Go into all the World...

Received this e-mail today from a minister in Texas that has been concerned about the "state of the church" in the United States:


We're living in what's being called the "Post-Christian Era." Christianity in North America has been on a steady decline for the better part of a century, with the most staggering drops occurring in the past 25 years. Christian statistician and church consultant George Barna reported that over the past decade, three million people have been leaving churches every year in the United States.The actual center of Christianity in the world today is highly debated, but experts agree it lies in one of three places: Latin America, Africa or China. Some have estimated that China, which had only 700,000 Christians at the beginning of the Communist rule in 1949, now has between 60 and 100 million believers, most of them meeting together in large, underground house church networks. Africa now boasts nearly 400 million Christians, but that number is expected to eclipse 600 million by 2025.This kind of rapid, exponential growth simply is not happening in the United States, which now has the third-largest un-churched population in the world. The rumors are true, by the way: Missionaries from African and Latin American countries are now moving to our continent to work among the lost North Americans.The question of how we got to this point isn't nearly as important as how we will get past it. The message and commission Christians have simply is too important to ignore this glaring problem. Many have ignored it, however, to the detriment of their hearts and the faith.One solution to the problem will need to come in the form of a paradigm shift-a change in methodology or theory-regarding the nature and role of the church. The technical definition of the word "insanity" is repeating the same action and expecting a different result each time. This definition often describes Christ's church to a T. Churches will need to take a hard look at the Great Commission-"Go and make disciples"-and then formulate strategies to best accomplish this commandment.Here's a clue, though: It's probably not going to look anything like what most churches have been trying in recent decades. "Attractional" Christianity, which attempts to bring in the un-churched with dynamic worship, flashy programs or the best preacher in town, has been the strategy of choice for churches for much too long, and research is indicating that the post-modern unbeliever isn't falling for it anymore.If churches take the Great Commission seriously, though, one word ought to stick out: Go. Christ went when he became the incarnation of the living God on earth. The apostles went upon receiving the Holy Spirit, first to their hometown, then to the world. And our responsibility is the same in our neighborhoods and cities in the United States.The second phrase that should stick out in a fresh reading of the Great Commission is "make disciples." Baptism certainly is what happens at the initial decision to be a disciple, but it doesn't magically spawn a disciple. True discipleship literally means "spending time with Jesus" and requires relationship, accountability and lots of latitude. "In-process" disciples make lots of mistakes, but that's OK-that's why Christ came. Mature Christians must see that Paul's vision for growing Christians in his young church plants-sanctification-is carried out in contemporary congregations. Sanctified Christians no longer run back to their old muck and mire but strain forward, pursuing righteousness and nurturing new disciples of their own.The Western Church does itself and the Kingdom no good in denying that it has a problem. It is hemorrhaging because it has emphasized the phrases "baptizing them" and "all nations" to the detriment of the three most important words in the Great Commission, "go" and "make disciples." If North America is to see an in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, and if Christians desire to delight their Creator, the Church will need to wake from its slumber and dive headlong into God's mission.All North American disciples of Jesus are missionaries, after all-now more than ever before.

Sunday Everyday of the Week!

I love Sundays. A time to tell the busy world to stop!

I need this day to re-evaluate and reconnect with my Heavenly Father and with my church family.

Ever hate getting up on Monday. Another week at work.

When I was a young middle school teacher twenty years a go, in our building was a female physical education teacher named Fran who probably had taught for 50 years. Every Friday she would come into the teachers lounge (recovery room) and say the same thing, “Thank God it's Friday. She would sprawl out on the couch looking like she was never going to get up again. Being young and wanting to have some fun, I would always go up to her and say, you know Fran, I wish it was Monday all over again. I wish we could start the week all over with the kids. The kids are great. She would look at me like I was a nut!

I really felt sorry for her. She didn't understand what true living was all about it.

I know, I try to live each day like it is Sunday. Being able to take what you longed for on Sunday and using it in the workplace each day should be our goal.

But usually I mess up. Having to deal with people, problems and situations, and the last thing on my mind is what occurred on Sunday.

Our goal should be this:

1 Peter 2:9-12

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Ephesians 5

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Colossians 3

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

I want my life to reflect Jesus. I want each day to be a Sunday. For some people the only aspect of Christianity they might ever come in contact with might be you in the workplace at the store at school. We need to be positive, loving, caring people.

How has your week gone so far?

Blessed Be Your Name

Even on a cold cloudy winter day, when your not feeling the greatest.....I love the words to this song:

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be
'Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Sunday-Monday Dichotomy

I have been teaching our Young Professionals Class at Church on a subject that has been on my heart, Faith in the Workplace. The following article was discussed on Sunday:

Sunday-Monday Dichotomy

Is there really a difference between Sunday and every other day of the week? We sometimes act like there is. Sunday is comprised of hymns and scripture, worship and visiting with other Christians. Then on Monday, we head back to work and life takes on its usual sort of flavor. Six days a week we take on the real tasks of living; Sunday comes and we go through the rituals of our faith. Sunday is the day off from the reality of life; one day out of seven where we can think in a different way about what is important. But alas, Monday comes and then it is back to normal. But maybe it doesn’t have to be that way. Maybe it would make more sense to understand Sunday as the day when we have the leisure to experience life as God really intended it to be. As Thomas Long would say: “Sunday is not just one more day in a string of days. Rather, Sunday, as the day of worship, is the essence of the week, the Day of all Days, the day that discloses what is deep and hidden, but nonetheless true, about every day.” To heighten the value of worship, to rethink the significance of Sunday, to refrain from thinking that the real world is what happens Monday through Saturday, such tasks strike deeply at the heart of Christian identity and faith. Worship is the place where, through language, song, scripture, prayer, and community, a vision of the “real world” is experienced. And it is that vision that corrects the false and inadequate visions of life that I encounter throughout the rest of the week.

On Bended Knee I Come

"O Come let us bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker! For he is our God, and we are his people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand"

A Bible Professor once stated:

"Standing before God represents demands and confrontations.
Sitting in God's presence suggests that we are passively waiting for him to act.
But when we kneel down we are worshipping! We are saying we can't do this without you, we are in submission. We praise You and only You!"

The Heart of Worship

Ever feel like church (worship) has become a musical-theatre production? Who is worship for? What needs to be our focus?

The song below describes what our worship should focus on:

The Heart Of Worship (When The Music Fades)

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

Words and Music by Matt Redman

The Real Celebration of Love

Communion Thoughts
Sunday, February 13, 2005
A Celebration of Love Sunday
Central Church of Christ-Topeka, Kansas


It was a hot day, a very hot day, temperature was 106 degrees. It was a day that I had dreamed about for a long time. A day that would mark a new beginning in my life. I would never be the same again.

I couldn't believe that only four years ago I met her for the very first time. It was strange how the first one I met when I moved there was her father.

Now it seemed like we knew each other forever, it was like God placed me at that place for this particular reason.

The day was long. It seemed like 2:00 would never get here.

As I drove to the church with my brother and groomsmen I was becoming more and more anxious and nervous.

I was wondering about the ceremony.

I hope I can get the words out.

I hope I don't trip in these tight shoes I have to wear.

What will Debbie look like in her mothers wedding dress?

To be real honest, I don't remember much about the ceremony.

But I do remember one thing, when I looked in to Debbie's eyes I saw love. A love that still to this day keeps growing and growing. One that is so special.

But you know, there's a love even stronger that I see each and every day. A love that never fails. A love that is truly special. It's not an ancient story. It's a real life love story today. It's our Savior who lived, died and lives today.

He has asked us to partake in this feast today as a family so we can remember the love he has poured out for us.

This is the real celebration of love.

In the Good and In the Bad....

When life is good, it's easy to be happy and joyful in our praise and worship. During the difficult times of life we sometimes look other places instead of to the one who can help us through anything. David had many up's and down's during his lifetime. In Psalms we read a very encouraging prayer:

"Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous fall.

But you, O God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of corruption;

Bloodthirsty and deceitful men
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you."