02 Sep Life, Clutter, and Doing Our Work

Steve Dennie and I have been on a mission. The shipping area of our building was in need of some cleaning. Yesterday we finished phase two of what will turn out being a four or five phase project. As we tossed, rearranged, choked, and organized, I found myself drawing many parallels to us as people, and our lives. Let me share some of my observations:

1. It is possible to continue to function in life even when our life is cluttered with the unnecessary or with junk from the past. But not to our potential.

2. Our capacity for better, newer or greater things is stymied by trying to hold on to our past, even if we think that the things from our history may prove useful in the future.

3. Like ourselves, others near us are aware of the tremendous need to deal with the clutter of our lives. But while there may be quiet murmurings among them, they never seem to push the issue.

4. We hold onto things that represent people, events, and methods that once held great importance to us. While remembering can be good, those things belong put into perspective in the archives and not taking up space in our present.

5. It takes time to work through processing the junk in our lives, but it is well worth the investment.

6. Others see the hard work you are doing and celebrate the value of it with you.

7. It is possible for us to lose track of all the available resources we have because they get so spread out. If we took a little time periodically to bring life back into order, it would help us know what we have.

8. Cleaning up one area of life spurs you on to tackle other areas of life. Life is a continual process.

9. The tools we need to move the heavy loads are available if we ask.

10. Cleaning up our lives helps us help others more effectively.

These are a few observations that flew past the dust balls that were circulating in my head during the process. We have a plan to continue our work over the next months.

What areas need addressed in your life or in the life of your church? Why not take the initiative to do something about it now, before you go through another year of life or ministry functioning below your potential?

Jesus makes available all the tools that we need.

30 Aug Let Me Tell You About My Granddaughter

As I ended the last entry, I mentioned my granddaughter. Actually, I have 3 grandchildren: 2 boys and 1 girl. They are probably the most handsome, beautiful, smart, intelligent, thoughtful, and loving children. And did I mention smart?

I don’t get to be with them nearly as much as I would like. My grandsons live in Omaha, Neb. while my granddaughter lives in Wheaton, Ill. But I see them as often as I can. And one of the things that EJ and I are concerned about when we see them is whether or not they have grown. I want their parents to be very sure they see the doctor on a regular basis for checkups including their growth rate. I want to be sure they are healthy and growing. And if they are not growing, is something wrong? That is important to me and to their parents, too, I am sure.

It is interesting that every living thing in God’s creation grows in some form or fashion. If there are the required environmental elements, and if they are healthy, they grow. This growth leads to maturity that in turn leads to reproduction. Funny how that works. And everything grows after its own kind. For example, a seed of corn doesn’t grow apples.
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22 Aug Why?

Just take a minute and list in your mind all the ministries of your church. Preaching, worship, music, Sunday school, youth ministry, etc. You’d probably have a fairly long list. Got all of that in your mind? Good! Now, think of “Why?” I mean, why do you do all that stuff? Be honest now, no fudging! When you have answered that why question, you have the mission or purpose of your church. Some would probably argue that the mission is something else, a phrase in the worship folder or a plaque on the wall. But really, isn’t the answer to the mission question what we are now doing? I mean, if that stuff isn’t about your mission, why are you doing it?

Now think again about all those ministries. Where are they focused? There are three possibilities. One, they are for us. Did you know that 80 – 90% of churches in the US are either plateaued or declining primarily because everything is focused on us, an inward focus. Two, it could be that the ministries are focused on the people who are not here yet. Most churches would not tolerate such a focus. So, three, they could be focused on doing both–on us, and on those who are yet to come. But in this scenario, who would get priority? In these churches, the priority would be on those who are not here yet. But you still do ministry for those who are there. The principle here is powerful. When unchurched people, those who are not there yet, are given priority the church begins to grow.

Now, to what extent is your church focused outward, to include those who are not there yet? The honest answer to that question will tell you a lot about the growth or lack of growth in your church.

Now I suppose the question is, should all churches grow? Well, let me tell you, I have a five-year-old granddaughter….Oh well, that is the subject for another time.

21 Aug Commonplace

Oswald Chambers observes: The phrase we hear so often, Decide for Christ, is an emphasis on something Our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him – a very different thing. At the basis of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom is the unaffected loveliness of the commonplace. The thing I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, then Jesus says – Blessed are you, because it is through this poverty that I enter His Kingdom. I cannot enter His Kingdom as a good man or woman, I can only enter it as a complete pauper.

The unconscious effort to live before Christ in the most commonplace of events exercises the most influence on others. We moved Jalonna (our daughter) into her own apartment in Wisconsin this past weekend to start a new ministry position on a church staff. Yes, tears were a part of the mix as we left our “little girl” there alone. Saturday, a young mother with three little ones hanging on her, knocked on the door and introduced herself. Jalonna offered to baby sit.

It will be those kind of commonplace interactions and conversations that will open the door for Jalonna to share Christ with those around her. While there may be some events at church that will be helpful for her neighbors to be invited to, the key to reaching them will be the doors of relationship that open into their lives in the mundane interactions Jalonna has with them.

So it is for us all. Is it safe? (Father, mother, grandparents are all asking that about her physical safety) 🙂

Yes. And no. It is challenging and requires some thought and awareness, physically and relationally. But it is worth it because it is the fulfillment of the mission. It is why she (and we) are there.

So today, don’t think about the outcomes, just be like Jesus to those around you and that will be the greatest influence you can have for the Kingdom.

21 Aug Layperson’s Code of Conduct

In 1994, we held a leadership conference which brought several hundred UB ministers and laypersons to Huntington, Ind. One morning we divided everyone into groups based on church size–24 different groups. They talked about various issues for a while. Then we further divided those groups in half–ministers and spouses in one group, laypersons in the other. A total of 48 groups. They were instructed to develop a “Code of Conduct” for themselves, one code for ministers, one for laypersons. The 48 codes were then condensed and compiled.

I recently stumbled across those two codes, and was impressed with their wisdom. Here is the “Layperson’s Code of Conduct,” which ended up consisting of 12 points.

1. I will be open-minded to change, and will not insist that others follow my preferences.
2. I will focus on the positive in our church and convey that to others.
3. I will abide in Christ and bear the responsibility of that relationship.
4. I will demonstrate a servant attitude in carrying out my church responsibilities.
5. I will continuously evaluate my schedule, balancing family and church time in a way which puts family first.
6. I will not create conflict, and will lovingly confront those who do.
7. I will not criticize the pastor or others behind their backs, but will speak to them personally, always offering a solution with any complaints.
8. I will expand my witness in my corner of God’s world, and will do nothing to jeopardize my witness.
9. I will recognize that my talents, time, and resources belong to Christ.
10. I will be consistent and dependable.
11. I will pray for my church, its leaders, and its ministry.
12. I will continually remind myself that the ministry of the church is my ministry.

18 Aug Fathering

This was sent to me by Gene Wood the Turnaround Church author and speaker. Here I am, 66, and reading this with some regret. You who are younger would do well to heed this advice.

50 SUGGESTIONS FOR PASTORS
If You Want Children Who Love the Ministry

Infancy/Toddlers
1. Rock them to sleep when they are crying at night.
2. When you are home, spend lots of time on the floor.
3. Play fort under the table or under the bed.
4. Sacrifice so your wife can stay at home (for 12-15 years).
5. When you arrive home, always pick them up.
6. Play “horsey.” Let them ride on your back.
7. Tell them “no” and mean it.
8. Kiss them and hug them several times each day.
9. Be home for dinner.
10. Choose a godly mother for them and make her feel appreciated.

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14 Aug Why Do They Hate Us?

In light of the war in Lebanon and the threats created by the plot uncovered in the UK, I was asked the other day why the Islamic extremists hate Jews and Christians so much. I clarified immediately that the key word in the statement was “extremists” and that not all those who follow Islam are so disposed. My simple answer was that they are similar to the extremists in the Christian ranks who feel so passionate about abortion that they deem themselves justified in bombing abortion clinics and killing abortion doctors. Their hatred of those who are the opposition is fueled by their passion for their cause.

Something struck me as I was answering. These “extremists” fight to the death, are prepared to sacrifice even their children to attack the enemy, and generally devote every aspect of their lives to the cause. Their young people are incited to action by the repetitious mantra of what is right and wrong in their leaders’ views. Over and over again they are exposed to the message and they grow up reciting it. Their circumstances and environment support the claims of the leaders. And when their “wins” occur, they celebrate them raucously. The recent cease fire with Israel is seen as a “win” for Hezbollah, and they have already spread the celebration among their people.

I compared this to the level of passion we demonstrate about our mission through the church. We would denounce the extremists, but there is an admiration for their dedication to their cause. It sounds very much like the words, “Whoever would not take up his cross daily, and follow me, is not worthy of me.”

What would happen if we were so devoted to our cause that all of life was dedicated to it?

Think about it.

09 Aug Summer Reading and Fall Plan

Thought you might like to know some of the stuff I’ve been reading this summer. So here is a short list:

• Hit The Bullseye, by Paul Borden an Abingdon Press book. This is the story of how one region of a mainline denomination was transformed into an effective, missional region in a very short period of time.
• Winning on Purpose, by John Edmund Kaiser (also an Abingdon book). This is how the region described in the Bullseye book reorganized its congregations to succeed in their mission.

These two books have greatly impacted my thinking and vision for our denomination. Pat Jones and I were priviledged to attend a conference put on by the organization led by the author of the Bullseye book. It was one of the most inspirational, moving, and educational experiences I’ve had in a long time. Dr. Borden and his team have really hit the bullseye in the region they are serving.
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08 Aug What Are We Willing To Sacrifice For?

One year ago yesterday. That is when Pam and I (exhausted from the tears of the day before) drove our overloaded vehicles the 500 miles we had driven many times before. The difference is that before it was to visit family or attend a meeting. This time it was launching into a whole new life: new home; new and different ministry; empty nest. It has been an interesting year.

As I traveled today, I heard an interesting talk that I identified with totally. The speaker made the point that people don’t resist change as much as they do the transition process brought about by change. Change requires people to sacrifice something to achieve a desired goal. The end is desirable; but the process of getting to that end point is usually painful and disruptive. So how do we help people through the transition?

Quick Summary of the Steps:
1. Agree on a felt need or purpose. Share it as a vision to be achieved.
2. Outline the process to get there.
3. Prepare the transitioning person over a period of time through personal and corporate communication.
4. Create or provide a way to celebrate the necessary sacrifices.
5. Celebrate it and move into the new venture. Don’t allow the sacrificed thing to hold you back.

The Bishop and I will be illustrating this process in various settings as we move ahead. But the question I wanted to raise a year into the process is this: What are we willing to sacrifice for? What are we so captivated by, so motivated by, so enslaved to, in our local churches that we would be willing to sacrifice ANYTHING in order to achieve it?

One year ago, we answered that question. And we personally and painfully sacrificed certain things in order to pursue it.

Join me in pondering this question. You and your church may be asked to answer it personally in the next couple of years. What would your answer be?

03 Aug When Churches Merge

We have a superb track record when nearby UB churches merge. I wish the Elgin UB church had gone that route.
My mom grew up at Elgin, a small rural congregation outside of Van Wert, Ohio. I was related to a good share of the congregation, nearly all of them farmers. I say “was” because the church closed some years ago after doing what way too many small churches do–numbers decline, young families don’t seem interested, the long-time faithful grow increasingly frustrated that nothing seems to work, they go through years of just trying to hang on…and eventually they close. A family bought the Elgin building and turned it into a house.

It always made sense, to me, for Elgin to join forces with the nearby Monticello UB church. They were on a circuit for many years, no more than ten minutes away. The preacher would do his thing at Monticello while Elgin held Sunday school. Then he’d rush over to Elgin, arriving during the singing and just in time for the message. Some wonderful Christian people attended Elgin, and Monticello would have benefited from their wisdom and commitment.

But too many of the Elgin stalwarts–and I can say this, because so many were my relatives–were smitten with no small amount of pride, and I always sensed a touch of rivalry with the larger Monticello. They feared being swallowed up, feared losing power. So instead, Elgin died a slow death. Some wonderful people squandered years of ministry aboard a clearly sinking ship, until finally they just gave up and closed.

On the other hand, consider these churches:

• In 1985, three congregations merged to form the Lake View UB church in Camden, Mich., which today is a thriving congregation.
• In the 1990s, the Calvary and Otterbein UB churches of Rockford, Ohio, merged. Today this growing congregation, called New Horizons, has a superb building on new property.
• In 2000, the Immanuel UB church in Carlisle, Pa., merged with a non-UB church to form today’s Bethany Evangelical Church, a UB congregation.
• Last year, two churches in or near Willshire, Ohio, merged to form PraisePoint. The Willshire and Zion churches, once both small and struggling, now have an amazing new building on a busy corner in Willshire, and their future is bright.

Merging congregations like this just plain works. As far as I can tell, our track record is 100 percent. I’m sure it’s the answer for some of today’s struggling UB churches. I hate seeing fine Christian people wither in frustration when they could become part of something alive and growing–something that would bring them great joy. But there is a price to pay in “giving up” power, control, and heritage, even though it’s for a greater cause. Too many congregations aren’t sufficiently courageous and selfless to make it happen. But others are. Perhaps your church has what it takes. Yeah, I’ll bet you do. See that UB church 10 or 20 minutes away? Talk to them.