When God chooses.

Out of control. It just sounds bad. For most of us it just feels all wrong. Most of us are not control freaks, but most of us equate a little control with safety, if not survival. I feel it about my kids sometimes, “they might get hurt if I don’t control… ” – A lot of us feel it about our self -”I might get hurt if I’m not in control of…”, both true.
But what if God was in control? What would that feel like. We all say we would like that (after all we are good Christians) but do we really want a God coming out of nowhere and taking over stuff? Our stuff. What if God said “I’m going this way, change direction and follow me.” What if he said “I want to change the way you think about being a believer,” or “I want you to quit spending so much time at work” or “take lunch to that drunk” or “Your church life is a drag, lets change it”.
God is changing things. God is bringing together a ragtag bunch of spiritual warriors who will have done with all the usual distractions and enter the rhythm of prayer and power – and strongholds will come down. We are laying aside all other motives, honorable or not, and deferring to God’s call for our lives and our city.
“It’s a frightening thing when you blink and discover that you’re in a speeding car but no longer driving. It’s scary to realize that God is moving and you are somehow caught up in something much bigger than you could possibly have known.” (Red Moon Rising, Greig/Roberts)
There are people all around you that are beginning to welcome this reality into their lives. God is calling people to turn over the controls and people are responding.
Doesn’t look like church? “A revival is something that can only be explained by the direct action and intervention of God…these events belong to the order of things that men cannot produce…and if you can explain what is happening…then it is not revival.” – Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Get it right.

A lot of people have been asking how the church should approach the role of the pastor. It has been alarming how many church people have no Biblical understanding of this. Mel Menkle does a good job of summarizing this here at Author’s Den. Please take a look at it and share! My only concern is breaking that horrendous mindset that sees this as a position, not a calling. Even when Mel Menkle talks about a Bishop (overseer) most of us will think of a manager at the top of the pyramid, in a position we have created, educated according to the rules, pays his annual ordination fee, does a good enough job that he doesn’t get fired. Truth is, a bishop is an elder that God is using to minister to other’s. Not some position we have created and filled. Philippi had multiple people referred to as bishops or “overseers”. These men, “elders” certainly did not all have the same gifts or same abilities (and all certainly functioned mostly in their areas of giftedness), They were all called by the Holy Spirit to be spiritual leaders of God’s flock (Acts 20:28). This calling is recognizable by apostolic standards (2 Cor 8:16). Appointing was made by men with true apostolic calling. From a practical point of view you know them them by their spirit (1 John 4:1 – does not mean by the degree of comfort with your human spirit, but the homogeneity with the Holy Spirit).They bear spiritual fruit, have spiritual authority, move the flock towards the living God. Someone with this calling burning in their heart will certainly not be distracted by buildings, finances, waiting tables and rummage sales.
When God’s man is in a place and ministry that God has called him into, there is accountability. When it’s not a God thing, when we do it our own way none of this is necessarily true. The 12 tried this once and we have no idea how things went for Matthias (Act 1), apparently not much came of it. When God chose a man things happened!

p.s. Some of the most unlikely, ragtag people are shepherding God’s flock with true love and spiritual authority. At this very moment God is raising up a generation of leaders. It’s not about some “official” “church” position, it’s a function, a ministry – ordained by God and not by men. At best we recognize what God is doing and engage these called people in the body. Yes, leadership is needed, but it is God doing the calling.

New day

I woke to new day #4 feeling a little heavy, mostly just because of my concerns for the needs of my family and the unknowns of how I will be providing for them.  Then I started reading…. where Paul told the body to be devoted to prayer, watchful and thankful. Col 4:2

Keep reading.  When he mentioned his (and his ministry partners) personal needs it was all about an “open door for our message” and his ability to proclaim it clearly. You know what it’s like when the Holy Spirit comes in the room and settles in to counsel with you? The hair is still standing on the back of my neck.

This is what Janelle and I have always believed our calling to be about, and if so then why wouldn’t we welcome God to make everything in our life supportive of this purpose. Oh sure, it was easier when we were twenty and we could live in our car, but the only thing that has changed is us. The call of God is still the same, and the need for it is greater. Maybe the situation we were in before was a closed door for the message … and God is answering our prayer right now.

My heart is so full of worship. What an amazing God.

Wow, that was fast.

I have been the pastor of a small older church for 5 years. The direction of about 10% of the body is opposite of myself, (I am instinctively drawn to making disciples and reaching out to unbelievers, a number of folks here are uncomfortable with all that). I suggested that the leaders designate me as an interim pastor so that they could start a pastoral search. They were without a pastor for over a year before, and I thought it was the honorable thing to do and would get us thinking positively about it. I also thought we were friends with good relationships and a sense of trust. I was approached yesterday and told to take my stuff and go now-  as in today. Yesterday became a crazy day as we moved both my wife’s (best CE person I have ever know) and my operation out of their building, it’s amazing how much stuff you have in your office, all now in my crowded living room! I think my head has stopped spinning by this morning. Now I’m sitting here grasping what happened yesterday.
I guess I had kind of a gut check that this could happen, a couple of the guys have been in that place, but it really hurts that they had no consideration whatsoever for the devastating impact this would have on my beautiful family. I am now trying to tell my children that church does not suck.
One of the leaders made a stunning statement as I was leaving the building. Referring to an elderly handful of people that had abandoned the church because of the usual things, (a sermon was 5-10 minutes too long, didn’t like the music, communion wasn’t done right), he said they: “are the people that need us most.” … I thought people going to hell needed us most.
This to me is a breathtaking statement. These people whom he said need us most are Christians, strong, prosperous, pretty healthy, resentful Christians.
God had lately given this little church a tremendous calling, and as is usually the case, we have seen the fruit right before our eyes. We have seen souls come into the kingdom in the last few months, it has been so exciting. But the leaders have decided that the folks that have been saved most of their lives, and that have abandoned the work because they didn’t like the songs 2 weeks in a row should be the consuming (and it is going to be consuming) focus of the church’s ministry.
And all those neighbors who are destined to go to hell unless they are reached for Christ? I guess they’re not our problem!
As a shepherd I have been putting a little pressure on leaders to be spiritual leaders over God’s flock, not just buildings and rummage sales, I guess they’ve just had enough. It is a very unhealthy body, and has been since long before my time. I’m wondering if it would please God more to confront reality than to sweep it under the rug in the name of unity. Oh well, not my problem any more.
It’s hard to let go when you have been a shepherd. But as I sit here I am beginning to feel a little more liberty in my spirit, what can I do today?

I think I’ll start by listening to this:

“Your love is teaching me how to kneel” – Vertigo – U2