An Overloaded Donkey

This is what I feel like at the end of the semester feels like--an overloaded donkey.

Coming soon...

What does it take to have church or to have a church? A three page list of materials, worship teams, ushers?

My thoughts coming soon....

Where is the LORD God of Elijah?

What happens when you read books about Shepherding; listen to sermons by people like Tim Smith, Dr. Champlin, Brother Andrew, and Dr. Horn; read the Bible; and pray? I'm not sure exactly. But your thinking is bound to be challenged. And mine has. More to follow.....at a future date when I've sorted some things out.

But for now, if we believe in interpreting the Bible literally, why don't we practice that belief? If Christ says, "All authority is given me in heaven and earth. Go!...", why isn't it being done? Why don't we believe that Christ has all authority? If Christ says, "I WILL build my church", why are so many of our churches not growing? If the Bible says that being persecuted for Jesus' name is a good thing, then why are we so scared of it? Why are we so quick to throw up our hands in surrender at every little obstacle? Why are we so scared? Why do we sit around and argue about things that men have argued non stop for the last 400 years and still haven't figured out? Why aren't we out doing instead of sitting arguing? If only we would get out and do the work instead of talking about thinking we should do the work.

Where is our faith and security in Christ that allows us to abandon ourselves to Him and trust Him completely come what may? Where is the LORD God of Elijah? Is He dead? Is He out walking? Or is He sleeping? No!! Our faith is dead. Our faith is out shopping for new mortgage rates, new cars, houses, clothes, degrees, and select comfort air matresses so we can sleep better with our guilt ridden consciences while the world sleeps in lost terror lest they wake in hell. Our faith is out sleeping while we sit through another 20 minute sermon, anxiously checking our watches lest our pot roast burns. The question is not where is the God of Elijah; the question is where is the Elijah of today? Where is the David, the Daniel, the Paul, the Ezra, the Nehemiah, the Peter, the Stephen? Stephen was a deacon! The first martyr! The Bible says that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Not maybe. Not will suffer persecution if you live in China. It says all. ALL. All WILL suffer persecution. Are we living a persecuted life for Christ? What are we doing? I think I know the answer...do you?

Don't ask where God is but ask where am I. God hasn't changed. He is waiting for you to be ready and willing to sell all for Him. Then and only then will He show Himself to be the LORD God of Elijah in your life. The LORD God of Elijah is right there, waiting for you to claim His promises. Claim Them!

Next thought...or maybe I should save it for next time....yeah I think I will. You have enough to think about for now.

He Lives!

Here is an old Puritan Hymn I discovered some time ago. I saved it for a special occasion...and I think the special occasion has arrived. Can you guess why?

I know that my Redeemer lives;

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives triumphant from the grave,

He lives eternally to save,

He lives all-glorious in the sky,

He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love,

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed,

He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,

He lives to guide me with His eye,

He lives to comfort me when faint,

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,

He lives to wipe away my tears

He lives to calm my troubled heart,

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,

He lives and loves me to the end;

He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;

He lives, and I shall conquer death:

He lives my mansion to prepare;

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

This song is packed with doctrine and theology and I commend it highly to your personal study.

Two Hills, Two Valleys, and a Shepherds Heart

In one sense, I am tired of college. I'd like to be done and in full time ministry. I know...I know..."I'm in the ministry now." Sounds like a song. Why should I be in college? Why should I seek to get a Masters Degree after spending 4 years and thousands of dollars on a bachelors degree? Do the people back home really care about all the things we sit in class and argue and otherwise "discuss"? Dichotomy, Trichotomy; Majority or Minority text; do you have to ask Jesus to be "Lord of your life" before you are really saved; what about the elect; the list could go on and on. And frankly, most people I know really don't know and don't care about these issues. I recently sat in a seminar discussing how to choose a seminary. For the first 35 minutes, the discussion revolved around whether or not we should go to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. There were two things I really got out of the discussion, or maybe three or four. We'll see how many I come up with. At first I was frustrated. I didn't understand most of what they were discussing...anybody know what the "new hermeneutic" is?. Why would you want to go there anyway? The guys asking the questions aren't Southern Baptists. They are independent Baptists. But for some reason they thought it would be good for them to consider going. Like I said, I was frustrated, ready to walk out, go home and teach the teen class where the issues at stake were whether or not these kids would decide to live for God or follow the world. So why should I go to seminary if the issues that are being discussed really don't seem to affect my peoples lives? As I pondered that question, I started thinking about my pastoral theology class. I am to be a shepherd. What does a shepherd do? Well among other things, he guards his flock. The sheep don't know all the habits and ways of the wolves and false shepherds out there. And at present neither do I. It is my duty to keep those wolves and false shepherds from getting anywhere near my flock. The only way I can do that is to know their ways. Once I know them, I can warn, or instill fences in the lives of my sheep so when they hear about, or see one of those wolves or false shepherds, they know automatically what is wrong with wolves or false shepherds.

There are two hill and two valleys that I can clearly see without the aid of photographs. The one hill is Monument Hill and the corresponding valley is the Quincy Valley. From my house it takes 15 or 20 minutes to drive to the top of it. Once you reach the top, you can see the Quincy Valley. Seated in the middle of the valley is the town of Quincy. And when I see it, I see lost people, hurting people, scattered sheep. I can see the people who are seeking the American Dream. Their gods are self, entertainment, ease of life. I see the Hispanics, seeking to better their lives but living in squalor. And in a small, human way, my heart is moved with compassion. They are all lost sheep, scattered with no shepherd to care, feed, and protect them.
The other hill is Castle Rock; the corresponding valley is the Wenatchee Valley. This hill takes a couple of hours to hike up to, but the view once you get up is of the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. And once again I see people. I see the rich people who go skiing on the winter weekends, boating and wine tasting on the summer weekends. I see the homeless people walking the streets with no hope except the hope that someone will give them a handout. And once again my heart is moved. Why not go now? Why should I stay and get more schooling? Because I need it to properly shepherd my people. I don't fully understand it all yet, nor will I ever, but my view of salvation, sanctification, and a whole host of other subjects directly influences the way I will witness and disciple the people I am given to shepherd. They may never realize how it all affects them but it does. There is a "new hermeneutic" out there. I don't know what it is. But I need to know so I can compare it with scripture and find out if it matches up. My people may never hear about it but at some point it could affect their lives in a way I don't know or see now. That is why I and most people need further education. To properly guard and feed; to properly shepherd their flock.

I don't have all the answers. I don't want all the answers. This way, I am forced to my knees and to the Bible--to the Chief Shepherd--so He can shepherd me in shepherding the flock He has given me.