. . . To Protect The Guilty
I’ve been thinking about this blog for some time, as I begin writing it today I am wondering if this might prove to be a couple of blogs.
About four and a half months ago I responded to an Internet ad for a senior pastor position. As I tried checked out the church it became apparent that a headhunter had placed the ad for the church.
I was rather excited when I received a call from the headhunter and we seemed to hit it off. We had a lot in common both having left extremely conservative backgrounds; eventually we both did our Master’s degree at the same seminary (although different years).
As we discussed the church situation, I got very interested in the church and he told me that he thought I was good fit with the church and the profile that they had created. He told me he would be sending me some information about the church (their by-laws, church constitution, etc.).
Well four months have gone by and I’ve yet to receive this information. A week went by and I sent the headhunter a thank you note and mentioned that I was looking for ward to getting the information about the church. A couple of weeks went by and I dropped the headhunter an email mentioning that I had not received the information.
In all I’ve sent four follow-up emails and I’ve also called the headhunting company three time and left messages on the partner’s voicemail asking for him to let me know what the current situation was with this church. To date I have not received an email response nor a returned phone call.
What makes this situation so unique is the fact that we discussed how unfortunate it was that churches rarely responded to candidates (my personal average is 20% response). The partner explained to me that they handled a number of Fortune 500 company placements and that they did placements for churches to help them to be more professional in their approach to pastoral placements.
Apparently this headhunter is too busy dealing with his Fortune 500 customers to answer an email or return a phone call.
Obviously something has changed and this church is not the place that Father has in mind for me.
It is interesting that often churches and their leadership (and in this case those they have hired) are unable to treat others, as they would like to be treated.
A couple of years ago I was serving as an associate pastor at a church that was seeking a new senior pastor. I had our church secretary keep track of all of the pastors who sent us their resumes. I reminded our pastoral search committee and elders to let these people know what our process is and where the church is inn the process. I also encouraged them to send out either letters or emails to candidates regardless if the church was interested in continuing to pursue them or not. Common courtesy needs to be practiced. In one of Jesus’ most famous sermons he teaches on the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). What a great lesson to apply for every aspect of our lives.
Pax
Dr. Val
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Verify, Verify, Verify
My youngest daughter was home over the Thanksgiving holiday and one night we got into a discussion over an article I had read on-line. The article was on the discovery by genetic scientists who had discovered a way to create embryonic stem cells from skin cells.
What made this discussion all the more fascinating is that my daughter is in her second year of her PhD program at Duke. Her field of study is molecular genetics and microbiology. So she is much more versed on the subject than this doctor of theology. She had a hard time believing that someone had been able to devolve a cell that had already been determined in it’s life cycle to be a skin cell. This could be a major break through for science and for medicine, to say nothing of the theological implications.
My daughter questioned my source and was dismissive of the claims that are made and stories that are reported in the media today. She like many of us has little respect for the way stories are reported. Often in an attempt to be first with the news or trying to simplify the story important data is left out or not thoroughly vetted.
She wanted to know my source and the source that the news reporter used before she was willing to accept this new information. I told her that I often found interesting information on the Drudge Report. The article was listed and it came from a decent source but she googled the story and found that it had been reported in a number leading scientific journals.
As fascinating as this discovery is, I was more fascinated by my daughter’s desire to know the truth and to verify my perception of the truth. My daughter is becoming a true scientist. I hope that she is also a true Berean. That when she hears preaching she will demand the same proof from reliable sources.
As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Acts 17:10-12 (NIV)
My hope is that each of you, too, will be like the Bereans in your lives today.
Dr Val
PS If you’d like to read more about skin cells devolving into stem cells check out this article.
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/1120/1
What made this discussion all the more fascinating is that my daughter is in her second year of her PhD program at Duke. Her field of study is molecular genetics and microbiology. So she is much more versed on the subject than this doctor of theology. She had a hard time believing that someone had been able to devolve a cell that had already been determined in it’s life cycle to be a skin cell. This could be a major break through for science and for medicine, to say nothing of the theological implications.
My daughter questioned my source and was dismissive of the claims that are made and stories that are reported in the media today. She like many of us has little respect for the way stories are reported. Often in an attempt to be first with the news or trying to simplify the story important data is left out or not thoroughly vetted.
She wanted to know my source and the source that the news reporter used before she was willing to accept this new information. I told her that I often found interesting information on the Drudge Report. The article was listed and it came from a decent source but she googled the story and found that it had been reported in a number leading scientific journals.
As fascinating as this discovery is, I was more fascinated by my daughter’s desire to know the truth and to verify my perception of the truth. My daughter is becoming a true scientist. I hope that she is also a true Berean. That when she hears preaching she will demand the same proof from reliable sources.
As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Acts 17:10-12 (NIV)
My hope is that each of you, too, will be like the Bereans in your lives today.
Dr Val
PS If you’d like to read more about skin cells devolving into stem cells check out this article.
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/1120/1
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Addendum To The Truth In Labeling
It has occurred to me that there are times when we don’t hide our character issues but rather we choose to give up our rights in order to effectively minister to others. This deals with the weaker brother issue.
When the human writer Paul spoke to this issue he wanted us to be willing to give up our rights for the sake of those we seek to serve. The one exception was when this issue was a doctrinal one. For example, Paul continued to eat with Gentiles believers even when Jewish Christians complained that the Old Covenant indicated that devote Jews were not to have dealings with Gentiles. You see the New Covenant’s teaching was clear that God had broken down the walls separating Jews & Gentiles; Bond & Free; Male or Female. Those who were devoted followers of Christ became New Creations. As such they had a whole new set of relations and responsibilities.
In the past I have from time to time refrained from certain practices in some people’s presence because I did not wish to offend them. But I did not chaff at this choice, nor did I complain that my rights had been violated. I choose to willingly give up something that in reality was not nearly as important as my ability to effectively minister to the flock.
When live by my convictions, I did not hide them nor ignore them. Rather I taught what I had learned from Scripture. Praying that God would give my flock maturity to accept a teaching that was from the Lord but not from their tradition.
That’s the biggest problem with living by Grace. It is so much easier when all I had to do was live by a set of rules that man had made (often good men with the best of intentions). When faced with living in the grace that our Lord has given us, sometimes I find it harder to always know what is right. I find that I am “forced” again and again to seek the Lord’s leading.
I have also found that sometimes and in certain seasons the Spirit chooses to deal with my life in different ways than in my neighbor’s life. We must not expect that the path our Comforter decides to lead us down to be identical to others paths. Often paths diverge only to converge again down the road. Due to our own individuality we are often taught different things at different times. But the goal is always the same to be conformed to the Son’s image.
Here’s looking at Him
Dr. Val
When the human writer Paul spoke to this issue he wanted us to be willing to give up our rights for the sake of those we seek to serve. The one exception was when this issue was a doctrinal one. For example, Paul continued to eat with Gentiles believers even when Jewish Christians complained that the Old Covenant indicated that devote Jews were not to have dealings with Gentiles. You see the New Covenant’s teaching was clear that God had broken down the walls separating Jews & Gentiles; Bond & Free; Male or Female. Those who were devoted followers of Christ became New Creations. As such they had a whole new set of relations and responsibilities.
In the past I have from time to time refrained from certain practices in some people’s presence because I did not wish to offend them. But I did not chaff at this choice, nor did I complain that my rights had been violated. I choose to willingly give up something that in reality was not nearly as important as my ability to effectively minister to the flock.
When live by my convictions, I did not hide them nor ignore them. Rather I taught what I had learned from Scripture. Praying that God would give my flock maturity to accept a teaching that was from the Lord but not from their tradition.
That’s the biggest problem with living by Grace. It is so much easier when all I had to do was live by a set of rules that man had made (often good men with the best of intentions). When faced with living in the grace that our Lord has given us, sometimes I find it harder to always know what is right. I find that I am “forced” again and again to seek the Lord’s leading.
I have also found that sometimes and in certain seasons the Spirit chooses to deal with my life in different ways than in my neighbor’s life. We must not expect that the path our Comforter decides to lead us down to be identical to others paths. Often paths diverge only to converge again down the road. Due to our own individuality we are often taught different things at different times. But the goal is always the same to be conformed to the Son’s image.
Here’s looking at Him
Dr. Val
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Truth In Labeling
The government requires that the information on the labels of our food tell us exactly what is inside the package. When the label doesn’t tell the truth its possible that people could suffer an allergic reaction and in extreme situations die.
Wouldn’t be great if pastors came with labels. When pastors candidate and don’t tell the truth about their doctrinal positions, belief systems, or Christian practices their churches suffer and in the process pastors get hurt, too.
I recently ran across an article about a young pastor and his wife who were transplants from the liberal East Coast to the prairies of the conservative Midwest. The wife writes the letter sharing their frustrations and struggles serving a community with a different belief system then theirs.
But do the people who fill the pews each week really know us, my husband and me? . . . The painful, real life answer, here in the reality of our life, in the midst of the prairie winds, is no. We find that we can not [sic] be completely and wholly authentic with our church. Being in ministry, in this traditional context, allows us no such opportunity. That makes us appear to be hypocrites, to be people who tear down the notion of church rather than build up and edify all that Christ showed us it was and is to be. But, to us, the reality of life is that we live each day as a balancing act that we have to uphold in order to “fit” and to “minister” effectively. . . We were called to this church family, and they are completely unlike us. They were pre-fabricated before we came; they had their presuppositions, their lifestyles, and their ideologies set in place. We weren’t friends with them first. We were jammed into a place where we had never been before, We weren’t friends with them first. We were jammed into a place where we had never been before, in the midst of their already formed relationships.Many of our lifestyle choices, presuppositions, and ideologies do not correspond with theirs, nor that of the church affiliation. Do I think alcohol, in moderation, is wrong? Do I think smoking is bad? Do I think “bad” words are wrong? A resounding “no” to all of these. Do our congregation members know we think these things? Again, I say no.
As the preaching minister (and spouse) of a conservative rural church, we are not afforded the opportunity to be real and authentic. It would scare people; they would call us heretics, they would more than likely run us out of town and take our livelihood with them. We have been called here, for whatever purpose, and have not been afforded the opportunity or been led to be somewhere else, that more fits who we are. . . .
We have no where [sic] to be real anymore. The isolation begins to grow. We will continue to walk the balance beam, to know when to hold back, to know when to not say more or share more. We will continue to walk along on this journey, feeling somewhat empty because we can not [sic] find somewhere that we can truly call home.
Wouldn’t be great if pastors came with labels. When pastors candidate and don’t tell the truth about their doctrinal positions, belief systems, or Christian practices their churches suffer and in the process pastors get hurt, too.
I recently ran across an article about a young pastor and his wife who were transplants from the liberal East Coast to the prairies of the conservative Midwest. The wife writes the letter sharing their frustrations and struggles serving a community with a different belief system then theirs.
But do the people who fill the pews each week really know us, my husband and me? . . . The painful, real life answer, here in the reality of our life, in the midst of the prairie winds, is no. We find that we can not [sic] be completely and wholly authentic with our church. Being in ministry, in this traditional context, allows us no such opportunity. That makes us appear to be hypocrites, to be people who tear down the notion of church rather than build up and edify all that Christ showed us it was and is to be. But, to us, the reality of life is that we live each day as a balancing act that we have to uphold in order to “fit” and to “minister” effectively. . . We were called to this church family, and they are completely unlike us. They were pre-fabricated before we came; they had their presuppositions, their lifestyles, and their ideologies set in place. We weren’t friends with them first. We were jammed into a place where we had never been before, We weren’t friends with them first. We were jammed into a place where we had never been before, in the midst of their already formed relationships.Many of our lifestyle choices, presuppositions, and ideologies do not correspond with theirs, nor that of the church affiliation. Do I think alcohol, in moderation, is wrong? Do I think smoking is bad? Do I think “bad” words are wrong? A resounding “no” to all of these. Do our congregation members know we think these things? Again, I say no.
As the preaching minister (and spouse) of a conservative rural church, we are not afforded the opportunity to be real and authentic. It would scare people; they would call us heretics, they would more than likely run us out of town and take our livelihood with them. We have been called here, for whatever purpose, and have not been afforded the opportunity or been led to be somewhere else, that more fits who we are. . . .
We have no where [sic] to be real anymore. The isolation begins to grow. We will continue to walk the balance beam, to know when to hold back, to know when to not say more or share more. We will continue to walk along on this journey, feeling somewhat empty because we can not [sic] find somewhere that we can truly call home.
http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=1386 accessed 11-10-2007.
You can’t help but feel for this wife and her husband. I know the feeling of being trapped in a ministry where you don’t fit. It is disheartening, discouraging and often debilitating.
Yes, I know that this couple believes that God called them to this ministry. I can’t help but wonder if these folks missed something. It appears that they were more interested in finding a place to minister rather then finding the place where God wanted them to be. They were willing to obfuscate the truth of their Christian walk to gain the opportunity to minister.
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor. 4:1-2 (NIV)
Believers are commanded to speak the truth to members of the body
16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; Zechariah 8:16 (NIV)
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)
I understand their desire to minister and the temptation to omit some of their personal convictions to gain a ministry. It’s easy to fall into this trap.
Having to hide your true beliefs will not only be chaffing it will ultimately cause you to hate your ministry.
My most effective ministries have been those that I owned up to my potential doctrinal differences, Christian convictions, ministry goals, and values.
I remember one such ministry where during the interview process I was asked my position on using contemporary praise and worship music in the services. I thought to myself “Oh brother, here we go. This should shut down this interview pretty quickly!”
After explaining why I would use contemporary P&W music I sat back and waited to here their reaction. The search committee chairman eagerly exclaimed, “Great! When can you start?”
Over the next 9 years when some people questioned our use of this style of music I was able to remind them that I had been honest with them from the beginning. I had not hidden anything from them and had no secret agenda. . I ministered in integrity and I believe that God blessed our ministry in a miraculous way.
17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but a false witness tells lies. Proverbs 12:17 (NIV)
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:14 (NIV)
Sometimes it’s hard to be true to your convictions.
It’s tempting to shave the truth so I can get busy ministering (forgetting that I am ministering where I am while I wait for Father to launch me into His next place to serve.
I am waiting on the Lord to open a new ministry in His time and like in the past, I’m going to be true to what God has taught me. I’m looking forward to sharing with you and the new ministry he has in mind for me.
Until then I’ll try to continue to speak the truth in love.
Dr. Val
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
In the America we celebrate a national day of thanksgiving. While this is a civil holiday, the roots of this celebration can be traced back to the pilgrims that founded the Plymouth Colony. These men and women set a day aside to thank their Creator for the providence that he had provided them during their first year in the New World.
Thanksgiving and praise are related in God’s economy. The later refers to our appreciation for who God is while the former refers to our appreciation and gratitude for what he has provided for us.
This week I want to encourage you to spend 5 minutes each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day to practice a eucharistic lifestyle and track your attitude.
Now I know that some of our Protestant tribes are skittish about this word (Eucharist), it is simply the transliteration of the Greek word eucharistÃa. We translate this word as thanksgiving. Some Christian tribes have infused this word with more meaning then the writers of Scriptures originally meant it to have.
I believe that as we begin to live a thankful life especially as we reflect on the greatest gift that God gave to us through His Son. We celebrate this gift when we participate in Communion. This is the embodiment of the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest gift received from God, the sacrifice of Jesus. Out of this flows the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies we have received.
In reflecting on the greatest gift ever given, we will find that we become a more grateful person. You will grow closer to Father and through that growth you will grow closer to those around you.
So during this time I want to encourage you to “Count Your Blessings”. It will change your lives and after all the writer Paul told us. . .
Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18 (NIV)
God does not tell us to thank Him for the circumstances but to give thanks in the midst of our circumstances. God is faithful with His presence and power during difficult times in our lives.
Have a great Thanksgiving
Pastor Val
Thanksgiving and praise are related in God’s economy. The later refers to our appreciation for who God is while the former refers to our appreciation and gratitude for what he has provided for us.
This week I want to encourage you to spend 5 minutes each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day to practice a eucharistic lifestyle and track your attitude.
Now I know that some of our Protestant tribes are skittish about this word (Eucharist), it is simply the transliteration of the Greek word eucharistÃa. We translate this word as thanksgiving. Some Christian tribes have infused this word with more meaning then the writers of Scriptures originally meant it to have.
I believe that as we begin to live a thankful life especially as we reflect on the greatest gift that God gave to us through His Son. We celebrate this gift when we participate in Communion. This is the embodiment of the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest gift received from God, the sacrifice of Jesus. Out of this flows the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies we have received.
In reflecting on the greatest gift ever given, we will find that we become a more grateful person. You will grow closer to Father and through that growth you will grow closer to those around you.
So during this time I want to encourage you to “Count Your Blessings”. It will change your lives and after all the writer Paul told us. . .
Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18 (NIV)
God does not tell us to thank Him for the circumstances but to give thanks in the midst of our circumstances. God is faithful with His presence and power during difficult times in our lives.
Have a great Thanksgiving
Pastor Val
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Anonymous
I received an interesting comment responding to one of my latest posts. And I feel compelled to address it.
Hi Anonymous,
I want to thank you for your response and the transparency that you were willing to share with me. I can hear the hurt and frustration that you are living with.
As to the specific allegations, I won’t speculate on them for a number of reasons.
1. I have no knowledge of the situation at your church (and neither do most of us).
2. We have only heard one side of this situation (There are always at least two and we have no way of knowing how information is accurate. The possibility exists that there are more facts then we are aware of at this point).
3. Scripture tells us not accept an accusations against an elder except there be two or three witnesses (1 Tim 5:19).
4. I don’t want to create controversy or gossip (2 Cor. 12:20).
Since I cannot be a part of the solution I won’t be a part of the problem.
I will simply say that I have known many good leaders and they are still human. So we need to all pray for our leaders and remember that we have a Leader who will never fail us or disappoint us. So keep your eyes focused on Him!
I’d like to address in general the concerns that Anonymous brought up.
Obviously Anonymous you are hurting regarding the situation.
I understand your frustration and anger. I’ve experienced similar feelings myself from time to time.
None of us are happy when we feel that an injustice has been done to family, our friends, or us. If this is your situation, I am so sorry that you are experiencing what appears to be a difficult season in your life. Those of us who have lived the Christian life for any length of time know that life is not always fair. God never promised that following Christ would be easy or fair. The Apostle Paul at times suffered because of other believers and Jesus told us that we should expect no better treatment then He received while He was here on earth. 2 Tim 4 also tells us that some men’s sin precedes them to the judgment and some follow after them.
I’d like to offer several thoughts to help you as you work through this situation:
1. Ultimately God is in control. (If it was God’s will to have a different under-shepherd in any local community He could easily replace them)
2. Each of us serves at the pleasure of our King and occasionally he chooses to move us (Sometimes we’re just a little slow in understanding His leading. I’ve had the proverbial two by four smack me upside the head because I failed to follow God’s leading when He wanted me to move to a new ministry).
3. God has a plan and his plan revolves around the advancement of His kingdom and glory
God’s desire is for each of us to mature and at times this means that we grow through times of deep spiritual pain and grief.
4. God works things out for our good. (Just remember that often our definition of good and God’s definition differ.)
5. God promises to provide for all of our needs.
Now I know that these thoughts are easy to say, harder to hold close. Yes there have been times when I have railed against what I perceive as the injustice of serving our King. And then I’m reminded that it’s not about me and it’s not about my idea of justice. (I’m reminded that often God’s thoughts and ways don’t jive with mine) As we grow in Christian maturity we learn to accept God’s plan for our lives.
The probability is that the situation that you wrote about did not happen to you personally. And that brings up another set of issues.
God’s desire is for believers to live in harmony and unity. You see, when someone has wronged us or we have wronged them, God provided steps for us to bring about reconciliation and restoration for the parties involved.
But when we are not the injured or injuring party we have not really been harmed. When we become involved and choose sides we are taking up someone else’s offense. God does not provide teaching on how to be reconciled when we are not involved in the situation. We are stuck with feeling and no way to resolve them. We are forced to abandon our feelings, which is a very difficult thing to do. The ancient poet of Israel speaks to this very issue in Psalm 15. The ancient Rabbis believed that each verse was like a multifaceted gem and must be looked at all sides to fully see what the verse is telling us. Verse 3 in this Psalm can also be read to not take up someone else’s cause.
A final series of comments needs to be addressed to those of us in spiritual leadership. We are called to be servant leaders to emulate our Great Shepherd. Often it seems that we fail miserably to think as servants to the entire body (this includes staff members, too).
To often we have seen pastors deal with issues in a non-servant way. Remember we are called to the service of the basin and towel.
When we make decisions we need to remember that these decisions affect the entire body. After all when any part of the body hurts the entire body is affected. It is necessary to speak the truth and address painful issues with as much discretion as possible to limit the pain to the body but with as much transparency to help the body to heal.
May God grant you peace and the strength to stay under this testing that God is using you to conform you to His Son’s image.
Blessings,
Pastor Val
Hi Anonymous,
I want to thank you for your response and the transparency that you were willing to share with me. I can hear the hurt and frustration that you are living with.
As to the specific allegations, I won’t speculate on them for a number of reasons.
1. I have no knowledge of the situation at your church (and neither do most of us).
2. We have only heard one side of this situation (There are always at least two and we have no way of knowing how information is accurate. The possibility exists that there are more facts then we are aware of at this point).
3. Scripture tells us not accept an accusations against an elder except there be two or three witnesses (1 Tim 5:19).
4. I don’t want to create controversy or gossip (2 Cor. 12:20).
Since I cannot be a part of the solution I won’t be a part of the problem.
I will simply say that I have known many good leaders and they are still human. So we need to all pray for our leaders and remember that we have a Leader who will never fail us or disappoint us. So keep your eyes focused on Him!
I’d like to address in general the concerns that Anonymous brought up.
Obviously Anonymous you are hurting regarding the situation.
I understand your frustration and anger. I’ve experienced similar feelings myself from time to time.
None of us are happy when we feel that an injustice has been done to family, our friends, or us. If this is your situation, I am so sorry that you are experiencing what appears to be a difficult season in your life. Those of us who have lived the Christian life for any length of time know that life is not always fair. God never promised that following Christ would be easy or fair. The Apostle Paul at times suffered because of other believers and Jesus told us that we should expect no better treatment then He received while He was here on earth. 2 Tim 4 also tells us that some men’s sin precedes them to the judgment and some follow after them.
I’d like to offer several thoughts to help you as you work through this situation:
1. Ultimately God is in control. (If it was God’s will to have a different under-shepherd in any local community He could easily replace them)
2. Each of us serves at the pleasure of our King and occasionally he chooses to move us (Sometimes we’re just a little slow in understanding His leading. I’ve had the proverbial two by four smack me upside the head because I failed to follow God’s leading when He wanted me to move to a new ministry).
3. God has a plan and his plan revolves around the advancement of His kingdom and glory
God’s desire is for each of us to mature and at times this means that we grow through times of deep spiritual pain and grief.
4. God works things out for our good. (Just remember that often our definition of good and God’s definition differ.)
5. God promises to provide for all of our needs.
Now I know that these thoughts are easy to say, harder to hold close. Yes there have been times when I have railed against what I perceive as the injustice of serving our King. And then I’m reminded that it’s not about me and it’s not about my idea of justice. (I’m reminded that often God’s thoughts and ways don’t jive with mine) As we grow in Christian maturity we learn to accept God’s plan for our lives.
The probability is that the situation that you wrote about did not happen to you personally. And that brings up another set of issues.
God’s desire is for believers to live in harmony and unity. You see, when someone has wronged us or we have wronged them, God provided steps for us to bring about reconciliation and restoration for the parties involved.
But when we are not the injured or injuring party we have not really been harmed. When we become involved and choose sides we are taking up someone else’s offense. God does not provide teaching on how to be reconciled when we are not involved in the situation. We are stuck with feeling and no way to resolve them. We are forced to abandon our feelings, which is a very difficult thing to do. The ancient poet of Israel speaks to this very issue in Psalm 15. The ancient Rabbis believed that each verse was like a multifaceted gem and must be looked at all sides to fully see what the verse is telling us. Verse 3 in this Psalm can also be read to not take up someone else’s cause.
A final series of comments needs to be addressed to those of us in spiritual leadership. We are called to be servant leaders to emulate our Great Shepherd. Often it seems that we fail miserably to think as servants to the entire body (this includes staff members, too).
To often we have seen pastors deal with issues in a non-servant way. Remember we are called to the service of the basin and towel.
When we make decisions we need to remember that these decisions affect the entire body. After all when any part of the body hurts the entire body is affected. It is necessary to speak the truth and address painful issues with as much discretion as possible to limit the pain to the body but with as much transparency to help the body to heal.
May God grant you peace and the strength to stay under this testing that God is using you to conform you to His Son’s image.
Blessings,
Pastor Val
Monday, November 12, 2007
I’ve Been Terminated!
Yes, I’m done! I received the notification last night.
Jim Cymbala in his book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire laments that he does not have a seminary degree. When asked if one is needed to be a pastor he assures us that it is not. But if you don’t have an advanced degree, he recommends that your read, read and read some more.
Eight years ago I stared out on a journey that began as an opportunity to alleviate boredom. I was between ministries and I had promised my daughters that I would not seek a ministry outside of the Detroit area until they were out of high school. (Since then I’ve served in two local ministries)
To pass the time I enrolled at Liberty Baptist Seminary and earned my master’s degree in a little less than 5 years. By that time I had found a doctoral program that intrigued me and so 3 years ago I began my doctoral studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. The degree I pursued was a theological one centered in worship and spiritual formation with an emphasis of looking at future with the lens of the ancient past.
Last night I received notification that my thesis was accepted and I am now a doctor of the church. Because doctoral degrees are terminal (think the highest or final degree one can receive, not lost jobs or death), it is traditional in academia that upon acceptance of your thesis or dissertation to claim the doctoral title. The actual ceremony and hooding will actually take place until next June.
Over the past few years I’ve had time to reflect on my reasons for pursuing higher degrees.
Here are some of them:
1. I was bored. (Now what will I do?)
2. I once lost out on a “job” because I did not have a seminary degree. (Now I’m probably over qualified!)
3. While I had done a tremendous amount of study and reading (like Jim Cymbala) some people refused to give credence to my teaching. (They’ll probably still ignore it!)
4. I found that I enjoyed learning.
5. I really like to read. (I’ve found that I’m a passable writer, too.)
6. I’ve discovered that the more I’ve learned the more questions I have and the more areas I’d like to study.
7. God has especially used the doctorate to prepare me for the next phase of my ministry (preaching, teaching and leading a church).
A learned man once said that an expert is a person who knows more and more about less and less.
I guess I now qualify as one of those people!
Dr. Val
Jim Cymbala in his book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire laments that he does not have a seminary degree. When asked if one is needed to be a pastor he assures us that it is not. But if you don’t have an advanced degree, he recommends that your read, read and read some more.
Eight years ago I stared out on a journey that began as an opportunity to alleviate boredom. I was between ministries and I had promised my daughters that I would not seek a ministry outside of the Detroit area until they were out of high school. (Since then I’ve served in two local ministries)
To pass the time I enrolled at Liberty Baptist Seminary and earned my master’s degree in a little less than 5 years. By that time I had found a doctoral program that intrigued me and so 3 years ago I began my doctoral studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. The degree I pursued was a theological one centered in worship and spiritual formation with an emphasis of looking at future with the lens of the ancient past.
Last night I received notification that my thesis was accepted and I am now a doctor of the church. Because doctoral degrees are terminal (think the highest or final degree one can receive, not lost jobs or death), it is traditional in academia that upon acceptance of your thesis or dissertation to claim the doctoral title. The actual ceremony and hooding will actually take place until next June.
Over the past few years I’ve had time to reflect on my reasons for pursuing higher degrees.
Here are some of them:
1. I was bored. (Now what will I do?)
2. I once lost out on a “job” because I did not have a seminary degree. (Now I’m probably over qualified!)
3. While I had done a tremendous amount of study and reading (like Jim Cymbala) some people refused to give credence to my teaching. (They’ll probably still ignore it!)
4. I found that I enjoyed learning.
5. I really like to read. (I’ve found that I’m a passable writer, too.)
6. I’ve discovered that the more I’ve learned the more questions I have and the more areas I’d like to study.
7. God has especially used the doctorate to prepare me for the next phase of my ministry (preaching, teaching and leading a church).
A learned man once said that an expert is a person who knows more and more about less and less.
I guess I now qualify as one of those people!
Dr. Val
Honoring Our Citizen Soldiers
Today we honor the men and women of the armed services. We acknowledge their patriotism and self-sacrifice to protect us. For over 230 years these brave patriots have answered the call of our country and many have laid down their lives for our protection. We salute their sacrifice and ask God’s grace on the families of those who have lost loved ones.
Many of us have given sons and daughters and friends who have willingly laid down their lives in the service of our country. One dear friend of mine lost his son a year ago in Iraq. I can testify as to the devastation that it brings upon a family. I honor this son and the entire family on this day that we honor our citizens in uniform (professional or otherwise).
May God grant them solace and grace in a special way today!
I hope you have sensed my heart and the respect and tribute that I give to our people in uniform. And I take nothing away from them today.
But on days like today I am moved to think of my dual citizenship and of those who have served in the service of our King. I wish that my fellow dual citizens could find a way to honor those veterans who have faithfully served our King and Kingdom. Some have served with distinction but have never been honored, remembered or even known.
While it would be nice to recognize their dedicated service here in the embassies around the world, perhaps that recognition won’t happen until we all get to go home and celebrate in the capital with the King.
Until that fateful day,
May God grant each of us solace and grace in a special way today!
Pastor Val
Many of us have given sons and daughters and friends who have willingly laid down their lives in the service of our country. One dear friend of mine lost his son a year ago in Iraq. I can testify as to the devastation that it brings upon a family. I honor this son and the entire family on this day that we honor our citizens in uniform (professional or otherwise).
May God grant them solace and grace in a special way today!
I hope you have sensed my heart and the respect and tribute that I give to our people in uniform. And I take nothing away from them today.
But on days like today I am moved to think of my dual citizenship and of those who have served in the service of our King. I wish that my fellow dual citizens could find a way to honor those veterans who have faithfully served our King and Kingdom. Some have served with distinction but have never been honored, remembered or even known.
While it would be nice to recognize their dedicated service here in the embassies around the world, perhaps that recognition won’t happen until we all get to go home and celebrate in the capital with the King.
Until that fateful day,
May God grant each of us solace and grace in a special way today!
Pastor Val
Friday, November 9, 2007
Water Pt Deux
I wanted to continue my thoughts on water from a recent blog.
Here is an excerpt from an article from MondayMorningInsight.com that they posted back in September.
An amazing thing happened a couple weeks ago. It was the opening day of the University of Central Florida’s new football stadium. This new $55 million dollar facility is a beauty. It has seats for over 43,000 screaming football fans, and on this day, every seat was filled. But something wasn’t right at the first game ever played in the stadium just outside Orlando. People were fainting. Actually, over a dozen people needed to be treated on this not surprisingly hot day in central Florida. According to news reports, emergency workers passed out free cups of water, but the hot temperatures were just too much for some people. Sounds like a sad story. Things like this happen on hot days. What’s so amazing about this story? I’m glad you asked...
You see, the new $55 million dollar facility was built with no water fountains. Not one. According to a local fire official, “We don’t have water fountains on the property here. So going to the water stations and making purchases of water or bringing bottled water with you is paramount.”
The obvious question is: “How do you build such a massive facility (in Orlando, FL of all places) and not allow for hydration of the 40,000+ people who will be utilizing the facility?” When you add the fact that there were no water fountains, the reality that people suffered from heat exhaustion is suddenly much less surprising. The stadium actually ran out of the $3.00 bottled waters from vendors as well. The University has openly apologized for ‘underestimating the need for water’.
I also know a mega church that built an auditorium that seats over 2000 and has only one drinking fountain in the lobby. Doesn’t sound like a problem until you have a sold out crowd for a concert on a hot summer night and no other source of water available to the audience. Planning is everything when you build a new facility, regardless if it’s a stadium or an auditorium.
You see when it comes right down to it, the church is in the water business. Only we don’t serve up just refreshment that comes from water fountains, we offer the Living Water that Jesus talks about in John 4. The type of water that we offer causes people to, as Jesus puts it, ‘never thirst again’.
When we think about our responsibility as Christ followers to provide fountains of this living water the question that comes to mind is why are there no lines outside of the majority of our churches to receive this water that quenches thirst?
Could it be that we are doing a poor job of letting people know that we have life giving water? (John 7:37-39; Rev. 21:6; 22:17)
Could it be that we are hoarding our water, fearing a drought? (Lamentations 5:4)
Could it be that we’ve polluted our fountains? (James 3:9-12)
Could it be that we have limited fountains in our churches? (2 Kings 2:19-21)
Maybe we need to get back to offering a cup of water in our Lord’s name? (Matt 10:42)
When will we realize that there a lot of thirsty people around us that are dying for lack of water?
Have a drink on me
Pastor Val
Here is an excerpt from an article from MondayMorningInsight.com that they posted back in September.
An amazing thing happened a couple weeks ago. It was the opening day of the University of Central Florida’s new football stadium. This new $55 million dollar facility is a beauty. It has seats for over 43,000 screaming football fans, and on this day, every seat was filled. But something wasn’t right at the first game ever played in the stadium just outside Orlando. People were fainting. Actually, over a dozen people needed to be treated on this not surprisingly hot day in central Florida. According to news reports, emergency workers passed out free cups of water, but the hot temperatures were just too much for some people. Sounds like a sad story. Things like this happen on hot days. What’s so amazing about this story? I’m glad you asked...
You see, the new $55 million dollar facility was built with no water fountains. Not one. According to a local fire official, “We don’t have water fountains on the property here. So going to the water stations and making purchases of water or bringing bottled water with you is paramount.”
The obvious question is: “How do you build such a massive facility (in Orlando, FL of all places) and not allow for hydration of the 40,000+ people who will be utilizing the facility?” When you add the fact that there were no water fountains, the reality that people suffered from heat exhaustion is suddenly much less surprising. The stadium actually ran out of the $3.00 bottled waters from vendors as well. The University has openly apologized for ‘underestimating the need for water’.
I also know a mega church that built an auditorium that seats over 2000 and has only one drinking fountain in the lobby. Doesn’t sound like a problem until you have a sold out crowd for a concert on a hot summer night and no other source of water available to the audience. Planning is everything when you build a new facility, regardless if it’s a stadium or an auditorium.
You see when it comes right down to it, the church is in the water business. Only we don’t serve up just refreshment that comes from water fountains, we offer the Living Water that Jesus talks about in John 4. The type of water that we offer causes people to, as Jesus puts it, ‘never thirst again’.
When we think about our responsibility as Christ followers to provide fountains of this living water the question that comes to mind is why are there no lines outside of the majority of our churches to receive this water that quenches thirst?
Could it be that we are doing a poor job of letting people know that we have life giving water? (John 7:37-39; Rev. 21:6; 22:17)
Could it be that we are hoarding our water, fearing a drought? (Lamentations 5:4)
Could it be that we’ve polluted our fountains? (James 3:9-12)
Could it be that we have limited fountains in our churches? (2 Kings 2:19-21)
Maybe we need to get back to offering a cup of water in our Lord’s name? (Matt 10:42)
When will we realize that there a lot of thirsty people around us that are dying for lack of water?
Have a drink on me
Pastor Val
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Life in the Fast Lane
At 10:50 PM last night I got one of those calls that every parent dreads.
“Your daughter has been in an accident. She is all right, a little banged up but she’d like you to come to the scene.”
Her mother and I quickly jumped into the car and drove the 3 and one half miles up the road to check on our daughter.
She had been in her car stopped and waiting to turn into her friend’s sub when she was rear-ended. The car looked totaled to my untrained eyes.
We took her to the emergence room at the hospital. After a couple of x-rays, a cat scan and a doctor’s examination, we finally left the hospital.
She’s a little so banged up and in a neck brace but she’s home!
At times like these I am reminded of how fragile life is and how gracious Father is in taking care of our loved ones and us.
Things like cars can be replaced but family members can never be replaced.
Father, thanks for watching over our oldest last night. I know you are trying to get her attention. (She knows it, too.) I just pray that she won’t prove to be as dense as her old man is sometimes.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Amen
Pastor Val
“Your daughter has been in an accident. She is all right, a little banged up but she’d like you to come to the scene.”
Her mother and I quickly jumped into the car and drove the 3 and one half miles up the road to check on our daughter.
She had been in her car stopped and waiting to turn into her friend’s sub when she was rear-ended. The car looked totaled to my untrained eyes.
We took her to the emergence room at the hospital. After a couple of x-rays, a cat scan and a doctor’s examination, we finally left the hospital.
She’s a little so banged up and in a neck brace but she’s home!
At times like these I am reminded of how fragile life is and how gracious Father is in taking care of our loved ones and us.
Things like cars can be replaced but family members can never be replaced.
Father, thanks for watching over our oldest last night. I know you are trying to get her attention. (She knows it, too.) I just pray that she won’t prove to be as dense as her old man is sometimes.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Amen
Pastor Val
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Water
It seems almost impossible that there would be a shortage of fresh water in America, but it’s happening.
“The severe drought tightening like a vise across the Southeast has threatened the water supply of cities large and small, sending politicians scrambling for solutions. But Orme, about 40 miles west of Chattanooga and 150 miles northwest of Atlanta, is a town where the worst-case scenario has already come to pass: The water has run out.”
“Three days a week, the volunteer fire chief hops in a 1961 fire truck at 5:30 a.m. - before the school bus blocks the narrow road - and drives a few miles to an Alabama fire hydrant. He meets with another truck from nearby New Hope, Ala. The two drivers make about a dozen runs back and forth, hauling about 20,000 gallons of water from the hydrant to Orme's tank.”
For three hours each night the residents of this small town have running water. Each evening the mayor turns on the tap for the 145 people who live in Orme TN.
Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071102/D8SLGBV05.html
For many around the world lack of water has always been the norm.
But did you know...
1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply - approximately one in six people on earth. (1)
2.6 billion people in the world lack access to improved sanitation. (1)
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. (2)
A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water. (3)
A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive. (4, 5)
The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day. (6, 7)The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day. (7)
Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. (1)
Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher. (8, 9)
Every $1 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained. (1)
Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water live on less $2 a day. (1)
Poor people living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more for per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. (1)
Source: http://www.water.org/waterpartners.aspx?pgID=916
“The severe drought tightening like a vise across the Southeast has threatened the water supply of cities large and small, sending politicians scrambling for solutions. But Orme, about 40 miles west of Chattanooga and 150 miles northwest of Atlanta, is a town where the worst-case scenario has already come to pass: The water has run out.”
“Three days a week, the volunteer fire chief hops in a 1961 fire truck at 5:30 a.m. - before the school bus blocks the narrow road - and drives a few miles to an Alabama fire hydrant. He meets with another truck from nearby New Hope, Ala. The two drivers make about a dozen runs back and forth, hauling about 20,000 gallons of water from the hydrant to Orme's tank.”
For three hours each night the residents of this small town have running water. Each evening the mayor turns on the tap for the 145 people who live in Orme TN.
Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071102/D8SLGBV05.html
For many around the world lack of water has always been the norm.
But did you know...
1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply - approximately one in six people on earth. (1)
2.6 billion people in the world lack access to improved sanitation. (1)
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. (2)
A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water. (3)
A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive. (4, 5)
The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day. (6, 7)The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day. (7)
Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. (1)
Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher. (8, 9)
Every $1 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained. (1)
Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water live on less $2 a day. (1)
Poor people living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more for per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. (1)
Source: http://www.water.org/waterpartners.aspx?pgID=916
The ancient poet told of how his soul longs for God much like a deer panted for the cool clean water of a brook (Psalm 42:1). So our soul will be thirsty for God. Jesus proclaims himself the fountain of living water in John 4. Water is often associated with the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 4:3-4) and the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9).
Spiritually there are times when we endure drought, sometimes of our making, and other times by God’s plan to conform us into His image.
How are you doing today? Are you going through a time of drought? Are you thirsty to know God and not just know about Him?
Can I offer you a cool drink?
Pastor Val
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