Life in HD

2011-12-29T11:38:00.001-08:00

help us finish well....

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. Exodus 36:3

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON END OF THE YEAR GIVING

We are thankful for those of you who sacrificially give to support the preaching of the Gospel of God's Grace financially. I hope you know that you are an integral part in the birth of a miracle called Worship Life Calvary Chapel. It has been said where God guides, He provides. But it has also been said that He provides through His people. That's where you and I come in. As you prepare to make your year-end gift, please keep in mind that you can receive tax benefits as long as we receive your gift by the following cut off dates in compliance with current tax laws. Here are the guidelines:

Online: Online gifts must be submitted before 11:00pm on December 31. All online gifts submitted after 11:00pm on that date will be credited to 2012. CLICK HERE TO GIVE ONLINE

Cash, check, and money order gifts sent by mail: These must be postmarked AND dated in 2011. Mail postmarked and checks dated in 2012 will NOT be credited to your 2011 giving statement. CLICK HERE FOR OUR MAILING ADDRESS

Additional Methods Of Giving can include...

Gifts of Appreciated Stocks of Bonds
Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of Life Insurance (naming Worship Life as the benficiary)
Income Life Gifts
Bequests

The ministry of Worship Life touches over 28 countries through our webcast, podcast and online streaming. But more importantly, you are making a difference locally in South Orange County. Thank you for giving sacrificially to support the work of this ministry. We are a local church with a global vision. Your prayer and financial support are an encouragement to us and a blessing to all those around the world who hear the preaching of the Gospel of God's Grace through Worship Life Calvary Chapel San Clemente.

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LIFE @ Worship Life Calvary Chapel San Clemente

CHRISTMAS IS ON THE WAY....

2011-11-26T21:45:00.001-08:00

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." (Luke 2:10)

As I've spent time with you all, I've heard the same thing said over and over again... here comes the busiest time of year. When I worked in the horticultural industry, we would ship 200,000 poinsettia plants between Thanksgiving and the 2nd week of December. I was lucky to even get a few days off to get married. My favorite time of year was quickly swallowed up in the commercial busy-ness of the season. I even began to relate to old Scrooge and the Grinch. What do you do when you get overtaken like that? You pause for a moment and reflect on what it used to mean and you allow the Spirit to return you heart back to simpler days.

For me, I remember watching the great Christmas programs like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch That Stole Christmas. But my two favorite shows of all were Scrooge and The Little Drummer Boy. I loved Scrooge because it was the story of redemption. It reminded me every year that no one was too far gone for God to reach. It reminded me that God's grace was greatest shown at Christmas because it was the time of year when God drew near to man. I loved The Little Drummer Boy because it was the story of a little boy who was too poor to buy a gift for the King of Kings and so he simply gave the only thing he had - himself. That turned out to be the best gift of all.

I have another reason why I love Christmas. Because on December 17, 1983 I married Roxie, the love of my life. We dedicated our marriage and our family to the Lord and today we are happy to say that all our kids know Jesus. We're not perfect and we have many flaws, but we have Jesus and His grace is sufficient. This year we celebrate 28 years of marriage and the best is yet to come.

Our prayer for you this holiday season is that you will PAUSE, take a step back and reflect on the things that really matter. Reflect on the fact that you're sins are forgiven, God's love and favor is on you. Reflect on your family and friendships. Reflect on God's faithfulness over the years and especially remember the lost, the least and the forgotten.

We are webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO. JUST FOR FUN... I WROTE A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG CALLED IT'S CHRISTMASTIME.

Roxie and I are praying for you...

Blessings

P.HD

BUILDING UPDATE
We are continuing to receive donations for our building fund. If you would like to give, please place your donation in a white envelope and mark it BUILDING FUND on Sunday mornings. We have a new target amount of $ 130,000. God has provided through the congregation at Worship Life approximately half of what we need. Please understand that this is above your normal tithes and offerings to the church.

RADIO PROGRAM UPDATE
We are thankful for the opportunity to broadcast the gospel on a weekly basis on KWVE 107.9 FM. However we have made the decision to make December 24 our last program unless the Lord provides. We are still available on KIHL 103.7 FM in Hawaii and we will continue the Worship Life Radio podcast on iTunes. If the Lord is leading you to support the continued work on KWVE, please speak with Pastor Holland.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving from your familly at worship life

Roxie and I continue to be amazed at God's goodness in our lives. We are thankful for our family, our friends, our health. We are thankful for God's provision and grace and we are thankful for each of you who make up our extended family at Worship Life Calvary Chapel San Clemente. May God bless you richly this Thanksgiving and may you know His love that knows no bounds.. P.HD

PAUSE AND SAY THANKS

2011-11-19T19:06:00.000-08:00

PAUSE AND SAY THANKS...

“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

In a few days we'll be joining family and friends for Thanksgiving. I read recently that Thanksgiving is known for two things - Food and Football. Seems like a far cry from it's intended purpose of thanking God for His protection and provision. It was Abraham Lincoln that made the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, but the very first Thanksgiving took place many years earlier when the first pilgrims survived a brutal winter and in the nick of time received much needed supplies from England. They simply gathered around a table and thanked God for saving them. When I think of the abundance of supplies we have in our modern culture today, we have much to be thankful for.

I'd like to issue a Thanksgiving Challange. From now until Thanksgiving, I want to challange you to find something to thank God for every day. Especially when difficulty comes. Maybe it's a cloudy day. Thank God that not every day is cloudy. Maybe it's a challenging neighbor. Thank God for the opportunity to show unconditional love. Maybe you burned the Thanksgiving dinner. Thank God that you'll get to the dessert sooner. See what will happen in your hearts and minds if you would turn every negative situation into a time of giving thanks.

We are webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...

Blessings

P.HD

BUILDING UPDATE
We are continuing to receive donations for our building fund. If you would like to give, please place your donation in a white envelope and mark it BUILDING FUND on Sunday mornings. Please understand that this is above your normal tithes and offerings to the church.

RADIO PROGRAM UPDATE
We are thankful for the opportunity to broadcast the gospel on a weekly basis on KWVE 107.9 FM. However, the principle we operate on is where God guides He provides. We have finances to support the program through the end of the year. If you are interested in continuing to support the program, please send your donations to Worship Life Calvary Chapel, PO Box 5946, San Clemente, CA. 92674 and make sure you write that it's for Worship Life Radio. You can contribute Sunday mornings and write it on an envelope for Worship Life Radio as well. We want to be good stewards with what God has given us.

Boycott Villa Ford of Orange

2011-11-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

Today, Ford repossessed my sons car. I am so upset at the Villa Ford Dealership in Orange. My son was diagnosed as mentally ill several years back. He barely lives on his Social Security Check. When his grandfather died he was given his truck. It was in great shape. It gave him the ability to have transportation without a car payment. During one of his psychotic episodes, the Villa Ford Dealership in Orange took his grandfather's truck on trade and slapped him with a $400.00 a month car payment. They said that his Social Security Check - which is given by the government for food and shelter only - was counted as income. Additionally, at the time he was homeless. Apparently, Ford Credit company will give someone a $ 400.00 a month car payment with no income and no address and living on SSI. We contacted Ford Credit to get some kind of help and they could offer nothing. We contacted the dealership and they said we were out of luck. What kind of company takes advantage of a mentally ill person on SSI? Now they are telling us the car is repossessed and my son - who is on SSI - is now responsible for the difference of the loan to what they sell the car for. I am incensed by the salesmen that are so greedy for gain that they would take advantage of the downtrodden and now Ford Credit is going to further burden the poor and helpless with a bill he will never be able to pay back? Whoever runs the Ford Corporation needs to take a hard look at the people they allow to represent them on a dealership level. This is an outrage.

P.HD.

So God Gave You A Song

2011-11-05T14:08:00.002-07:00

HERE IS AN ARTICLE I ORIGINALLY WROTE FOR TECHNOLOGIES FOR WORSHIP MAGAZINE...

There is no doubt that we are living in one of the most prolific and creative times for worship music in the history of Christianity. It reminds me of something a pastor once told me... during times of spiritual awakening there is a renewed passion for God’s Word, a changed lifestyle devoted to prayer and the outpouring of new worship songs. We see evidence of this outpouring and focus on songs of praise via the proliferation of worship songs making their way on top 40 radio charts, the advent of top selling “worship” artists and even the rise of independent websites devoted to providing new distribution channels for the song of faith. Worship even made the stage of American Idol as battling contestants joined together to sing Shout To The Lord.

PANELISTS

Rick Cua
Recording Artist
rickcua.com
Franklin, TN
Rick was a member of a successful mainstream rock group, The Outlaws, then continued for more than 15 years as a Christian recording artist, serving for more than 5 years as an executive of EMI Christian Music Publishing, and 16 years as an ordained minister. He released 11 albums, with six #1 songs and nine Top 5 hits, and a Dove Award nomination.

Holland Davis
Assistant Pastor
Ocean Hills Community Church
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Holland Davis is an award winning and Platinum selling songwriter and worship leader. He is the director of Worship Life, Inc. and the founder of www.worshipsong.com

Brian Doerksen
Teaching Pastor/Worship Arts
The Bridge
Abbotsford, BC
A Canadian recording artist, songwriter and producer, Brian helped plant a new interdenominational church called ‘The Bridge’ in Abbotsford BC. October 2007 at the GMA Covenant Awards, Brian was nominated for 6 categories and received awards in all 6 categories. In April 2008, Brian received the Canadian Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

Joel Engle
Lead Pastor
The Exchange
Keller, TX
For over 20 years, Joel Engle has traveled the world leading worship and teaching the Bible. Joel has written and recorded many songs that have been heard on the radio, sung in churches and recorded by other artists.

Rick Founds
Worship Leader/Songwriter
Rick Founds Music
Fallbrook, CA
Rick Founds has been leading worship since he was fourteen years of age. He has authored numerous songs that are used every week in church services worldwide. Some titles include: “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”, “I Love Your Grace”, Jesus, Mighty God”, “I Need You’, and “Jesus, Draw Me Close”.

Jamie Harvill
Worship Leader
World Outreach Church
Murfreesboro, TN
Jamie was an exclusive writer with Integrity and went on to write and record several worship classics including Firm Foundation, Because We Believe, Garments of Praise (Revival in Belfast) and My Heart (Already There), for artists like Ron Kenoly, Don Moen, Kim Hill (Focus On the Family), The Motor City Mass Choir, Newsong, Truth, Petra, Promise Keepers, Jeff and Sheri Easter, and others. He has several Gold and Platinum recordings to his credit.

Scott Reed
Worship Pastor
South County Christian Center
St. Louis, MO
Scott been a full-time Worship Pastor for 8 years. He has sung with Christian gospel groups, “Faith First” (www.faithfirst.net) & “The Heritage Singers” (www.heritagesingers.com). Written songs published by WorshipTogether/EMI, Maranatha! Music, Better Than New Music, Dwell Ministries and written songs recorded by Phillips, Craig & Dean, Raylene Scarrott, & various other independent artists.

Steve Rice
Vice President, Creative Development
Integrity Music
Brentwood, TN
A 20 year veteran of the Christian music industry, Steve Rice has been a leader in the creation and distribution of Christian music. He has worked with many top songwriters including Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby Mac (DC Talk), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Paul Baloche, Nichole Nordeman, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious), Peter Furler (Newsboys), Israel Houghton and many others. He has been the recipient of numerous ASCAP and BMI “Publisher of the Year” awards.

With so many artists claiming to be worship leaders and so many songs claiming to be worship songs, it does warrant that we take a moment to pause and focus on the topic of songwriting as it applies to the song of faith. So TFWM contacted some of the key voices in the music industry and the worship community to talk candidly about the issue of songwriting for the worshipping community.

The following article is comprised of excerpts from these interviews. There is a lot of great material in this article, but we’ve had to shorten the full interviews given the depth of the responses. For those of you that want to read more from these folks, you can find the full interviews at www.tfwm.com/web-only

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF WORSHIP IN THE CHURCH TODAY?
One of the best descriptions I’ve heard for the function of worship songs in the corporate gathering is that worship is our prayers set to music. It is the corporate cry of the community expressed through simple melodies to God. That makes the worship leader the primary prayer leader of the church. Steve Rice, Vice President of Creative Development at Integrity Music says it like this: “Our deepest or strongest feelings are often best expressed by singing because setting them to music allows us to join together and express our prayers as a body with one voice and one heart.” Canadian recording artist, songwriter and producer Brian Doerksen agrees and carries this point further. “Worship songs provide God’s people with a powerful and wonderful way of bringing our hearts and our heads together in something that we can all participate in.” In fact, the time of corporate worship is really one of the only parts of the service that is truly interactive.

However, historically worship songs have had a greater significance and use in other ways as well. Joel Engle, who is Lead Pastor at a new church called The Exchange in Keller, TX expands his use of songs to include more than just the corporate expression of prayer. “Worship songs also teach the truth of God’s Word and can be used as evangelistic tools when non-believers heard the message of the gospel in music.” he comments. Rick Founds, a Worship Leader/Songwriter in California says “Lyrics can be directed to each other and become a source of inspiration, encouragement, instruction and teaching.”

It was Martin Luther that took theological truths from God’s Word and put them to the melodies of popular songs in order to teach the Bible to an illiterate culture. The key is writing to impact the audience that is directly in front of you. Which brings up a great question... with the proliferation of nationally known worship writers, what audience do they focus on when they write?

NATIONAL FOCUS VERSUS LOCAL FOCUS?
Brian Doerksen responds like this: “I am a local church guy. I actually warn writers to not think of anything beyond being true to what is going on in their own hearts and in their own local church. Someone once told me that their goal was to write a song that the church around the world would sing. My response was, why don’t you write a song that you want to sing in the privacy of your own time with God.”

In the words of Jamie Harvill, who was an exclusive writer with Integrity and went on to write and record several worship classics, “Congregational songs are meant to be sung by real people directly to a real God.” On a practical level that means melodies written to be sung by people who have a limited singing range (Bb below middle C to D an octave and a whole step above middle C). Many Christian pop songs are written for an artist to perform and can be very difficult for the average person to sing.

Scott Reed, Worship Pastor at South County Christian Center in St. Louis continues by saying that his best songs are written when it’s for his local church body as an expression of what God is saying to them in a specific time and place. “When I think more nationally, I tend to not write with as much impact or focus.” he explains.

I’m often asked how the song ‘Let It Rise’ was written. In all honesty, it didn’t come out of a songwriting session with someone or a focused time creative exploration. It came out of an authentic heart cry, out of a time of prayer during a live worship service at a small Bible study in coffee shop at a local church on the beach in San Diego. It was a spontaneous prayer set to music and it was written in the amount of time it took to sing it. In fact, it was literally discovered as an afterthought by Maranatha! Music at a songwriter’s meeting. I had just finished playing all my “hits” which were politely passed over and then played what I called “half” a song and the entire room came alive. It blows me away to see how God continues to use that song to bring congregations alive to the presence of God.

SO WHERE DOES THE INsPIRATION COME FROM?
If worship songs are written for a local community of believers, then it would make sense that inspiration would come from our personal times with God and the local church. Christian Music Pioneer Rick Cua says that he gets his inspiration directly from the Holy Spirit, personal experience, hearing the stories of others, sermons, movies and from all aspects of life.

Rick Founds says that his inspiration comes from something that particularly strikes him during his personal reading and study of the Bible. Joel Engle says that his inspiration comes from The Bible, his own personal journey with Christ, sermons, books, life situations or anything else that moves him. As a publisher, Steve Rice finds most great worship songs are inspired by sermons or strong biblically based teaching from the local church in which the writer is intimately involved.

Often the inspiration comes from the most painful of events when we least expect it. Brian Doerksen’s song Eternity was written in a moment of intense passion and absolute knowing that heaven was real in 1990. “My best friend was killed in an accident around that time so my heart was often thinking about the other side. I can hardly wait to hear the Father say ‘No more death, tears, shame...’”

Sometimes songs come in response to a time of serving as is true for Joel Engle’s song Living Sacrifice. It was written during a time of communion at a youth camp where the senior adults of this church came and served communion to the students in the most beautiful way. This deeply touched Joel and a song was born.

SO HOW DO SONGS COME TO US? MELODY FIRST? CHORD PROGRESSION?
There are as many right ways to write a song as there are songs. It seems that no writer has a standard starting point for writing songs. Steve Rice says that the best starting point to writing a good worship song is in worship. However, even the way that we enter into that place of worship is different for each of us. For Scott Reed it begins with a lyrical idea.
Maybe something from scripture or a phrase that inspires a melody or chord progression. Jamie Harvill agrees: “I usually start with an idea, title or hook. It seems that the lyric, melody and chords come simultaneously, but I labor most over lyrics.” Rick Founds has even had songs “arrive” completely in one sitting where others are worked on over a number of years.

Brian Doerksen says that it starts with some kind of “seed” or creative gift from God. This “seed” can be a melodic hook or a lyrical phrase that gets the ball rolling, but from that point on it’s totally up to the individual expression of the writer. One thing that Brian does caution writers about is writing a song based on a chord progression. He says that he can usually pick out songs that are being led around by chords. Chords are the first part of arrangements, but a song is words set to a melody with the melody existing in pitch and rhythm. To change the chords may be to change the arrangement but not the song.

In my personal experience as a writer I will often begin by spending time in worship. Out of those times of worship, prayer and communion with God I will get an idea that may be a melody, a prayer that is on my heart, a theological truth that I’m meditating on, a scriptural phrase or a “word from God.” Rather than say those things, I will often begin singing the prayers or thoughts that are in my heart. Often a song will come spontaneously and build as I sing a chorus or a verse over and over. Sometimes these “songs” are for that moment in time and sometimes they are the rough draft of a song that I will go back and refine over time. On a few rare occasions, the songs come out finished.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SONG IS FINISHED?
Jamie Harvill says a song isn’t done until he’s satisfied that it will fly in a real world situation. Ever after introducing a song, he will make changes as he goes if needed. Joel Engle takes the same approach. Even after introducing a song, he will continue to work on the song until the congregation is singing it and it meets his personal standard of excellence.

It is this personal standard of excellence that sets apart songs that are heard and songs that don’t get heard. According to Brian Doerksen, almost every song he writes has gone from draft one to about draft four or five before people hear it. “The only thing more important that rewriting for songwriters is the initial writing itself. I don’t usually re-write after I have started teaching a song because I don’t teach a song until I have re-written it.” he says.

There are exceptions to every rule. Rick Cua doesn’t often re-write, and puts it like this: “Once I start teaching or playing a song it’s pretty much done. My feeling is if it needs excessive rewriting it may not have been right in the first place.” In some ways I personally agree with Rick on this point as there are many songs that I know are good songs from the moment they are conceived. Contrast that to other songs I’ve written and re-written only to find that after spending hours of time on a song it still doesn’t have the same kind of instant appeal.

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR SONG IS GOOD?
This is such a vulnerable issue for writers. It’s almost as if our songs are our babies and even if we know that our baby might not be the most beautiful one in the bunch... you better not say anything about my baby!!! So rather than talk about how ugly your baby is, let’s talk about what makes for a great worship song.

Scott Reed says that a good worship song is one that is intuitive. In other words, when someone hears it, it’s easy to pick up on and easy to follow where it’s going. Jamie Harvill says “A good worship song is easy to sing, easy to remember and lifts my soul towards heaven.” To Brian Doerksen it’s no easy task. “A good song has a melody that people love to sing with words that are full of truth. Sounds easy, but it’s very hard to write songs like that!”

In fact, the rules for writing congregational songs are much more limiting that the rules for writing a Christian pop song. According to Rick Founds, “There are certain things that make a song more congregational than others... like vocal range, the ease with which the lyrics flow off the tongue and musical genre. Some songs may definitely be expressive songs of worship, but because of the stratospheric nature of the arrangement, they can be nearly impossible for most people to sing.” According to Brian Doerksen, Christian pop songs are designed to be sung to you or ‘over’ you, and are identified by the fact that people want to listen to them rather than sing them with others.

As technical as songwriting can get, skill isn’t the only factor in great worship songs. According to Rick Cua, there are spiritual factors as well. A great worship song is a simple yet profound lyric sung over a memorable accessible melody that comes from knowing God. Joel Engle says that good theology, simplicity and original content are all important, but it’s ultimately the anointing of God that makes a great worship song. Unfortunately for the hit makers, this isn’t a skill that you can get from a book. You can only get this from spending time with Jesus Christ Himself.

SO HOW DO I GET MY SONGS HEARD?
Now comes what seems to be the most difficult part of the equation for writers. You’ve written a song, taught it in church, everyone loves it... now what? How do you get others to hear your song? Scott Reed says perseverance is the key. Submit, submit, submit. That’s all you can do, keep going up to the plate, swing at it with all you’ve got and if it’s an “out”, it’s an “out.” But don’t stop swinging. Keep hitting it as hard as you can and leave it at that. You’ve got to have some thick skin because more of your songs will be rejected than accepted, that’s just the reality of it. I submit things to worshipmusic.com, songDISCovery, Worship Leader Magazine, worshiptogether.com and any other relationships or contacts I may have. They’ll either be well received or not, but at least you gave it a shot.

But what about those who may not have aspirations for a major publishing deal? Jamie Harvill says to start with your local congregation. If a song catches fire there, then share it with other congregations. Creating a recording of your song with a lead sheet and a “chords over words” chart makes it easier to pass it on to others. If you are not a singer or player, get someone else to help you. Writers are best suited to stay where they have the greatest influence: in their local congregation.

Rick Cua recommends using modern technology to get your songs heard. There are websites like Indieheaven.com where you can upload your songs and network with other writers. Email mp3’s to your mailing list, upload songs to your website or post them on your myspace page. There are a variety of new websites that are providing songwriters with ways to get their songs heard such as worshipsource.com, worshipsong.com and broadjam.com. The bottom line is, the more your songs are heard by others and played in their churches, the greater your chances are of getting the attention of a major publisher.

According to Steve Rice at Integrity Music, if worship leaders begin using your song regularly in their churches (without you there), then you know you’ve got a winner. If a number of local and regional congregations enjoy singing your song, then there’s reason to believe the song may also work on a national or international level as well. In a nutshell... give it away and the good songs will spread like wildfire. The publishers will flock to you from every direction. Just do what God has called you to do in ministry and he’ll bring the increase. Watch!!

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

2011-11-05T14:08:00.001-07:00

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)

This week at Worship Life Calvary Chapel San Clemente is a special time. The first Sunday of the month we celebrate communion. It's a time for us to remember two things. (1) The Lord is our God. (2) He alone saves us and delivers us from bondage. There are many who teach, when you come to the Communion Table you need to make sure you clean the slate before God and confess all your known sins so you can partake with a pure heart. I think we often come to Christ with our list of sins that we did that week and He listens and says to us... what did you say? We continue with our confession and then He stops us and says... what did you do? I don't remember that.

The truth is when we come to communion, our sins and lawless deeds are remembered no more. Instead, what Jesus notices is that we are still conscious of our sinfulness and not conscious of His righteousness. He notices we are still living under the shadow of the Law instead of living in the shadow of the cross. Next time you take communion, I want you to meditate on two things. (1) Meditate on the reality that the Lord is YOUR God. You have access to Him anytime you want day or night. He loves His people and you are His people. (2) Meditate on the reality that He saved you and delivered you from bondage to sin - PAST TENSE. It is finished. According to Jesus, we who believe in Him are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are not defined by our sin and we are not bound by our sin. We are free to love Jesus fully and completely. Let that sink in and watch it change your life.

We are webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...
Blessings
P.HD

BUILDING UPDATE
We have decided to form a LLC to raise the funds to purchase the building. This is an investment opportunity that will yield 4% versus less than 1% with a bank. If you are interested in participating in this, please contact us at (949) 228-9117. We are also continuing to receive donations for our building fund. If you would like to give, please place your donation in a white envelope and mark it BUILDING FUND on Sunday mornings. Please understand that this is above your normal tithes and offerings to the church.

NEW RADIO PROGRAM
Become a prayer partner for our new radio program - WORSHIP LIFE RADIO - broadcasting Saturday nights at 10:30 pm on KWVE 107.9 FM. We are excited about what the Lord will do as we proclaim God's Love through His Word. If you're interested in supporting the program financially, please use the white envelopes and mark it WORSHIP LIFE RADIO.

The Little Girl And The Aetheist

2011-10-08T13:30:00.001-07:00

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned to her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total stranger, "What would you want to talk about?" ... " Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly. "OK," she said.

"Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?" The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death, when you don't know crap?" And then she went back to reading her book.

17 Common Worship Leading Mistakes

2011-09-29T07:02:00.001-07:00

1. Including too many new songs in the set – Your congregation is there to worship – most will find it difficult to do so if they spend most of the time learning your latest masterpieces. Vary your set list to include a variety of older, recently introduced, and brand new songs and be ready to make changes on the fly if you sense your congregation is becoming weary.

2. Pitching the songs too high – remember that a comfortable range for a woman is about five semitones (half steps) lower than for a man. Change the key down to avoid going above top D, particularly if you are playing in a small church situation.

3. Clunky moving from song to song. Playing a song once its underway is fairly straightforward so make sure you concentrate on rehearsing how to start and end a song. Practicing a seamless flow from one song to the next is worthwhile to focus on. It will help if both are in the same key with a similar groove, and if you are using music, make sure the sheets are side by side on your music stand.

4. Poor band dynamics – conflicting rhythms, one instrument speeding up/slowing down, vocalists overwhelming the sound with too many ad-libs or vibrato. Exercise leadership in directing your singers clearly, and if necessary, get them some vocals training. Get them to listen to each other's parts and possibly film or record a service to help with some constructive criticism.

5. Lack of leadership – Without clear guidance from the worship leader, it's difficult for the band to know what they are meant to do, let alone the congregation. Give a good clear brief in practice and use vocal cues and body language to communicate during the set.

6. Overly complex vocals – congregations get easily confused when the lead vocalist slips into harmonies, trills, and ad-libs. Simple clear melody is always the easiest to follow. Leave the harmonies for the backing vocalists.

7. Poor phrasing and blending by vocalists. Make sure that all your singers are phrasing each “musical sentence” in the same way. It can help to have one backing vocalist leading the others so that everyone finishes their words at the same time. In the studio, singers are often asked not to finish the last consonant in a line so that the ending doesn’t sound jagged.

8. Wrong keys or wrong capo positions. Make sure all the band are playing in the same key. Issue your set list in advance with instructions for keys. And if you change your mind, make sure that everyone knows.

9. Tuning – are all your instruments in tune and are they staying in tune throughout the set? Even the right notes out of tune sound far worse than the wrong notes in tune so buy yourself a decent tuner like the Boss TU2 – cheap tuners can be so frustrating.

10. Lack of rhythm and togetherness by the band – this can be caused by many things including poor musicianship and lack of overall direction. Try to generate a sense of team where everyone plays their part to contribute to the whole without any one musician standing out. Also, ensure that you have the relevant instruments in your foldback – i.e. the kick drum and other instruments responsible for rhythm.

11. Winging it – either the result of poor preparation or trying something new out on the spot. Be sure you can accomplish what you have in mind. Are you trying to sing a song without the lyrics in front of you, and you’ve forgotten the words? Does your AV guy have the words for the congregation, or do they have to remember them, too? Do you and the rest of the band know all the chords you need?

12. Technical problems. The sound gremlins can happen to the best of us but try to get there early, set up methodically, and make sure your technicians are well trained in the system they are using.

13. Problems with pitch – You’re starting a new song, and you’ve suddenly realised you’ve started on completely the wrong note.
Try to identify the problem songs in advance and quietly play the note you need to hit on your instrument. Hold the note in your head while playing the intro and then hit it with confidence. Alternatively ask one of the other (confident) vocalists to lead on that song.

14. Over emphasis on the melody line. Make sure your backing vocalists and single melody instruments are playing harmonies. The lead vocalist and congregation are all on the melody line – create some contrast.

15. Worship crash – often caused by trying something complicated that hasn’t been practiced enough. Never try anything complicated until you, the band. and the congregation are really familiar with the song.

16. Starting the song in the wrong tempo. Either invest in an in ear click or sing the song through in your head first so that you can pace the tempo properly. Generally, the chorus is the fastest part of the song.

17. Audiovisual failure – This happened to Matt Redman one time when Andy was playing. Matt just shifted his set list to songs with simple lyrics and gave spoken vocal cues to the congregation at junction points in the song.

ARE YOU BOMB PROOF?

2011-09-25T01:41:00.000-07:00

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10

Over the next few weeks we are going to look at the subject of spiritual warfare through the lens of grace. The more that we understand who we are in Christ, the more we walk in God's favor, the more we understand His grace - the more BOMB PROOF we become. GRACE makes us BOMB PROOF. GRACE empowers you to see life from the perspective of heaven. GRACE opens your eyes to see people from the perspective of who God made them to be, not who they are in their fallen or captive state. GRACE allows you to see what is really going on. GRACE equips you to be a force for healing, restoration and deliverance. Instead of being a victim of circumstances, you become a victor in the midst of your circumstances. You become BOMB PROOF. My prayer is that we will be a community that sees like through the lens of GRACE.

This week Roxie and I supported Worship Life Kids at the Character Counts event held at Vista Del Mar School. We hosted a game booth where we had a blast with the kids of the community and passed out flyers inviting people to church. We met many folks who didn't know that there was a Calvary Chapel in San Clemente. It was a reminder to me that we still have a big job to do in letting our community know that we are here to serve them and that's a job that Roxie and I can't do without your help. Make sure you invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers or even people you meet in town to church. We have people attending Worship Life from as far north as Newport Beach and as far south as Vista. Something that I learned early in ministry is that a good church is worth driving to.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...
Blessings
P.HD

BUILDING UPDATE
We submitted our loan package to the lender on Wednesday and we've been told that we should receive news on our loan status by Tuesday of this week. Pray for God's continued favor and blessing.We are now accepting donations for our building fund. God provided generously for our deposit, now we are raising funds for 6 months of cash reserves to meet the lender's requirements for funding. Also pray for the Foursquare Denomination who owns the building that we are purchasing.

NEW RADIO PROGRAM
I also want to invite you to become a prayer partner for our new radio program - WORSHIP LIFE RADIO - broadcasting Saturday nights at 10:30 pm on KWVE 107.9 FM. We are excited about what the Lord will do as we proclaim God's Love through His Word.

7 ways to tell if it may be a God thing...

2011-09-24T08:24:00.001-07:00

Just read this blog and it listed seven ways you can tell if God is in something...1. Everyone says it can’t be done…2. You feel you aren’t qualified…3. There aren’t enough resources available…4. It makes no rational sense…5. People call it (or you) stupid…6. It would give God all the glory…7. It honors God and is true to His Word…

A Word From the Lord

2011-09-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

To: Volunteer Staff at Worship Life Calvary Chapel
Message from: Pastor Holland Davis

Today as I was in prayer the Lord gave me these scriptures.

Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.” And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God— will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 28:10, 20 NKJV)

I've been asking God to speak clearly and to confirm what I believe He is doing through the purchase of the future home of Worship Life Calvary Chapel San Clemente and these verses are what He gave me in the course of my regular devotions. What confirmation!!!

When I look at what God has done and continues to do it causes me to recognize some things.

1. God is doing a great work and He is calling us to be strong and do the work.

2. God gives us the power of His Spirit to do the work.

What a blessing!!! Not only does He call us to be strong and do the work but He also gives us the strength to be strong with. That is the grace of God in action.

Worship Life. We have busy days ahead. To whom much is given much is required. We've been given a city. Be strong and do the work. But don't rely on your own power or perspective. Rely on God's power and perspective.

Don't look at the mountain and try to tunnel through it. Look at the mountain and tell the mountain to move because the mountain is in God's way and He wants to move it.

And above all... remember that He who began this good work in you... He is faithful to complete it because God loves you.

Don't forget that you are much loved, highly favored and greatly blessed.

Blessings
P.hd

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ARE YOU STUCK IN YOUR MARRIAGE? / BUILDING UPDATE

2011-08-20T10:23:00.001-07:00

“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised." (Song of Solomon 8:7).

We are in the middle of a series on marriage called Grace Filled Marriage. It's been interesting to hear feedback from people as they're evaluating their marriage in light of the scriptures. I've noticed two distinct responses. The most prevalent response is the response of the LAW. We see the difference and begin to condemn each other for not measuring up. The least prevalent response is the response of GRACE. We see the difference and begin to thank God for giving us the power to walk as the righteousness of God in Christ. The choice is totally yours to make as to how you will respond. You can respond under the law and continue the cycle of CONDEMNATION or you can respond to God's grace and release LIFE and POWER into your marriage.

I remember a time in our marriage when I didn't think we would make it. I was so bent on trying to fix my wife. Every time we were together our conversations eventually turned to some flaw that I saw in her and I would condemn her. Imagine living with a police officer and a judge every moment of the day. What's worse is that I couldn't even live up to my own standards! Isn't that how the law is? Finally, the Lord spoke to me and told me that my wife belonged to Him and that I was to release her to Him. He told me that I didn't have the power to change her, only He did. When I finally came to the point where I wasn't condemning her, something incredible began to happen. I began to see her for the beautiful and perfectly suited gift that she was. It didn't happen overnight. It took a few years, but today we are more in love than ever before and we know it's because of God's grace. My prayer for you is that you will come into the revelation that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, that you are a new creation and that you will live out of your identity in Christ towards your husband or wife.

BUILDING UPDATE

This week we signed the letter of intent to purchase the building according to the terms set by the International Foursquare Church (the current owners of the building). The building is the current home of Living Hope Christian Fellowship and is located at the corner of Pico and Avenida Vista Hermosa. We are meeting with the credit union that holds the loan next week to secure funding for the purchase. It's been exciting to see God bring this all together - everything from meeting the real estate agent who brought this property to us to the openess of the Foursquare Denomination to give us what we need to fund the loan on the property. We see God confirming every step that we are taking and it's breath taking. Pray that God continues to give us favor as we move forward.

Roxie and I believe that God has called us to San Clemente and we want to see Him do a massive work that only He gets the credit for. As many of you have seen through this journey, God has worked many miracles. As I told someone recently, we are all in. Isn't that how it is in the Kingdom of God? He requires nothing less than our all. I believe there are many others that God is calling to stand with us at this juncture of Worship Life's history. I think of the families whose lives have been turned around by the simple teaching of God's Word at Worship Life. I think of the people who have encountered the life changing power of God through the worship at Worship Life. I think of those who have committed their lives to Christ through the preaching of the gospel at Worship Life and I am excited. We've seen people saved out of Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. We've seen marriages restored. We've ministered to families that are facing life long struggles such as mental illness and same sex attraction and we've seen God bring encouragement and hope.

If you want to see a home for Worship Life. If you want to see a base of operations that we can reach the community with. If you want to see a place where we can train worship leaders, musicians, artisans, film makers and pastoral leaders with the message of God's grace to change the world. If you want to see a place where the broken, the forgotten and the hurting are healed. If you want to see a church where God's Word is preached from cover to cover. If you want to see people come to Christ in San Clemente and the surrounding regions... will you stand with us?

How can you stand with us? First, you can stand with us in prayer. This is the way God gets things done in His Kingdom, through prayer. Second, you can stand with us by showing up serving. There is a practical side to building a community, it takes people who are willing to do life as a family and get things done. Third, you can stand with us by giving financially. It is true that where God guides He provides, but He provides through people like you and me. The Bible says freely you have received, freely give. That is the principle. I believe the reason that many cannot freely give is that they have not learned to freely receive. Under the law, we believe that God gives to us based on our performance, our goodness, our talents, our abilities. That's not freely receiving. That's receiving what you've worked for. To freely receive means to receive something that you haven't worked for, that you haven't earned, that you haven't performed for our used your talent to get. It's a gift. God gives to us so that we can be a gift to others.

This Sunday we are going to have envelopes available for you to give. I encourage you to pray and come prepared to give over and above your regular tithes and offerings. If you do not have the capacity to give, don't be weighed down by our request. Simply pray for God's wisdom, guidance and favor. That is gold in the Kingdom of God.This is not a burden, this is an adventure and we're all in it together.

NEW RADIO PROGRAM

I also want to invite you to become a prayer partner for our new radio program - WORSHIP LIFE RADIO - broadcasting Saturday nights at 10:30 pm on KWVE 107.9 FM. We are excited about what the Lord will do as we proclaim God's Love through His Word. This week we feature a testimony of a couple in our church whose grand daughter was recently healed after we prayed for her and continue our series in Ephesians. It's fast and quirkly like your pastor.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...

Blessings

P.HD

P.S. Don't forget to invite a friend to church. A good church is worth driving to.

When Life Begins...

2011-08-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

There's a big controversy on the Jewish view of exactly when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until after it graduates from medical school.

8 Characteristics of Healthy Church Systems [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

1. They empower leaders to accomplish ministry without always having to get permission.

Without systems, every decision must go back to the senior pastor, the senior management team, the committee, etc. In his book Making Ideas Happen, Scott Belsky said it this way, “The more people who lie awake in bed thinking about your idea, the better. But people only obsess about ideas when they feel a sense of ownership.” Good systems will give leaders the freedom to make decisions within established boundaries.

2. They are embraced and championed by the top leadership.

It does absolutely no good for systems to be established that top leadership doesn’t support and encourage everyone to use. If the top leaders can’t endorse the system, you’re not ready to implement the system.

3. They mobilize many people rather than leaning on a select handful of talented individuals.

If your system is “contact Joe for more information”, you don’t have a system. If your system is “go hear Joe teach on the topic”, you don’t have a system. You have a gifted individual. Good systems point people to next steps (processes, tools, resources, etc.) rather than specific people.

4. They simplify the path.

The objective is to create just enough of a framework to make it easier for people. Good systems are intuitive. Typically the fewer the steps, the better the systems. If you want to improve a system, challenge your team to figure out how to reduce the steps required. And, whatever you do, make sure your “customer” doesn’t have to guess where to go next.

5. They are established around key touch points in your organization.

Think about your overall ministry. Do you want people to connect in ministry? Find a group? Communicate an event? Become a member? Join your staff? Those are all key touch points where people typically take a next step. Those are the places where you need strong systems.

6. They improve over time.

If you feel like you have to wait until the system is perfect, you will stay stuck. You need to roll out the beta version. Test-drive it. See what works and tweak the rest based on the feedback you receive.

7. They need to change over time.

This is the challenge that many mainline churches are facing. They’re still trying to use systems that worked years ago, but are no longer effective today. It’s a dangerous place when we start protecting the systems to the detriment of accomplishing the overall mission.

8. They are measured and monitored for trends.

You’ll need to capture both numbers and stories. The objective, though, is to look at outcomes (life change) rather than inputs (church activities).

Good people using bad systems will never produce good results. Normal people using good systems can produce great results.

“What are three things you know now that you wish you knew when you were thirty?” [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

The most important person you can lead is yourself.
Nothing is more valuable than relationships.
Maximize the moments with your children.
Listen—you will never find the pulse of your family or organization if you don’t learn to listen.
Worrying is temporary atheism. Rid yourself of worry.
Become a better steward of your financial resources through investments and wise decision-making. The older you get the more you’ll want to give away, being able to do so begins with the financial decisions you make today.
Balance—the words “No” and “Not now” are empowering when accompanied with wisdom.
Spend time reading and receiving the Truth every morning, because the world will only lie to you the rest of the day.
Saying “I’m sorry,” when spoken from a genuine heart, has great healing power.
Character should always trump talent.
Retreat and Rest—if ships don’t come back to the harbor, they’ll eventually sink.
Don’t stop learning—you’re not as smart as you think.
Learn to value patience. You’re likely to learn more while you wait.
Time management—without it time will control you.
Develop authentic and deep relationships with men who will sharpen you and see through you.

13 Things I Would Tell Church Planters [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequent questions I receive is, “If you could tell a church planter one thing, what would it be?”

I’ve thought about that question…and honestly, I can’t come up with just one thing because the world of church planting is complex. So I made a list of several things…so here’s what I would say to someone who is considering planting a church…

#1 – You are going to have to take huge steps of faith to see the dream God has placed inside of you become a reality. Church planters that pray but refuse to take action never actually do what God has called them do to…and they wind up bitter at God because they prayed for things that God was more than willing to do if they had just acted on what they were praying for!

#2 – You are going to have lots of doubters when you share your vision with people…especially churchy people! They typically are used to “by faith we believe God can raise enough money to pave the parking lot” vision and not “we are called to reach the entire world” vision!

#3 – One of the biggest doubters you will encounter from time to time is yourself! (Personally, I keep going back to Isaiah 61:1 when I doubt!)

#4 – People who you thought were great friends and would always be by your side will leave you…and many times, it won’t be pretty.

#5 – People you don’t even know right now will one day come along side you and be unbelievable friends and partners in the ministry God has given you.

#6 – You will always feel significant financial pressure when you are pursuing the vision God has given you. The question you must constantly wrestle to the ground is, “Is THIS what God wants” and not, “Can we afford it?” Remember…if it is God’s will, then it is God’s bill! What the King wants the King pays for!

You are going to run into doubters

You are going to doubt yourself

You are going to lose people

You are going to feel financial pressure

You are going to see God in ways that many do not get to see Him

You are going to have to declare what you are for rather than what you are against

You are going to have to choose whether or not you want to please insiders or reach outsiders.

You are going to have to take steps of faith

You are going to want to quit

You are going to experience a whole new level of spiritual warfare

You are going to be tempted to copy the success you see in church world rather than believe the vision God gave you.

You are going to change your mind about things you are pretty set on right now.

#7 – You are going to see God in ways that many do not get to see Him.

#8 – You are going to have to be WAY more passionate about what you are for rather than what you are against!

#9 – You are going to have to choose whether or not you want to please insiders or reach outsiders…you cannot do both.

#10 – You are going to want to quit–don’t! He who called you is with you and will sustain you!!! (See Philippians 1:6)

#11 – You are going to experience a whole new level of spiritual warfare…just remember, the only reason the enemy is attacking you is because he sees you as a threat! Take up the promise in Isaiah 54:17!

#12 – You are going to be tempted to copy the success you see in church world rather than believe the vision God gave you. BUT…God called you because He knew He could trust you with what He has given you…so be who HE has called you to be.

#13 – You are going to change your mind about things you are pretty set on right now…what you think is innovative and cutting edge will one day be considered “traditional.” You can’t allow the pride behind the fact that your idea is no longer the best idea to bring your church to a place where people meet and talk about what God used to do!

Here are some questions to consider...

2011-08-05T16:28:00.001-07:00

Here is what I will be thinking about over the next 30 days.

What is God teaching me right now?
How do I want to spend my time every day?
What is the single greatest way I want to change how I spend my time everyday?
What is the single greatest thing I don’t want to do everyday that I currently do?
What are my greatest strengths as I understand them now?
What are my greatest limitations as I understand them now?
*How have my accomplishments enabled me to better leverage my strengths?
*How have my accomplishments magnified my weaknesses?
*How is money influencing my strategy and direction inappropriately?
What are time-limited opportunities that I now have?
*How am I misdirecting my best time and energy?
*Where do my deepest frustrations come from? Why?
What ideas am I most excited about?
What is the single most important thing to do or decide to do right now to achieve my life vision?
*How am I failing to give my best time and energy to my family? Why?

THE CHURCH THAT GOD BUILDS

2011-08-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

“Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. " (Nehemiah 4:17).

At Worship Life we teach the WORD of God verse by verse so that we will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The result of knowing Jesus is a growing love for Him that expresses itself in passionate, unabandoned worship. The overflow of a heart filled with WORSHIP and love for God is a life that wants to reveal God's love to others through our WITNESS. This produces healthy believers and the natural by produce of healthy believers is growth. That describes the process that many of us have been through at Worship Life Calvary Chapel and we are growing as a church both spiritually and numerically.

When God called Roxie and myself to lead up a small, rag tagged team of nearly burnt out believers to step out into a new venture of faith in San Clemente, we had no idea what God would do. All we knew is that we wanted to be in a place where we could experience God's grace and see God's Presence work in real tangible ways and see lives changed through the practical application of God's Word. This step of faith revitalized our relationship with God. The result is Worship Life Calvary Chapel. God provided us with a place to meet at Vista Del Mar School in San Clemente, but the rest of our ministries have been scattered all over South Orange County. Our youth meet in Ladera Ranch, our women and men's ministries meet in San Juan Capistrano and our midweek is in a home in San Clemente. As we were in the initial stages of launching the church, the Lord spoke to me and told me that He had a building for us and that a church would give it to us. I had no idea what that meant, but I started to look at existing churches with the thought that it could be a future home for us. We even tried to rent a couple church facilities for our midweek services. But the door wasn't opening.

A few weeks ago, through a series of divine appointments, God has brought a buiding to us. It's located at the intersection of Avenida Vista Hermosa and Pico. It's currently owned by the International Foursquare Church and today I sent a letter of intent to begin the formal process of meeting to discover God's heart in this matter. They are excited because it allows this building to stay used for the Kingdom of God. There is a brand new Foursquare Church that is seeking to relaunch that has been holding organizational meetings at the church. Our heart is to be a blessing and assist them in any way.

I am asking you to partner with us in prayer. I am asking you to pray that God will give us wisdom as we discover how Worship Life Calvary Chapel can acquire this building for our next home. Pray for God's favor and provision as we move forward in this great venture of faith. I am also asking you to consider how you can be a part of this venture of faith with us. We read in Nehemiah that every family took their part in the building of the wall around Jerusalem. Each had their own section, their own area of responsibilities. I am asking that you prayerfully ask God what that means for you. For some it may mean stepping in to volunteer in one of our growing ministries. For others it may mean increasing your level of financial support of the ministry. For all of us it means praying for the friends, neighbors and coworkers that we are going to invite to come to church. We have people driving from as far south as Vista and as far north as Ladera Ranch and Santa Ana to come to Worship Life. A good church is worth driving to. It is true that God builds the Church, but He builds it through you and I.

I also want to invite you to become a prayer partner for our new radio program - WORSHIP LIFE RADIO - broadcasting Saturday nights at 10:30 pm on KWVE 107.9 FM beginning this Saturday, August 6. We are excited about what the Lord will do as we proclaim God's Love through His Word. Our first program will deal with the issue of unwanted same sex attractions and begin our series in Ephesians that we have been going through on Sunday mornings. It's fast and quirkly like your pastor.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...

Blessings

P.HD

P.S. Don't forget to invite a friend that needs Jesusto the Harvest Crusade August 12-14 at Angel Stadium. It's an invitation that yields eternal rewards!!!

10 Signs Your Christianity Is Too Comfortable [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

Glamping is a form of luxury camping started by wealthy British people who frequently took African safaris. Instead of roughing it in the wilderness, these aristocrats vacationed with the best of accommodations such as soft beds, fluffy pillows, and all the modern conveniences such as televisions.

This form of relaxation has made its way to the United States. In 2010, KOA Kampgrounds increased 26% in luxury lodge rentals. Glamping Hub’s Ruben Martinez says, “After a week of camping, you’re not thinking, ‘I look homeless right now.’ You’re thinking about how comfortable you are.”

I fear the mindset of glamorous camping permeates our entire society, including local churches. I fear we have become a nation of comfortable Christians. I know I personally have. "I’m OK. You’re OK." is not a healthy approach to life and is a sign of a self-leadership issue.

Much of what I am about to say is going to be a public confession of some personal sins. How do you know you have become a Comfortable Christian?
10 Signs Your Christianity Has Become Too Comfortable

1. You are not attending church with a high level of expectancy.

2. You no longer seem to be concerned about the spiritual condition of neighbors, family members, or your co-workers.

3. You haven’t had a spiritual conversation with a non-Christian in a long time.

4. The Bible seems like a history book. It’s lifeless to you.

5. Your happiness on Sunday mornings is more important than what it takes to reach the unchurched. As long as you get your parking spot, your seat, and hear the music you like, everything’s fine.

6. The plight of the poor doesn’t concern you.

7. Pictures of overseas suffering do not move you to action.

8. You do not give your financial resources sacrificially.

9. Your prayers don’t seem to be making it past the ceiling.

10. It doesn’t even dawn on you that God could do something incredibly radical in your life at any moment today. It’s not even on your radar.

Many items on that list have described me at various times in my life. Like British aristocrats on an African safari, I was lulled into a mindset of comfort over experiencing everything that was laid out right there in front of me. I had become too comfortable.

Can you relate? What can we do to get uncomfortable in our Christianity?

AVOID ANY HINT [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

Too many pastors have lost credibility because of the appearance of immorality. Don't be one of them.

I had an awkward situation recently. My doctor prescribed a sleep study (part of some health tests I am doing in preparation for my forthcoming new health regimen).

The tech called me to arrange the details. She did not seem to have many details about the clinic, so I asked some questions. One of which was the setting—in this case, it was an office building with several faux bedrooms where they would wire me up and measure me sleeping.

I asked about the staff, and she was "it."

Then came that awkward moment. I knew she would not understand it, but I explained, "I can't come if it is just you and me in the building." It was awkward, and I am guessing few ever said such a thing. So I skipped out on my study (and will probably have to pay the no-show charge).

It might seem silly to you, but let me encourage you not to see it as such. Many of you who read this are young pastors. I know too many pastors who have lost great credibility because of an accusation (let alone an indiscretion).

I am not irresistible. I have a great face for radio. I do not think that anyone will swoon over me. But I do not know the stability, morality, and disposition of people that I meet.

When I told my wife, I thought she might slap me. She has been excited about my recent health plans. However, she was the opposite. She felt protected and affirmed. She knew I would not put our family in jeopardy.

I remember Danny Akin once saying that he would not pick up a woman on the side of the road in the rain if her car broke down. He would never be alone with a woman not his wife. It seemed a bit selfish until he told the rest of the story. He would pull over and give her the keys and let her drive where she needed to be.

Guarding yourself takes work, can be awkward, and is often inconvenient. But one problem averted makes it a good stewardship of your life, ministry, and family.

At the churches I planted, we always used something like Saddleback's Ten Commandments:

Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.

Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.

Thou shalt not kiss any attendee of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.

Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.

Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person's mate. Refer them.

Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them.

Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attendee of the opposite sex.

Thou shalt be careful in answering e-mails, instant messages, chat rooms, cards, or letters from the opposite sex.

Thou shalt make your co-worker your protective ally.

Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.

(The first four do not apply to unmarried staff.)

I hope you have a list like this for your own life and ministry.

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality..." (Ephesians 5:3)

Barna Study of Religious Change Since 1991 Shows Significant Changes by Faith Group [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-08-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

There are many ways of categorizing people’s faith these days. In a new report from the Barna Group that is part of the State of the Church – 2011 annual tracking study, George Barna examines changes in 14 religious attributes in relation to some of those religious categories as they have unfolded since 1991. The four segments studied in the latest of the six newly-issued summaries are Catholics, Protestants, born again Christians, and self-identified Christians. Barna also offered commentary on the results in a new blog posting (www.georgebarna.org)

Self-Identified Christians
Most Americans – roughly four out of five – consider themselves to be Christians. For that majority, the past two decades have been a time of substantial religious change. Just as American society itself is in a state of substantial upheaval, so are those who declare themselves to be Christian redefining the core practices and beliefs of Christianity in America. Five of the six religious behaviors tracked underwent statistically significant changes since 1991, and five of the seven belief measures also changed notably.

The five transitions in religious behaviors included the following:

Attendance at a church service in any given week has declined among self-identified Christians by nine percentage points since 1991. Now only a minority of this group – 47% - can be found in church events during a typical week.
Adults from this segment are currently eight percentage points less likely to attend Sunday school in a typical week than was true twenty years ago. Less than one out of five (18%) now attend during a typical week.
Whereas 30% of the self-identified Christians volunteered at a church during a typical week back in 1991, that figure has declined to 22% today.
Bible reading dropped slightly over the last 20 years within this segment, going from 51% to 46%. This is another marker in which a majority of this group no longer participates.
Those who embrace the label “Christian” for themselves are now ten percentage points more likely to be unchurched than was true in 1991. The 31% who fit this profile have not attended any church service during the past six months, excluding special services such as weddings or funerals.

Among the belief measures tested, the following showed significant changes since 1991:

Three of the variables tracked reflected marginal change – five percentage points. There was a five-point increase in the self-identified Christians who claimed to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ (up to 75% in 2011); a five-point drop in the proportion who contend that that “God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today” (now down to 77%); and a similar decline among those who believe that Satan is a symbol of evil but not a living entity (now standing at 53%).
The largest change in beliefs was the ten-point decline in those who firmly believe that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches. Only 43% of self-identified Christians now have such a strong belief in the Bible.
The percentage of self-identified Christians who meet the “born again” criteria – that is, those who contend they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today, and who also believe they will enter Heaven solely because they have confessed their sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior – jumped by seven percentage points, to 48%.

This group’s views about personal responsibility to evangelize and the importance of religious faith in their life did not budge over the past twenty years.

Born Again Christians
This category is comprised of people whose beliefs characterize them as born again; it is not based on people calling themselves “born again.” This segment, which now stands at 40% of all adults in the U.S., experienced significant changes in relation to all six religious behaviors tracked by the Barna Group.

The largest shifts in behavior pertained to the 14-point decline in adult Sunday school attendance (now 26%) and the 12-point drop in volunteering at church (down to 29%).
Attendance at church services in any given week decreased by seven percentage points over the last two decades among born again Christians, falling from 66% to 59%.
The proportion of born again adults who read the Bible during a typical week, not including when they are at a church event, has decreased by nine percentage points since 1991. The weekly average now resides at 62%.
Two behavioral statistics increased since 1991, one for the worse and the other of little consequence. The unfortunate shift is the increase in the unchurched among born again adults, which has risen by five percentage points to 19%. The neutral transition is the eight-point increase in born again adults who attend a large church (600 or more people).

Only one of the seven religious beliefs measured among born agains shifted significantly in the last two decades. That was the nine-point drop in the percentage of those who firmly believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. In 1991, three-quarters of born again adults held that view, but it has declined to two-thirds of them today (65%).

Roman Catholics in the U.S.
Roman Catholics continue to represent the largest religious denomination in the United States, at about one-fifth of the adult population. The Catholic population has experienced three statistically meaningful changes in religious behaviors and three in religious beliefs since 1991.

Catholics are now 10 percentage points less likely to attend church services than they were in 1991 (down to 49%) and 10 points less likely to volunteer at their church (down to only 9%). They are also more likely to be unchurched now than they used to be, increasing in this behavior from 20% to 29%.
The beliefs that have shifted in the minds of Catholics include an eight-point decline in those who firmly believe the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. That position has diminished among Catholics from one-third (34%) to one-quarter (26%). The other shifts were growth in the number who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today (up seven points to 60%) and an eight-point increase in the proportion of Catholics who meet the born again criteria (now up to 24%).

Changes among Protestants
Protestants are also redefining the nature of their faith, as seen in the fact that all six religious behaviors changed significantly, and five of the eight religious beliefs tracked followed suit.

The four major church-related behaviors have all suffered in the past two decades. Church attendance in a typical week has dropped by five percentage points (down to 52%); adult Sunday school attendance has declined 11 points, to 25%; volunteerism is off by 11 points (now standing at 26%); and being unchurched has risen from 17% to 24%.
The likelihood of attending a large church (600 or more people) grew by seven percentage points. Fourteen percent of Protestant adults now align with such a church. That’s double the proportion discovered in 1991, but unchanged from a decade ago.
Personal Bible reading undertaken apart from church events has dipped by seven percentage points since 1991, now down to 57%. The good news is that this represents a rebound from the 48% registered in 2001.

Perhaps surprisingly, four of the five changes in the religious beliefs of Protestants represent change for the better.

The number of Protestants who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they consider to still be important in their life today has risen by eight percentage points, to 86%.
Protestants are eight points less likely to agree that Satan is merely a symbol of evil, not a living entity, than they were in 1991. About half of them (47%) accept that characterization of Satan.
Adopting a personal responsibility for evangelism has increased slightly among Protestants, from 33% to 38% over the past 20 years.
The proportion of Protestant adults that meets the “born again” criteria has risen from 53% to 65%.
The notion that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches is less popular among Protestants today. In 1991, 61% strongly believed that notion; today, 56% hold that belief.

In addition to analyzing the research for this Update, George Barna has also posted further commentary on these findings on his blog site (www.georgebarna.com), as he has done in conjunction with the release of each of the five prior Updates on the state of the Church during the past week.

These six Updates about the faith changes in America closely follow the publication of George Barna’s latest book, Futurecast. A major release from Tyndale Publishers, this is Barna’s third decadal trends book, in the tradition of The Frog in the Kettle and Boiling Point. This latest entry describes national trends in a wide array of areas including family, lifestyles, entertainment, technology, values, attitudes, demographics, and media consumption, in addition to religious beliefs and behaviors.

Regional Shifts in Religious Beliefs and Behavior Since 1991 Revealed in New Barna Report {ARTICLE REPRINT}

2011-08-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

One nation under God? Perhaps, but new statistics released by the Barna Group, as part of its State of the Church – 2011 report, suggest that there is great variety of religious belief and behavior found across the country. The latest in a series of six reports that track changes in America’s religious nature since 1991 reveals that some of the old religious stereotypes no longer hold water. Deeper insight into those variations is accessible through a commentary by lead researcher George Barna at his blog site, georgebarna.com.

Changes in the Northeast
Oddly, there has been limited change in Northeast in the past 20 years. The only three significant transitions have been the following:

Church volunteerism in the Northeast has dropped by 11 percentage points, from 23% in 1991 to 12% in 2011.
The proportion of unchurched adults in the Northeast climbed from 26% in 1991 to 41% in 2011.
Ironically, the likelihood of someone from the Northeast claiming to be a Christian rose by ten points during the 1991-2011 era, from 72% to 82%.

Changes in the South
Similar to the Northeast, there was not a lot of religious change in the South over the last 20 years. There were statistically significant changes identified in regard to just four of the 14 items tracked.

Adult Sunday school attendance dropped in the South by 10 percentage points, to 21%.
Attending a church of 600 people or more became somewhat more common in the southern states between 1991 and 2011, rising from 10% to 17%.
Qualifying as an unchurched person – i.e., someone who has not attended a church service during the past six months, other than a special service such as a wedding or funeral – increased from 20% to 31%.
The only belief that sustained significant change was the 10 percentage point decline in adults who strongly agreed that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. That dropped the figure to half of southerners (50%) who hold this point of view.

Changes in the Midwest
The region with the greatest degree of religious change since 1991 was definitely the Midwest. Of the 14 religious variables tracked, 10 experienced significant change. Among the six religious behaviors, five saw a serious shift take place.

The biggest behavioral change has been the large reduction in church attendance in the Midwest. Pegged at 55% in 1991, average weekly attendance at a church service now stands at 40% in the central states.
Given the drop in weekly attendance, it is not surprising to find growth in the number of unchurched adults in the Midwest. However, the magnitude is substantial: a 50% jump, from 24% in 1991 to 36% in 2011.
Adult Sunday school attendance has declined in the Midwest since 1991 by seven percentage points, from 20% to just 13%.
Church volunteerism declined by nine percentage points in the Midwest over the past two decades, dipping from 30% to 21%.
Bible reading undertaken other than when attending a church event declined by seven percentage points since 1991. The current average in a given week is for 42% of Midwestern adults to read the scriptures.

Of the eight religious beliefs studied, five experienced significant changes.

Midwestern adults are less likely to describe themselves as Christian these days than was the case in 1991. The proportion slumped from 88% to 81%.
The percentage of Midwestern adults who contend that Satan is not a living entity but is just a symbol of evil declined by seven points, from 64% to 57%.
Those who strongly believe that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches dropped from 45% to 38%.
People’s views of God changed substantially since 1991, with a 13 percentage point drop in the number of Midwestern adults who believe that “God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today.” That view was held by two-thirds of adults in the central states (65%) in 2011.
Despite the other indicators of deterioration in people’s connection with Christianity, the only region that experienced a significant increase in the proportion of born again adults since 1991 was the Midwest. There was a 10-point increase, rising to 42% in 2011.

Changes in the West
Of the 14 religious measures followed by the Barna Group for this report, half of those showed statistically significant changes in the West since 1991. Among the six behavioral measures tracked, three saw meaningful shifts.

Church attendance among western adults dropped by 11 points, from 47% to 36% in 2011.
The proportion of unchurched adults rose from 29% to 46% in the West during the last 20 years.
Bible reading during an average week declined by nine points in the West, sliding to 34% in 2011.

The research concerning the state of the eight belief measures among people living in the West reflected significant change had taken place among half of those variables.

Adults in the West are now eight percentage points less likely to say their religious faith is very important in their life than was the case in 1991, when 57% made such a claim.
Since 1991, belief in an orthodox view of God has plummeted by 13 percentage points in the West, down to 58%.
The Bible is viewed less kindly in the West these days, as the research points to a 13 percentage point drop in those who firmly believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all the principles it teaches. Whereas four out of ten adults (39%) in the western states held that view in 1991, just one out of every four (26%) does today.
Fewer adults in the West now agree that Satan is just a symbol, not a living entity. There has been an eight percentage point drop in such a perspective, moving from 63% in 1991 to 55% today.

The final report in the six-part series of trend summaries regarding religious change since 1991 will be released on Thursday, August 4. At that time George Barna will again post a commentary on those findings on his blog site.

These six Updates about the faith changes in America have been released on the heels of the publication of George Barna’s latest book, Futurecast. Published by Tyndale Publishers, the heavily researched book examines national trends in a wide array of areas including family, lifestyles, entertainment, technology, values, attitudes, demographics, and media consumption, in addition to religious beliefs and behaviors.

20 Years of Surveys Show Key Differences in the Faith of America’s Men and Women [ARTICLE REPRINT\

2011-08-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

t’s hardly news that men and women think and behave differently. But a new analysis of national tracking surveys conducted over a 20-year period by the Barna Group profiles specific differences between the genders in relation to 14 religious beliefs and behaviors of significance. The report is the third in a series of six that constitute the annual State of the Church report released by the Barna Group. This year’s report became public simultaneous to the release of the latest trends book by author and researcher George Barna, entitled Futurecast.

Women and Faith
No population group among the sixty segments examined has gone through more spiritual changes in the past two decades than women. Of the 14 religious factors studied, women have experienced statistically significant changes related to 10 of them. Of those transitions, eight represent negative movement – that is, either less engagement in common religious behaviors or a shift in belief away from biblical teachings.

Five of the six religious behaviors tracked showed significant change.

Church attendance among women sank by 11 percentage points since 1991, declining to 44%. A majority of women no longer attend church services during a typical week.
Bible reading has plummeted by 10 percentage points, declining from half of all women reading the Bible during a typical week (excluding that done during church events) to just four out of ten doing so today (40%).
Sunday school involvement is less common among women these days, down seven points from the 24% mark noted in 1991.
Women have traditionally been the backbone of volunteer activity in churches. However, there has been a nine point slide in the percentage of women helping out at a church during any given week. That drop reflects a 31% reduction in the non-paid female work force at churches.
The only religious behavior that increased among women in the last 20 years was becoming unchurched. That rose a startling 17 percentage points – among the largest drops in church attachment identified in the research.

The only religious behavior tracked among women that stayed stable was the percentage who attended a church of 600 or more people, which has remained at 16%.

Although the core beliefs of women have undergone comparatively less turbulence, five of the eight beliefs tracked registered significant change.

Women are six percentage points less likely to say their religious faith is very important to them than they were in 1991. Even so, nearly two-thirds of them (63%) hold their faith in high regard.
When it comes to views on the devil, women are five percentage points less likely to write off Satan as merely a symbol of evil. Sixty-one-percent did so in 1991, but that has been reduced to 56% now.
Perceptions of the reliability of the Bible have taken a hit, as the percentage of women who firmly believe the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches has declined by seven percentage points to 42%.
An even larger drop has occurred in the proportion of women who possess an orthodox view of God. Those who contend that God is the “the all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today” has slumped from 80% in 1991 to 70% today.
The percentage of women whose beliefs qualify them to be classified as born again Christians has risen significantly in the past 20 years. In 1991, 38% of woman said they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that remained important in their life, and also said they believed they would go to Heaven after they died solely because they confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Since then, the figure has increased slightly to 44%.

Men and Faith
While men have not undergone changes on as many religious indicators as women have since 1991, men experienced statistically significant shifts in relation to six of the 14 religious factors studied. Four of those transitions were behavioral while the other two were shifts in belief.

The four behavioral changes were all negative from a church’s perspective.

Church attendance declined by six percentage points among men, The research showed that the proportion of men who had attended a church service, other than a special event such as a wedding or funeral, during the week prior to their survey interview fell from 42% to 36%.
Sunday school attendance declined by eight percentage points among men since 1991. Only one out of eight men (13%) presently attends such a meeting in a typical week.
The percentage of men who volunteer at a church during a typical week has slipped by six percentage points since 1991 to its present level of 18%.
The proportion of unchurched men has grown by nine percentage points since 1991. Today an estimated 39% of all men can be deemed unchurched – that is, having not attended a church event, other than a special service such as a wedding or funeral, in the past six months.

The two religious beliefs that witnessed significant change were having a personal responsibility to share their religious views with others who believe differently (down five points, to just 23%); and firmly believing that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches, down by ten points to only one-third of men (33%).

Among the surprises emerging from the research was the fact that despite decreases in core religious behaviors men are no less likely to read from the Bible these days than they were 20 years ago (41% in 2001, 40% in 1991). In fact, men and women are now equally likely to read the Bible during a typical week, thanks to the recent decline Bible reading among females.

There were additional changes of interest related to men and women, described along with some interpretive comments by researcher George Barna on his blog site, georgebarna.com. That site also contains his perspectives related to the State of the Church data released last week concerning the aggregate national averages on the 14 indicators, as well as differences on those measures across the generations.

On each of the next three days (August 2 - 4) Barna will release additional summaries regarding how the 14 religious factors tracked since 1991 have shifted according to people’s region, ethnicity, and religious affiliation. He will continue to provide commentary after each release on his blog site.

These Updates come shortly after the release of Barna’s newest book, Futurecast, which examines national trends in a wide array of areas including family, lifestyles, entertainment, technology, values, attitudes, demographics, and media consumption, in addition to religious beliefs and behaviors.

FAMILIES WHERE GRACE IS IN PLACE [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-31T02:25:00.001-07:00

Jeff VanVonderen addresses this in his books, Families Where Grace is in Place and Tired of Trying to Measure Up. He identifies ten characteristics that are found in a shame based system, whether it is a family, a church or a group where a person receives the message that somehow they are defective, inadequate human beings.

Those ten characteristics are:

Out-loud shaming. The message communicated is: "Something is wrong with you"; "You are defective"; "You don't measure up"' "Why can't you be like..."

Performance-orientation. The focus is on doing certain good behaviors and avoiding others as a means of earning love, gaining acceptance, acquiring approval, or proving value. Failure to perform results in shame.

Unspoken rules. Rules or standards that are seldom, if ever, spoken out loud govern behavior. In fact, sometimes the only way they are discovered is when they are broken. There is a "can't-talk-about-it" rule in effect - which means no one is supposed to notice or mention problems; and if you speak out about a problem, you are the problem. This forces people to keep quiet. There is also a "can't-win" rule in effect. For instance, children are taught never to lie; they are also told to never tell Grandma her meatloaf tastes bad. No matter how hard you try to keep these contradictory rules, you always fail to perform. And failure to perform results in shame. These rules tend to govern future relationships, unless they are realized and broken on purpose.

Communicating through "coding." Talking about feelings or needs leaves you feeling ashamed for being so "selfish." Talking about problems breaks the "can't-talk- about-it" rule and gets you shamed for being the problem. Therefore, family members learn to say things in code, or they send messages to each other indirectly through other people.

Idolatry. Family members are taught to turn to things and people other than God's acceptance as the measure of their value and identity. The measuring stick becomes how things look; what people think; religious behavior; acquiring possessions.

Putting kids through a hard time. Kids are involved in the messy and imperfect process of finding out about life. But the family cares most about how things look and what people think. Therefore, just being a kid becomes a shaming thing. Children must learn to act like miniature adults in order to avoid shame.

Preoccupation with fault or blame. Since there is such a focus on performance in this family, lack of performance must be tracked down and eradicated. Fault and blame are the order of the day. The purpose of the question, "Who is responsible?" is to find out who is to blame. That way the culprit can be shamed, humiliated, and made to feel so bad that he won't do the behavior again.

Strong on "head skills." Family members become experts at defending themselves. Blaming, rationalizing, minimizing, and denial are just some of the ways people try to push away the shame message - usually in vain.

Weak on "heart skills." "Can't-feel" is another rule governing this system. Feelings are wrong, selfish, or unnecessary. People in shame-based families don't know how they feel or how to respond to their feelings. These are emotionally reactive places.

Needy people. Because love and acceptance was earned on the basis of behavior, but never received apart from performance, shamed-based families are characterized by members who are empty on the inside, full-looking on the outside.

The response to these characteristics may be, "That's me! I've had that happen all my life." Or, "Oh, no, I do that and I hate it. How do I break out of it?"

Well, I'm not going to tell you. You have to come in for counseling and spend a whole bunch of money. No, actually the solution is found in "grace-full" relationships. It is simple yet like changing any system, it can be demanding.

In the previous article shame was defined as the painful emotion that is experienced when I feel "less than". Somehow I don't measure up or I am inherently flawed. It is about diminished personhood.

Again, the ten characteristics Jeff Van Vonderen identifies that typify shame-based relationships are:

Out-loud shaming
Performance orientation
Unspoken rules
Communicating through "coding"
Idolatry
Putting kids through a hard time
Preoccupation with fault and blame
Strong on "head skills"
Weak on "heart skills"
Needy people

God's grace has been defined a number of ways, the acrostic God's Riches At Christ's Expense or "unmerited favor". Charis is the most common New Testament word. T.H.L. Parker states, "It's basic significance is to be found in joyfulness, whether in regard to the appreciation of things or of people."

In contrast to shame-full relationships, Jeff Van Vonderen defines grace-full relationships as those where individuals receive messages that they are loved and accepted, valuable, and not alone in life.

Ten characteristics of grace-full relationships are:

Out-loud affirming. The message communicated verbally is: "I love you"; "You are so capable"; "I'm here for you when you need me"; "I'm glad God put you in our family"; "I enjoy your company." Use the person's name often.

People-oriented. Members of grace-full families separate people from their behaviors. David Seamands says, "We all need an environment where we feel our needs are met because of who we are and not because of what we do." I might not like the actions of my child and say, "(Name), when you hit your sister, I don't like that behavior, but I do like you." Sometimes God is not real pleased with how I live but he does love me. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Out-loud rules and expectations. Families need rules. They are there to serve the family members rather than family members serving the rules. For this to work everyone must know the rules. Often times in a shame-full family when one identifies the problem, they become the problem. Where as in a grace-full family, if the truth spoken reveals a problem, the problem is addressed rather than attacking the person whom reveals the problem. Have a family time where the preconceived family rules are identified and also some rules that the family would like in place.

Communication is clear and straight. Zechariah 8:16 says, "These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another: judge with truth and ... let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these things are what I hate, declares the Lord." Truth is the absence of the intent to deceive. Some times what one says is true but the way it is said or what is omitted deceives the hearer.

More commonly people hint at what they would like or desire but do not ask directly. Then they are offended when no one responds. The first person might say, "It sure would be a nice day to go for a drive." To which the second person's reply is, "yes, it is," and then continues to read the paper. The first person becomes upset. This is coding and it doesn't help.

Also, don't triangle or run messages for people. Some one once said, "If you don't have a dog in that fight, stay out of it." If someone gives you a message for someone else in the family or complains to you about another, suggest that they go directly to that person. It is best that you stay out of the loop.

God is the source. As Christians, God is our source. He meets needs, vindicates, defends and is the one who determines our value and acceptance. It may be very "American" to determine one's value by money, position, title, clothes, cars or church attendance, but it is not Biblical. Others thoughts and sometimes actions are beyond ones control. However, only God decides what is true about us. It is OK to be concerned about a child's math grade, but if they fail math, the only fail math. They are not a failure.

Children are enjoyed. Children are free to act like children, consistent with their age appropriate development, rather than expected to act like adults.

Responsibility and accountability. Fault and blame are used in a shame-full family to punish for lack of performance and are used as tools to attempt to control others. People are responsible for their choices and it is appropriate to hold them accountable for behavior. This may involve discipline but it does not mean punishment. It means helping the child learn from the incident. This might occur through consequences received, or it might happen just by talking together.

"Head skills" are used for learning. The key word is "learning" vs. "defending". "Why did you do that?" which usually triggers a defensive response becomes "Help me understand your thinking." Since the other person is already "pre-approved" the focus is on learning or growth. If the thinking is faulty, it can be changed, the behavior will change as well, thus learning or growth occurs.

Feelings are valid and useful. Feelings are not right or wrong, they simply exist. They act as signs that let us know something is going on between us. The choices we make in response to our feelings may be right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate, damaging or helpful.

It's okay for "outsides" to match "insides. In grace-full families what is real is more important than how things look or maintaining an image. Life is viewed from a progress or process perspective rather than an event perspective. I rejoice in progress. God is not through. Behavior is changing. Unacceptable behavior is about poor choices, not about our value and acceptance as people. Therefore, grace-full family members don?t have to fix one another in order to fix themselves.

Don't become overwhelmed with the above list if it is not characteristic of your family. God and growth are involved. Philippians 1:6 says, "He who began the good work in you will bring it to completion." In everything there is a learning or growth curve. I can choose an area, educate myself and determine before God some practical growth steps. Growth will occur.

Characteristics of a Grace-Filled Family [ARICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-31T02:22:00.000-07:00

Out-loud affirming(vs. out-loud shaming). In grace-filled families, members are told they are loved and accepted, capable, valuable, and supported out loud.. Don't expect people to be mind readers: It is not realistic to think that they "just know" that you care.

People-oriented(vs. performance-oriented). We all need and environment where we feel our needs are met because of who we are and not because of what we do. In grace-filled families, love and acceptance does not fluctuate depending upon how people act. People are affirmed for being who they are. In shame-based families, behavior is the most important thing. Who you are comes last.

Out-loud rules and expectations(vs. unspoken rules). In a grace-filled family, rules are there to serve people; people are not there to serve the rules. In shame-based families, the person who says there is a problem becomes the problem. In a grace-filled family the truth spoken or revealed is never the problem, nor is the person who speaks it. The problem is dealt with as a real problem, and a solution is sought.

Communication is clear and straight(vs. coding). If you want someone to take out the garbage, ask them to do so. Don't say,"Sure would be nice if someone would take out the garbage," and then complain when people ignore or miss your coded message. If you'd rather have hamburgers than hotdogs, say so. Don't say,"I don't care, we can have whatever you want," and then pout when you end up with hotdogs.

God is the source(vs. idolatry). As Christians, God is our Source. He is our need-meeter, our vindicator, our defender, the one who has the last word on our value and acceptance. We are not valuable and acceptable because of how much money we make, the clothes we wear, our church attendance, or because we have been faithful in our giving. In supportive relationships, members are pointed towards God's grace, not toward their performance or how things look or what people think. God is always our
only source of hope.

Children are enjoyed(vs. giving kids a hard time). In shame-based families, children must act like little adults in order to keep from being shamed. In grace-filled families, it's okay for them to act like kids. Normal, healthy kids are "messy" about this business of growing-up. As a parent, you do not need to be threatened or take it personally when your children mess-up.

Responsibility and accountability(vs. fault and blame). Fault and blame are used in shame-based families to punish children for their lack of performance. But the bible tells us "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us" (1 John 1:9). In many families, confessing to something gets you shamed, blamed, exposed, and humiliated. Not so in families where grace is in place.

"Head skills" are used for learning(vs. "head skills" used for defending). In grace-filled families, thinking is used for the purpose of learning. In shame-based families it is used to defend, blame, to make excuses, and to get out of being responsible. In shame-based families, the question,"Why did you do that?" is a trap. In grace-filled families people are pre-approved, and the question "Why did you do that?" is just a simple inquiry to understand the reason why something was done.

Feelings are valid and useful(vs. weak on "heart skills"). Feelings are not right
or wrong, they simply exist. Grace-filled families recognize the feeling and expression of emotions as opportunities for family members to connect with one another.

It's okay for outsides to match insides(vs. empty people learning to act filled). In grace-filled families, what is real is more important than how things look. Life is seen with a process perspective rather than an event perspective. Unacceptable behaviors are about poor choices, not about our value and acceptance as people.

The Subtle Power Of Spiritual Abuse [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-31T02:20:00.001-07:00

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, the authors list the following seven characteristics of shame-based relationships which will help explain why people are "caught up" in these abusive relationships:

1. OUT-LOUD SHAMING The dynamic: This is the "shame on you" that comes from belittling. It is any message communicated out loud that says, "Something is wrong with you."

The effects: Negative view of self, even self-hatred.

2. FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE The dynamic: How people act is more important than who they are. Love and acceptance are earned by doing or not doing certain things.

The effects: Perfectionism, or giving up without trying; view of God as more concerned with how you act than who you are; cannot ask for help; high need for the approval of others.

3. MANIPULATION The dynamic: Relationships and behaviors are manipulated by very powerful unspoken rules. Yet the unspoken rules communicate these and other shaming messages.

Coding: Messages are sent through a verbal code that others are supposed to decode. "Don't you think it would be better this way?" means, "I want you to do it this way."

Triangling: This means to send a message to someone through another person, instead of delivering it directly.

The effects: Great "radar" - the ability to pick up tension in situations and relationships; ability to decode messages; talking about people instead of to them; difficulty trusting people.

4. IDOLATRY The dynamic: The "god" served by the shame-based relationship system is an impossible-to-please judge. It is a god invented to enforce the performance standard.

The effects: Distorted image of God; high level of anxiety; high need to control thoughts, feelings and behaviors of others.

5. PREOCCUPATION WITH FAULT AND BLAME The dynamic: Reaction is swift and furious toward the one who fails to perform the way the system deems fit. Responsibility and accountability are not the issues here: Fault and blame are the issues.The shame-based system wants a confession in order to know whom to shame.

The effects: The sense that if something is wrong or someone is upset you must have caused it; a high need to be punished for or to pay for mistakes in order to feel good about yourself; difficulty forgiving self.

6. OBSCURED REALITY The dynamic: Members are to deny any thought that is different than those of people in authority. Anything that has the potential to shame those in authority is ignored or denied. Interaction with people and places outside the system threatens the order of things. Consequently, you can't find out what "normal" is. Problems are denied, and therefore they remain.

The effects: Out-of-touch with feelings, needs, thoughts; ignoring your "radar" because you are being "too critical;" feel like no one else understands you; threatened by opinions that differ from yours; suspicious or afraid of others.

7. UNBALANCED INTERRELATEDNESS The dynamic: Either under involved or over involved with each other. Consequently, rules take the place of people. There is no relationship structure in which to learn about behaviors and consequences. People find out about life alone and by accident.

The effects: Fear of being deserted; high need for structure; a sense that if there is a problem, you have to solve it; feeling selfish for having needs; putting up boundaries that keep safe people away; feelings of guilt when you haven't done anything wrong.

Barna Describes Religious Changes Among Busters, Boomers, and Elders Since 1991 [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

July 27, 2011

The three oldest generational segments of America’s population have been actively redefining their faith over the past two decades. A new analysis of Barna Group data from nationwide tracking surveys covering the last two decades reveals that in regard to 14 religious variables examined, each of the generational segments has experienced significant change concerning about half of those variables. On the heels of the release of his latest trends book, Futurecast, author and researcher George Barna added this generational analysis as part of the State of the Church series of reports from the Barna Group.

Young Adults: Baby Busters
An examination of the behavior and beliefs of adults born after the Boomer generation – i.e., those born from 1965 through 1983 – showed that there has been a lot of realignment taking place within this segment. Three of the six religious behaviors and five of the eight religious beliefs have undergone statistically significant change since 1991.

Among the behaviors that have shifted were:

Bible reading undertaken during the week preceding the survey interview, excluding reading that occurred during church events, jumped nine percentage points, reaching 41% in 2011.
Volunteering at a church during a typical week also grew by nine percentage points. The proportion climbed to 19% in 2011.
The proportion of unchurched Busters – i.e., those who had not attended any church services during the past six months, not including special events such as weddings or funerals – hit 39% in 2011. That represented an eight percentage point increase since 1991.

Five belief-oriented measures also witnessed significant change among the Busters during the past twenty years.

The percentage of Busters who describe themselves as Christians increased by nine points. Currently, 80% embrace that label.
Making a personal commitment to Jesus Christ became much more fashionable among Busters during the last twenty years. Sixty percent of Busters have done so, a rise of 12 percentage points since 1991.
Busters have become less indifferent toward the existence of Satan. Since 1991 there has been a ten percentage point drop in those who believe that Satan is simply a symbol of evil but not a living entity. However, a majority of Busters (55%) still concur that Satan is not a living being.
Busters are less prone to believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches than they were twenty years ago. The proportion of those who strongly affirm the complete accuracy of the Bible’s principles has declined by 11 percentage points during that time, dropping to 35%.
Being born again is more common today than ever among Busters. In 1991, only 23% met the criteria – saying they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life, as well as believing that they will experience eternal salvation only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. In 2011, 37% of Busters could be classified as born again.

The World Changers: Baby Boomers
No generation has been as widely chronicled as the Boomers, the post-war group born from 1946 through 1964. At every stage of their existence, this generation has redefined America’s ways of life – including its faith and spirituality. Four of their six religious behaviors and two of their eight religious beliefs tracked in this study have undergone statistically significant change since 1991.

The four religious behaviors that shifted included the following.

Church attendance plummeted by 12 percentage points, dipping to 38% in 2011.
Sunday school attendance by Boomers fell by nine points, from 23% in 1991 to just 14% in 2011.
Volunteering at churches was less likely among Boomers in 2011 than was the case twenty years ago, declining from 28% in 1991 to 18% in 2011.
While the Boomers have never been the generation most likely to attend church, during the past 20 years the percentage of unchurched Boomers has risen dramatically, jumping up 18 points! At 41%, they are now the generation most likely to be unchurched, surpassing the 39% level among Busters.

The pair of religious beliefs that have yielded substantial change in the last two decades are declines in those who hold an orthodox view of God (down six points, to 67%); and a reduction in those who are strongly convinced that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches (down seven points, to just 38%).

The pre-Boomer Segments – aka the Elders
This generational equivalent is a combination of the Builders (1927-1945) and Seniors (born prior to 1927), representing adults who are presently 66 or older. While many might assume that there would be little change in the spiritual lives of these folks, other than that brought on by physical infirmities, the survey data paint a different picture. Four of the six behaviors tracked experienced significant changes, and three of the eight beliefs followed also showed noteworthy shifts.

The four behavioral shifts involved these dimensions:

Sunday school attendance dropped by eight points, from 28% in 1991 to 20% today.
Bible reading undertaken during the past week, apart from such reading during church events, declined by eight points as well, moving from 54% to 46%.
Unexpectedly, older Americans have gradually become more open to attending large churches. During the last 20 years there has been a 12-point increase in Elders who now attend a church of 600 or more people. Neither of the other generations reflected any proportional change in this dimension, suggesting that the growth in attendance at large churches is predominantly attributable to either transfer growth among post-Elders or to Elders leaving small churches in favor of larger communities of faith.
The proportion of unchurched climbed eight points since 1991 among this group. Today three out of ten adults 66 or older (29%) are unchurched.

These are the trio of beliefs that experienced significant change since 1991.

The number of Elders who have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life these days rose by ten percentage points. That level now stands at three out of every four elderly Americans (76%).
Concurrently, the percentage of Elders who meet the born again criteria (described above) increased by 11 points. Elders are far more likely than their younger colleagues to be classified, based on their beliefs rather than self-identification, as born again (49%).
The proportion of Elders who believe that “God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe who continues to rule that world today” has dropped by nine percentage points. Presently 71% have adopted that view, down from 80% in 1991.

In light of these results, George Barna has provided interpretive comments regarding these trends on his blog site, georgebarna.com. During the coming week (August 1 - 4) Barna will release four additional summaries regarding how the 14 religious factors tracked since 1991 have shifted according to people’s region, gender, ethnicity, and religious affiliation. He will also continue to provide commentary after each release on his blog site.

These Updates come shortly after the release of Barna’s newest book, Futurecast, which examines national trends in a wide array of areas including family, lifestyles, entertainment, technology, values, attitudes, demographics, and media consumption, in addition to religious beliefs and behaviors.
To read additional commentary about these trends, and to leave your own thoughts, go to georgebarna.com

The data from which the trends are drawn is based on the annual OmniPoll™ survey conducted by the Barna Group each January of 1,000 or more adults. The 1991 survey included 1,005 adults randomly selected from across the United States. The comparable 2011 survey included 1,621 randomly chosen adults. Although the Barna Group has been conducting such research since 1984, it was not until 1991 that many of the core tracking questions used by the company were developed and then followed annually.

About Barna Group
Barna Group (which includes its research division, the Barna Research Group) is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. It conducts primary research, produces media resources pertaining to spiritual development, and facilitates the healthy spiritual growth of leaders, children, families and Christian ministries.

Located in Ventura, California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. If you would like to receive free e-mail notification of the release of each new, bi-monthly update on the latest research findings from the Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna website (www.barna.org). Additional research-based resources are also available through this website.

© Barna Group, 2011.

Barna Examines Trends in 14 Religious Factors over 20 Years (1991 to 2011) [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

July 26, 2011

George Barna, author of the new trends book Futurecast, has just released the first in a series of assessments of how America’s faith has shifted in the past 20 years on 14 religious variables. In the series of briefs, Barna explores not only the aggregate national patterns, but also digs into how matters have changed according to gender, ethnicity, region, generation, and religious segments.

Religious Behavior
An examination of six religious behaviors tracked over the past 20 years among American adults shows that five of the six experienced statistically significant changes during that time frame.

Bible reading undertaken during the course of a typical week, other than passages read while attending church events, has declined by five percentage points. Currently an estimated 40% of adults read the Bible during a typical week.

Church volunteerism has dropped by eight percentage points since 1991. Presently, slightly less than one out of every five adults (19%) donates some of their time in a typical week to serving at a church.

Adult Sunday school attendance has also diminished by eight percentage points over the past two decades. On any given Sunday, about 15% of adults can be expected to show up in a Sunday school class.

The most carefully watched church-related statistic is adult attendance. Since 1991, attendance has receded by nine percentage points, dropping from 49% in 1991 to 40% in 2011.

The most prolific change in religious behavior among those measured has been the increase in the percentage of adults categorized as unchurched. The Barna Group definition includes all adults who have not attended any religious events at a church, other than special ceremonies such as a wedding or funeral, during the prior six month period. In 1991, just one-quarter of adults (24%) were unchurched. That figure has ballooned by more than 50%, to 37% today.

The only behavior that did not experience any real change was the percentage of adults who attend a church of 600 or more people.

Religious Beliefs
The Barna summary included eight beliefs that have been tracked since 1991. Among those just three experienced statistically significant change.

The percentage of adults who can be classified as born again Christians, based on their belief that they will experience eternal salvation based on their commitment to Jesus Christ, personal confession of sins, and acceptance of Christ as their savior, has risen by five percentage points. In 1991, the national estimate was 35% of adults met those criteria. Currently, 40% of adults can be classified as born again.

When asked to choose one of several descriptions of God, the proportion who believe that God is “the all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today” currently stands at two-thirds of the public (67%). That represents a seven point drop from the 1991 level.

The biggest shift has been in people’s perceptions of the Bible. In 1991, 46% of adults strongly affirmed that “the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.” That has slumped to just 38% who offer the same affirmation today.

Among the religious beliefs that have remained relatively constant over the past 20 years were the percentage of adults who describe themselves as Christian (84%); those who say their religious faith is very important in their life today (56%); those who have made a “personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in my life today” (65%); the proportion who agree that Satan is not a living entity but merely a symbol of evil (56%); those who strongly believe that they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others who believe differently (25%).

George Barna commented on the significance of these trends on his blog site, www.georgebarna.com, and indicated that over the next eight days he will release five additional summaries of how the fourteen factors tracked since 1991 have shifted among regions, generations, genders, ethnicities, and religious segments. He will also continue to provide commentary after each release on his blog site.

These Updates come shortly after the release of Barna’s newest book, Futurecast, which examines national trends in a wide array of areas including family, lifestyles, entertainment, technology, values, attitudes, demographics, and media consumption, in addition to religious beliefs and behaviors.
To read additional commentary about these trends, and to leave your own thoughts, go to www.georgebarna.com

The data from which the trends are drawn is based on the annual OmniPollSM survey conducted by The Barna Group each January of 1,000 or more adults. The 1991 survey included 1,005 adults randomly selected from across the United States. The comparable 2011 survey included 1,621 randomly chosen adults. Although the Barna Group has been conducting such research since 1984, it was not until 1991 that many of the core tracking questions used by the company were developed and then followed annually.

About Barna Group
Barna Group (which includes its research division, the Barna Research Group) is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. It conducts primary research, produces media resources pertaining to spiritual development, and facilitates the healthy spiritual growth of leaders, children, families and Christian ministries.

Located in Ventura, California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. If you would like to receive free e-mail notification of the release of each new, bi-monthly update on the latest research findings from the Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna website (www.barna.org). Additional research-based resources are also available through this website.

© Barna Group, 2011.

Are You a Responsive Person?

2011-07-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here are four actions you need to take to make sure your expectations and those you deal with are calibrated.

Define how responsive you are going to be. Segment your contacts. Who is your inner circle? What about the next level out? What about acquaintances? What about complete strangers? I have a different standard for each. I don’t think I need to tell them; I just operate by these standards.

Determine how responsive others need you to be. If you acquire a new client, a boss, or a business partner, ask them to clarify their expectations. How quickly do they need you to respond? Does it need to beimmediate? within a few hours? within 24 hours? in a couple of days? Ask them to be specific. This is an implicit contract.

Express how responsive you want others to be. Take the initiative to clarify this with your direct reports, business associates, and vendors. It will result in less frustration for both of you. It also provides the necessary accountability to make progress on your various projects.

Be proactive when you can’t respond in a timely manner. If the other person has to follow-up, it’s a good sign your expectations are mismatched or you dropped the ball. Instead of waiting for them to ask again, contact them. For example, “I just wanted to acknowledge that I received your email. I am traveling this week, so it will likely be the end of the week before I can respond.”

Remember: You don’t have to provide the same level of responsiveness to everyone—nor can you. But you would be wise to clarify your expectations and then be intentional about it.

Ed Young: From Abstract Vision to Concrete Reality [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

Vision. It’s a buzzword in leadership. It's the "what if?" question that drives us to create and communicate. The challenge is molding that buzzword into reality.

Cast. Cast. Cast.
No matter how effective you are as a leader, people will have a tendency to forget the vision over time. So your job is to remind them of it, continually. How? Cast. Cast. Cast.

In other words: Say it, spray it, wheel it, deal it, and make them feel it. But do not give them the opportunity to forget it.

Kill the Sacred Cow.
Few things can derail vision faster than the mentality of doing something simply because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” Change is ok. In fact, it’s vital. That doesn’t mean you change the vision. But you can change the way the vision is carried out.

Regularly look at what your organization does - events, departments, programs, and even staff members. If something begins to drag people away from the vision God has given you, don’t be afraid to cut it.

Keep It Simple.
For some reason, complexity is mistaken for being “deep.” But truly, complexity is just muddiness. The most powerful message in the world, the Gospel, is incredibly simple and simply incredible. To keep the vision clear and out front:

Keep…It…Simple.

A God-given vision doesn’t need fluff added to it. Make sure you communicate in clear language what God has shown you. And you'll find yourself and your organization moving from "What if?" to "What is."

Building Your Church or Building His Kingdom

2011-07-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

I believe every pastor should ponder the thoughts in this video. I've personally experienced negative comments and withdrawal from those who wanted to see me fail in the ministry rather than succeed. Thank God that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world... including negative voices. But what challenged me is the attitude of my own heart that wants justice for what's been done or said, rather than having a heart of forgiveness and gratitude for God's generous mercy to me. How we need to totally forgive.

Are you Feeling Overwhelmed [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Very Practical Advice from Michael Hyatt...

I took the following seven steps:

I decided I had to make a change. This sounds almost trivial, but it is essential. Evidently, some people like being overwhelmed. They wouldn’t admit this, of course. But they thrive on stress in a perverse way. Perhaps it makes them feel important or indispensable. They may complain about their workload, but they are unwilling to do things differently. Are you ready for a change?
I identified my three high payoff activities. I asked myself, What is it that only I can do? Where do I add the most value? What is really important as opposed to merely urgent? For me, that is writing, speaking, and networking—in that order. Anything else is a waste of what I have been given. What are your high payoff activities?
I identified my three biggest productivity sinkholes. This was easy. For me, it is responding to email, booking my own travel, and meeting with acquaintances who want my advice. (As much as I’d like to do this, I am drowning in requests.) I decided I had to eliminate—or at least dramatically reduce—these activities in my life. What are your productivity sinkholes?
I spent time reviewing the productivity basics. In his book, The 4-Hour Workweek

, Tim Ferriss, says that the key to productivity is elimination, automation, and delegation. Some stuff is just no longer worth doing

. Other stuff can be put on auto-pilot

. Most of the rest can be delegated

. Have you made a list of which activities fall into which category?
I decided to do the math. Unfortunately, I had fallen into a common paradigm: I was thinking that if I could do something I should do it—myself. Balderdash! If you can make $50.00 an hour, is it a good investment for you to do tasks that you can hire done for $12.00 an hour? I don’t think so. This is not only bad math, it is bad stewardship. What do you make an hour? Could you be more financially productive if you delegated?
I hired a virtual executive assistant. I realized that I wasn’t ready for a full-time one. I wanted to take this one step at a time. Thankfully, there are scores of companies (offshore and domestic) that specialize in providing virtual assistants for as many hours as you need. I did this several years ago, and it was a positive experience. I decided to go with Miles Advisory Group

. I am very impressed with their responsiveness. Have you ever considered a VA?
I am scheduling the important tasks. I know, I know, I teach this stuff

. You’d think I would already have this nailed. Well, I did. More or less. But it was a completely different context, namely, CorporateWorld. Now I am having to implement the same thing in a different context. I am now scheduling my important tasks first and forcing my productivity sinkholes into small blocks of time. How much of your calendar this week is dedicated to high payoff activities?

Willow Creek Drops Exodus International, 'Ex-Gay' Ministry [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is a sad article... I've had the privilege of serving Exodus International since 2000 and I've never heard them use the term ex-Gay or gay conversion to describe their ministry. I have heard testimonies of freedom from people who have met Jesus and through His transforming power leave a life of sin and self destruction that was imposed on them because of abuse or seduction from gay men and women. Just sayin...

"Every wall is a door. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end requires courage. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today is a red letter day at Soulforce, where I work. We practice relentless nonviolent resistance to religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their families and allies. One of the organizations with whom we have worked, Willow Creek Community Church, has finally ended its formal relationship with Exodus International.

News that the South Barrington megachurch (30,000 members) and its co-founder, Bill Hybels, have severed affiliation with Exodus, the world's largest ex-gay ministry was under the radar until late June.

Willow Creek has been listed as the most influential church in America the last several years in a national poll of pastors.

Scott Vaudrey of the elder response team at Willow Creek said in writing that Willow Creek's decision was not intended as a social or political statement, "rather an indication of a season of reviewing and clarifying some of our affiliations with outside organizations."

Alan Chambers, president of Exodus, disagrees:

The choice to end our partnership is definitely something that shines a light on a disappointing trend within parts of the Christian community which is that there are Christians who believe like one another who aren't willing to stand with one another, simply because they're afraid of the backlash people will direct their way if they are seen with somebody who might not be politically correct.

Chambers directly blames Soulforce for Willow Creek's decision. Would that we were that powerful! My heart tells me that the good people of Willow Creek, under the relentless influence of the Holy Spirit have felt the waters stirring and responded to the gentle, still voice of God through Jesus Christ, the Great Includer. If we had any part in that movement, we are blessed.

In 2008-2009, Soulforce was on the Willow Creek campus to meet with Pastor Bill Hybels to encourage his congregation to cease its prominent partnership with Exodus, which included "equipping events" at the church to help Willow Creek leaders and other local pastors work with those experiencing same-sex attraction.

Those of us who long for the Church Universal to equip its saints in the walk of peace and justice and inclusion are celebrating today that Willow Creek has found a door in the wall of religious bigotry and walked through it in such a public way.

The leadership of the church and its congregants may still disagree doctrinally with any position that affirms LGBT people as whole children of God entitled to full membership and relationship within the Beloved Community. We have not yet heard where they stand on these issues.

Yet, their disaffiliation with Exodus and its harmful reparative therapy is a blessing that I want to affirm and thank Bill Hybels for doing.

As a minister of the Good News shared by Jesus Christ, I am grateful for Good News today.

Thank you, Pastor Bill. Thank you, Willow Creek Elders and Congregants. May the movement of the Holy Spirit continue within your community and one day may we all share a meal at the same Table of Grace.

Enemies of the Heart

2011-07-20T23:40:00.001-07:00

By Andy Stanley

High cholesterol, triglycerides, and hypertension-all well-known foes wreaking havoc in the human heart. But as devastating as these can be, there are four other enemies of the heart that can't be measured in a doctor's office. Big pharmaceutical has nothing to touch them and they wreak havoc on young and old alike.

They're the four primary enemies of the heart-four life-blocking agents that become lodged in the heart, poisoning our relationships, our faith, and our character. These corrosive forces gain strength from the darkness. Secrecy is their greatest ally. Left to their own, they grow in power and influence, like a lab experiment gone terribly wrong.

But as we'll discover, these forces lose their power when exposed to light. Like roaches that scatter at the flick of a switch, so these four enemies of the heart dissipate when exposed to the light of truth.

Here they are:
• Guilt
• Anger
• Greed
• Jealousy

Not the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse you expected? I assure you that practically every conflict and relational wound you've experienced can be traced back to one of these four.

Each of the four foes on this list is fueled by a single dynamic, and it's this dynamic that makes each so problematic. Understanding this dynamic is the first step to rendering each of these monsters powerless in your life.

Guilt, anger, greed, jealousy-each results in a debt-to-debtor dynamic that always causes an imbalance in any relationship. If you owe someone money, or vice versa, you know this to be the case. No matter what else is going on at the moment, the debt is always in the room with you.

As a pastor, I can't count the number of times this dynamic has played out in my office. A couple or a parent or a child has poured out their hearts with whatever the presenting issue might be. And when the story is finished, it's like a joke with no punch line. And everything in me wants to say, "I don't get it." That is, based on what you just told me, I don't know why we're here. And then after careful poking and prodding (sometimes not so careful the older I get), at last the debt is revealed: "She took this... He owes me that... God should never have taken...." And the debt that walked into the room with them is finally brought out into the open. And the dysfunctional dynamics that describe their situation all make sense. This is the power of debt.

Although the person owed generally has the upper hand in the relationship, the reverse can be true as well. If you've ever been in a situation where someone owed you money and refused to pay, you know that the person owed can feel as powerless and as put upon as a person who's in debt. It all depends upon the personalities (and the arrogance) of those involved. Either way, things aren't even. Someone has the upper hand. There's an imbalance. Unbalanced power in a dysfunctional relationship is a recipe for disaster.

If we're talking about an overdue debt, one that's unlikely to be paid anytime soon, then the tension rises. Even when everybody in the room is trying to keep a level head and talk about something else entirely, there's a negative vibe that characterizes the interaction.

We are a society that has learned-or at least thinks it has learned-to live with debt. The average household carries thousands of dollars of debt on credit cards. We "rent to own," we lease, and we buy things with no money down, no interest, and no payments for months and months. We've learned to live as if we are paid in full, all the while carrying massive amounts of debt. And while we can get away with this financially (for a while anyway), emotional and relational debt accrues interest at a staggering rate. Dysfunction and tension compound daily until the weight of the debt makes Washington, DC, look fiscally responsible.

There are only two ways to resolve this kind of tension: Either somebody has to pay up, or somebody has to cancel the debt. As long as the debt is unpaid or unforgiven, the debt governs the relationship. It becomes a filter for everything.

To look closer at the four enemies and how to combat each, read Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley.

The 8 ‘ations’ of Innovation

2011-07-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a talk by Pastor Rick Warrenat at a TedX Conference. He challenged everyone in the room with his words, 'All leaders are learners. Never stop learning!'. He then went on to share 8 Questions he constantly asks himself (The 8 'ations' of Innovation) to keep creative thinking going:

1. Termination: What do we first need to stop, before we can have room for new ideas? Sometimes termination is the beginning of innovation.

2. Collaboration: How can we do what we are already doing faster and on a larger scale by incorporating a team?

3. Combination: What great ideas or programs do we already have that we could mix together to make something new?

4. Elimination: What part could we take out to make an idea or process simpler?

5. Reincarnation: What has died that we could resurrect in a new form?

6. Rejuvenation: How could we change the purpose or motivation for what we do to bring new energy and new life to an idea?

7. Illumination: How can we look at this idea in a new light, from a different angle?

8. Fascination: How can we make this idea more appealing and fun?

These are great questions to bring new life to stale thinking. Have you put any of these to work in a creative meeting or planning session? Which ones do you need to ask yourself today?

Is your team wresting with ways to innovate in a ministry area? Don't miss our Upcoming Fall Innovtion Labs

including Dream Centers, Internet Ministries, Campus Pastor Development for Multiite Churches, Externally Focused Small Groups and Church Mergers. Questions?

For more information, contact Sherry

WORDS LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION

2011-07-20T23:32:00.001-07:00

As bad as it is to hear foul words, it is worse to speak them.

A nobleman went to see how Josiah Wedgwood made his SUPERB POTTERY. A young apprentice was told to give the guest a tour of the factory. As they walked through the plant, the visitor began to use foul language, ridicule the Bible, and make light of sacred things. At first the young man was shocked, but after a while he began to laugh at the man's remarks. Wedgwood, who had joined them, was greatly disturbed by what he saw happening to his apprentice.

At the end of the tour, the nobleman asked if he could purchase a particular vase that he admired. Wedgwood told him that it had taken many hours to produce its exquisite shape and color. As he handed the beautiful vase to his visitor, he deliberately let it crash to the floor.

Cursing angrily, the nobleman said, "That's the one I really wanted, and now it's shattered because of your carelessness."

"Sir," said Wedgwood, "there are things more precious than any vase. I can make another vase, but you can never give back to my helper the innocent heart you've degraded by your profanity!"

Even though God can cleanse and restore, evil influences may leave a lasting impression. Therefore let's stay alert to the subtle and destructive influences all around us.

Is That All?

2011-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Listen to the words of Francis Chan:

"You go to a building, someone gives you a bulletin, you sit in a chair, you sing a few songs, a guy delivers maybe a polished message, maybe not, someone sings a solo, you go home.

"Though Christians believe in an almighty and all powerful God who places His spirit in believers, the response among His people today is, 'Hi, welcome to church. Here's your bulletin. We'll get you out in an hour. Come back next week.'

"I mean, really? Is that all God intended for us?"

Is that the church we see germinating and growing throughout the New Testament book of Acts? Hear the words of Jesus: "You shall receive POWER...You shall be my witnesses..."

Learning To Say No

2011-07-19T22:08:00.001-07:00

If we don’t get better at saying “no,”

Other peoples’ priorities will take precedence over ours.
Mere acquaintances—people we barely know!—will crowd out time with family and close friends.
We will not have the time we need for rest and recovery.
We will end up frustrated and stressed.
We won’t be able to say “yes” to the really important things.

The Nowism of the Gospel

2011-07-13T09:25:00.001-07:00

By Paul Tripp

Pastor, do your people have a gap in the middle of their Gospel; understanding more about salvation past and future than they do about the spent benefits of the work of Christ in the here and now? Permit me to explain.

Jason sat in front of me with the head-down, humped-shouldered posture of a confused and disappointed man. It wasn't that Jason's life had been a sad narrative of personal suffering. Sure, he'd faced some hard things, but they were the typical things that you face when you're living in a world that's been broken by sin. It wasn't that Jason was alienated and friendless. He was surrounded by a group of less than perfect, but pretty faithful companions. It wasn't that Jason was impoverished or homeless. No, he had a decent job and an adequate condo.

Jason's problem was that he was lost in the middle of his own faith. It had become harder and harder for him to connect the beauty of what he believed to the gritty and often difficult realities of his daily life. Jason's problem was that he carried a gospel around with him that had a great big hole in the middle of it.

Jason could explain to you what it meant to say that he had been "saved by grace," and he knew that he was going to spend eternity with his Savior. His problem was in the here and now. Day after day, in situation after situation and relationship after relationship, Jason didn't carry with him a vibrant and practical sense of the nowism of the grace of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jason believed in life after death, but he desperately needed to understand life before death; the kind of radical life you'll live when you understand what Christ has given you for the life he has called you to right here, right now.

Let me suggest four critical aspects of the nowism of the gospel (there are more) that Jason seemed functionally blind to.

1. Grace will decimate what you think of you, while it gives you a security of identity you've never had.

Grace will expose your sin, but it won't leave you without identity. Grace had liberated Jason, but he didn't know it or live like it. He'd not only been forgiven and empowered, but he‘d been given a brand new identity. Jason had been freed from looking inward for his identity. No longer did he have to measure his potential by his track record or the size of the problems he was facing.

His potential was as great as the grace of Christ. He'd been freed from looking outward for his identity. No longer did he have to search for identity in his relationships, possessions or achievements. Jason had been freed from looking horizontally for what he had already been given vertically.

His sense of self was no longer rooted in what he could earn or achieve, but in what he'd already been given in Christ. The problem was that he didn't know it, so he was on a constant quest for meaning and purpose, looking for identity in places that could never deliver.

2. Grace will expose your deepest sins of heart, while it covers every failure with the blood of Jesus.

No longer did Jason have to work to excuse, deny, rationalize, or minimize his sin. No longer did he have to exercise his inner lawyer when someone pointed out a wrong. Because of the cross of Jesus, Jason could admit his weakness and failure before a holy God and be utterly unafraid. And if a holy God had accepted him as he was, why would Jason fear the opinion of others?

Jesus took Jason's rejection so that he would never see the back of God's head. Grace had freed Jason from having to prove to God, himself and others, that he was righteous. Jason's hope and security was no longer in his own righteousness, but the righteousness he'd been given in Christ. The problem was that he didn't know it, so Jason careened back and forth from fear to pride, swindling himself with self-atoning excuses and defending himself to others.

3. Grace will make you face how weak you are, while it blesses you with power beyond your ability to calculate.

Grace does require you to admit how weak you are, but it doesn't leave you there. The cross not only dealt with the guilt of sin, but with the inability of sin as well. In this broken world of regular difficulty and constant temptation, Jason did feel weak and unprepared, so he lived more out of fear and avoidance than with hope and courage.

Jason had not only been granted forgiveness, he'd been filled with power; power beyond his ability to calculate. (Ephesians 3:20, 21) The problem was that Jason didn't know it, so Jason gave into things he had the power to defeat and he avoided things he had the power to conquer.

4. Grace will take control out of your hands, while it blesses you with the care of One whose plan is unshakable and perfect in every way.

Jason had some kind of distant belief in the sovereignty of God, but it was almost completely separate from his everyday experience. He lived as though he had no idea that Jesus was ruling over all things for his sake (Ephesians 1:20-23). So Jason was constantly dealing with the frustration of trying to control people and things which he'd little power to control.

He spent way too much time calculating the "what ifs" and regretting the "if onlys." He seemed as if he didn't know that his security and rest were not to be found in his ability to predict the future and control the present, but in the faithful love and expansive wisdom of his sovereign Savior, Jesus, so his living was always more anxious than restful.

You see, Jason didn't need more grace. No, he needed to understand and live in light of the grace he‘d already been given. Jason was a grace amnesiac and so he lived as if he was poor, when grace had made him exotically rich. He lived as if he was weak, when grace had made him strong. He lived as though life had no plan, when, in fact, he'd been included in the unalterable plans of the God of redeeming grace.

Jason had a big hole right in the middle of his gospel, and because of that, he didn't live out of the freedom, beauty and security of what he'd been given right here, right now. What about you? What about the people you serve?

Beginning In June 2006, Paul became the President of Paul Tripp Ministries, a non profit organization, whose mission statement is "Connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life." In addition to his current role as President of Paul Tripp Ministries, on January 1, 2007, Paul also became part of the pastoral staff at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA where he preached every Sunday evening and lead the Ministry to Center City through March, 2011 when he resigned due to the expanding time commitments needed at Paul Tripp Ministries. In 2009, along with Paul's responsibilities with his speaking schedule for Paul Tripp Ministries, Paul became Professor of Pastoral Life and Care at the Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, Texas and is the Executive Director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas.

What Does Your Church Provide For The Community?

2011-07-13T08:55:00.001-07:00

Interesting article by the Barna Group on how communities see churches and how churches see themselves... http://www.barna.org/congregations-articles/502-do-churches-contribute-to-their-communities

Here are some of the ways how Churches believe they can impact their communities and my own interpretation of the graphs they posted showing how involved churches are in these areas:

Addressing Poverty - HUGE
Cultivating Biblical Values (aka. Worship Services, Prayer) - NOT SO HUGE
Serving Youth / Family / Elderly - NOT SO HUGE
Doing Ministry (aka. Bible Study, Preach Gospel) - NOT SO HUGE
Assisting In Recovery - NOT SO HUGE
Addressing Workplace / Financial / Emotional Issues - SMALL
Serving The Community - SMALL
Being Inclusive - NOT AT ALL
Engaging Politically - NOT AT ALL

My take away is that Churches see themselves primarily as a meeting hall or an educational facility. The New Testament says the Church is the Body of Christ. How can we get back to the original intent that Jesus had for His Church?

I think we need to consider the following thoughts...
We need to return to the gospel of Grace
We need to be the carriers of God's Presence that we are
We need to know God through His Word
We need to teach people to follow Jesus versus changing culture
We need to replace social justice with the Great Commission
We need to teach the Bible as a book to be practiced, not merely a book to be studied
We need to return to a simple gospel message that is based on the power of God, not great powerpoint slides, video intro or clever titles
We need to return to a simple faith that is built on the Bible alone
We need to return to a life of prayer

When the Church becomes the Body of Christ and brings Jesus to people... two things will happen... first, we will be forced to confront and turn from our own unbelief about the reality of God's power and might in our lives and second, the world will see Jesus.

So God Gave You A Song

2011-07-11T08:27:00.001-07:00

Creating Flow In Worship

2011-07-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest challenges that worship leaders face is the ability to put together set lists for a worship service that provides a non-distracting experience for congregants. It’s easy to get into a rut or routine that seems to “get the job done,” but doesn’t inspire passion, creativity or a real sense of encounter.

The first step to creating a flow in worship is prayer. Now, I just heard everyone reading this column experience an “I could have had a V-8” moment. But seriously, one of the fundamental keys for worship leaders who are successful in facilitating “God moments” through their leadership is a basic understanding that worship and prayer are interconnected. I would suggest that worship is our prayers set to music, and worship songs are sung prayers. I think of the songs as prayer requests.

Some questions you need to ask

1. What life circumstances are dominating the conversations of people in your congregation? If you have a number of families losing their homes due to the recession, it may not be appropriate to sing a happy song.

Most worship leaders do not know how to effectively connect the musical part of the service with the lives of the people they are leading. The focus is on providing an “experience” instead of facilitating an “encounter.”

That is the difference between entertainment and ministry. Entertainment wants everyone to have a particular “experience” that is programmed for effect. Ministry is focused on people having a transformational “encounter” with God.

2. What message is consistent with the season of life for your congregation? New churches are filled with excitement, but older churches may be concerned about commitment. Young believers are trying to sort out if their faith is real. Seasoned saints are dealing with trying to recapture the excitement of the past. What is the overall message or “prayer” that captures the heartbeat of the congregation you are connected to?

The message in your song selection needs to fit the season of life your congregation is in. One of the biggest sources of frustration occurs when someone wants to change “the style” to appeal to a younger audience, and in doing so ignores the message. People don’t relate and they begin complaining.

3. What scriptures are being taught? There are some that believe that the pastor must stay in his or her lane and the worship leader must stay in his or her lane and never shall the two meet. In fact it’s almost a bragging point to say, “Wow, the worship and the message really flowed together this morning. I know the pastor and worship leader never talk, so that was really the Lord!” No, it was an accident.

Worship is an art form that gives voice to the Word of God. Our song selection should reflect the scriptures that the people are being taught through sermons or Bible studies.

4. What is happening inside of you? We forget that we are worshippers before we are worship leaders. If something doesn’t impact our lives personally, then how can we expect others to be impacted by it? I don’t use songs that I personally don’t connect with. It’s important that I not only believe in what I’m singing or “praying” to God, but that I’m also believable to others.

In our next issue we will discuss the relationship between keys and tempo in creating set lists that flow in worship.

LIVING IN THE PRESENCE

2011-07-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

“And He said, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14).

Do you realize that Jesus is with you every moment of every day? Or do you live as if you're all alone in this world and you've just got to do the best you can with what you've got? The Bible tells us that we are different. We are special. We have been personally selected for relationship with Jesus and the effect of that relationship in our life is rest. In the original language it literally means I will cause you to rest.

We all face giants in our life. We all face our own private Goliaths. If you believe you're on your own, then you will be filled with anxiety, fear, self doubt or insecurity. But how comforting it is to know that you are not alone. That Jesus is with you and He has incredible strength, courage, power and confidence. He's not struggling with indecision or fear. He is at rest and His Presence causes us to be at rest.

You may be saying to yourself that's all great, but how do I access God's Presence? What if I told you that it's easy to be in God's Presence? What if I told you that you have an access point to God's Presence? Well, it's true. It's called Worship. Worship is the access point to God's Presence. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. The Bible tells us that when we draw near to God He draws near to us. How do we do that? Through worship. I want to encourage you to do something. The next time you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, anxious, insecure, fearful or powerless take a moment and worship the Lord. Cultivate a sense of His Presence through praise and watch God cause you to rest.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...
Blessings
P.HD
P.S. Pray for Worship Life as we begin looking for a facility that we can call our own and pray for Revival in South Orange County I've also been invited to bring Worship Life to KWVE 107.9 FM. We have absolutely nothing, but that has never stopped us before. Where God guides, He provides and God is doing great things!!!

Worship Team Training Episode 36 & 37

2011-07-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here is an episode of Worship Team Training that I did with Shanon Wexelberg...

PODCAST CLICK HERE

Here is an episode of Worship Team Training that I did with Andy Park...

PODCAST CLICK HERE

Gay marriage is not an increase in liberty [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-07-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

By Maggie Gallagher

USA TODAY's Editorial Board is bending over backwards to find a way of engaging the marriage debate that escapes the key question: Is there a reason why marriage is the union of husband and wife, not only in our culture, but in almost every known human society?

OUR VIEW: Gay marriage not over finish line yet

Here's our answer to the evaded question: Marriage is rooted in real differences between same-sex and opposite-sex unions. Only a union of husband and wife can make new life, and connect those children in love to their mother and father. Society — and government — have a unique interest in promoting marriage to further this goal.

Abraham Lincoln once famously asked, "If you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?" Four, he answered, because a tail is not a leg, even if you call it one.

USA TODAY argues that everyone deserves equal treatment under the law, whether that means traditional marriage, gay marriage or civil unions.

I understand the impulse.

But as an answer, it evades and presumes precisely the questions at hand: Are same-sex unions really the same as unions of husband and wife? Do they further the same interests and serve the common good in the same way? Does marriage have an important public mission that the law needs to recognize and support?

If so, redefining marriage as a civil, legal and public institution in order to further a false equality is a poor trade-off indeed.

Gay people are perfectly capable of entering into loving, committed caretaking unions. That does not justify government involvement or coercion of third parties to recognize these non-marital relationships as marriages.

Gay marriage is not an increase in liberty; it is a government takeover of an institution that government did not create and should not redefine.

When the government endorses a lie about human nature, there will be consequences.

Maggie Gallagheris chairman of the board of the National Organization for Marriage.

Going Deep [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Cultivating people of spiritual depth is a pastor's top priority
Gordon MacDonald

Monday, June 27, 2011

Recently I have been drawn to the word deep as a descriptor when I speak of mature Christians. My earliest appreciation for the term came when I read a comment by Richard Foster: "The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."

What does it mean to be a deep Christ-follower today when unlimited options, noisy distractions, and a million versions of truth swamp the soul? How is it possible to be a deep person while being swept up in a 50-60 hour work week (if you're working), community and school events, shopping, networking, laundering, family-building … oh, and staying on top of things at church too? Is deep even thinkable for anyone living outside of a monastery? I'm just asking.

Of course we can't even attempt to answer these questions until we explore what deep means. Here's my working definition: Deep people are those whose lives are organized around Jesus, his character, his call to a serving life, and his death on the cross for their sins. The abilities (or giftedness) of deep people may be quite diverse, but each has the power to influence others to follow Jesus, grow in Christ-likeness, and live a life of faithful service. They love the world, mix well with people, but are wary of spiritual entrapments. They are known for their wisdom, their compassion for others, and their perseverance in hard times.

How important is depth?

Now, consider this statement: A church's greatest treasure is its deep people. I know recent church emphasis has valued seekers, young people, and people that reflect diversity—all important elements of a healthy church. But absent a core of deep people, a church is in trouble. Deep people do not just happen; they are cultivated. Let's take this thought one step further. Deep people are a treasure greater than a church's preacher; greater than its hottest program; even greater than its worship band. I can hear teeth gnashing.

If the previous paragraph is true, then evaluate the following propositions:

A high percentage of a church's deep people should be lay-people, those whose lives are lived in the marketplace, the school, or the community.

Church leaders should be aware of who their deep people are, just as much as they know where their money is … or isn't.

Church leaders should imagine an approach to ministry that makes the continuous cultivation of deep people (of every age) its highest priority.

Churches should consider assigning this cultivation effort to their lead pastors, noting it as their top responsibility.

What would it mean for a church to accept these propositions? Well, what if—hang with me here—the first paragraph of the lead pastor's job description were to read: "The first priority of the lead pastor is to serve as the chief (spiritual) development officer of the entire congregation. He or she will be held personally accountable by the church board to train a certain number of men and women each year qualified to offer spiritual leadership inside and beyond the church organization."

Two developments have prompted these thoughts. The first is a growing suspicion that many churches are no longer producing many (if any) truly deep people. Something is not working. The Willow Creek Association self-study, called REVEAL, seems to speak to this when it expresses concern for the paucity of mature Christians to be developed by mere involvement in church programs. I've done my own unscientific, anecdotal study. Wherever I go in North America and in other parts of the world, I ask pastors these questions:

How many deep people do you know? This often generates a discussion on what deep people look like (see above) and the quiet admission that the number of them is small.

Any chance we're calling people to an unlivable faith?

If not, do you think your church is producing deep people? (This, all-too-frequently, causes a thoughtful silence and an inventory of discipleship programs that mostly seem to work, but only for a short time.)

Do you personally, as pastor, spend time identifying and mentoring potentially deep people? (This often leads to conversations on how few hours there are in a work week.)

The answers I get to these questions are occasionally encouraging. But most lead me to conclude that a lot of pastors concentrate on what draws crowds (often preaching) but neglect what cultivates deep people (usually mentoring).

But what if most preaching events rarely produce deep people? What if preaching tends rather to inspire, to inform, to provide practical Christian advice—but little more?

These are important functions. But if the premier challenge in ministry leadership is to develop deep people, as described, for example, in Paul's words, "rooted, built up, strengthened in the faith as taught … overflowing with thanksgiving," then we may need to rethink how life-altering ministry is accomplished.

Occasionally, when I talk to pastors about these things, I am reminded that larger churches often have a staff person responsible for "discipleship." This usually means small group programs. These are often very good people.

But sometimes I push back by saying that, if populating the church with increasing numbers of deep people is a church's highest priority, then that priority cannot be delegated to associate staff. It must be led, and led aggressively, I suggest, by the senior leader. Only then will the congregation get the message that this deep-people cultivation stuff is really important. In other words, the lead pastor must be first-cultivator.

What did Jesus do?

One day I asked myself: If Jesus read the classifieds on the Christianity Today website and decided to apply for a ministry job, which one would he choose? Lead pastor? Soup kitchen operator? Denominational executive? Custodian? Children's worker?

Apparently most of the hours of Jesus' public ministry were invested in a small number of men and women who, under his mentorship, morphed into deep people and set in motion a movement that continues to this day. No question about it: this mentoring activity was Jesus at his best, his sweet spot.

So, in what capacity did he do it? Like many do it today? Form a circle and fill in the blanks of a Bible study booklet? Hold a series of Tuesday evening meetings and show videos of inspirational speakers? I don't think so.

Jesus cultivated deep people in the traditional way of the rabbis. So how did rabbis go about reshaping peoples' lives? In a way considerably different than ours.

Like most rabbis of his time, Jesus did preach. But it was a very different sort of preaching. Much of it was dialogical: story-telling, questions and answers, argument. It bore little resemblance to the monologues of today's preachers. If someone interrupted my preaching, as they apparently did in Jesus' time, I'd be horrified.

Strangely enough, much of Jesus' preaching would have earned him low grades in today's preaching courses. I mean, how would you grade a preacher who started with a curious crowd of thousands that dwindled to an audience of 12, who themselves were hardly paragons of fidelity?

Yet Jesus seemed unconcerned with empty seats. What he does appear to have cared about is what the 12 were going to be and do. I'm left to assume that Jesus the rabbi was less a preacher and more a cultivator-coach to those disciples he'd chosen. What he did with them and how he did it, I call the genius of the rabbinical contract.

I never used to take Jesus' status as a rabbi seriously. With apologies to my Jewish friends, I thought his role as a rabbi was incidental. Then I took a fresh look at the Lord's life and realized that this status as an itinerant rabbi was crucial to understanding his ministry approach. His mission was to redeem and reframe the lives of those who would extend this mission after he was gone. Rabbis, like parents, always had their eyes on the future. Who would perpetuate their teaching?

It's likely that at the age of 12, Jesus stood out among his peers for his remarkable ability to master the Torah and his aptitude for engaging with people, including those much older than he. Luke says people really liked Jesus.

A speculative question might be raised: Who was Jesus' rabbi when he was young? Who was his teacher?

I've no idea, but don't ignore one special person: his mother. She had to have had a profound influence upon his development. She was clearly one tough and intelligent lady (reread The Magnificat). I'm sure that she read the prophet Isaiah to her son every time she had the chance. You can almost hear her saying, "Son, the proud, the powerful, and the rich are not where it's at. Keep your eye out for the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed. Tell them they're loved." And he did.

If the premier challenge in ministry leadership is to develop deep people then we may need to rethink how lifealtering ministry is accomplished.

At the age of 30 Jesus left his family trade and hit the road as a rabbi-teacher. Itinerant rabbis moved from town to town and conducted seminar-type meetings with local people who usually welcomed them and hoped for a miracle or a revolution. In another time we might have called what Jesus did barnstorming. Each of these roaming rabbis possessed a somewhat unique interpretation of the Torah, and their collections of teachings were known as their "word" (as in "my word will not pass away") or even their "gospel." It was said that a rabbi "received" his teaching from one who'd gone before him.

Most visible in the life of a rabbi were his students or disciples. They were usually a small, carefully vetted group of younger men who followed the teacher. In some cases, disciples got into this rabbinical relationship because their families negotiated with the rabbi in a way not dissimilar to the way a parent might try to get a son or daughter into a top college or university.

The better connected a family was in the social network, the greater a young man's chances of connecting with a highly-regarded rabbi. Paul reflects this arrangement when he supports his claim to be an authentic Jew. "Under Gamaliel, I was thoroughly trained," he says. Today he might have put it this way: "I got my degree from the College of Gamaliel."

We have several descriptions of how things developed between Jesus and his disciples. When Jesus spent time on the boat with Peter and other fishermen, Peter told him, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5).

Peter simply could not visualize himself as a disciple. Too much of a past, he may have reasoned; too many character defects; too many other ambitions. He seemed to see no way he could be what Jesus' rabbinical contract would require.

Jesus' response-"from this moment you will become a fisher of men"—doubtlessly builds off an extensive earlier conversation. In the end Jesus broke through Peter's resistance and drew him away from his trade and into a life of learning and serving.

In telling us this story, the gospel writers seem to assume that we, the readers, are conversant with the drama of the disciple-picking event. They seem to assume we know that this leaving of the nets was no instant decision, but that it had been discussed, proposed, pondered. And now the thinking became actionable. Peter and the others enter the rabbinical contract.

In the times that followed, Peter's rogue opinions and impulsive behaviors appear to vindicate his original opinion of himself. He was no "rock" in those early days, and most of us—had we been the rabbi—would probably have offloaded him at the first opportunity.

Jesus' further choice to call both Matthew (tax collector) and Simon (of the Zealot movement) is stunning when you think about it. The two men could easily have killed each other! Their political positions were as different as those of Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh.

The 12 Jesus picked were diverse in their personalities, backgrounds, and expectations. Few of us would dare to put these people in the same room together, much less anticipate depth from them.

How do you deepen a disciple?

So how did Jesus deepen these men? Three answers: emulation, information, and examination.

Emulation: The disciples of a rabbi sought to mimic everything about their mentor. What did he think? How did he talk? How did he eat? Disciples desired to be flawless copies of their rabbi. They believed that the rabbi was the incarnation of the Torah, and they, in turn, wished for others to see the example of the rabbi in them. Now we can understand Paul when he says: "I want to know Christ … even in his death." To know was to be like.

Information: The rabbi might teach in the Temple area, but, often, rabbis taught away from a classroom and out on the roads, the fields, the marketplace, the lake shore. Everything in ordinary life became an illustration of the rabbi's teaching; most everything was taught in story form or in riddles and proverbs designed to make a point and challenge the disciple's mind. Rabbis were unafraid to leave conclusions up in the air. Even Jesus tells stories with no obvious application. It's as if he likes to say, "Go figure!"

Examination: Rabbis provided times of testing. Think of Jesus' ministry: the storm, feeding the 5000, the betrayal in the garden. Times of testing. You can hear Jesus, saying "Where is your faith?" when the storm is quieted. "You give them something to eat," he demands pointing to the crowd. "You're all going to forsake me," he predicts. There were also rebukes: "Get behind me, Satan." And questions: "What were you discussing when I wasn't there?" And assignments: "He sent them to preach the kingdom of God …"

When the rabbi decided that the contract had been fulfilled, he discharged his disciples. Again, Jesus: "You're servants no longer; you're friends." "It's best for you that I go away." "You're going to do more than I've done." "Love one another as you've been loved." "Get out into the world and replicate yourselves by teaching what I've taught you."

After saying these things, he left them. His teaching now burned into their heads, his spirit now resident in their hearts. Finally, they were on their way to becoming deep people.

You've got to admit it when you review the story: Jesus was an incredible producer of deep people. In three years he made 12 champions. Well, 11 anyway.

How do we do what Jesus did?

So what might we learn from all of this?

1. By knowing our "main thing." Is our goal simply to attract a crowd? Or to develop deep people who will carry on Jesus' cause? Developing deep people may not produce instant crowds, but it lays the foundation for a strong and enduring ministry.

2. By not delegating this away. Developing deep people has to be spearheaded by the number one person in the organization. Ask yourself—and this is sort of silly—if Jesus could have accomplished what he came to do if he had turned to John the Baptizer and said, "I'd like to make you my discipleship director. You teach the people what I think is important while I address the larger crowds, cast the vision, raise the money, and network the influencers in the Temple."

3. By helping our churches see that the continuous development of deep people is among the church's most serious investments, and that pastors are held accountable for their work in pursuing this mandate.

4. By following the strategy of emulation, information and examination. Admittedly, this takes time, and it probably means that a lead pastor might have to say to the church board, "I'm going to invest 20 percent of my time in 12-15 people each year, and you're going to have to support me when the congregation begins to ask why I'm not around for a lot of program events."

The strategy of the rabbinical contract probably requires time away from church property, being out of the view of the larger congregation. The pastor's home might be a good place to start. The would-be disciples' workplaces could be another. Any venue where growth can be taught, illustrated, and tested is a useful place.

A fifth thought. Rabbis are not necessarily nice guys. They constantly raise the bar on their disciples. They are not reluctant to open up their own lives; they know how to poke into the inner space of their disciples; they know how to bring out the best in others. Cultivating deep people is serious business.

Paul is thinking about the rabbinical contract when he writes to Timothy. "What I've taught you … teach others … who will teach others." Do it by being an example, Paul says, "in speech (what and how you say things), in life (the way you live), love (your quality of relationships), faith (how you trust God), and purity (your moral choices)." That's all rabbinical talk. "Command, rebuke, exhort?" Also rabbinical. In short: Timothy's assignment was to grow deep people.

Here's a final thought. We're developing disciples of Jesus not of ourselves. The rabbi's deep people are not his. Disciples are not to be owned, controlled, or misused. They belong to Jesus, and he is free to guide them toward life and leadership in the church but also, possibly, beyond it. The church's greatest treasure—these deep people—must be shared, exported, sent out.

When Jesus prayed before his arrest in the garden, what did he pray for? He prayed for "those whom you gave me." Hear him: "I have revealed you to them … I have given them your word … they need your protection … they need to be sanctified … I've sent them out."

He prayed not for the crowds he'd preached to, but for the disciples he'd cultivated.

I have known a "rabbi" or two in my life who guided me through the process of emulation, instruction, and examination. Sometimes they were tough, sometimes tender. They believed in the present and future me. They saw what I might become and endeavored to deepen me. They are all gone now. I miss them greatly. But I have their "word," and I'm committed to handing their gospel on to others.

Gordon MacDonald is editor at large of Leadership Journal.

Copyright © 2011 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

Are You Pursuing A Supernatural Ministry [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

When you’re alone with the Word of God, you probably have less peace than you’re willing to publicly admit.

You’re fine at church, attending conferences, or spending time with churchgoers. But when you’re studying God’s Word by yourself, a sick feeling creeps into your stomach. How can you reconcile Jesus’ teachings with what you see in the Church?

Start with yourself

Most of us know we can’t say with the Apostle Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 TNIV) Rather than pursuing the Spirit-filled example we could be, we hide behind churchy statements like, “I’m just a man” or, “I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” That will satisfy most, but you know deep down that you’re not “just” a man or woman. You’re a temple of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.

It’s like buying a racecar and only using it to drive to the market at 30 mph. Not only would you be wasting horsepower, but the guy who built the car would go crazy if he knew what you were doing. Similarly, I wonder how our Creator feels seeing His Spirit-filled temples living so normally. Were you created to sit in an office, have meetings, and answer e-mails all day? You know there’s more to what God has called you to. It’s time to take a step of faith.

Pray for the supernatural

Honestly, a nonbeliever can accomplish a lot of what you’re doing. Pray that God would lead you into tasks that can only be done by the power of the Spirit. Pray for results that can’t be explained humanly. Ask Him to do what only He can do through you. Pray in faith (James 1:6) and stop looking at the men of Scripture as unattainable superheroes. “Elijah was a human being, even as we are.” (James 5:17)

Pursue unexplainable holiness

We don’t need leaders who put themselves on a pedestal and pretend they don’t struggle. Nor do we need leaders who say, “I struggle with sin just like you.” The Church is dying for leaders who admit failure but supernaturally “put to death the misdeeds of the flesh.” (Romans 8:13) They’re looking for “an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) Don’t hide behind phrases like, “We all sin.” Use the tremendous power you’ve been given to live a holy life.

Serve diligently

We live in a time when Christian leaders are encouraged to be lazy. I’m constantly told to “take more family time.” In our zeal to protect the family, we may have idolized it. While there are still exceptions and pastors who work too much and ignore family, the pendulum has swung the other way. Now we have students graduating from Bible college and seminary expecting “the going rate” and more “family time.” Many of you know you ought to work more diligently and with greater excellence. Don’t give in to the whining you hear. There’s tremendous peace when we work as fervently as we ought (1 Thessalonians 2:9).

Give dangerously

Don’t be afraid to give extravagantly to those in need. While Christian leaders complain about their salaries, be one who is “content” regardless of a financial situation (Philippians 4:11-12).

Love the needy as much as yourself. See them as Christ and joyfully give. Let’s face it: It’s pretty hard to starve to death in America. Don’t be like many other American churchgoers who are more concerned about their standard of living than anyone else’s. Set the example in loving the less fortunate.

Seek His approval

Some of us are bold while standing in front of a crowd yet act like cowards when talking to individuals. We have enough socially awkward religious leaders who have no idea how to have conversations and develop friendships with nonbelievers—the world needs a new generation of leaders who can “become like the Jews to win the Jews.” (1 Corinthians 9:20)

Maybe your challenge is a lack of boldness when you’re in front of the church. I go through phases when I have an unhealthy desire for crowds, so I’ll often think about God’s presence in the room as I teach. This reminds me to seek His approval rather than others’. It’s amazing how bold we can be when we’re aware of God’s presence. It reminds me of Stephen who, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) Seeing Jesus gave him courage to stand peacefully as he was stoned to death. We are prone to do amazing things when we acknowledge His presence.

May peace motivate you

My desire is to direct you toward peace. I encourage you to take a leap of faith so you can experience it again. We waste time on things that don’t make sense in light of Scripture and eternity—many of you know it’s time for a change. I pray you have the faith to jump.

What Is Congregational Worship?

2011-06-30T10:09:00.001-07:00

Congregational worship is more than just a group of individuals having quiet times in the same place. It is the Body of Christ gathered together in unity and diversity centering adoration on the King of kings and Lord of lords and responding in obedience to Him. The emphasis is not on "my personal experience," but "our obedient response" to His revealed nature and character.

To understand where all of this started, I must go back to an email from Eric Benoy, our librarian at the Seminary, who really helped me begin to start thinking about “congregational worship.”

We gather together for corporate worship; a group of people to do something in one accord. If that is the case, then why do some worship leaders today want to make corporate worship a personal experience? It is oxymoronic in a way. If we have gathered intentionally for corporate worship, then should we not then be striving for a corporate offering of praise, adoration, et al and hear from God as a body of believers? We have come together specifically to be the church gathered; to worship and become equipped to be the church scattered. [4/16/2010, used by permission]

Besides being our librarian, and a fine one at that, Eric is a pastor and a dear godly friend whose opinion is worth the time to ponder. I’m not sure I had spent much time thinking about the efforts being made to make “corporate worship” a “personal experience,” but the more I began to mull over the idea in my mind, the more I began to see some of the possible ramifications of the idea.

Biblical worship is God-centered. Scripture describes it as “in Him, through Him, by Him, to Him, and about Him,” that is, the focus of worship is Christ, not our tastes, style, opinions, etc. If we look at the Isaiah 6 model, as God takes the initiative and reveals Himself, the prophet not only sees the revealed nature of God, but sees himself as God sees him, sinful and unclean. He confesses and is forgiven and the prophet is able to hear God’s voice: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Worship then completes itself in obedient response as Isaiah responds, “Here am I, Lord, send me!”

How does all that fit into a congregational setting? A great question. The idea of the “congregation” is in reference to the “church,” not the church building, but the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ. This body, whose Head is Christ, Himself, is seen in worship in the book of Revelation as thousands upon thousands are gathered around the Lamb on His throne. He is the one central and only focus. Angelic beings circle around Him declaring His nature and glory, hallowed saints cast their crowns toward the One who is worthy. If we could look around at the worshipers in heaven, we would notice that it is multi-generational worship: Not only are there throngs of believers from all the ages, generation after generation, but old and young. It is also multi-cultural worship: tribes from every tongue and nation lifting praise and adoration to God.

In Acts 2:42 we read that “They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” [NET] There may be discussion as to what exactly is meant by each of these four activities, but central to each is the fact that they were done corporately. Paul deals with the abuses of the agape feast and the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians 11, emphasizing the need for self examination, so that when they came together they would not be condemned. It is not by accident that he then deals with spiritual gifts and explains that they are each members of Christ’s body, each with different gifts for the building of the body. In I Corinthians 14, Paul deals with the fact that worship was participatory: “When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.” [14:26 NET] The focus was not on building up the individual participating, but the body as a whole.

A simple focus on the pronouns in the Model Prayer that Jesus left us in Matthew 6:9-13 will also help us see that the corporate emphasis: This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [bold type added]

It may be that because we live in a culture that prizes individualism we look at Scripture with “individualistic” lenses. While it is true that we come to Christ as individuals, our “cultural lenses” may filter the importance of seeing ourselves as the Body with Christ as its Head and as the Bride preparing herself for the Bridegroom. Though we are aware that this theme is central to the New Testament idea of the church, what implications are there to worship? Where does the church “see” itself as a the “Body of Christ” and not just a group of individuals? Is it not as believers gather for worship and join together unifying their focus on the Risen Lord?

Seeing ourselves as the Body of Christ is not to demean personal experience, but a help to guard against allowing our focus to shift to “our” personal experience rather than on who Christ is and what He as done. If we are not careful the desire to achieve a “personal” worship experience becomes a goal in and of itself and misses the object for which the worship should have been directed. We can begin to desire the “experience” more than the “Savior.” Brian Wren put it this way in book, Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song:

Oh, I’m thinking of me praising Jesus, and loving the feeling I feel. When I think of his touch I am feeling so much that tomorrow I’ll praise him for real. [page 225]

Corporate worship can help us avoid the “me and mine” mentality and can help us see ourselves as Christ sees us. Being mindful that we are part of the Body can also help us avoid delusions of our own importance before God. This is especially needful for those who are in positions of leadership in worship; it is just too easy to fall into the trap of self engrandizement. When our focus is on worshiping as the Body of Christ, we are less likely to define our worship experience by the limited standards of our own experience. Personal preference is surrendered for the good of the whole.

What is the role of personal experience? The responsibility of every believer is to maintain a right relationship with the Father, to confess known sin, receive forgiveness and continue to grow and deepen the relationship. As we come together in worship, we then come prepared to meet with Him who loved us enough to die to restore the relationship that He knew we so desperately needed. We come together as members of the Body of Christ, different in gifts and abilities, but all functioning for the good of the Body. As we worship, we reflect the “unity in diversity” that is His body.

In corporate worship can we see the unity of focusing everything on Christ. In the same way that a wheel is recognizable as a wheel when each of its spokes is rightly related to the hub, so the members of the Body are recognizable when rightly related to Christ. Just as a wheel is more than a collection of spokes hub and rims, corporate worship is more than a group of believers in the same room at the same time.

So now what? What difference does all this mean in relation to what should happen on Sunday morning as we gather together? Glad you asked. For a start, let’s consider the following:

We must teach what biblical worship is and isn’t. There are still many people that believe that “the music is the worship...”
Personal worship is indispensable. We must feed daily on God’s Word; we must immerse ourselves in His presence in prayer. There are no substitutes for personal time with the Father.
Personal worship is not a substitute for corporate worship. We are baptized into the Body of Christ and are members of His body. There is no biblical idea of a member of the body existing apart from the body.
Corporate worship must facilitate worship that centers itself around Jesus Christ as His Body. The focus of corporate worship is not a focus on personal experience.
We must begin to learn what it means to live and worship as the Body of Christ. Personal preference is willingly subjugated for the good of the whole body

Ed Steele, a 20-year veteran as a music missionary with the SBC International Mission Board, is Associate Professor of Music at the Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His blog, Worship HeartCries, weekly encouragements and insights into biblical worship, can be found at www.edsteeleworship.com

Note from CCOF Regarding Pastor Chuck Smith

2011-06-29T17:38:00.001-07:00

We wanted to let everyone know that Pastor Chuck’s knee surgery went well and that he is now in the recovery process. We would ask that no one contact him so he can focus on rest and recovery in order to get him back with us as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for a complete and quick recovery, and that the Lord allows him some well deserved rest and refreshment.

Thirteen Ways to Frustrate Your Employees [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-27T14:52:00.001-07:00

This is fortunate for me, because I’ve certainly had more bad bosses than good ones. You probably have, too. These lessons were certainly more painful, but they taught me what not to do, which is just as important as what to do.So, just for fun, I thought I would share these lessons as positives rather than negatives. If your goal is to frustrate—or even exasperate—your employees, here are thirteen ways to do it:

Don’t be responsive. Let their emails languish in your inbox. Don’t return their voice mails in a timely fashion. Let them wait. Maybe they will solve the problem on their own or simply give up.

Cancel meetings at the last minute. This is especially effective if they have had to travel to the meeting or do a lot of preparation for the meeting.

Reprimand them in front of their peers. This is even more dramatic if you can do it in front of their subordinates. Nothing quite says, “I don’t have confidence in you” like public ridicule.

Change your mind frequently. This works best if you can get everyone excited about moving in a new direction, get them to invest lots of time, energy, and, hopefully, money, and then suddenly change direction. This works best if you don’t explain your rationale. Leave them guessing!

Don’t bother stating your expectations. Instead, be vague. Go silent. Let them wonder. But then, when it comes time for their annual review, hold them accountable to specific goals. This way, no matter what they accomplished, you can make them feel like a failure.

Always ask for what they don’t have with them. If they present a summary, say, “Where’s the backup for this? You don’t expect me to make a decision without the detail, do you?” If they present the detail, say, “Do you have a summary? You don’t expect me to wade through all this detail, do you?” Either way, you keep them off balance.

Focus on superficial things rather than substance. For example, log how much time they actually spend at their desk or in the office rather than what they actually accomplish. Pay attention to their style and the way they dress. This is way more important than the quality of their work. Plus, they either have it or don’t.

Assign them work, then micromanage the process. Don’t be responsive to their needs (see #1 above), but insist that they keep you informed every step of the way. Second-guess their decisions. Challenge their thinking. Question every expense. Don’t give them much rope. They should spend more time answering your inquiries than actually getting work done.

Do all the talking. You’re the boss, right? That automatically means you are smarter, funnier, and more experienced. Listening is for sissies. Until they become your boss, they need to listen—and take notes. Most people would die for the chance to be your subordinate.

Never recognize your people. Take them for granted. After all, you are paying them to work for you. What else could they need? When they do a great job, quickly brush by it and give them a tougher assignment. Keep raising the bar. You don’t want them to get “the big head.”

Catch them doing something wrong. Be quick to acknowledge their mistakes. If you can do it in public, so much the better. If you do this often enough, you will wear them out. If they are not perpetually discouraged, you are not trying hard enough!

Communicate that you are the fount of all wisdom. The only valid ideas are your ideas. If you want their opinion, you’ll give it to them. Find ways to explain why their ideas won’t work. You are really doing them a favor by pointing this out—as often as you can.

Be moody. This is probably the most important tip I can give you. This keeps everyone off-balance. Sometimes, you should be charming. Other times, be angry. But never let them know why. Keep them wondering if it’s them or something else. You want your people asking your assistant for a “weather report” before they meet with you. They should ask, “Is Bill in a good mood today?” You want to keep this unpredictable. This will give them just enough hope to stay in the game but ensure that they stay frustrated and dreading each meeting.

GRACE FILLED LIVING

2011-06-25T19:07:00.001-07:00

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32).

Something that God has been speaking to me about personally is on the topic of forgiveness. Like many in South Orange County, Roxie and I went through some horrifying experiences related to the church we were attending. Without going into any details, all I can say is that It left me deeply hurt and saddened. I spoke to a close friend and mentor who looked at me in the eyes and said Holland, you need to totally forgive them. He gave me a message from R.T. Kendall entitled Total Forgiveness. He also encouraged me to get the book, which I did. This began a process in my heart of God showing me His love and grace in ways that I have never experienced before in my life. As I totally forgave the people for what they did, God began to release joy and freedom into my worship life with Him. This process began in fall of 2008 and continues to this day.

All of us have our reasons for holding on to resentment and bitterness. You may even be justified in holding your grudge. Maybe someone really did wrong to you. Maybe they even did harm to you in order to damage your reputation or ruin your career. I think of what Jesus endured for us. The Bible tells us that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Imagine being falsely accused for something you didn't do. That happens all the time. But imagine being arrested for something you didn't do. That would be heavy. Then imagine being beaten for something you didn't do. I think at that point I would get an attorney and fight back. Then imagine being killed for something you didn't do. That's something that I don't have the capacity to understand. Now imagine being in the throws of death and praying for the ones killing you and saying Father forgive them because they don't know what they're doing. That's total forgiveness.

Paul tells us that we are to extend the same forgiveness that Jesus has extended to us. The forgiveness that Jesus gives is complete, generous, unreserved and total. That's the kind of forgiveness that we've received. Maybe this week there is someone that hurt you or even damaged you. I want to encourage you to forgive them. That doesn't mean you have to go out and make them you're best friend. Just begin in your prayer closet with a simple prayer of forgiveness and see what God will do in your heart in bringing back joy, peace and the sense of His presence.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...

Blessings

P.HD

P.S. Pray for Worship Life as we begin looking for a facility that we can call our own and pray for Revival in South Orange County I've also been invited to bring Worship Life to KWVE 107.9 FM. We have absolutely nothing, but that has never stopped us before. Where God guides, He provides and God is doing great things!!!

10 Areas that Church Leaders should be concerned about... [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a list that I found that is a good thermometer for staying focused... Church leaders should be concerning if...

If the pastor does not have adequate time to be in the Word or if he chooses not to do so.
If the members are spending time arguing about how money should be spent.
If none or only a few of the key leaders are actively sharing their faith.
If there is no clear process of discipleship in place, just a plethora of programs and activities.
If corporate prayer is not a major emphasis in the church.
If church members are arguing about worship style or worship times.
If church members expect the paid staff to do most of the ministry, instead of the staff equipping the members to do the work of ministry (“Why didn’t he visit me in the hospital?”)
If there are ongoing disagreements about matters of the church facilities.
If the church has more meetings than new disciples.
If the leadership of the church does not have a coherent plan for what is taught in small groups and Sunday school classes.

Top 10 Reasons God Created Eve [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

10. God worried that Adam would always be lost in the garden because men hate to ask for directions.

9. God knew that Adam would one day need someone to hand him the TV remote.

8. God knew that Adam would never buy a new fig leaf when his seat wore out and would therefore need Eve to get one for him.

7. God knew that Adam would never make a doctor's appointment for himself.

6. God knew that Adam would never remember which night was garbage night.

5. God knew that if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle childbearing.

4. As "Keeper of the Garden," Adam would never remember where he put his tools.

3. The scripture account of creation indicates Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.

2. As the Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone!"

1. When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched His head and said, "I can do better than that."

Why Do Worship Leaders Close Their Eyes? [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

by Bob Kauflin

Paul Baloche’s song, “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” has been sung by millions of Christians throughout the world. It’s a song based on Ephesians 1, asking God to open our spiritual eyes that we might know him better.

But I wonder if those of us who lead congregational worship shouldn’t be asking God to open our physical eyes, too.

Why do leaders close their eyes so often? Not just for a few moments, but for 5, 10, even 15 minutes. I’ve seen leaders and vocalists keep their eyes shut from the first note we sing to the final “Amen” of the closing prayer.

There are definitely some good reasons to close our eyes. We want to shut out distractions. We want to focus completely on the words we’re singing. Our hearts are deeply moved by God’s mercy and we respond in humble adoration.

But are those the reasons we usually have in mind when we close our eyes? Are we even thinking about what we’re doing? Or why we’re doing it?

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you find yourself closing your eyes when you lead for one or more of these not-so-good reasons.

We want to look spiritual
We think the Holy Spirit likes closed eyes more than opened eyes
We don’t want to look at the faces of people who seem apathetic, concerned, confused, or angry about what we’re doing
We’re battling fear of man and the easiest thing to do is just pretend that no one else is around
We don’t want to see who walks out of the room
We’re discouraged by the dwindling number of people showing up on Sundays
We’re imagining that this is our own personal encounter with God
We don’t remember the words to the next verse
We can’t think of anything better to do

Not to mention that worship leaders who shut their eyes sometimes look more like they’re in pain than in God’s presence.

Corporate worship has a horizontal aspect that glorifies God. We’re to teach and admonish one another while we sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16). We’re to “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Cor. 14:12). At the same time we’re singing with gratitude in our hearts to God and very aware that he’s present with us. Both directions — horizontal and vertical — are important to consider if we want to benefit fully from our time together.

That’s why I’ve come to think that more often than not, it’s better for me to keep my eyes open when I’m leading people in singing God’s praise. It’s not that I don’t ever close my eyes. I do. It’s just that in recent years I’m becoming more aware of the good reasons to keep them my eyes open:

I can see how people are responding (or not responding) and adjust what I’m doing accordingly
It’s easier for me to communicate to people how the truths we’re singing are affecting me when I look at them
My heart is encouraged when I see people who seem to be genuinely engaging with God
I can share the joy in Christ I’m experiencing by looking at the other musicians
I can communicate directions more clearly to the team
I’m more aware of what’s happening around me
I can see what I’m playing on the piano
I can read the lyrics to the song

Don’t hear what I’m not saying. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to close our eyes when we’re singing songs of praise to God. I just don’t think Scripture says that has to be our default.

To put things in perspective, having our spiritual eyes opened is far more important than having our physical eyes opened.

But maybe it would help us and those we lead if we did a little more of the second.

When Your Pastor Becomes A Screen...

2011-06-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

I've been pondering the trend towards multi-site venues with video screens. There are some things that have been concerning me and I'm not prepared to say I'm against the idea of multi-site video venues, but I do have some thoughts that I think should be considered.

1. Video Venues appears to be a one generational model of church expansion.
They are built on the "cult of personality" of one pastor. What happens when that pastor dies or transitions out? Do they keep playing re-runs and don't tell anybody? Now instead of one congregation looking for transition you have multiple congregations. Even if you replace the teaching pastor, the initial growth is built on the strength of one and not many. I see many multi-site churches closing their satellite campuses creating multiple groups of disenfranchised congregants in the event that the "ONE" is no longer there.

2. Video Venues assume that there is no one as gifted as the "ONE."
I've even heard it suggested... that person is such an amazing teacher. There's no one who can do what they do. If this is true, then the multi-site approach appears to be built on the premise of expanding the platform of the individual. I'm not making judgments, just observations. One person that I respect in that he has multi-site locations, but he himself teaches at them personally is Erwin McManus. To me, this keeps it personal. He's actually transitioned out of some of the sites and left qualified teachers in his place. What a great model.

3. Video Venues are not effective in duplicating great teachers.
One of the things I appreciate about Pastor Chuck Smith is that he has been successful in duplicating Calvary Chapel nearly 1800 times. If he dies, the individual churches won't stop meeting... they will continue unaffected. Additionally, there are a number of great teachers that have been developed throughout the 1800 churches. Not every church has a world class teacher, but not every church needs a world class teacher. Some just need a pastor who can bring them to Jesus and love on their kids.

4. Video Venues demonstrate an impersonal approach to pastoral ministry.
Instead of getting revelation from a person, I now get revelation from an image on a screen. If I read my Bible correctly, there seems to be something about getting revelation from an image spoken of concerning the last days. I no longer care if the pastor is living a moral life, is a loving person or lives what he preaches because I will never see the pastor. I will only relate to him as an image on a screen. What a scary place for the church to be.

5. Video Venues communicate that church is about a crowd, not a community.
When I no longer have a personal connection with the pastor, then it really becomes more about attending "the event" than about being "the church." I think there is a reason that you were limited to a certain walking distance to get to the synagogue in Judaism. It perpetuated the value of community and belonging. When church becomes reduced to an event, then people can attend and never be impacted. There's just something special about a pastor that is looking into your eyes while he is preaching the message... and responding to the Holy Spirit that is at work in a room. Of course... if that's what you're after... then you can always check the "touring" schedule of the pastor and make sure you're there when the ONE arrives to speak at your video venue.

Having made these observations, I also see great potential in that multi-site campuses allow large numbers of people to be involved, they are extremely profitable to run (more than church plants) and they are useful in revitalizing dying churches.

Personally, I'm for a personal approach to ministry... hands on... authentic and real. I haven't come to a conclusion on video venues, but I do see problems ahead. I pray for the sake of the multiple congregations that leadership is developing a plan to address the concerns I've observed.

5 right ways to respond to criticism [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-16T12:51:00.001-07:00

Consider the source – In a stakeholder sense, how much influence and investment does this person have in the organization? This might not change your answer but may change the amount of energy you invest in your answer. Our church meets in two schools, for example, so if the Director of Schools has criticism for me, I will invest more time responding than if it’s a random person who never intends to attend our church.
Listen to everyone – You may not respond to everyone the same way, but everyone deserves a voice, and everyone should be treated with respect. This doesn’t necessarily include anonymous criticism. I listen to some if it, especially if it appears valid, because I’ve learned from that too and always wonder if my leadership prompted an anonymous response, but I don’t “criticize” leaders who don’t. I don’t, however, weight it as heavily as I would criticism assigned to a person. (Feel free to leave a comment about anonymous criticism and how you respond.)

Analyze for validity – Is the criticism true? This is where maturity as a leader becomes more important because there is often an element of truth even to criticism you don’t agree with at the time. Don’t dismiss the criticism until you’ve considered what’s true and what isn’t true. Mature leaders are willing to admit fault and recognize areas of needed improvement.

Look for common themes – If you keep receiving the same criticism, perhaps there is a problem even if you still think there isn’t. It may not be a vision problem or a problem with your strategy or programming, but it may be a communication problem. You can usually learn something from criticism if you are willing to look for the trends.

Give an answer - I believe criticism is like asking a question. It deserves an answer even if the answer is that you don’t have an answer. You may even have to agree to disagree with the person offering criticism. By the way, I save answers to common criticism received because I know I’ll be answering that same criticism again.

Glorious Failure

2011-06-15T01:54:00.001-07:00

My most memorable lessons have come not through success, but through glorious failures...

What constitutes a Glorious Failure?

A Glorious Failure honors God even when it isn’t seen by others as “successful.” Perhaps you are reaching a hard to reach group or area. Perhaps it never becomes a part of self sustaining or self governing and whatever the other self thing is, but it tries to honor God anyway.

A Glorious Failure is when you work hard, give it all you got and try some new things that no one else is doing……..and it falls flat. Now if you learn, adapt and refine what you have learned for the next time you time, great. That was a glorious failure. If you keep on doing those things even when they repeatedly fail, well, that is insanity.

Glorious Failures help us unearth and surface terrible ideas that can be discarded.

Glorious Failures help us try new leadership skills and ideas that may not work with one team but later can be adapted with another.

Glorious Failures sift us as leaders and help shape our hearts for the future…IF we let them.

So – What are your Glorious Failures? What are you learning from them?

7 Habits of Highly Effective Soul Winners [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-15T01:48:00.000-07:00

Habit 1: Soul Winners Are Prepared

They are spiritually prepared.

They walk closely with Christ and maintain a consistent devotional life.
They are active in their churches and are members in good standing.
They attend worship and Sunday school and study their Bibles regularly.

They are trained.

Soul winners have been trained in one or more gospel presentation strategies such as FAITH, Share Jesus Without Fear, GROW, or The NET.
They serve as trainers or mentors and model soul winning before others.
They have marked New Testaments and are able to express the central truths of the gospel in simple and understandable fashion.
They use tracts and other printed gospel materials to enhance their presentation.

Habit 2: Soul Winners Share Christ Anytime/Anywhere

Soul winners are open to share Christ

At the office
In a restaurant
On a plane
Over the phone
Anywhere the opportunity exists.

Habit 3: Soul Winners Are Adaptable in Their Presentation of the Gospel

Most do not rely on mechanical or canned gospel presentations. They each have developed their own particular style which:

Becomes personal and conversational
Uses their own language and illustrations
Each witnessing encounter will be unique and different.

Habit 4: Soul Winners See Their Interactions with Other People as Divine Appointments

They begin each day with a sense of expectation.

They feel a divine sense of mission.
They see themselves as instruments of God’s grace to others.
They seek to make the most of their encounter with others by purposely initiating and leading the conversation into the spiritual area.

Habit 5: Soul Winners Do Not Worry About the Results

Soul winners realize that they cannot save anyone. People come to Christ only through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Habit 6: Soul Winners Are Involved in Church Evangelism Programs but Are Not Limited by Them

Soul winners are active in their local churches. Most are involved in their church’s ongoing visitation and evangelism training programs. But they do not limit themselves to sharing Christ only during church-sponsored activities.

They see every moment of every day as an evangelistic opportunity.
Soul winners also seek to reproduce themselves in others. Most mentor or train others in evangelism programs.

Habit 7: Soul Winners Pray Consistently for Opportunities to Share Christ with Others

Soul winners pray for those with whom they have witnessed.

They pray for those with whom they have not yet witnessed.
They pray for divine appointments and witnessing opportunities.

Embracing The Call To Wholeness...

2011-06-15T00:24:00.000-07:00

A Response to the Christian Research Journal’s Recent Defense of the “Local Church” Movement [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

NOTE: I have a son who is involved in the local church. He turned to the local church after his friends and his church rejected him following a psychotic episode. They were accepting and embracing of him. Here is a theological paper that Norm Geisler (Author of Living By The Book) wrote concerning the local church and a recent determination by Christian Research Institute that they are no longer considered a "cult." It appears that Hank Hanegraaff has had a change of heart.

Norm Geisler and Ron Rhodes
2009

The Background of the Christian Research Defense of the Local Church

The Local Church (LC), known for its litigious activity in threatening to sue (and actually suing) individuals and groups that call them a “cult,” [1] has been successful in forcing many organizations to retract the word “cult” in reference to them, as even the recent Christian Research Journal (CRI) admits (page 45). [2] Noted cult researcher Eric Pement has listed numerous examples of Christian groups that were threatened or sued by the LC, most of which CRI did not even attempt to refute in its Journal articles (45). It is a fact that the litigations of the LC drove a major countercult movement called Spiritual Counterfeits Project (SCP) into bankruptcy. The list of other groups threatened with lawsuits include Christian Literature Crusade, Christian Herald Books, Moody Bible Institute, Salem Kirban, Eternity Magazine, InterVarsity Press, Tyndale Press, Jim Moran, and Light of Truth Ministries, Berean Apologetics Research Ministry, and Daniel Azuma (45). Most recently they sued John Ankerberg and John Weldon in reference to their Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions (ECNR), along with their publisher (Harvest House), for 136 million dollars. Had the suit been successful, it would have bankrupted both organizations. Pement rightly commented, “I doubt that the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses combined have issued as many lawsuits and threats of lawsuits against evangelical Christians” (45).

In the wake of this, “a long list of evangelical theologians, apologists, and leaders” (7) sent an “Open Letter” protesting the aberrant teachings of the LC (15), urging them to recant their unorthodox statements “that appear to contradict or compromise essential doctrines of the Christian faith” (15). [3] Further, they asked the LC to “disavow and cease to publish these and similar declarations” (15). In addition, they requested that the LC desist their litigious activities against evangelical groups that do not believe that their doctrines and practices measure up to the standards of evangelical beliefs and practices.

No apologies have been forthcoming by the LC, nor have they retracted the unorthodox statements. Instead, the Supreme Court of Texas disagreed with their charges against Ankerberg and Harvest House. The LC appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court also failed. This was a great victory for the countercult movement and all who seek to preserve evangelical orthodoxy, as we pointed out in our article titled “The Local Church Movement and the Supreme Court of Texas: A Big Victory for the Countercult Movement”.

It is surprising to us that:
1) in spite of the final decision of the High Court against the LC, and
2) in spite of the majority view in the countercult movement against them, and
3) in spite of the failure of the LC to respond affirmatively to specific requests in the Open Letter from numerous evangelical leaders, and
4) in spite of my (Norman Geisler) personal plea to Hank Hanegraaff in my living room not to go this route, and
5) in spite of the fact that for years CRI admits to calling the LC “aberrant,” and “cultic,” if not “heretical” (49), and
6) in spite of the fact that CRI admits to being in possession of the basic material then which they now use to justify the LC-in spite of all this, CRI has launched a full-scale defense of the LC, going so far as to call them “solidly orthodox” (47) and in many ways “an exemplary group of Christians” (29)!

Evaluation of CRI’s Defense of the Local Church Movement

Not only does CRI no longer believe the LC is a cult, as they once did, but they do not even believe they are an “aberrant Christian group” (47). They now call the LC “a solidly orthodox group of believers” (47, emphasis added). Moreover, they say, members of the LC are in many ways “an exemplary group of Christians” (29). All this has come as a great surprise to the majority of countercult ministries and apologists who have studied the matter and have come to the opposite conclusion.

CRI not only now charges that the vast majority opinion in the countercult community on the LC (which goes against their minority view) is incorrect, but suggests that among LC critics, “animus drives ministry decisions” (47), seeming to imply that many who stand against LC doctrines may be motivated by animus. In light of the following evaluation, the reader can judge for him- or herself whether this conclusion is justified.

What CRI Admits about LC

Even what CRI admits about numerous unrecanted statements of the LC is, in our view, cause for great concern. Consider the following as examples-all listed in the Christian Research Journal (15-16). The Journal concedes that such statements in the past provided sufficient fodder for knowledgeable cult researchers-including themselves-to come to the conclusion that the LC was an aberrant, if not cultic, group. Indeed, the Journal affirms: “We were convinced some of their teachings on essential doctrines were at best contradictory, at worst heretical” (49).

Controversial and Contradictory Statements

Statement # 1
“The Son is called the Father; so he must be the Father. There are some who say that He is called the Father, but He is not really the Father. But how could He be called the Father and yet not be the Father?”

Statement # 2
“The traditional explanation of the Trinity is grossly inadequate and borders on tritheism... they think of the Father as one person, sending the Son, another person, to accomplish redemption, after which the Son sends the Spirit, yet another person.”

Statement # 3
“THE SON IS THE FATHER, AND THE SON IS ALSO THE SPIRIT...and the Lord Jesus who is also the eternal Father. Our Lord is the Son, and He is also the Father.”

Statement # 4
“The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are not three separate persons or three Gods; they are one God, one reality, one person” (emphasis added). Note: While the three persons in the Godhead are not “separate” but rather distinct persons, nonetheless, they certainly are not “one person” as the LC declares.

Statement # 5
Witness Lee, the revered leader of the LC movement, stated clearly that “the entire Godhead, the Triune God, became flesh.” This same belief is repeated and defended by Ron Kangas, Editor-in-Chief of the LC journal ( Affirmation and Critique [April, 2008. p. 6]) when he speaks of “the Triune God who passed through the process of incarnation....”

In spite of attempted explanations found elsewhere in LC literature (including the doctrine of coinherence, which we will address below), this statement flies in the face of the orthodox doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation which affirm that only the Son, the Second Person of the Triune God, became incarnate. It was not of the Father, but of the Son, that Scripture affirms: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (Jn. 1:14). Nowhere in Scripture or the early creeds is it ever claimed or suggested that the Father or “the entire Godhead” (via coinherence) became incarnate in human flesh. This is clearly an unorthodox statement. Yet, incredibly, CRI defends LC’s orthodoxy in spite of this statement.

Doctrinally Careless Statements

At best, many of the LC statements are careless and lend to a modalistic understanding. CRI admits, “to be sure, Lee should have stated his concern more carefully” (20). And “the LC certainly could have and should have taken greater care to explain the nuances of their controversial teachings...” (20). But if CRI was “sure” and has “certainty” that the LC has made unrecanted statements that “should” not have been made, then why are they still defending the LC when it refuses to change these statements which most knowledgeable people in the countercult community do not believe are orthodox statements? Even cult expert and former CRI employee, Gretchen Passantino Coburn, admitted that some LC teachings are “still confusing to many, especially outsiders” (49).

One has to ask why any group would continue to maintain careless, confusing, and uncorrected statements on crucial doctrines-even when urged by some of their friends (such as Hank Hanegraaff) to change them.

Apparently Unorthodox Statements

Interestingly, CRI admits that many statements by the LC appear to be unorthodox. Indeed, they admit that, given the statements on God by the LC, “one could reasonably surmise that Lee was affirming modalism” (25)-that is, unless one had done the recent research that they have. However, we now have seen the results of the same research and have come to the same conclusion, namely, that if the LC has made admittedly unorthodox-sounding statements, then why does the LC continue to refuse to repudiate them? Why not reword these statements to more accurately reflect their claimed intended meaning? And why does CRI defend them without demanding that they repudiate them? CRI even goes so far as to admit that their original conclusion that the LC was unorthodox was based on a “pattern” of “hot button words associated in our minds with heresy or cultism...” (34). But one must ask why-if there is a repeated pattern of unorthodox expressions which the LC refuses to change-should one so completely exonerate them as CRI has done, affirming that they are “solidly orthodox” (47)? Even CRI is forced to admit that “strong modalistic-sounding language [is] often found” in LC writings (21).

Admittedly Regrettable and Harsh Statements about Other Religious Groups

Strangely, CRI’s current devotion to the LC movement includes an almost blanket acceptance of them despite the fact that CRI admits they have uses “harsh,” “loaded,” and “regrettable” terms against other religious groups, such as “Babylon,” “spiritual fornication,” and “satanic system.” It is simply insufficient to counter this by producing an admission from the LC that there are true believers in others churches (35). Even in their very statement they claim that “the local church, so defined, is the only genuine and proper expression of the one universal church...” (35).

Not only does the LC believe they are the only proper and genuine local expression of the universal church, but they are unrepentant about making libelous statements about the rest of Christendom. In their Appeal to the Texas Supreme Court to reconsider their case, the LC ironically included an appendix containing Chapter Three from a book by Witness Lee titled, The God-Ordained Way to Practice the New Testament Economy in which he engages in a slanderous attack on “all of Christianity,” “all Christians,” “today’s Christendom” “all Christianity,” and “today’s Catholic Church.” He calls organized Christianity “deformed and degraded,” containing “false teachers,” who are “in their apostasy.” The Roman Church is infested with “Satan’s evil spirits” and “full of all kinds of evils. Evil persons, evil practices, and evil things are lodging there.” It is an “adulterous woman who added leaven (signifying evil, heretical, and pagan things).” It is “the Mother of the Prostitutes” and an “apostate church.” Again, it is “full of idolatry,” “against God’s economy,” and “saturated with demonic and satanic things.” If ever there were grounds for religious libel, this would be it. Yet LC objects strongly and litigiously when someone else calls them a “cult.” This is a classic example of the kettle calling the pot black!

The language of this attack on the rest of Christendom is not only “regrettable” and “harsh,” as even CR admits, it is lamentable and inexcusable. In view of this, it is inconceivable that CRI can conclude of the LC that “it is therefore, once again, both unreasonable and unrealistic to call on them to renounce these statements by their late leader” (37) and to claim that they are “an exemplary group of Christians” (29). If LC members are in agreement with Lee’s statements above, how can this be said to be “solidly orthodox” and “exemplary”?

Apparently or Actually Contradictory Statements

CRI offers what they admit are apparently contradictory statements of the LC in an attempt to exonerate them from heresy. [4] One such statement is that “although the Father and Son are one, between them there is still a distinction of I and the Father” (17). At best, however, this would show that the LC has made contradictory statements about God. It is noteworthy that the LC still refuses to repudiate their statements that the Father and Son are really the same (cited above). Merely appealing to the doctrine of coinherence does not alleviate our concerns (see below). As well, they refuse to accept the orthodox creedal statements on the Trinity.

After they cited me (Norm) in an article in their journal, I gave them an opportunity to clearly distinguish their view as orthodox and they refused (see Appendix below). So, despite the claim that they are open to dialog, and even after citing me in their journal, they were not open to any scholarly exchange with me.

Likewise, the LC’s alleged repudiation of patripassionism (the heresy that the Father suffered on the cross-17) is unconvincing since they also claim (and CRI apparently supports) the view, based on the doctrine of coinherence, that both the Father and the Son are involved in each other’s activities. They say, “no person of the Trinity goes anywhere or does anything apart from the presence and involvement of the other two persons” (23, emphasis added). If this were true, then the Father would have been involved in the suffering of Christ on the cross, which even they admit is the heresy of patripassionism. God was certainly present in His omnipresence, but God the Father is not God the Son, and the Father certainly was not involved in the experience of Christ’s suffering on the cross. CRI claims that “what is distinctly the Son’s actions...is likewise the Father’s operation.” They cite with approval the statement that “there is an intercommunion of persons and an immanence of one divine person in another which permits the peculiar work of one to be ascribed...to either of the other...” (22). But, again, this confuses the different roles and actions of different members of the Godhead. For example, the Father did not die for our sins, nor does the Father eternally proceed from the Father, as the Son does from the Father.

There is a big difference between claiming that each member of the Trinity dwells in the others and claiming, as the LC does, that each member is the other. For the LC affirms that “the Son is called the Father; so he must be the Father. There are some who say that He is called the Father, but He is not really the Father. But how could He be called the Father and yet not be the Father?” (Statement # 1 above, emphasis added). Clearly, this is not an orthodox way to express the Trinity.

What is more, the LC affirms that there is only one “Person” in the Trinity (Statement # 4 above), while at the same time claiming there are “three distinct” persons in the Trinity. So, at best, LC has both orthodox and unorthodox statements about the Trinity-which involves a contradiction. Hence, they are duty-bound to renounce the unorthodox elements of their theology.

Now, if CRI believes that the LC has made unrecanted statements that are controversial, careless, apparently contradictory, and which are unorthodox expressions as such, then how and why do they claim: “I believe that sufficient evidence has been provided to exonerate the LC from the charges of heresy, aberration, duplicity, and self-contradiction as regards the Trinity” (23)? This incredible conclusion does not match the evidence that even they admit.

A Response to the CRI Arguments for the LC

Many arguments are used by CRI to defend LC. Two of the more substantive arguments are:
1) LC critics have taken the unorthodox sounding statements of LC out of context. If they understood the context, they would not pronounce them unorthodox.
2) These statements are explainable in the light of the orthodox doctrine of coinherence in the Trinity, and the distinction between the ontological Trinity and the economic Trinity.

We will examine these arguments below. First, however, we will briefly address some of the supportive arguments CRI offers in defense of LC.

The Fear of Potential Persecution

The president of CRI, Hank Hanegraaff, argued in his Amicus brief to the High Court that calling the Local Church a cult will bring persecution on it and other Christian groups in religiously intolerant societies. He claimed that the word cult “can have dramatic and dangerous ramifications. This could be particularly harmful to any group, such as the Local Church, with large constituencies in religiously intolerant societies” (8.7/06 “Brief of Amicus Curiae Hank Hanegraaff,” p. 2).

The Court rightly saw no merit in this pragmatic argument and for good reason. While we personally abhor all forms of religious persecution, and are not insensitive to the plight of those who do suffer such persecution, the fact remains that truth and legality are not determined by what its possible social misuse may be. Further, in view of the libelous things the LC has uttered against the rest of Christendom (mentioned above), by this same argument, the Local Church has endangered all other Christian groups and denominations in China, who are now vulnerable to persecution by the Chinese government for the same reason. So, it is surprising that the otherwise thoughtful Gretchen Passantino Coburn is supporting such a poor argument-an argument that even her own brother, a sophisticated theologian, Cal Beisner, has had to rebuff her on.

The Approval of Fuller Seminary

It is noted by CRI that Fuller Seminary, after an alleged thorough examination of the doctrines of the LC, has pronounced (in a letter on behalf of the Local Church of January 5, 2006) that “the teachings and practices of the local churches and its members represent the genuine historical, biblical Christian faith in every essential aspect.” But given Fuller’s own well-documented deviation from orthodoxy on the doctrine of Scripture, this is hardly a compliment. After several years of examination of one of its professors, Paul Jewett-who had said (in his book, Man as Male and Female) that the apostle Paul was wrong in what he affirmed as true (in 1 Cor. 11)-the seminary concluded that he was orthodox and retained him on their faculty. But if “whatever the Bible affirms, God affirms” is so (as B.B. Warfield and the ICBI “Chicago Statement” affirm), then their professor Paul Jewett denied inerrancy. It is not a surprise, then, that Fuller removed inerrancy from its founding doctrinal statement. Fuller Seminary is scarcely known as a bastion of orthodoxy, and neither is it known for its sophisticated discernment on cults and aberrant religions. One would be more likely to listen if seminaries such as Dallas, Denver, Grace, Masters, Trinity, or Westminster had exonerated the LC movement. The truth is that the one class of Christians that is most accustomed to doing this kind of analysis-the countercult movement-has spoken out loudly against the LC movement.

The Argument from More Research

One argument used by CRI is that their conclusions in favor of the LC should be believed because they have done better and more research on the topic (50). First of all, as we all know, more does not necessarily mean better. So, we can concentrate on what really matters. Gretchen Passantino Coburn claims she has done more research on this topic than most others and that she has been doing it for a longer time (50). However, it is clear that truth does not always reside with the persons who have read more or studied longer. Rather, it rests with those who can reason best from the evidence.

Further, there is really no new evidence available since CRI did its first research and found the LC to be aberrant, if not heretical. Even Passantino speaks of “reexamining” the evidence rather than discovering really new evidence. True, she speaks of looking at a “wide body of material” (50), but there was really nothing new. It was just more of the same basic facts they had known before. Elliot Miller speaks of it as “reassess-”ing (7), but confessed that they knew back then the kind of passages that are now being used to justify LC (16). So, why CRI’s sudden reversal? It is not really new evidence. Is it that they now think that contradictory statements can both be true? Apparently not. It is because they were prompted for some unknown reason to “reassess” and “reexamine” the same basic evidence and come to the opposite conclusion that the LC was really orthodox all along. In response, we recall Elliot Miller’s statement about the CRI staff raising the possibility that their leader Walter Martin softened his view toward the LC as a result of being “taken in” by Witness Lee after he met with him (11). One could ask whether Walter Martin would not now believe his successors at CRI have been “taken in” by the current LC leaders.

Further, as to the implied claim of truth-by-longevity-of-study argument, Gretchen Passantino claims she has “30 years in professional countercult apologetics” (letter in support of the LC, 8/18/06). If that has any weight, then my (Norm) view would have twice the weight since I have been doing apologetics for nearly 60 years now! Further, I have carefully examined CRI’s new recent reversal on the LC, and I am still convinced that they are unorthodox in many of their statements about God.

The Doctrine of Coinherence in God

CRI attempts to exonerate the LC from heresy on the Trinity by invoking the doctrine of coinherence in God. They claim that this means that it is legitimate to speak of one Person of the Trinity as being the other Person because there is an “interpenetration [of] one another” (22). However, this, in our view, is a serious misunderstanding of coinherence.

One evangelical theologian from Dallas Theological Seminary recently observed that “for much of the Eastern Orthodox tradition, as for an increasing number of scholars in the West, the unity of the Trinity is to be found in perichoresis, the inner habitation (or coinherence) of each divine person in the other. That is, each member of the Godhead in some sense indwells the other, without diminishing the full personhood of each. The essential unity of the Godhead, then, is found both in their intrinsic equality of divine characteristics and also in the intensely personal unity that comes from mutual indwelling” (Scott Horrell, “The Self-Giving Triune God,” www.bible.org). However, we can observe that those who hold to this particular understanding of coinherence are careful to retain the distinction between the three persons. Yes, the three Persons have unity, but they forever remain actually distinct. In this view, to say that the three Persons mutually indwell each other is not the same as saying that the three Persons ARE each other. That is, to say that the Father and the Son mutually indwell each other is not the same as saying that “the Son is the Father.” The latter is modalistic language.

One does well to recognize that, more foundationally, each of the three distinct Persons of the Trinity coinhere in the same divine essence. In this view, what they share in common is not their distinct personhoods-though they are indeed “intensely personal” with each other-but their common nature.

However one understands the doctrine of coinherence, it is illegitimate to conclude that the doctrine allows for referring to one Person in the Trinity as being another. That is, it is unorthodox to say “the Son is the Father” or “the Son is also the Holy Spirit.”

Appealing to “Everlasting Father” in Isaiah 9:6

Appealing to Isaiah 9:6, in our view, does not provide the scriptural support for this idea that the LC apparently hopes for (“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”). First, when used of the First Person of the Trinity, the term “Father” is a distinctly New Testament term. That fact alone ought to clue the reader in that the term “eternal Father” in the Old Testament is being used in a different, unique sense of the Second Person of the Trinity (Isaiah 9:6). Moreover, in the New Testament, we must not forget that the Father is considered by Jesus as someone other than Himself over 200 times in the New Testament. And over 50 times in the New Testament the Father and Son are seen to be distinct within the same verse (see, for example, Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 1:4; Gal. 1:2-3; Phil. 2:10-11; 1 John 2:1; and 2 John 3). These facts set interpretive parameters regarding our understanding of Isaiah 9:6.

Based on the original Hebrew, the phrase “eternal Father” is better rendered into English, “Father of eternity.” In reference to Jesus this phrase can mean one of several things:
Jesus is Eternal. Some believe the phrase is here used here in accordance with the Hebrew mindset that says that he who possesses a thing is called the father of it. For example, the father of knowledge means intelligent, and the father of glory means glorious. According to this common usage, the meaning of Father of eternity in Isaiah 9:6 is “eternal.” Christ as the “Father of eternity” is an eternal being. In keeping with this, the ancient Targums-simplified paraphrases of the Old Testament Scriptures utilized by the ancient Jews-rendered Isaiah 9:6, “His name has been called from of old, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, He who lives forever, the Anointed One (or Messiah), in whose days peace shall increase upon us.” A strong case can therefore be made that the term simply indicates the eternality of the divine Messiah, not that the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is the Father (the First Person of the Trinity).

Jesus Gives Us Eternal Life. A second viable view is that the first part of verse six makes reference to the incarnation of Jesus. The part of the verse that lists the names by which He is called expresses His relationship to His people. He is to us the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, the Prince of Peace. In this sense of the word “Father,” Jesus is a provider of eternal life for His people. By His death, burial, and resurrection, He has brought life and immortality to light (2 Tim. 1:10). Again, however, the verse does not give justification for saying that the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is the Father (the First Person of the Trinity).

Appealing to “The Lord is the Spirit” in 2 Corinthians 3:17

Nor is there any real support for saying the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is also the Spirit (the Third Person of the Trinity) from 2 Corinthians 3:17 (“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”). Many expositors view this verse as saying that the Holy Spirit is “Lord” not in the sense of being Jesus but in the sense of being Yahweh (the Lord God) (cf. v. 16, which cites Exod. 34:34). One must observe that just earlier in 2 Corinthians 3 (vs. 3-6) the apostle Paul clearly distinguishes between Jesus and the Holy Spirit (see vs. 3-6). More broadly, the whole of Scripture indicates that Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is said to be another comforter (John 14:16; cf. 1 John 2:1). Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 16:7). The Holy Spirit seeks to glorify Jesus (John 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism (Luke 3:22). Even if one holds to the doctrine of coinherence (affirming that the Son and the Holy Spirit mutually indwell each other), they are still distinct, and this doctrine should not be taken to mean it is acceptable to say that the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is also the Spirit (the Third Person of the Trinity), which is an unorthodox and modalistic way of expressing it.

Appealing to “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” in John 14:10

Support for the doctrine of coinherence is often sought in John 14:10, where Jesus states: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” Based on this verse, it is argued that because Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus that it is acceptable to say that “the Son is the Father.” If that is true, then when Jesus says in John 14:20, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you,” can I thus say that “I am Jesus Christ” since I am “in” Jesus and Jesus is “in” me (compare with John 17:21)? Obviously not.

Please do not misunderstand what we are saying. We grant that there is an intimate personal unity among the Persons of the Trinity. However, we also believe that it involves a leap in logic to say that simply because the Father is “in” the Son and the Son is “in” the Father (John 14:10) that it is therefore acceptable to say that “the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is the Father (the First Person of the Trinity),” which is a modalistic way of expressing it.

It should be emphasized that Jesus in the New Testament never says the Son is the Father or that the Father is the Son, which is what the LC holds. Remember, the LC affirms (see Statement # 1 above) that “the Son is called the Father; so he must be the Father. There are some who say that He is called the Father, but He is not really the Father. But how could He be called the Father and yet not be the Father?” (emphasis added). Notice that the LC claims that the Son “really” is the Father and vice versa; he is not simply “called” the Father.

To illustrate the absurdity of the LC position, one final citation from Witness Lee is necessary. He wrote: “Because the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are all one with the Body of Christ, we may say that the Triune God is now the ‘four-in-one’ God. These four are the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the Body. The Three of the Divine Trinity cannot be confused or separated, and the four-in-one also cannot be separated or confused.” (Lee , A Deeper Study, 203-204). No amount of hermeneutical gyrations can untangle this theological absurdity. Clearly, Lee does not hold the orthodox view of the Trinity which allows no creature or creatures to be one with the members of the Trinity in the same sense that the Body of Christ (the Church) is one with God. Defending such a view is both senseless and useless.

The Distinction between the Ontological Trinity and the Economic Trinity

CRI also cites a distinction between “the activities of the three persons in the economic Trinity and the coinherence of the three persons in the essential Trinity” (16).

Witness Lee is quoted as affirming that in eternity, “we may say that the Triune God has three persons but only one essence; the persons should not be confused and the essence should not be divided” (16). But Lee elsewhere contradicts this by saying, “Actually, to use the designation ‘three persons’ to explain the Father, Son, and Spirit is also not quite satisfactory because ‘three Persons’ really means three persons.... Like all human language, it is liable to be accused of inadequacy and even positive error. It certainly must not be pressed too far, or it will lead to Tritheism.... We dare not say that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are three persons, nor do we dare say that they are not, because this is truly a mystery” (21). In response, we would point out that we dare not make statements that are contradictory. Nor, should we use unorthodox language that is modalistic. Even CRI admits that the LC uses “strong modalistic-sounding language” (21).

CRI admits that they knew from the beginning that the LC made contradictory statements about the Trinity (7). This is why CRI originally considered the LC “aberrant” rather than a “cult,” because the LC “add[ed] to those confessions of orthodoxy further affirmations that contradict, compromise, or undermine them” (16).

For some strange reason, CRI now argues that these once admitted contradictory statements are now not contradictory. What prompted the change of mind? Do these reputable cult apologists (such as Elliot Miller and Gretchen Passantino) now believe that the statements “God is only one Person” and “God is three distinct Persons” is now not a contradiction? In brief, strangely, the answer is Yes. How so? Because, we are told, the LC makes a distinction between the “essential Trinity” and the “economic Trinity.” The “essential” Trinity is the Trinity in itself from all eternity. The “economic” Trinity is the Trinity in operation in creation. In the “essential Trinity” there are three distinct Persons, but in the “economic” (operational) Trinity there is no difference between them. They are so co-mingled with each other in their activities that one member of the Trinity can be called the other. The Father is the Son; the Son is the Father, and so on.

In response, two points must be made. First, to clarify, there are not of course really two Trinities but only one. If there were two, then this would be a serious heresy of denying that there is only one God. Thus, at best, the distinction between an “essential” and “operational” Trinity is not an ontological (real) distinction since, in reality, there is only one Trinity. Thus, the “operational Trinity” is, at best, only a way of speaking about the one and only essential Trinity’s activities, not His essential Being. But even here when one member of the Trinity acts in the world, He is still distinct from the other members, even if they are co-acting with Him. For example, when co-authors such as ourselves mingle our minds and act together by co-authoring the same thoughts and words in the same book, we are still in this action two different persons. And no such co-action justifies anyone calling Ron “Norm,” or calling Norm “Ron.” We are two really distinct persons with different names.[5]

Ultimately, the problems for the LC view here (and CRI apologists) are that: 1) in the “essential Trinity” they either a) have a traditional modalistic heresy of not affirming three really distinct Persons in God, or else b) they have a contradiction (wherein God is both one Person and not one person but three distinct persons), and 2) in the “economical Trinity” they have a heresy, constituting a new sub-category of modalism-what we might call operational modalism. In either case, it should be rejected as not orthodox.

With this in mind, we can see that the distinction between “economic” and “operational” Trinities does not eliminate the contradiction and does not preserve orthodoxy. Distinctions in God (like “economic” and “essential”) have been made by the LC where there are no such real differences in Him. This is not to say that there is no difference between God and His actions; there is. It is simply to say that there is no difference in the nature of God prior to His actions, during His actions, and after His actions. God does not lose His true identity of one nature and three distinct persons when He is acting in this world any more than we lose our distinct identities when we engage in the actions of co-authoring an article or a book.

However, Witness Lee used a traditional modalistic analogy for the Trinity when he spoke of God being one person in “three appearances.” He said, “ If you could visit him [the man in his illustration] at his home in the early hours of the day, you would see that He is a father or a husband. After breakfast, he may go to the university to be a professor. Then at the hospital in the afternoon, you may see him in a white uniform as a doctor. Why is he these three kinds of persons?.... [In God] There are three Persons, but only one name).... [Likewise] The father in the home, the professor in the university, and the doctor in the hospital are also three persons with one name” (Witness Lee, The Practical Expression of the Church, Living Stream Ministry, 1970, p. 8, inserts added for clarification). Such language is clearly modalistic, for one and only one person is performing three different roles, which Lee calls “three persons.” But these “three persons” are not really three distinctly different persons, as in the orthodox view of the Trinity. Rather, it is only one Person who performs three different roles. There is hardly a better illustration of modalism than this.

Further, a case can be made that the LC holds to a progressive form of modalism in which the one God expresses Himself in three stages or successive steps. Witness Lee affirmed: “ In the heavens, where man cannot see, God the Father; when He is expressed among men, He is the Son; and when He comes into men, He is the Spirit” (Witness Lee, Concerning the Triune God, Living Stream Ministry, n.d., pp. 8-9). Lee also wrote, “Our God is the Triune God, and He has been processed so that He can be dispensed into us.... When a watermelon has become processed into juice, it can easily be taken into us to become our very element. God the Father has been processed through God the Son, and now He is God the Spirit.... Likewise, we can drink the Spirit, who is the ultimate consummation of the processed Triune God. Our God today is the ‘juice God’... Because God has been processed, He is drinkable” (Witness Lee, The History of the Church and Local Churches, p. 10). Lee wrote, “ In eternity past God existed alone.... At a certain point in history, this creating God, the Creator of all, became man.... After His crucifixion, Christ was buried in a tomb.... After three days, Christ arose from the dead in His resurrection. Through the resurrection and in the resurrection He became the life-giving Spirit [the Holy Spirit]... Because God, after completing the work of creation, passed through incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and descension, we may speak of Him as the processed God” (“What is the Process of God’s Economy?” The Hearing of Faith: Living Stream Ministry Radio Newsletter, Number 34, Feb. 2001, p. 2, insert added for clarification). So, “ the Father who listens to the praying is the Son who prays; and the Son who prays is also the Father who listens to the prayer” (Witness Lee, Concerning the Triune God, p. 27).

In fact, Lee did not hesitate to distinguish his view from the orthodox view of the Trinity, calling the orthodox view “the traditional teaching concerning the Trinity ... Now we believe that the Son is the Father and also that the Lord is the Spirit” ( Witness Lee, Young People’s Training, Living Stream Ministry, 1989, p. 110). Lee adds, “ I realize that this offends the theology of Christianity, but I have some verses from the pure Word as the ground to say this” (Witness Lee, The Wonderful Christ, Living Stream Ministry, 1989, pp. 23-24). Then he cites Isaiah 9:6 and John 14 (which were discussed above).

In seeming contradiction, Lee also states: “But we still believe the other side of the Triune God-that all Three of the Godhead exist at the same time, and among Them there is real coinherence for eternity.” He adds, “Although we cannot reconcile these two aspects of the Trinity, we absolutely believe them both” (Witness Lee, Young People’s Training, Living Stream Ministry, 1989, p. 110). Here again, what Lee calls a “mystery” he does not really distinguish from a logical contradiction.

Ron Kangas, Editor-in-Chief of the LC journal, expresses the same basic view, claiming that the Members of the Godhead are “distinct” and yet only one. He declared that “essentially, God is one, but economically He is three...” ( Affirmation and Critique, vol. x111, No 1, April 2008, p. 5).

Further, Kangas goes on to claim that, although God in eternity (in his essential state) is unchangeable, nonetheless, God in time (in his economical mode) does change. God changes successively from Father (in the OT) to the Son (in the Incarnation) to the Holy Spirit (after the resurrection). This Kangas calls the “processed God- the Triune God who passed through the process of incarnation...” (ibid., p. 6). Of this process God undergoes, Kangas uses words like “changed,” “became,” and “entered upon a new stage existence” (ibid., p. 10). Yet somehow God in His essential nature remains unchanged through all this. Realizing the apparent contradiction here, Kangas here too appeals to Lee’s mysterious doctrine of the “Twofoldness of Truth.”

The Use of “Twofoldness of Truth” in Defense of LC

CRI apologists attempt to justify Witness Lee and the LC by defending the belief in “twofold truth.” They ask, “What about Lee’s declarations that the Son is the Father and the Spirit?” (21)? And what about the LC claim that God cannot change in His essential nature, but that He did change in the incarnation? Are these not contradictory? Despite the fact that they admit that they have “advised the LC against making such declarations” (21), they insist that “when he [Witness Lee] affirmed that the Trinity is one person he was not engaging in boldfaced self-contradiction” (21).

In response, let us be clear: There are no degrees of contradiction. Either something is logically contradictory or it is not. Non-boldfaced contradictions are still contradictions. Nor can it be excused, as CRI attempts to do so, on “Western” (21) and “Aristotelian” (49) type thinking. Aristotle did not invent logic, nor is the law of non-contradiction limited to Western minds. Eastern minds can’t avoid the laws of logic either. Once one gives up on the law of non-contradiction, there is no basis for intelligible affirmations or denials, orthodox or unorthodox. It is simply not possible for God to be both only one Person and also three Persons at the same time and in the same sense. But Lee does not distinguish any different sense in which God is both only one Person and three Persons in the ontological Trinity. Nor do LC leaders distinguish any real difference between claiming God is three Persons and yet only one Person in His essential Being.

The Use of Cornelius Van Til

The use of Cornelius Van Til to justify contradictions in LC thinking about God is questionable for several reasons. First, Van Til never denied the early Christian creeds which define God as having three distinct Persons in one essence. What he did was to say that in some sense God can be also designated as a Person, as well as defined as three distinct Persons. To give Van Til the benefit of the doubt, either his insistence on God as a Person should be taken to refer to the Godhead overall as a tri-personal being, or else we must understand that the term “Person” does not mean exactly the same thing when speaking of God as one as it does when speaking of God as three. If not, then Van Til would either be involved in a contradiction (namely, affirming that God is only one Person and also three Persons at the same time and in the same sense) or else it would be heretical. If Van Til is orthodox here, then he should not be used to support the unorthodox LC position. If he is unorthodox, then using one unorthodox view to support another unorthodox view is not a good way to defend orthodoxy.

The Use of Theologian Augustus Strong

CRI appeals to the noted Baptist theologian, Augustus Strong, in support of the LC view. But even the citation they use does not justify the LC belief that the Father is the Son and the Son is the Father and that the name Father can be used of the Son and vice versa. For Strong rightly says that “there is intercommunication of persons and an immanence of one person in another which permits the peculiar work of one to be ascribed...to either of the other....” (22, emphasis added). But he does not say that one person is the other; he merely says that one person is in the other. This is indwelling, not identity. God is in believers, but God and believers are not identical. In fact, Strong flatly affirms that “ as respects their personalities, [they] are distinct subsistences” (22). This gives no support to the modalistic-sounding view of the LC now being approved by CRI.

Concluding Comments

CRI rejects the Supreme Court decision regarding the constitutionality of calling the LC a cult both in a theological sense and in a social sense. In truth, the Supreme Court decision was a great victory for all orthodox, conservative, and evangelical Christians. For, as we pointed out in our amicus brief to the court (with which the court agreed), this would be a violation of free speech since it would deny us the freedom to define the limits of our own orthodox beliefs by distinguishing them from unorthodox beliefs. The LC rightly but reluctantly had to acknowledge that “it is nothing more than an expression of religious opinion that the Local Church is a ‘cult’ in a theological sense. It is a type of religious opinion that is undisputedly protected by the Establishment Clause...” (p. 9, emphasis added).

As for their residual charge that Ankerberg and Harvest House had libelously labeled the LC a cult in a sociological sense, the court rejected this as well, as indeed it should have. For nowhere did they make false or libelous charges against the LC.

Indeed, the best CRI can produce in support of their contention is that Ankerberg made “imprecise” statements that could possibly be construed as including the LC and that “imprecise allegations can still result in character assassination and should therefore be considered defamatory” (43). However, on this ground, most theologians and Christian writers I know (to say nothing of many hymn writers) should all be put in jail!

One final comment should be made about CRI’s justification of LC lawsuits. Despite the fact that they agree that the LC multimillion dollar lawsuit against Ankerberg was a “mistake” (44), they went on to justify LC lawsuits, claiming, “LC always took legal action as a last resort when the parties absolutely refused to meet with them as Christian brothers.” Despite factual evidence provided by Ankerberg and Harvest House to the contrary (which convinced the High Courts), one is hard-pressed to justify these kinds of lawsuits on biblical grounds. First Corinthians 6 is clear on these kinds of disputes among Christians. Matthew 18 sets the pattern to follow, and in it the last recourse is to take it to “the church,” (v. 17), not to secular courts. In 1 Corinthians 6, the bottom line is: “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong?” (v. 7). Further, CRI attempts in vain to show moral (or biblical) equivalence between this kind of theological and moral issue and other friendly and/or financial suits a corporation may take to get its rightful financial due.
The LC’s attempt to justify their lawsuits have a hollow sound, by claiming that “we did not do so lightly or without cause” (46), adding unconvincingly that they were “forced [to] file lawsuits in the United States when no other avenue was open to us” (46). In truth, no one forced the LC to do it. They did it of their own free will.

CRI’s use of Paul appealing to Caesar (46) in his own defense against false charges that involved his life is a desperate attempt to justify the biblically unjustifiable. There has always been another alternative that the LC refused to take, namely, to stop suing and threatening to sue other Christians, to admit and revise its false statements about the Triune God of Scripture, and to apologize for their harsh statements about Christian organizations, such as, “spiritual fornication” and “satanic.”

Meanwhile, CRI needs to reexamine its own near-blanket justification of such an aberrant and unrepentant organization as “solidly orthodox” (47) and are in many ways “an exemplary group of Christians” (29). Indeed, their whole effort is more of a self-justification than a self-confession. We am still left with the mystery of explaining how my friends and otherwise good countercult researchers (like Elliot Miller and Gretchen Passantino Colburn) could be persuaded to use their considerable talents to over-defend a group which they once believed-and most countercult scholars still do believe-is unorthodox. Further, one is greatly disappointed that one of the foremost countercult groups in the country could sacrifice its once high credibility in their nearly unqualified justification of this aberrant and cultic group.

Appendix

The following letter was sent to Mr. Kangas, Editor-in chief of the LC Journal. He used my name (Norm) in his article “The Economy of God: the Triune God in His Operation” in the LC Journal called, Affirmation and Critique: A Journal of Christian Thought. So, I assumed (wrongly) that he was open to dialogue. Had he answered my questions, he could have clarified LC views. Not answering them leaves a shadow over their position. He included a “Statement of Faith” next to the article which affirmed that “...we believe that God is eternally one and also eternally the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, the three being distinct but not separate.” Noticing, among other things, his refusal to use the orthodox statement on the Trinity which speaks of there distinct “Persons,” I wrote him the following letter to which I never got a reply.

June 1, 2008
Editor-in-Chief Ron Kangas
Affirmation and Critique
Living Stream Ministry

Dear Mr. Kangas:
Thank you for the copy of your Journal. Since you mentioned me in your article, I thought I would take this opportunity to ask for some clarification of your views.

First, if you desired to be considered orthodox in your “Statement of Faith,” then why did you leave out the word “person” of the three members of the Trinity. To be orthodox you should have said “three [persons] being distinct” and “we confess the third [person] of the Trinity.” If it is not a triunity of persons in one essence, then what are the “three”? You rightly claim they are not “three separate gods.” Yet you deny they are merely three “modes” of one person. Then, what (or who) are the three?

Second, you speak of an “essential Trinity.” But again, who (or what) are the three in this essential tri-unity. The Word “Trinity” means, as you recognize, three in one. But if the one is the essence, then who (or what) are the three? There can’t be three essences in one essence.

Third, you claim your view is not “modalism,” but you never clearly affirm there are three distinct persons in the Trinity in distinction from modalism. If there is only one person, then this is modalism. And if there are three distinct persons in the one essence of the Godhead (which you do not affirm), then this is the orthodox view of the Trinity.

Fourth, what do you mean by “twofoldness” of truth. Can logical opposites both be true? You seem to say that Christ was both divine and human in one nature. For example, you affirm he is both “infinite God and a finite man.” You say that “God is infinite, and man is finite, yet in Christ the two became one.” This is not the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity which never affirms that God (the infinite) became man (the finite).Rather, it asserts that the second person of the Godhead became man. Certainly, the Father and the Spirit did not become human. Only the Son became human. That is, he (who was the second person of the Godhead from all eternity) assumed another distinctly different nature and thus was both God and man united in one person (but not in one nature).

Fifth, what do you mean when you say that Christ’s resurrection body is both a glorified body of “flesh and bones” and yet at the same time “the Spirit of reality.” How can it be both material and not material (im-material) at the same time?

Sixth, how would you distinguish your view from the heresy called monophysitism which co-mingled the two natures of Christ? How can he be both finite and not-finite (in-finite) at the same time in the same sense?

Seventh, how would you distinguish your view from the Yin-Yang of Taoism where ultimate reality is beyond distinctions like true or false and opposites can both be one? You view of “coinherence” and “mingling” sounds very much like a denial that the Law of Non-contradiction applies to God. Do you believe that our statements about God must be non-contradictory in order to be true?

Eighth, you say God is “immutable” and yet is in process, calling Him the “processed God.” This too sounds like a contradiction where the unchangeable actually changes. How can this be?

Sincerely awaiting your reply,

Norman L. Geisler

[1] Our use of the word “cult” in this document is not intended to be taken as an inflammatory or pejorative term. Defined theologically, a cult is “a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible” (Alan Gomes, Unmasking the Cults [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995], p. 7).

[2] Unless otherwise noted, all page numbers are from the Christian Research Journal (No. 32, Number 6).

[3] The term “aberrant” literally means “departing from an accepted standard.” In the context of this document, a doctrine is said to be aberrant if it undermines or is in significant tension with the orthodox beliefs of the historic Christian faith as based in the Bible and expressed in the early Christian creeds.

[4] Our use of the word “heresy” (or “heretical”) in this document is not intended to be taken as an inflammatory or pejorative term. Based on biblical usage, the word heresy refers to a divisive teaching or practice that is contrary to the historic Christian Faith as based on the Bible and expressed in the early Christian creeds. It involves a teaching or practice which compels true Christians to divide themselves from those who hold it.

[5] Of course, like most analogies, this is not a perfect one since, as human beings, we are not only distinct persons, but we are also separate beings from each other. Our point is that co-acting does not blur the distinction between persons.

The Difference Between a Sin and a Mistake [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

After the National Enquirer broke the news about Senator John Edwards’ affair, he said,

“Two years ago I made a very serious mistake, a mistake that I am responsible for and no one else. In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness. And we have kept this within our family since that time.”

On the surface, this admission seems humble and contrite. What more could you want?
But when people refer to this kind of behavior as a mistake rather than a sin, they are either consciously or unconsciously evading responsibility.

Why? Because of the fundamental difference between the two. Many people assume they are synonymous. They are not.

The term “mistake” implies an error in judgment—something done unintentionally. For example, a legitimate mistake might be:

Turning onto a one-way street, going the wrong way.
Pouring salt into your coffee, thinking it was sugar.
Mis-typing a web address and ending up on a porn site.

These could all be legitimate mistakes. They happen because we get distracted or careless. But a sin is more than a mistake. It is a deliberate choice to do something you know is wrong.
The word “transgression” is even stronger. It implies deliberately stepping over a boundary. The word “trespass” is similar. It implies entering onto another person’s property without permission.

Unlike a mistake, we choose to sin. Therefore, we must accept responsibility for it—and the consequences that follow. This is the measure of maturity and marks the transition from adolescence into adulthood. It is the foundation of a civilized society.

What can we do to make sure we preserve this distinction between sins and mistakes? I suggest five actions:

Chose your words carefully. Don’t minimize your sin by calling it a mistake. The meaning of the Greek word homologeō—translated confession in 1 John 1:9—is “to speak the same word.” In other words, agree with God. Say the same thing about your sin that He says about it. You can’t be cured of the disease if you continue to deny it.
Take responsibility for your behavior. If you have sinned, own it. (In fact, if you have made a mistake, own that too.) Take the hit. Even if someone provoked you, own your response. If they were 90% responsible, accept 100% responsibility for your 10%. When it comes to sin, there is never a legitimate excuse. None.
Acknowledge your guilt. It is normal to feel guilty when you sin. Guilt is God’s gift, designed to motivate you to initiate reconciliation. The sooner you acknowledge your responsibility, the sooner you can resolve the problem. And never follow your confession with the word “but.” This is the preface to an excuse. It negates everything you have said before.
Change your behavior. Words are cheap. Some people are very adept at saying they are sorry—but then … nothing changes. Repentance is not only a change of mind; it is a change of direction. Unless you change your behavior, you haven’t really repented, no matter how many tears you may have shed.
Ask for forgiveness. You can’t demand it. You are not entitled to it. You can only ask and hope that the person you have sinned against will extend grace. Sometimes, they will wait until you have manifested the fruit of repentance, and that is fine (see Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:19–20).

Yes, we all make mistakes. But more importantly, we all sin. We need to understand the difference between the two and be willing to call it what it is. Until we do, we can’t really repair what has been broken.

The Road To Exodus

2011-06-04T23:02:00.001-07:00

THE ROAD TO EXODUS

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland " (Isaiah 43:18-19).

We preach a God of redemption and transformation who takes our broken, messed up lives and exchanges them for His new, abundant life. That's what I believed would happen and that IS what happened, but it didn't happen overnight. I believed when I accepted God's invitation to salvation that I would be on the road to God's wonderful plan for my life. What I faced instead was the crucible of crisis where God brought me face to face with the depth of my need for Him and over time by the power of the Holy Spirit did the work of healing in every area of my life. His goal - to deliver me from anything that kept me from loving Him completely. His process - transformation from the inside out.

How does transformation happen? Transformation happens when we exchange the lies we believe about ourselves with the truth that God says about us. Revelation 4 gives a picture of the worship of heaven. The four living creatures worship God for His attributes. He is the Holy Lord God Almighty. But the 24 elders worship God for His attributes and what He has done. He is worthy because He created all things. Now, why is that important with regards to transformation? Because only God is the Creator of all things - including you and I. That means He is the only One that can say who we were created to be. Our feelings, our conditioning, our culture, our parents - no one on earth has the right to tell us who we are. Only God has that right as the One who created us.

Next week
Roxie and I will be ministering at the Exodus International Freedom Conference. Roxie will be sharing her testimony with the delegates at the conference and I will be leading worship - as well as helping lead the ministry times. Exodus ministers to people who are struggling with unwanted same sex attraction. Every year we see people in the midst of transformation. We see them in the process of exchanging the lies they believe about themselves with the truth of who God created them to be. It's so amazing. Please pray for us as we minister.

I've asked some special guests to come and share on Wednesday and Sunday. On Wednesday Peter Cropsey, a fellow School of Ministry graduate and pastor of a new church called First Love, will come and share. He just finished a book entitled Dead Man Waking and he was a former member of a notorious biker gang and will be featured on New York Ink on The Learning Channel. Yes, he is tatted up from head to toe. On Sunday Tommy Cota from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa will be sharing. He heads up the Hands of Hope Ministry and also hosts the One Step To Freedom Conference that ministers to people with addictions. Tommy pulled the trailer for my wife when she taught released time education for CCCM. He is an amazing speaker. Shineyhead will be leading worship as well. Please make them feel welcomed and show them the generous grace that you've received in Christ.

We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...
Blessings
P.HD
P.S. Pray for Worship Life as we begin looking for a facility that we can call our own and pray for Revival in South Orange County. We have absolutely nothing, but that has never stopped us before. Where God guides, He provides and God is doing great things!!!

America's Top 20 Fittest Cities

2011-06-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

2011
Rank   Metro Area                  Score             2010 Rank1.         Minneapolis-St. Paul     77.2               3
2.         Washington, D.C.          76.8               1
3.         Boston, Mass.               69.1               2
4.         Portland, Ore.                67.7               5
5.         Denver, Colo.                 67.6              6
6.         San Francisco                66.8              8
7.         Hartford, Conn.              66.8              9
8.         Seattle                           66.5               4
9.         Virginia Beach, Va.        65.8             17
10.       Sacramento, Calif.        65.3               7
11.       San Jose, Calif.             65.2              14
12.       Richmond, Va.               64.2              11
13.       San Diego, Calif.           63.3              13
14.       Cincinnati                      60.3              12
15.       Salt Lake City                59.8              15
16.       Austin, Texas                 57.8              18
17.       Pittsburgh, Pa.               55.5              23
18.       Atlanta                           55.2              16
19.       Providence, R.I.             55.1              18
20.       Baltimore                       53.7               20

Here are some of the contributing factors to these results...

Farmers markets in the area increased in 2011 compared to last year, suggesting a trend in healthier eating. Also reported were greater improvements in healthy behavior measures and a reduction in the percentage of cigarette smokers.

Positive factors included an above-average percentage of residents who exercise and moderate-to-low rates of chronic health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.

Now for Southern California... only one of our great cities made it in the Top 20... San Diego. Maybe it's because So Orange County has an illusion of health because some of it is cosmetic and not genuine. Genuine health requires a commitment to living a grace filled life and walking in the freedom that is ours in Christ. When we live under the law, we will do the least amount we need to in order to get by. If we can do a little nip and tuck, find a short cut or a loop hole we will. But grace when it's realized will lead us to make healthy choices that reflect the freedom of choice we have in Christ.

6 Ways Leaders Can Build Trust [Article Reprint]

2011-06-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here are six ways that a leader can instill respect and trust in his team:

Expose yourself. Open yourself to others. Not in a dangerous way where people can take advantage of you, but rather in a way that demonstrates honesty and humility. Your team needs to know that you are just like them. Be willing to admit your own failures. If you put up a wall around yourself, your team will too.
Take the hit. When undesirable outcomes happen, we are all quick to point the finger. If your team members see that you are willing to take the blame for the good of the team, even if its not directly your fault, then they will start to let go and trust you. As leader of a team you need to accept the responsibility for both the good and the bad.
Build your team members up. This is the opposite of taking the hit. Whenever it is appropriate make sure you praise your team members in front of their peers and superiors. Be sure to applaud their efforts and results. Never try to take sole credit for something good that the team did.
Get rid of the leash. Allow for freedom to explore new ideas and to be creative. If people feel that you are micro-managing them, they will stop trusting you. Make room for failure and more importantly the opportunity to learn from failure.
Accept confrontation. Fighting is not good, but neither is false agreement. When there is a difference of opinion, promote discussion. Explore solutions with the intent to solve problems. If disagreement never occurs, then your team is afraid of telling you the truth.
Find the value in each person. We all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Find what is unique in each individual and use that unique strength for the good of the team.

With trust a team can work together. Individuals will accept roles. Leaders will be respected. Teams can be productive.

ARE THE MEN IN YOUR CONGREGATION MORE DEPRESSED THAN YOU THINK? [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-06-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

Historically, female rates of depression in the U.S. and abroad were roughly double that of males. Evidence suggests, however, that a rise in male depression rates may upon us. Speculation abounds as to why these rates are on the increase. Clearly, the most frequently noted cause appears to be a recession that has disproportionally affected men. In fact, some are even referring to the current economic recession as a "mancession" due to the fact that roughly 75% of the jobs lost in the downturn belonged to men. The economic downturn, combined with shifting roles for many men in our culture, appears to have left men more vulnerable to depression, stress, and anxiety than at any other time in recent memory.

Since many of you are in pastoral ministry and therefore on the front lines of this issue, it might be helpful for me to clearly define the most notable signs and symptoms of male depression as they may differ slightly from those seen in females.

1. Anger, irritability, blaming

2. Nebulous physical complaints (e.g., fatigue, headache, pain, etc.)

3. Loss of interest in sex and overuse of internet, TV, etc.

4. Increased use of alcohol

5. Guilt (spiritual, familial and social)

How can you help those in your congregation who are struggling with depression? The following is a brief set of ideas:

1. Men are frequently in denial about their depression. Helping them put words to their experience may be an important first step.

2. Create opportunities for men in your congregation who you suspect might be vulnerable to depression (e.g., recently lost their job, separated, etc.) opportunities to talk about their experiences with other men.

3. Helping them draw near to God during these difficult times is crucial. Many men can feel guilty and distant from God when they are depressed.

4. Be aware of the common and uncommon symptoms of depression (see link below). This may equip you to more accurately assess the possibility of depression in members of your congregation and guide further decision-making about how to help them.

5. Depression is quite treatable. It might be beneficial to develop a relationship with some of our CIFT staff therapists as they can be a wonderful resource to members of your congregation who are at risk.

6. Encourage exercise, social support, and healthy diet (all proven to be effective approaches to dealing with depression).

May God bless you as you serve him and your congregations.

Kevin Van Lant, Ph.D.

CIFT, Executive Director

12 Ways To Engage In Practical Missional Living [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-05-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for practical ways to bring Jesus to people. I'm not much of a street evangelist, but that doesn't mean I can't share my faith in other ways. In this post, Daniel Simmons has some great, practical ideas for living missionally.

God has put every person that is reading this in positions of influence. We all have family members, neighbors, or co-workers that we, if given the opportunity, would love to tell about Christianity. However, many people never talk about their faith beyond, “I go to this church” or “I am a Christian.” On top of that, it is easy to get wrapped up in “church friendships” to the point that no meaningful non-Christian relationships exist. How do we move from simply “our faith” to actually engaging in meaningful evangelism? In a world where there is always more to do than time to do it, what are some practical ways to build solid friendships with non-Christians?

Below is a list of very practical ways to begin to do this. One of the keys in building relationships is that it is primarily a proactive thing, not a reactive one. We should be the initiators: praying proactively and then putting ourselves in positions to make these types of relationships.

Below I have put some very practical ways to build relationships with people that God has put in your range of influence. I hope it helps. Also, here is a website that also has some great ideas on it: http://theresurgence.com/2009/05/04/simplified-missional-living

Prayer: We need to start by recognizing that people come to know God because of God. So, while we do play a part, we are ambassadors and messengers (II Corinthians 5:20), God is the one who saves (Acts 16:14, II Timothy 2:24-26, Ezekiel 11:19, and Ephesians 2:8-9). Since this is true, we need to be praying vigorously that He moves in their hearts and brings them to repentance. As Jesus looked at the crowds, He felt compassion, and said to His disciples, “Beseech the Lord of the Harvest.”

Reading about Evangelism: There are some really great books about evangelism out there. Here are a few I’d recommend: The Master Plan of Evangelism, Becoming a Contagious Christian, and The Heart of Evangelism. The benefit of reading books on evangelism is to remember and see why we evangelize, to build vision for evangelism, to kindle a fire in our hearts to spread the gospel, and to learn methods to effectively share the gospel.
Practical ways to begin building solid relationships:

Eat with Non-Christians: Whether it is lunch with co-workers or dinner at a dining room table, dinner is a place where we still get to know one another well. Eating consistently with someone is a sign of friendship, and it almost always gives you an hour to joke, talk, and discuss things going on in your lives.

Throw Parties: People love parties. Whenever a neighborhood has one, people walk away thinking, “We should do that more often.” Why are we as the church not leading that in our communities? Jesus was a fixture at parties in the NT. Parties allow us to open our doors to many different kinds of people, give us a chance to practice hospitality, and allow for a casual atmosphere of conversation and relationship building. One of our campus pastors recently found out that his HOA would give $75 for hosting 3 or more families. Maybe yours would too!

Community playgrounds, pools, and dog parks: There is almost nothing that makes it easier to break the ice with people you don’t know than if you both have kids or dogs. That makes being a regular at play grounds, community pools, and dog parks an easy place to start up conversations. On top of that, you will be modeling in front of your children how to reach out to new people.

Join Neighborhood Committees: Relationships easily and naturally occur when you and another person care for the same thing, and almost all people care about their homes and their neighborhoods. I recently talked to a man who joined his neighborhood committee, and he now has friendships with people he had not been able to even have a descent conversation with.

Play Groups (mom’s): All mom’s need adult conversation and relationships. What a great way to connect with and build friendships with other women in the neighborhood. What a great environment to invite other women to who you may meet through doing community ministry!

Be a regular, meet the other regulars: This one is two-fold. You see someone regularly, and you support something that is very important to them. Ask questions, remember names, bring your friends, and pretty soon, the people who work there will expect to see you and will be glad you are there. Also, there will be other people that after seeing you there regularly will know that you share that in common. It makes a point of contact that leads to conversation.

Be Outside: This simply puts you in a position where you can see and talk to your neighbors. Work in your yard, play with your kids outside, or sit on your porch or in your driveway. This is how almost everyone meets and builds friendships with neighbors. The more you are outside, the more informal touches you can get with the people that live around you.
Volunteer with Non-Profits: Non-profits are a great way to serve your city and to meet people that you would never have a chance to meet.

Participate in City Events: There are many festivals and events the city of Durham/Raleigh put on. Check this out for Raleigh http://bit.ly/kSLMoP and this for Durham http://bit.ly/mUK0Kp. What great places to go with the heart and mind of a missionary!
Hobbies with people: Do what you love with people. Love to run? Join a running group. Love to read? There are book clubs that would love to have you. Do you go to a gym? Don’t just nod and walk past the people you see every day. Talk to them and begin to work out together. Hobbies give people a common ground to start building friendships.

God Is Buildling His Church

2011-05-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

GOD IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. " (Ephesians 4:7).

One of the things that amazes me is how God builds His church. As a Senior Pastor, it's easy to get caught up in the success mentality of our culture and feel the pressure of trying to appease the masses with programs or filling the building with people. You can spend thousands of dollars and many more hours attending conferences, reading books, meeting with "successful" pastors all trying to grasp the elusive secret to church growth. But God's ways are so much easier than that. God's ways are much higher than that. He says seek first the kingdom of God and everything else gets added. God says ask and it will be given. God says knock and doors open. God says seek and you'll find the answers you're looking for. Isn't it amazing how easy God's ways are? That has been our experience at Worship Life. When we had a need, we asked and God provided. When we lacked wisdom, we asked and God gave it. But the most radical experience of all has been the reality of His Presence with us as we have sought Him..

But how does God meet needs? How does God provide resources? How does God show His love in practical ways to us? How does God build His Church? Through every day people and you and I. We are the Living Stones that God uses to build His Church. It doesn't happen magically. Open the Bible and they will come. It happens as people like you invite your friends to Worship Life. It happens as people like you help set up or tear down on Sunday mornings. It happens as you show the love of God to someone in a practical way. Each of us have been uniquely gifted by God through the abundance of God's grace. Don't let the world, the flesh or the devil steal your blessing by keeping you from serving Him. Take your place at God's table and enjoy the rich blessings that are yours as you allow God to use you to build His Church.
We have started webcasting our services. You can view them at USTREAM. You can also catch up on studies that you've missed or perhaps your following us from a distance at VIMEO.

Roxie and I are praying for you...
Blessings
P.HD
P.S. Pray for Worship Life as we begin looking for a facility that we can call our own and pray for Revival in South Orange County. God is doing great things!!!

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington [ARTICLE REPRINT]

2011-05-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Prime Minister's speech to Congress was excellent in many ways. He rightly described the "epic battle" underway in the epicenter. He described a great shaking going on in the Middle East. He rightly warned that Iran and her nuclear program is the greatest threat, that Hamas is the new al Qaeda, and that in all of the Arab world, only Israeli Arabs have true safety, security, and fully protected human and civil rights. I've included some important excerpts from the speech below. However, it should be noted that Netanyahu never cited the Bible, never called on the name of the Lord, and never called the Jewish people to trust fully and completely in the God of Israel, but rather promised to divide the land of Israel as a concession to the Palestinians, even while promising never to divide Jerusalem. These were mistakes. He wasn't the first Israeli Prime Minister to make them. But he is making them nonetheless. He was right to thank the U.S. for all our help and support of Israel over the years, and he was right to seek continued help and support from the American people and government. But neither he nor Israel should become dependent upon American help because the Bible tells us it won't be there for long.

The Bible is clear: only the Lord will save Israel. It is time for Israelis to consider this very carefully. For time is short. The Day of the Lord is coming.

"An epic battle is now unfolding in the Middle East, between tyranny and freedom. A great convulsion is shaking the earth from the Khyber Pass to the Straits of Gibraltar. The tremors have shattered states and toppled governments. And we can all see that the ground is still shifting...."
"These extraordinary scenes in Tunis and Cairo, evoke those of Berlin and Prague in 1989. Yet as we share their hopes, but we also must also remember that those hopes could be snuffed out as they were in Tehran in 1979. You remember what happened then. The brief democratic spring in Iran was cut short by a ferocious and unforgiving tyranny. This same tyranny smothered Lebanon's democratic Cedar Revolution, and inflicted on that long-suffering country, the medieval rule of Hezbollah. So today, the Middle East stands at a fateful crossroads..."
"Courageous Arab protesters, are now struggling to secure these very same rights for their peoples, for their societies. We're proud that over one million Arab citizens of Israel have been enjoying these rights for decades. Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel's Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights. I want you to stop for a second and think about that. Of those 300 million Arabs, less than one-half of one-percent are truly free, and they're all citizens of Israel! This startling fact reveals a basic truth: Israel is not what is wrong about the Middle East. Israel is what is right about the Middle East...."
"When I last stood here, I spoke of the dire consequences of Iran developing nuclear weapons. Now time is running out, and the hinge of history may soon turn. For the greatest danger facing humanity could soon be upon us: A militant Islamic regime armed with nuclear weapons. Militant Islam threatens the world. It threatens Islam. I have no doubt that it will ultimately be defeated. It will eventually succumb to the forces of freedom and progress. But like other fanaticisms that were doomed to fail, militant Islam could exact a horrific price from all of us before its inevitable demise. A nuclear-armed Iran would ignite a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. It would give terrorists a nuclear umbrella. It would make the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a clear and present danger throughout the world. I want you to understand what this means. They could put the bomb anywhere. They could put it on a missile. It could be on a container ship in a port, or in a suitcase on a subway...."
"Now the threat to my country cannot be overstated. Those who dismiss it are sticking their heads in the sand. Less than seven decades after six million Jews were murdered, Iran's leaders deny the Holocaust of the Jewish people, while calling for the annihilation of the Jewish state...."
"The Ayatollah regime briefly suspended its nuclear program only once, in 2003, when it feared the possibility of military action. That same year, Muammar Qadaffi gave up his nuclear weapons program, and for the same reason. The more Iran believes that all options are on the table, the less the chance of confrontation. This is why I ask you to continue to send an unequivocal message: That America will never permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons. As for Israel, if history has taught the Jewish people anything, it is that we must take calls for our destruction seriously. We are a nation that rose from the ashes of the Holocaust. When we say never again, we mean never again. Israel always reserves the right to defend itself...."
"Two years ago, I publicly committed to a solution of two states for two peoples: A Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state. I am willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace. As the leader of Israel, it is my responsibility to lead my people to peace. This is not easy for me. I recognize that in a genuine peace, we will be required to give up parts of the Jewish homeland. In Judea and Samaria, the Jewish people are not foreign occupiers. We are not the British in India. We are not the Belgians in the Congo. This is the land of our forefathers, the Land of Israel, to which Abraham brought the idea of one God, where David set out to confront Goliath, and where Isaiah saw a vision of eternal peace. No distortion of history can deny the four thousand year old bond, between the Jewish people and the Jewish land...."
"So now here is the question. You have to ask it. If the benefits of peace with the Palestinians are so clear, why has peace eluded us? Because all six Israeli Prime Ministers since the signing of Oslo accords agreed to establish a Palestinian state. Myself included. So why has peace not been achieved? Because so far, the Palestinians have been unwilling to accept a Palestinian state, if it meant accepting a Jewish state alongside it. You see, our conflict has never been about the establishment of a Palestinian state. It has always been about the existence of the Jewish state. This is what this conflict is about. In 1947, the United Nations voted to partition the land into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews said yes. The Palestinians said no. In recent years, the Palestinians twice refused generous offers by Israeli Prime Ministers, to establish a Palestinian state on virtually all the territory won by Israel in the Six Day War. They were simply unwilling to end the conflict. And I regret to say this: They continue to educate their children to hate. They continue to name public squares after terrorists. And worst of all, they continue to perpetuate the fantasy that Israel will one day be flooded by the descendants of Palestinian refugees...."
"My friends, this must come to an end. President Abbas must do what I have done. I stood before my people, and I told you it wasn't easy for me, and I said: 'I will accept a Palestinian state.' It is time for President Abbas to stand before his people and say: 'I will accept a Jewish state.'...."
"As for Jerusalem, only a democratic Israel has protected freedom of worship for all faiths in the city. Jerusalem must never again be divided. Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel. I know that this is a difficult issue for Palestinians. But I believe with creativity and goodwill a solution can be found...."
"Hamas is not a partner for peace. Hamas remains committed to Israel's destruction and to terrorism. They have a charter. That charter not only calls for the obliteration of Israel, but says 'kill the Jews wherever you find them'. Hamas' leader condemned the killing of Osama bin Laden and praised him as a holy warrior. Now again I want to make this clear. Israel is prepared to sit down today and negotiate peace with the Palestinian Authority. I believe we can fashion a brilliant future of peace for our children. But Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by the Palestinian version of Al Qaeda. So I say to President Abbas: Tear up your pact with Hamas! Sit down and negotiate! Make peace with the Jewish state! And if you do, I promise you this. Israel will not be the last country to welcome a Palestinian state as a new member of the United Nations. It will be the first to do so...."