Category Archives: Uncategorized

Somedays I think I have add or adhd or some other combination of letters that suggest I’m a little unbalanced. I tend to be all over the map in any given day. Concentrating on one task, finishing one project seems beyond my ability-so I jump from task to task….

I’ve been reading Marlynne Robinson’s novel, Gilead. Wow. What a read. As I read I’m struck by how little my children (who are both grown adults)know about my life, about my inner struggles and my spiritual life. But then…how much do I share with anyone? When I read survey’s that indicate pastor’s have few if any close friends, I am one of the majority. I have friends. I just don’t have many really close friends. Except this blog. I am also wondering if I should ask my parents- or better, how I should ask my parents to write out their life story so my children can come to know them.

I am also (I warned you…I’m all over the map today) seriously thinking about worship- primarily the role and practice of what we as Baptists do on Sunday morning at 11:00am (Baptist Standard Time for those of you from other backgrounds). If worship is truly our best opportunity to connect with the unchurched, then what we do during worship ought to be the clearest and best demonstration of God’s work at reconciling the world to Himself in Christ. Sometimes (and I know I’m not the first) we seem to be better about worshiping our tradition, worshiping our preferences and worshiping our own comfortable ‘secret’ lives than we are about worshiping God who in Christ has reconciled the world to Himself.

One last leap…if only I managed my time better…what would happen if pastor’s- this one in particular- really tried to organize a schedule around the priorities mentioned in Acts 6? The ministry of prayer and the Word…but would anyone listen if I wasn’t out hustling to get people in the building? Some may remember the old CPA (Church PAstoral Assistance- yes, I am that old). So many visits had to be made in a week – a certain percentage had to be specifically evangelistic…according to a formula someone had worked out…. In among the visits were message preparation, family time, just plain down time (i.e. the sabbath); personal growth time…and church administration, developing leaders, and on and on the list went.

Well, back to the other side of my desk—I have several other projects I need to get to today…on the other hand…there is that website I wanted to visit….

It was one of those Sunday’s. Nothing seemed to work. I was struggling to connect with God- much less lead others to connect. The music-let’s just say we’ve been more prepared and more effective at using music to assist in our worship. Preparing for messages and delivering messages- which used to be my greatest joy- is now a constant struggle and constant source of frustration. This week I’ve been wondering if I am missing something. Attendance is back up slighty of course, we were averaging 50 so any increase is welcome! I have a guest speaker coming in this weekend- to speak on stewardship (what is a better term?). Then, it’s gearing up for EASTER. My prayer is for double the # of attenders- so 100+ on Easter morning. I am truly trying to plan my preaching in advance…to give some of the folks in my church who are creative and artistic an opportunity to provide some visual aids for our worship.

In an article I’ve been reading from the 20th anniversary issue of FIRST THINGS, one author suggests that the church IS the narrative that holds the world together. In other words, from a more classical, liturgical view, the worship of the church- telling the story of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, is the glue that connects meaning to life. As a free church pastor- a church that doesn’t observe the Lord’s Supper every week- is there a way we can build into our weekly worship that story? How do we build that into our daily lives.

Yesterday I challenged my listeners (sorry, that message will not be available on the web…frustrating technical issues) to follow their heart in following Jesus. This morning as I was reading Numbers 14 I was reminded that Caleb was one who fully followed God. There is a sermon lurking there somewhere…but more importantly there is a pattern by which we can order our lives- our worship- our day to day life in the kingdom of God.

Well, I’ve rambled enough. It’s Monday…lots to do…

Steve

Some years ago I chose to make Friday and Saturday my days off- recognizing that meetings and schedule would often dictate that one or both of those days would end up being workdays. More often than not one or both end up being workdays…but slogging on here I am on a Friday in my office once again.

Now, I’ m not complaining about working on Friday. I am forutnate in that I can control my work schedule. I can and often do take a few extra hours here and there for personal time. Every church I have served has been extremely generous in allowing me to set my own schedule and make adjustments as necessary.

It is raining here in Oregon (no surprise there!) so it is a good day to be inside. I attended a peer mentoring group earlier this week where PAstor Tim Brown from Clovis CA shared some things he has learned about planning and leading life-transforming worship services. I came away from the day excited about the potential of planning such worship services. I know I need to be in life-transforming services- where I connect with the Spirit of the Living God. The challenge is to plan a serves in which I can both lead and participate. Perhaps the fundamental issue is learning to prepare by praying.

So, here’s praying for Sunday…

Steve

A few months ago I stumbled across The Convergent Church by Leiderbach and Reid (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic and Professional, 2009). It was one of the best books I’ve read in several years on challenges of contemporary ministry. But, the idea of covnergence has another application. The past few weeks my wife and I have found ourselves in what feels like a convergence zone. A number of years ago we lived in the greater Puget Sound area. Meteorologists identify that area as a convergent zone where the prevailing winds are split by the Olympic Mountains and create some unusual weather patterns.

My convergent zone might be described as the place where several conflicting worldviews intersect. There are three primary worldviews intersecting in our community. First, there is a Christian worldview. This group needs to be split into two subgroups. There are Biblical believers whose worldview is different from cultural Christians- that might be a subject for another post…! Then, there is a distinct secular world view. And finally, there is a potent Mormon worldview in our community.

This convergence of worldviews is creating a type of cultural chaos that creates opportunities for ministry- and it creates potential for conflict. Because of my wife’s job- office manager of a public middle school (grades 7-8)- and my deep and extensive involvement in local, county, and even some state level groups, we are often caught in this convergent zone. I don’t share this for symapthy, but for prayer and an opportuntity to discuss this idea further. There are times we quite honestly don’t know how to respond. One example: this past week we were privileged to be intivited into a home of very faithful Mormon’s. They gathered the family and asked my wife to choose a Bible verse to share with their family. The man of the house highlighted the verse in the family Bible and asked Cindy to add her intials and the date in the margin near the verse as a record of our visit. Interesting experience. Not sure what to make of it…or what it all means.

So, from the convergence zone…

Steve!

This weekend I attended my third strategic planning session since mid-January for a third group. I have two more strategic planning meetings to attend this spring for groups with whom I work. I know, a strategic plan for me would be to evaluate the # of groups I volunteer with!

This weekend leaders from all but two of the churches in Southwest Oregon Baptist Association came together for some praying and planning. The new regional denominational structure has changed the face of what we Southern Baptists call ‘associationalism.’ In my life time Southern Baptist churches in small geographical locations – like a city or a county- linked together in ‘associations.’ These associations used to have a full time leader- often a man who had served as pastor and sensed God’s call to be a mentor and leader of pastors- who served to interpret the work of the regional and national denomination, to guide local churches towards necessary resources, and who served to assist local churches in cooperative ministry endeavors. As of July 2009 our regional network of churches (and their national partner, the North American Mission Board)stopped funding those positions in the Northwest, leaving pastors and lay leaders in these smaller geographically linked associations to develop a more grass roots driven strategy. (If this doesn’t make much sense, I didn’t sleep much at all last night—one of the men in the room I shared had a snoring problem that made it hard for me to sleep…but that’s another story for another day….)

Anyway, this group of pastors, laypersons (men and women) worked pretty hard most of the morning to identify three specific areas we as a network of churches will seek to address this year and into next. Thus,the strategic plan…more information will be coming on the website, www.swobaptist.org. Check out that site when you have time.

I don’t know if I am supposed to admit it or not, but I began reading Walter Wink’s recent book, The Powers That Be this week. He has a rather interesting take on the spiritual dimension of the evil that exists in the world. We began our time this morning with prayer (as is normal for Southern Baptists). As the facilitator asked for prayer requests almost all of the requests were for people with significant health challenges. NOW, PLEASE READ THIS NEXT SECTION CAREFULLY!

I believe in praying for the ill and physically afflicted. I have seen God bring miraculous healing in response to prayer. But I wonder sometimes if we really ever pray about what truly matters. Yes, illness matters. Pain matters. Physical pain is real, intense, and distracting and debilitating. But, where in Scripture does God promise or guarantee a life free from pain? If we are serious about advancing the kingdom of God- which was one of our strategic objectives- are we praying about the types of issues that enable us to advance the kingdom? Are we praying against the spiritual blindness the enemy uses to keep those around us from seeing and experiencing the truth? Are we praying for boldness to speak clearly- even if it might cost us physically as it does many believer across the world today? Are we praying that we might be light in darkness, or are we trying to be light in places where the light has already shone?

I realize I am physically tired tonight. The lack of sleep, the pace I’ve been keeping truly takes a toll. But I long for a ministry that not only that grows in such a way to earn the praise of my peers in ministry, but one that truly God uses to push back the darkness, one that God uses to open blinded eyes, a ministry that God uses to unveil His majesty, His presence- EVEN IF HE FAILS TO BRING THE PHYSICAL HEALING, COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE WHICH WE SO OFTEN SEEM TO BE PRAYING ABOUT!

Well, I’ve said my piece. I’ve got some work to finish up before tomorrow morning’s Bible Study hour….and I’ve got a night’s sleep to catch up on….so…till next time…

In today’s devotional reading from My Utmost for His Highest Chambers distinguishes between being constrained by the love of Christ and being constrained by our experience of Jesus Christ. The latter is what he calls an elementary testimonty…”What Jesus has done…is doing…will do….” The former is literally a testimony to Christ Jesus and His presence in our lives. The difference, according to Chambers, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In other words, only as we fully recognize the reality of our new life- life that  God creates inthe mold or pattern of Jesus, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit- can we testify of who Jesus is- not just to what He has done.

I wonder. Sometimes our testimony seems to be “come to church- you’ll like it here.” Shouldn’t our testimony be- this is Jesus- see who He is, see how He makes the presence of God known in our world, in my life?

So, if you’ve taken the challenge I issued last Sunday ( or Monday if you weren’there Sunday)…how have you drawn nearer to JEsus this week? Are you at the point where you can call attention to the presence of Jesus in your life as the Holy Spirit makes Him real?

My prayer is that we as the people of God at Winston Community Baptist will not just give testimony to what Jesus does, but that our lives will show the reality of His presence, power, and majesty. As He is exalted, He will draw people to Himself!

In this morning’s message I challenged us to spend 5 or 10 minutes at the beginning of each day and read God’s Word, asking for specific and clear direction for  the day. Then during the day I encouraged our folks to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Each evening I hope people will answer one simple (yet profound) question: did I draw nearer to Jesus today?

The hopelessness that has gripped our community- economic uncertainty, families on the edge of despair, and the physical deterioration of our bodies- can only be broken by Jesus. Only as we who belong to Him allow His presence to be read and palpable in our daily dealings can this hopelessness be broken.

I trust that you will join us in our seven day experiment. Join us in kingdom living- experiencing the victory that comes as God reveals Himself, and empowers us through His Holy Spirit to make much of Jesus!

The month of January draws to a close. How many goals for 2010 have already fallen off the to-do lists? One of my goals is to read through the NT in 90 days. I do this at night right before I go to sleep. Last night I was reading 1 Tim 4-6. I’ve been reading from the New Living Translation and this phrase caught my eye and my heart:”This is why we work and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers” (1 Tim 4:10, NLT). Paul was encouraging Timothy to develop the disciplines of godliness and then to teach them to those God had given him. Godliness…the condition of living as God would have us to live, the state of allowing God’s presence to be made real in and through our lives. Godliness is not so much a list of tasks to perform as it is a style of living…a pattern of behavior…a relationship that shapes and directs our life.

In some of the reading I’ve been doing I was challenged to try and articulate a goal for my preaching and teaching ministry. Every message, every teaching opportunity, ought to promote godliness. We at Community Baptist have agreed that God’s Word will change our world. And, of course, many of us are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever see. So, godliness is the measure of how closely our lifestyle exhibits the presence of God. Preaching and teaching- which I have been called to labor at- is to encourage, to challenge, to equip believers for godliness.

I’m still working at defining this goal. I’d love to hear your thoughts…

wcbc@qwestoffice.net

STEVE

It’s Tuesday afternoon and it has been a very bsuy three days (since Sunday…). Today is crammed with meetings and appointments as is tomorrow. Thursday things slow down a little…and next week promises to be just about as busy. As  a matter of fact the rest of the winter and spring look about this busy. Nothing wrong with being busy, I guess…but I wonder if my life is too loud? Are there too many activities and meetings on my schedule that interfere with that activity that is MOST important?

This morning one of the men in an accountability group I meet with made the statement, “we are to work from our rest, not to rest from our work.” Interesting. Genesis 1-2 point out that God created man and woman on the sixth day of creation. The very next day was the Sabbath- the day of rest. I’ve been intrigued all day about this challenge. Too often I work so that I can rest. Rarely do I rest so that I can be productive and effective at what God has called and gifted me to do. PArt of the challenge of my life this year is to find time to rest…to experience the soul rest that God’s Word describes as a result of the Spirit’s filling. Then I can work- on the tasks God assigns, according to God’s design, and taking access of all that God has for me (see Eph 1:15-ff).

The first Monday of a new year. It was hard to get up this morning. Even my wife- who normally is perky and full of energy was not all that thrilled (i.e. she woke up at 12:30am becuase she remembered in her sleep that she had failed to set her alarm- she needs to be at work at 6:30am and her alarm was set for 7:00am…so, she did reset her alarm and was up and out of the house in time for work!)

A couple of days ago I was reading Frances Chan’s book, The Forgotten God, which is a GREAT read. I am struck with his comments on pgs 106-109 about why we fail to have intimacy with God, why we often live without a sense of the Spirit’s nearness. He wonders if we are too comfortable and if our lives are too loud? (Get the book- it’s worth every penny!) To ask the question so many have asked before, if the Holy Spirit were not present, would we still do all the things we are doing? I am too comfortable and my life is too loud (i.e.too many distractions). So, pray with me that 2010 will be the year that I – and our church- will discover the presence of the Holy Spirit by getting uncomfortable and ridding our lives of the distractions that keep us from having genuine intimacy with God.

How I long for a daily intimacy with God! Long for that with me!

Pastor Steve