Author: Nick

Imagine with me the following scenario: You arrive at church next Sunday and instead of the usual order of service the Pastor takes the microphone and announces that the Lord has been dealing with him and that he believes that your church should become a true New Testament Church. He advises that some significant changes are going to take place: 1. The building is going to be put up for sale. In the future the church will meet at homes. He asks for suggestions for next weeks meeting place. He is meet with silence. 2. He and the entire staff are resigning. In the future there will be no paid staff or clergy/lay distinctions. Everyone is staying around but will be seeking employment outside the church. This will obviously require more participation from everyone. The congregation seems quite uncomfortable and folks begin shifting in their seats. 3. There will be no more clergy given sermons or worship leading. Everyone is asked to pray during the week and in the future come prepared to share a word, a testimony or a song. He, the former Pastor, is excited about learning as much about Jesus from everyone else as He has […]

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” – (Matthew 28:19-20).  I actually think there can come a point in your Christian life where you don’t need to go hear more Bible studies (now, don’t take that out of context). What I mean is, there can come a point when you are sitting down and having a meal, and it is time to push away from the table, digest your food, and let it be turned into energy to do something productive. Greg Laurie Yesterday was an encouraging day. We had a great time at church service with inspiring worship and a good message on the Power of God. But the real encouragement came at 4 p.m., when the church was again full of folks applying the morning’s message and volunteering for VBS. Everyone there was ready to serve in any way necessary. There was no fighting for the “best parts” or grumbling about anything. The whole meeting took less than an hour and I came away encouraged and excited […]

Ron Edmondson recently posted the 7 most frustrating and the 7 most exciting things a pastor sees. He has great insight into what’s good and bad in church.  His thoughts can give us some ideas about what should and shouldn’t happen “in church.” He is frustrated by people who abuse power or position,  hypocrisy, rumor spreading, selfishness, tradition, time wasters,  and half-heartedness. In these feelings, he seems a lot like Jesus. Jesus’ harshest words were for those in power. He called them hypocrites. As to rumor spreading, He said, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is said whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Matt 10:26-27). He focused on putting others above ourselves. His ministry was certainly not about tradition. He wasted no time and did nothing and encouraged nothing that was half-hearted.  Edmondson is encouraged by note takers, sacrificial givers, visitors and the people who invite them, servant hearts, new people joining the church and when the church is the church. Here it seems that Edmondson is just like most of us. He wants folks […]

I was not involved in sports as a kid. It just wasn’t our family thing. Perhaps because of that my kids weren’t involved either. We didn’t do soccer games, or little league or drop off kids at football practice. I say this to put last night’s dream in perspective. I dreamed that my four year old great grand daughter was showing promise as a runner and we were all acting as her coaches. In fact, she got to be pretty good and folks asked me what I did as a coach. This is what I love above dreams. I can be smarter and more daring in dreams than I am in real life. In my dream I told people: “All I do is stand past the finish line and call after her to ‘come here.’”  We are all called to be coaches. There is even a job title now, “Life Coach.” I guess we are all called to be life coaches. It’s different from being a sports coach. We can’t claim a lack of experience. We have all played the game of life. It’s easy to think that a four year old doesn’t want to hear from a sixty-four […]

Wednesday evening after services, Rose and I went to Yogurtland with Pastor T, Debbie and our grandson, Nicky. At this place you put together your own yogurt creation. There are a bunch of yogurt dispensers with a wide variety of flavors and a ton of different toppings. It turns out I’m a pretty simple man. I selected one flavor and one topping. My companions were much more creative. I don’t know, mathematically, how many different combinations of toppings and yogurt is possible, but it has to be in the millions.  I don’t think while we were there any two customers came up with the same finished product. Ain’t God something. While it is true that all of us can be basically divided into two groups: those who follow Jesus and those who don’t. It is also true that we are a complex variety of individuals of all shapes, sizes, colors, likes and dislikes. It’s what makes God’s creation so great. Last night was the last night of the NBA Finals. I was cheering for San Antonio but Miami won. I’m sure some San Antonio fans didn’t sleep last night after the very close loss. I turned off the TV […]

Nicky and I went to see Man of Steel yesterday. It’s the story of Superman from his birth on Krypton to his emergence as super hero on earth. The director was way too much in love with special effects. In his attempt to save the world, he nearly destroys Metropolis. Thousands must have died but Lois Lane was saved, more than once. My favorite part was in the last scene when Superman decides he will hide out as a mild mannered reporter. He accomplishes this by putting glasses on what has become the most famous face on the planet. I don’t know about you, but people know who I am with or without my glasses. It just not that easy to hide who you are. The movie did remind me that it is all about identity. It’s really not that complicated. Fundamentally we or either sinners on our way to hell or blood bought children of God headed in the other direction. If we are His children, God can weave a wonderful story of purpose, challenge and joy for our lives. If we are in the other situation, we are left to try to work out a happy ending […]

Rosemary pointed out to me this week how she has had a lighter feeling at church. I agreed and noticed some other things that represent the presence of the Holy Spirit at work. It’s a good thing when the Spirit is active and moving. He is always present, but is sometimes restricted by blocks we throw up and our unwillingness to be moved. Here are some signs that He’s in action: 1. The Spirit convicts; the enemy condemns. You can tell the Holy Spirit is around when you become aware of the ways you fall short and are motivated to become more like the Savior. Satan only condemns and acts like there is no solution or way out. 2. The skys are blue. When the Spirit is moving things seem great, even when there are challenges. The Spirit is always a positive force, an encourager and a mover and a shaker. He excites us about today and encourages us about tomorrow. 3. You hear Him talking. I notice that when the Spirit is active folks around are praying in the Spirit. I’m not sure which comes first. I guess it’s kind of a chicken or the egg thing. But […]

Rose and I love British television. She records the shows on the television in the bedroom and we watch them when I come to bed at night. The only problem is that by the time I come to bed I’m close to wanting to go to sleep. I, therefore, tend to fall asleep on the programs. She dutifully stops the tape at the point I go to sleep and we pick it up at that point the next day.  Last night we were watching a murder mystery. A “psychic” had been killed. He took money from folks who wanted to hear from their deceased relatives. He passed messages and made them feel better about their loss. The police investigating the crime all thought this was terrible, to take advantage of the unsophisticated. None of them believed in the afterlife and thought those who did were a bit weak in the head. There is a real crisis of faith in Europe, including Britain, these days. They view it as “sophistication” and believe their American cousins, at least those who still have some faith, as back woods hicks. The loss of faith is a terrible thing. It begins with a failure […]