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~ Transitioning to a Church Plant ~

A very heartfelt and sincere quesiton was asked at our last Life Church Michigan informational gathering.  The question was:

How do you go about transitioning to being a part of this new church when attending another church on Sunday mornings?

I had the opportunity to add to Jonathan's wisdom on this, but came up empty in the moment.  I have had a chance to really process this the last few days.  Here are my thoughts...

First of all, I whole-heartedly agree with what Jonathan stated in answering.  It's ok to attend another church on Sunday mornings right now.  Our family is attending a church on Sundays.  It is important especially with children to provide a church experience.  We are not having services right now.  We don't have children or student ministries set up.  An informational meeting is not a church worship service so we would expect and hope that people are attending church!

That said, a time will come when Life Church Michigan does have an engaging, gospel-centered, life-giving worship service and ministries which provide the best hour in your kids' week!  It is in that moment, that a person needs to pray and seek the Lord as to where He is calling them.  It is not ok to straddle the fence and provide half-hearted commitments to more than one church.  So, how does one go about making this decision?

I think the hardest part of leaving a church when you sense God calling you to do so, is how it affects your relationships.  Hopefully you have connected with the church and have some meaningful relationships built up from the experience.  Leaving a church often means accepting that those relationships will look different and change.  The purpose of the church, however, is not to provide you with a social life.  If the only reason you are staying at a particular church is because of the social life and friends it provides you, I would humbly say you are missing the point.  Don't get me wrong - friendships should develop in the church and they are great.  They are not the purpose though. The funny thing is that when you focus on the mission of Jesus, He naturally brings those meaningful relationships alongside you.

The purpose of the church is to equip the saints.  Committing to a local body of believers is establishing a covenant with them.  When considering this, Stephen Mansfield says one should ask questions such as

How do they view God?

What do they think He has called them to do?

Who is in charge and what authority do they have?

What have they set out themselves to do in the world?

What do they expect of their members?

Are you and your family called in the same way, to the same purposes that these people sense for themselves?

The next thing to consider is whether a particular pastor is a fit for you and your family.  The Bible says that your pastor is a gift from God.  His primary purpose is to teach and train the people to do the works of God.  Your pastor should have authority in your life.  This authority is not to make you feel scolded or guilty, it should be authority that makes you feel built up and encouraged.  So the second question to consider is:

Can this pastor train you and build you up to fulfill your destiny in the body of Christ?

The last question to consider is regarding how God has gifted and wired you.  He has a purpose and wants to use you to minister in the local body of Christ.  Stephen Mansfield says, "you are choosing a portion of the body of Christ to serve with your gifts."  So the question to wrestle with is:

Does this church provide me with the opportunity to fully serve in the way God has gifted and wired me?

I hope this helps as people pray through what church God is calling them to be a part of. 

Should God call you to leave your church, please do so in a God-honoring way!  Be honest.  Confess sins where need be.  Pray for the church and bless them on your way out. 

*thanks to Stephen Mansfield's book ReChurch chapter 7 for spurring me on with this topic

 

~ The Miracles We Don't See ~

I was reading in Joshua this morning and came across this part of the story of the Israelites as they are about to enter the promised land in chapter 3...

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing lthe ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and mthe feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now nthe Jordan overflows all its banks othroughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside pZarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of qthe Arabah, rthe Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, sand all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

This is a classic story.  I've written about how it has spoken to me personally before.  I just love the story of God redeeming Israel!  It continues to speak to me again and again!

Anyone who has attended church their whole life or read through the Old Testament is very familiar with the story.  Moses leads God's people out of Egypt (and slavery).  They wander in the desert for 40 years while God performs miracles to provide for them again and again.  Eventually, God uses Joshua to lead them into the promised land.  God once again uses a miracle by parting the waters of the Jordan river when the priests obey and step into it.  The people of God safely pass through (similar to when they flee Egypt) and enter the promised land. 

The part of the story that you may have missed (as I'm sure I have repeatedly) is where the miracle occurs.  The priests step into the water in faith.  The river dries up for the people to cross.  The actual miracle, however, does not occur where they can see it.  Verse 16 says, "the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away."  God performed the miracle of stopping the water from flowing out of their line of sight.  The Israelites only saw the effects of the miracle God performed.  Can you imagine what that was like?  You think Joshua and the priests are crazy to step into the rushing water, yet God promised He would be with you.  Soon after the first steps of faith, the water seems to just disappear.  The miracle you needed and was promised occurs! 

You don't understand it. 

You don't see it. 

You feel it!

The land beneath your feet isn't just the gushy mud of a river bed.  It is dry ground!

Are you in need of a miracle right now?  Are you waiting for God to deliver you?  Move forward in faith - listening to His voice.  Maybe the miracle is already occurring.  You just can't see it's effects just yet.

~ The God Who Sees ~

I recently read a blog post from another pastor's wife that reminded me of the story of Hagar.  Remember her?  Abraham & Sarah had waited patiently for God to bless them with a child.  God did not seem to be working on their timetable so Sarah took things into her own hands.  She had Abraham lay with her servant Hagar.  This lead to a great deal of disfunction in the household to say the least!  Sarah became bitter and jealous and mistreated Hagar.  Hagar had enough at one point and fled into the desert.  The angel of the LORD finds her sitting by a spring of water.  God ministers to her and encourages her.  He tells her to go back and also that she will have a son.  Hagar gives God the name - the God who sees.

God has used this piece of scripture to minister to me continually over the last several weeks.  I have noticed new things not before seen.

The whole disfunction of the community began because Abraham & Sarah were unwilling to wait and trust in the Lord.  They took matters into their own hands rather than obeying and the result was chaos, hurt and disfunction.  

Ever notice that God seems to take His people to the desert in order to experience life's greatest blessings?  Hagar was in the desert before she came face to face with the Lord.  Furthermore, the text says, "the angel of the LORD found her."  What a beautiful picture!  Hagar was alone, sad, scared, confused, and so on.  God didn't wait for her to come to Him.  He pursued her and found her!  God always pursues His children.  We, also, should pursue those who are hurting even when they are not seeking us.

God does not completely deliver Hagar.  He tells her to go back to Abraham and Sarah.  She must live where she is not really wanted and has no strong supportive relationships.  She receives her greatest blessing in the midst of these trials in the form of her son.  

So how does she do it?  How does she live among those who mistreat her?  How does she keep herself from becoming bitter?  How does she protect her son from being treated differently?  How does she go on with hope in her heart?  

God sees her.

Hagar has come face to face with the living God.  She knows without a doubt that He has seen her.  He is familiar with all of her ways.  He knows every detail of her life.  He has saved all of her tears in a bottle (Psalms 56:8).  He sees her and He is working. 

God sees her fears.

God sees her hurt.

God sees how she is mistreated and hurt by those she is in community with.

God sees her heart to honor Him.

What an amazing encouragement! 

~ Looking unto Jesus. ~

...we will never find comort or assurance by looking within.  But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self.  He tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all."  Remember, therefore, that it is not your hold of Christ that saves you; it is Christ.  It is not your joy in Christ that saves you; it is Christ.  It is not even your faith in Christ, though that is the instrument, but it is Christ's blood and His merits that save you; therefore, do not look as much to your hand, with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ.  Do not look to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope.  Do not look to your faith, but to "Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith" (Heb. 12:2).  We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our actions, or our feelings.  It is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.  If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus."  Keep your eyes simply on Him.  Let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, and His intercession be fresh on your mind.  When you wake in the morning, look to Him.  When you lie down at night, look to Him.  Oh, do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus.  Follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.

- Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening

~ Redemption ~

Today is Easter Sunday!  We remember and celebrate the ultimate redemption of Jesus conquering death and rescuing all who call on His name!  We experience redemption in so many little ways each day...often unnoticed.  I had my own redemption moment while sitting in the church service today.

It was two years ago that we made the bittersweet decision to transition our church plant into the congregation of one of our supporting churches.  It happened right after Easter...in April.  The last Sunday was very emotional for me.  I think I cried through every song the band played that morning!  One song they played was "Broken" by Lifehouse.  The words were truly resonating with me.  I was falling apart.  I had no idea what the future held.  I knew we were on the right path, but that didn't mean I understood it.  Clearly God had called us to plant this church, yet why did He choose not to sustain it?  So many questions whirled in my mind.   

Music can have this funny power over you.  I find that certain songs can almost instantly take me back to a memory.  I kind of have that happen whenever I hear "Broken" on the radio.  I remember standing side by side with my friends on the last Sunday of our church plant - knowing the whole time that everything is about to change!

Flashforward to this morning.  The band began to play and the guitar tune sounded familiar.  The song?  "Broken" by Lifehouse.  Instantly I was transported back to the memory of our church plant.  This time, however, I was able to look around this audotorium filled with people.  We would never be here if it weren't for that moment two years ago.  I looked around and saw literally hundreds and hundreds of people celebrating and worshiping Jesus!  I saw several lives changed for eternity as people prayed to receive Christ this morning.  I found myself praying silently, "Thank You, Jesus."  I was once again brought to a place where I was filled with gratitude for the brokenness that God had allowed us to experience.  God was redeeming it before my eyes! 

This is why when the tough times come, I continue to hold on.  I know there IS healing in His name and He ultimately brings meaning and redemption to it all!

~ Lessons in Stewardship from a 4 year old ~

Jon and I have been wanting to set up some sort of commission for Josiah since we went through Financial Peace University.  Life got a little chaotic for a while and it got put on the back burner.  We just started our system a couple weeks ago.  It's been a great experience and has got me thinking...how much are we adults like a 4 year old?

The system is simple (and derived from www.simplemom.net).  Josiah gets a sticker for each day that he completes each "chore."  He receives a nickle for each sticker at the end of the week. 

Our goal is to teach him that 1) you work hard to earn money and 2) you need to manage your money well.  We count out his earnings and then tell him to divide it up between giving to the church, saving some in the bank and keeping some in an envelope in Mom's purse to spend. 

The first week, his eyes were sparkling off the reflection of the coins before him.  He was eager to grab them all for himself.  We stopped and reminded him that his money is going to three places.  I took some money aside to give to church and he immediately protested!  I explained that one way we show God we love Him is by giving back to His church.  And isn't God so generous to let us keep most of it?  He wasn't so sure, but acquiesced.  I took another portion aside for his bank account (which we plan to match for him) and then he had a whole dollar left for spending (a lot for a 4 year old!). 

I thought a lot about his response and realized how many adults are just like that.  We get our hard-earned dollars and don't want to let go!  Many times there is no concern for giving to God's work.  Many times there is also no concern to be wise and save.  Many times there is no concern for even managing well what we have to spend (budgeting, etc.).  Our country is full of a bunch of developmental toddlers when it comes to money!

There can be good news though!  Here's what happened the second week Josiah got paid...

I presented him with all the money he earned for the week.  He was equally eager to snatch it up!  I stopped and asked him, "where's one place your money goes?"  He answered, "church!"  I set aside a portion of his earnings for giving...without protest from the wage earner.  I asked him, "where's another place your money goes?"  He replied, "the bank!"  I put that money aside...again without protest.  I asked him, "where's the last place your money goes?"  He excitedly answered, "to spend!"  I put the largest portion of his money in his envelope in my purse. 

I was very surprised and proud that Josiah had so quickly learned some basics of stewardship.  I started thinking about why and how?  I think it was because 1) he had accountability (from us) and 2) he started to develop a habit. 

This can be the same for us adults.  We can easily learn to be good managers of our money and stewards of God's resources.  We need to develop some sort of accountability (with a spouse or close friend).  We also need to just start doing it - giving and saving.  It becomes easier the more you do it!  Each time you put that check in the offering plate, your joy increases.  Your bank account may be getting emptier, but your heart is getting fuller!  Every time you choose to transfer that money over to the savings account rather than having an extra meal out to eat, the easier it is to set money aside in the future.  You find yourself wanting to sacrifice more and more to see that savings account grow and grow (or extra money to your debt making it shrink and shrink!). 

Who knows?  Your accountability may come when you are paying your toddler their earnings!

For more info on how to begin managing your money well, go to www.josephsangl.com

~ Team Moses or Team Jesus? ~

I was so encouraged and challenged by our guest speaker, David Wenzel, last Sunday.  He shared some amazing and convicting truths from the Word.  I noticed several references he made were from Hebrews.  I decided to focus my personal Bible reading on this somewhat mind-boggling book of the Bible.  I was really struck by some of the truths I read this morning in chapters 3 & 4.

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.  As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."  For who were those who heard and yet rebelled?  Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?  And with whom was he provoked for forty years?  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.  Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.  For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Hebrews 3:12- 4:2

I did not quote the beginning of chapter 3, but the author of Hebrews is making a direct comparison between Moses as a leader appointed by God and the leadership of Jesus.  In verse 12, the author starts to compare the traits of those under Moses' leadership and now those who follow the revealed high priest - Jesus. 

The very first warning given to the people is to be watchful for those among you with an evil and unbelieving heart.  The remedy to this is to...pray more, memorize more scripture, do more?  No - the remedy given by Jesus is to exhort one another every day so that we do not become hardened and tricked by lying sin!  So what does that mean? 

Exhort is defined as "to spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts."  This is such a beautiful illustration!  I think of a huge sporting event like the Super Bowl.  The crowd is big, wild and loud!  They are there to support their team.  They don't sit quietly when their team is struggling.  No - they scream and cheer - "you can do it!"  They also don't sit quietly when their team is on a roll.  They still scream and cheer - "woo-hoo!  Keep it up!  You are going to win this thing!" So this leaves me pondering, are we as a church (myself included) DAILY spurring one another on epecially by cheers and shouts or are we becoming hardened by the deceitfulness of sin?

I also really love the description of sin.  It is deceitful.  In other words, it tricks you.  No believer desires to sin and eventually be lead to a hardened evil heart.  It starts out with lies one believes.  It begins with basing our actions on our opinions, preferences and thoughts rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Is the church being hardened by decietful sin?  Am I living out of my opinions, preferences and thoughts rather than God's thoughts and the leading of the Holy Spirit?

The author of Heberews goes on to give a clear example of people with a hardened and evil heart to the reader.  Who does he choose?  The Israelites who left Egypt and were lead by Moses.  Notice he does not refer to Pharaoh or the "pagans" but God's chosen people!  Not just any of God's people, but those who saw some of the most amazing signs, wonders and miracles of God.  The very chosen people who were visibly lead by God day and night through a pillar of smoke and fire!  These were people who seemed to be tight with God.  Yet, they did not trust their leader Moses, and consequently, God.  This lead them into repeated sin which, in turn, lead to hardened and evil hearts.  The result of this was not being able to enter into "his rest."  Verse 19 tells us that they did not enter the rest because of unbelief. 

This brings me back to David Wenzel's encouragment on Sunday.  Would God be not ashamed to be called your God?  Do you truly belive?  If so, you will obey and do what He says?  Are we moving forward in obedience to Christ or are we like the Israelites who were stricken with unbelief?

The beginning of chapter 4 encourages us that we still have an opportunity to "enter into his rest."  We do not have to be like the Israelites.  There is hope!  The author tells us that they did not benefit from the message because "they were not united by faith with those who listened."  They were not daily exhorting one another.  They were not united with their God appointed leader.  So what can I take away from this?

I need to guard my heart from evil and unbelief through DAILY exhorting my church and particularly its God-appointed leaders.  I need to be united in faith with those who are listening to God.  Faith does not mean I understand everything behind what is being done.  Faith more likely means I don't understand things at all, but I choose to trust in God and move forward in unity. 

I see the church I attend on the precipe of something great, unexplainable and God-sized.  I have faith that there is a "promised land" coming at the end of the desert experience.  I don't want to be an Israelite with a hardened and evil heart.  I want to be a follower of Jesus who moves forward in faith and unity with those listening to God.

~ ReChurch - A Must Read! ~

Wow!  I finished ReChurch last night and it is an amazing book.  I requested it as part of a blog review program with Tyndale, but God knew it was just what I needed to read! 

Mansfield (a former burned pastor) wrote this book after hearing story upon story of people wounded by the church.  He himself experienced some deep wounds from the church  and admittedly mishandled the experience.  His heart in this book is to help others heal from the hurt experiences and deal with the wounds in a way that honors God and brings the sheep back into the fold (messy as it may be).

I have to admit - probably the deepest wound I have ever endured has been from a church experience (by church, I am referring to the people of God, not  a building or particular leader).  By God's grace, I have not lost hope.  There are scars from my battle wounds, though.  I did not realize to the extent that I needed to deal with this until being confronted by Mansfield.  WARNING - do not read this book if you are not prepared or willing to change and grow.  This is not another feel-good Christian book that coddles the poor sweet victim of the church.  Mansfield forces you to deal with your junk and acknowledge the role you play in the sin that is inevitable in the church (it is, after all filled with sinners).  His goal is to get the believer plugged back into a church that is a good fit for him/her.  In fact, the entire last chapter is all about points to consider when moving forward and looking for a new church if need be.

I highly recommend this book for pastors and their wives as well.  Trust me, you too, can glean some insight and illumination from this book.  I am not minimizing the hurts of the average church goer, however I think the most wounded people in the church often are the pastors, staff and their families.  For some reason, when someone has the title "pastor" others forget that he is still a person.  He will have sin in his life and let you down.  He has real feelings.  Yes - your criticisms hurt.  This is particularly so when it comes about through gossip or online forums (blog comments, facebook, etc.).  He has a real family who is often sacrificing time to benefit the church at large and to advance the Kingdom.  The pastor's wife is not meant to be your sounding board for complaints.  I have had very dear friends actually come and complain about my husband to me.  Hello?  I am married to the man and it is hurtful when you are talking negatively about him to me rather than following Matthew 18.  All of this to say, pastors and families - you need this book the most!  You have probably endured a greater quantity of church wounds than anyone. 

There were several chapters that had great meaning to me.  I particularly was ministered to by the 2nd Chapter all about the historical reality of people being wounded in the church.  There is a certain comfort I gleaned from reading about theologians I highly respect and admire who endured wounds from friends they trusted most.  It is a great reminder that there are others that have gone before you and walked through brokenness with grace. 

I think any reader who approaches this book with an honest heart that is willing to self-reflect and grow will be glad they picked it up.

*****************************

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

~ My heart today ~

The condemnation of man is but a measly weak weapon of Satan when compared to the surpassing power of the cross of Christ.  It is like going into a battle with a butter knife as your weapon of choice.  Utter foolishness!

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be [8] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [9] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Easter Egg Helicopter Drop ~

Wow!  What an amazing morning we had at Colwood Church today!  Remember that verse where it says that God can do more than we ask or even imagine?  We experienced that first-hand today!  We definitely did our part on getting the word out. Being based in a community with a population of about 4,500, however, we were expecting up to 1,000 people attending the event to be a success.  Guess what?  We had 5,000 people!  That's literally the whole town.  LOL.  We will definitely be greatly increasing the amount of eggs for next year since many of the littlest ones only got one (including mine).  :-(  It was all about the memory being made.  Josiah has been playing "helicopter egg drop" all day!  Here are some pics I snapped somehow while holding onto an active 3 1/2 year old!

One happy family!

Josiah and his buddy Matthew!

Josiah w/ friends Trace & Matthew.  I want to point out that Trace is 5 and Matthew is  4 1/2 and Josiah is 3 1/2 and the same height!

"Hey, where did all the eggs go?"

Can't wait to see what God has in store for Easter Sunday!