue ministering and I think we gave him some ideas about how he could go about doing that.
• We experienced something that caused us to ponder the truths of the gospel. When we are trying to communicate the gospel across a language and cultural barrier we are forced to think more deeply about the gospel message. While I believe I was led by the Holy Spirit to share what I shared that morning, there are some issues that I am still thinking about. For example, I don't know enough about the culture to know how to understand the fact that there had been no marriage ceremony. Certainly adultery is always sinful, but I wondered if there were cultural expectations about what a ceremony consisted of that made it "impossible" for her to be married. Or should I have pressed her about her sin and guilt that demanded both a Savior and repentance on her part? Or what is the best way to point someone to a relationship with Jesus rather than a "religion"? It is good to think about these things. It will help us grow in our understanding of the gospel and help us be better witnesses of the truth.
  

The power of a short term missions trip is incredible. It change both the person who goes as well as those they minister to. I challenge you to pray about going and experiencing this type of radical ministry firsthand.

Reynosa - Part One

We are having a tremendous time here in Reynosa with Harvest Ministries. After a long bus ride and some time to recuperate we had a Youth Service Saturday night with over 300 youth present. I was asked to give a challenge to the youth and was amazed by the response. I called them to commit themselves to the task of "finding a bride for Christ" as a lifetime goal and many made that commitment.

Our days begin with prayer at 5:00 am and then we head off to a variety of ministries. Yesterday we stopped and did street evangelism outside a local hospital. The poor people have no money for food so the Alliance church provides free meals each day. We talked to people through and interpreter, presented the gospel and prayed for their needs. Several prayed to recieve Christ. This morning we went to a youth jail. Our group played the guys in soccer. It was kind of like a Harlem Globetrotters game, the Mexican kids were good. I volunteered to be their goalie...which mostly consisted of standing in the hot sun with nothing to do. Following the game, I was able to tell a story illustrating the gospel and several of the boys appeared to genuinely give their hearts to the Lord.

We will be off doing more ministry in a few minutes, but I wanted to let you know that we feel your prayers here and are being really blessed. Continue to pray for us. Specifically pray for wisdom in conversations and strength in the heat.

I plan to try to update things on here at least once more before we return, and then do a more extensive post after we get back.

Thanks for praying!

Favorite Books

Sometimes people ask me how I manage to grow in my Christian life without going to church and hearing a sermon every week. In reality they are asking, "Who feeds the pastor?" The short answer is that I read a lot of books.

I've added a list of my favorite books to my blog. In addition to the Bible, these books have had a tremendous influence on my life. I reread each of them every couple of years because their message is so important. I'd encourage you to read them as well.

But first, a word of warning: These books are not "Christian-lite." They are not trendy. They may not be on the bookshelves of many Christian bookstores so you will have to order them. A few are easy reads, but most are pretty tough sledding. They are all transforming.

The two "easiest" books are Is That Really You, God and Rees Howells: Intercessor. Is That Really You, God? is the story of the birth and development of Youth With A Mission. Rees Howells is the biography of a Welsh coal miner who was mightily used by God in prayer.

A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God is a classic on the inner life of the Christian. All of Tozer's work is good, but if there is only one of his books that you are going to read, this is the one to pick.

Joy Dawson, a teacher with YWAM, has written to excellent books. Intimate Friendship With God is about understanding the fear of the Lord. Forever Ruined for the Ordinary deals with hearing the voice of God. Both of these books are relatively easy to read.

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is just that...serious. Written by Puritan William Law, this book will shake you out of your complacency and move you toward following God more closely. An online version is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library website.

Charles Finney is one of the most influential Christians in American history. He popularized the "altar call." The revivals sparked by his ministry changed the course of America by leading to the abolition of slavery. His autobiography is a great read, but the place to start is Revival Lectures.

Andrew Murray has written many books on prayer that are worth reading. My favorite is The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer.

The writings of Leonard Ravenhill are white-hot with passion for Christ and his church. On the right day, his writings stir me like few others. Why Revival Tarries is a classic. While some of the illustrations could be updated, its message is as current as an internet news site.

The Chinese author Watchman Nee has written a great book in The Normal Christian Life. If only more Christians were experiencing it!

Happy reading!

A Taste of the Empty Nest

I just returned from dropping the boys off at Bethel for a week-long basketball camp. This means that for the next few days it will be just the two of us...at home...alone. When was the last time that happened? I guess it was about sixteen years ago.

On my way home I started thinking about the different seasons of life that we have gone through. We were married for seven years before we had our first child. We spent time with Youth With a Mission. We led small group Bible Studies. We led an outreach to Mexico. We worked. We ran a marathon.

Then we had our first child. In some ways, it was like throwing an anchor overboard. Life came to a screeching halt and began revolving around a person that weighed less than 10 pounds. Diapers, feedings and walks through the neighborhood became the norm. We were home more on the weekends and were more regular in our church life. We led a small group Bible Study. We discovered that babies are wonderful ways to meet people and develop friendships that lead to spiritual conversations.

Over time, that "anchor rope" has lengthened. I think the first time I noticed it was the morning that we laid in bed listening to our oldest serve himself breakfast. The night before we had put the cereal on the table and a cup of milk in the refrigerator. What a blissful few moments that was as we listened to him serve himself breakfast all by himself! The kids were becoming a little independent and our stage in life was changing. Soon it was filled with school and sports activities in addition to work and church. We've continued to lead small group Bible studies and be involved with church (especially now that I am a pastor). Now we coach or sit in the stands and cheered as our kids play sports. We have developed friendships with the parents of our kids friends and had some great conversations about the Lord in the process. As they grew, and the anchor rope lengthened, we were able to do new things. My wife was able to spend three weeks helping with Katrina relief. I was able to go to Brazil on a missions trip.

Today I think was like that first breakfast. It's a glimpse of what is to come. The anchor rope is going to be untied one day. The oldest has his driver's license and a job. The youngest is not far behind. In fact, I now look my youngest eyeball to eyeball. His feet are bigger than mine. It won't be long until they are gone. It's kind of sad, but exciting at the same time. I wonder what the empty nest stage will be like.

I guess I will ask the questions that have guided my life so far. "What does God want me to do?" "What will bring him the most glory?" "How can I best encourage and equip other believers?" "How can I develop relationships with non-Christians that will lead to opportunities to share the gospel?" The answers will probably be different as an empty nester, but I hope my passion for serving the Lord will never diminish. He's really been the only constant in my life. (My wife comes a close second).

Sometimes people ask me about "retirement." I honestly don't understand the idea of simply sitting on the porch and drinking lemonade as the final years of life roll by. Somehow, I think that I won't ever really "retire." That stage in life will just have different answers to the questions that I have always asked myself. There are too many people to reach and too little time to do it in to simply kick back and coast to the finish line.

Well, that's all for now. I'm having dinner with my best friend who happens to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She's making a special dinner... for just the two of us.

Up, Down, North, South, East or West

When we were first married, Janet and I went to a Keith Green memorial concert. I was stunned to find a friend of mine there. We had grown up a few houses away from each other. When we got to high school, we ran with different circles of people. He was definitely into the party/drug scene, while I hung out with my friends from the youth group. I had never shared the gospel with him. I figured that there was no way he would be interested. Frankly, I was afraid of what his reaction might be if I had brought up church or the Lord. As far as I could tell, he was a "lost cause."

I hadn't seen him since I had gone off to college, and now here he was telling me that not only had he become a Christian, but he was heading off to the mission field!

It was one of the first times I had really understood that this whole evangelism thing is not so much about me sharing the gospel as it is the fact that God is at work around us. In fact, I believe that one of the biggest reasons that we hesitate to share the gospel is that we don't see the big picture. We forget that God is at work in the lives of the people around us. He is the one convicting of sin, revealing the gospel and drawing people to himself. We are simply an important part of the process.

This week we are going to look at Psalm 107 (find it here). This psalm helps us see that the Lord is working in lives in order to establish a relationship with them. He is in charge of their circumstances, bringing them to a place of acknowledging him. He is working to become their salvation and redemption. Some of the people are now caught up in pursuing money, others are in bondage to drugs or alcohol, still others are openly scoffing at the idea of God. The Lord wants us to know that He is working in their lives. He is preparing them so that they will be open to hearing the gospel.

Your friends are not lost causes. God has undoubtedly orchestrated your friendship so that your life can be a constant witness to your friend. The Lord is going to give you windows of opportunity to share your faith and the message of the gospel. God is at work...and he wants to use us.

Isn't that a thrill?