Encouragement Part 2

The Bible says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). And I think one of the biggest causes of becoming weary in our labors for the Lord, is when we think we aren't really making a difference. That's why it's good to have a place to record the stories of life change. It could be an email folder in your inbox, a manilla folder in your filing cabinet, etc. Just make sure you're collecting the thank you notes and praise reports. And when things get tough and you feel worn out, you pull them out and read them. Here's some I'm filing in my email folder that I just received today. 

• Your prayer, along with the prayers of our growth group have re-shaped our son's life. he has lost his depression and given his life to Christ. 
• I praise God for this church which has kept me on fire for my savior while going through my freshman year of college. You will be in my prayers during the summer months. 
• There was a woman at my work who had been giving me a hard time for almost two years. In my heart, I prayed for her and forgave her for what she had been doing. I treated her kindly and fair. Just last week something changed in her heart and she has been very kind and respectful towards me. 

There is nothing quite like knowing that lives are changing around you and that you've played a part in it (even in a small way). Nothing will get you motivated and encourage you to keep working than knowing you are making a difference for eternity. 

Encouragement

It is wonderful to be on the receiving end of encouragement. Just this morning I got a text from someone in our church that read "You do such an awesome job bringing the best messages to us!!" I am literally having trouble describing the good it did me to hear those words of encouragement. The best I can do is say it brought me life! It inspired me to keep working hard, it boosted my self-esteem, it gave me energy, it made me happy, I felt appreciated. All that from twelve words of encouragement! Wow, the Bible is right when it says "The tongue has the power of life and death..." (Proverbs 18:21). I hope that each day I can say something to someone else that lifts them up the way I've been lifted up today. Here's a good principle to live by when it comes to encouragement: If you think it, say it. If you think someone looks nice, say so. If you think someone is doing a great job, tell them. As long as it's positive and will build someone up, if you think it, say it. 

Why Work?

Why work? This is a particularly important question to ask in America where the government will pay you for not working. I mean, if you can not work and still get paid, why make the effort to get out of bed and go to work? The Bibles gives us at least five reasons. The first reason is necessity, working to meet our needs. The Bible teaches that we go to work to provide for our needs and the needs of our family. If we are physically capable of working, we aren’t to depend on others to meet our needs, we are to provide for them ourselves. So the first reason to work is to put food on the table, clothes on our backs and a roof over our head. The second reason to work is prosperity, working to build wealth. To be wealthy and to be godly is not contradictory. Some of the most godly people in the Bible were some of the wealthiest people of their day (i.e. Job and Solomon). God is not opposed to us building wealth so long as we realize that to obtain wealth isn’t the highest motivation to go to work. God is concerned that will earn it honestly, give some back to Him regularly, save it steadily, spend it wisely and share it generously. The third reason to work is identity, working to express who God made you to be and what he made you good at. God has given each us special abilities to do certain things well, he’s given each of us different passions in life, different experiences and different personalities. All of these things are indicators of what work God has designed for us to do. And we are happiest when working with who God made us to be and what he made us good at. People who just chase a paycheck are rarely satisfied. You’d be better off doing something you love and something God has made you good at  (making a little less) than doing something you hate (making a ton of money). The fourth reason to work is for maturity, working to develop your character. Work is a great place to develop your character. At work you have the opportunity to practice patience, honesty, integrity, fairness, loyalty, as well as many other biblical virtues. Your family is the only other environment where your character will be developed to a greater degree than your work place. So next time you take a job, don’t just ask “How much will I make?” but “What will I become?” The fifth reason to work is for eternity, working to prepare for heaven. Our work in this life is preparation for our work in the life to come. We are saved by grace alone, but the Bible teaches that there’s a direct connection between how we work in this life and the roles and responsibilities and rewards God will give us in the next life. When you realize that your work has eternal ramifications, it’s a little easier to get out of bed in the morning. Work isn’t a curse, but a blessing! It provides our needs, helps us build wealth, gives us the opportunity to express who God made us to be and what he made us good at, it helps us develop our character as well as prepare for our roles and responsibilities in heaven. So when Monday roles around, think about all the good things work does, and be eager to hop out of bed! 

The Purpose of Rules

I just finished meeting with my growth group and our discussion reinforced something I've seen in Scripture over and over again. God's rules are for our good. His rules are more about protecting us than limiting us. For example, when someone puts up a fence in the backyard for their dog, it shows they care enough about the dog to keep it safe. The dog might not like the restraints in the same way a driver might not like their seat belt, but consider the alternative. When we realize that rules point us away from danger and show us the route to safety, we'll be much more inclined to follow them. May God give each of us the grace to see that the rules are for our good. 

The Kind of Church We Want to Become

I'm in line along with about fifty other people in front of the Apple Store in Holyoke waiting to purchase the iPad 2. Many of us have been here since 6am or earlier even though the store doesn't open till 9am. It's pretty amazing when you have something that people want so badly they are willing to wait for hours sitting on the dirty mall floor to get it. 


Similarly, I know of a church where people wait forty-five minutes just to get out of the parking lot when service lets out because there's thousands trying to leave! And they keep coming back week after week. Why? That church has something people want so badly they are willing to put up with major inconveniences to get it. 


Our goal at New Day is to become the kind of place where people will go to great lengths to be a part - where they gladly participate in growth groups, attend on Sunday, give, serve and invite their friends. 

Dream Big

God help me to dream bigger! I thought I was really demonstrating faith by believing God for 500 people by the end of the year. Well today one of my staff told me they were praying for 1,000 people by June!!! God help ME to believe like THAT! While our goals should be out of reach but not out of reality, I still believe we dream too small for serving such a big God. Sometimes we just need to add a zero to whatever we're believing God for. Adding a zero will remind us that we serve a big God, that we must depend on God to see our goals come to pass and that God is the God of the impossible. I'm challenged today to dream BIG!

A Theology of Biblical Hospitality

I started reading a book today called Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church by Gary L. McIntosh. It's not going to win any awards for shortest book title, but it's a great book. I wanted to record here some of the things that stood out to me:

• Growing churches...spend a significant amount of time getting ready for their company - guests.
• Research studies completed by Dr. Win Arn and Dr. Charles Arn in the mid-1980's found a direct correlation between friendliness and potential growth. In short, they found that friendly churches had great potential for growth, while less friendly churches had little potential for growth.
• Most people think their church is a friendly church. It doesn't matter if the individuals who think that are attending churches in danger of closing, in the midst of twenty-year-long plateaus, or bursting forth in growth. Everyone thinks their church is friendly.
• In reality, our church is only friendly to the degree that those visiting our church perceive it to be so. If visitors do not perceive us as friendly, we are not.
• Our goal in being welcoming to guests is to reflect the welcoming God we serve. When we are welcoming, we are simply following God's example. When we aren't welcoming, we aren't reflecting God to our guests. Jesus modeled the welcoming nature of God by welcoming people. Luke describes one incident when Jesus tried to get away from the people to rest: "the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing" (Luke 9:11). Later, as tax collectors came to Jesus teaching, the Pharisees and scribes criticized him for welcoming sinners (Luke 15:1-2). As God's people, we are to be welcomers just as God is a welcomer.
• When we welcome guests, we open the possibility that they will welcome God into their lives.

My prayer is that God will help New Day become the warmest, most friendly and welcoming environment in all the Pioneer Valley and northern Connecticut! Because it's cool and the in thing? No! Because it's biblical and helps us reflect God to our guests.

When a Volunteer Steps Down

Volunteers step down from their roles of service for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the role they were serving in wasn't a good fit, other times its simply due to an upcoming busy season in life, sometimes its for personal reasons, etc. Regardless the reason, its very important to honor the sacrifice and efforts of the volunteer for the time they were able to give. Sometimes it's easy to focus on the work they will no longer be able to do vs focusing on and celebrating the work they have already done. A church is a non-profit and works primarily though volunteers. That being the case, volunteers will come and go. That's the nature of the beast. Sometimes they will go and never return. Other times they will go and after a bit they will come back. And we never know which it will be. That's why it's so important to never burn any bridges when someone steps down from a volunteer role. We honor what they have done. We thank them for what they have done. We leave the door wide open in case they ever want to return. And we speak highly of what they've contributed thus far and look with hope to their involvement again in the future. Paid staff don't have the luxury of coming and going, but volunteers do. I'm not trying to promote a lack of commitment on a volunteer's part. I'm not saying a volunteer can just show up to teach or serve or sing when they feel like it and you, as a department leader, should just take what you can get. That's not at all what I'm talking about. That's not following through on their commitment when they've agreed to serve. I'd be highly in favor of uninviting such a volunteer from serving if they acted like that. What I'm saying is when someone steps down, you should try not to take it personal, you should realize this is the nature of non-profit work, and you should express gratitude and the utmost appreciation for services rendered. This is New Day way of responding when a volunteer steps down.

Sunday Reflections

Today was a special day at New Day. Here's some of my reflections:

• We took a step of faith in starting a second service and it's already paying off. Last Sunday we had 258 people in our single service. Today we had 128 in our first service and 161 in our second, for a grand total of 289 people. It was insane!
• I thank God for the successful transition. I can honestly say that even after all the reading and interviewing me and my team did in investigating how to successfully switch from one to two services, there were still a lot of unanswered questions. But we did what we could and trusted God with the rest. And God came through in providing one thing after another that we needed to make this work.
• I'm also very thankful to my staff for all their hard work in preparing for a second service. Each department had to raise new volunteers and make provisions for two services instead of one (i.e. worship in two services, host team in two services, kids workers for two services, collecting the offering for two services, etc.). Everyone stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. I've really got a great team for which I'm very grateful for.
• I'm also thankful for the volunteers who made the transition possible. Without the people who stepped up to volunteer, putting their hearts and hands where they were needed most, this wouldn't have been possible.
• I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think very soon we'll be needing to add yet another service! This is a good problem to have and even though it represents untold hard work, I say BRING IT ON! I want to use my life to point as many people as possible to God.
• I really think this year is going to be a huge turning point for New Day. As we fill up two services we'll be ready to add a second full time staff member. I can't even tell you how much I'm looking forward to that! It'll be wonderful to have someone else besides me working 40+ hours a week on New Day.
• I have a strong inner sense that we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg - that we're just beginning to step in to what God has for us. This makes me celebrate what God is doing today, while looking foward with great anticipation of what he'll do tomorrow (and in thefuture).

What We Can All Learn From Bill Gates

Today I saw on the news that Bill Gates is giving away another $100 million. Apparently he's donated $100 million more than once!! This time around he's planning to eradicate polio worldwide. I found this interesting because Bill Gates understands the biblical concept of stewardship, whether or not he realizes it. He has leveraged his resources to do the most good he can in the time he's been given. And that's exactly what we're supposed to do as stewards of the time, talent and treasure God has given to us. The goal is to leverage what God has given us in order to make the biggest difference we can for the kingdom of God. What am I doing with my time? How am I using it to advance God's kingdom? What am I doing with the talent God has given me? How am I using the gifts God has given me to advance his kingdom? What am I doing with the treasure God has given me? How am I using my wealth to see God's purposes be accomplished on this earth?

Believe for More

In 2006 Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, turned down an opportunity to sell Facebook to Yahoo for one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). Against the advice of many people, Mark said no. He was believing for more. He believed Facebook could be bigger than a billion dollars. And he was right! Estimates are that if there were an initial public stock offering today, Facebook would be valued between 35 and 50 billion dollars.

I want to dream BIG when it comes to the things of God. Specifically, when it comes to pointing irreligious people to Jesus. When others have "a billion" mentality, I want to think fifty billion. When others think we've reach the goal, I want to see so much more in the future. I pray God helps me and New Day to have more faith and dream bigger than ever before.

Sunday Reflections

Today was awesome. Here are some of my reflections on Sunday.

• Our worship team is really coming along. Our worship arts director, Lester, is doing a great job, as is our new band leader, Frank Rocca. I wish newcomers could see where we started and where we are now. We have improved sooo much. Don't get me wrong. We still have room to grow, and I anticipate where we'll be a year from now, three years from now, ten years from now, etc. But I'm also celebrating the progress we've made so far. Praise God!
• Today we had 240 people at New Day (188 adults and 52 kids). Again, it's amazing to think how far we've come. I remember being so pumped when we finally reached 50 people in total church attendance (adults and kids). Now we have over 50 with just the kids alone!
• To my knowledge we have the highest number of people signed up for a growth group that we've ever had (currently 78 with two more weeks of sign ups to go). How amazing would it be to have 100+ people involved weekly in Bible study and prayer... Sign up here.
• Our growth group leaders training went awesome. Bethany, our growth group director, did an incredible job preparing our leaders to lead their groups. I got excited all over again for another round of growth groups. It's a great feeling to know you're a part of something that will help people grow spiritually.
• I was thinking today how great it is to be a part of something that's alive and growing. We're reaching lost people, we're having a blast doing it, we're making a difference. And I'm so grateful to be a part of something like this.
• I'm looking forward with anticipating to our switch to two services (starting Sunday February 6th 2011). We'll have a 9:30am service and an 11:00am service. I feel confident that we'll quickly fill up both services. I think before we know it we'll be trying to figure out what to in order to accommodate the people God continues to send our way.
• I'm challenged to dream bigger. We serve a big God and I want to believe for big things in 2011.
• I'm grateful for all the volunteers who partner with me and the staff of New Day to make possible what we do each week.

God Centered Living

Numbers 2:1-2 says, "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting..." The tent of meeting was the portable sanctuary of the Israelites while they journeyed in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. Some tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:3), some on the south (Numbers 2:10), some on the west (Numbers 2:18), and some on the north (Numbers 2:25). The point is, God and his Tabernacle were in the center of the camp, just the way it should be.

This morning I'm asking myself: Is God at the center of camp in my life? Is He the focal point of my life, my marriage, my family, my finances? May God help me and you to set up our lives in such a way that God is at the center.

Anti Legalism Not Anti-Law

Legalism is trying to achieve right standing before God through keeping the rules of the law (the do's and don'ts of the first five books of the Bible). And as Christians, we are anti legalism. We believe we have right standing before God by his grace through our faith in Jesus, not by keeping the rules of the law. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift of God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." But just because we are anti legalism, doesn't mean we are anti law.

The law of God is a mirror of sorts, showing us our sinful state. Through the mirror of God's law we see that we are sinners and under the curse of the law. But you cannot wash your face with a mirror! Cleansing can only come through the water of God's grace through our faith in Christ. But just because the mirror of God's law cannot cleanse from sin, doesn't mean it's not profitable for other things.

On the contrary, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Remember that when Paul wrote this he was thinking of the Old Testament, because at this time the New Testament had not yet been compiled. Based on this verse we see that the law still has value to instruct and inform (instruct us in God's truths and inform us of God's ways). Just because the law cannot help us obtain right standing before God, doesn't mean it has no value at all.

The law was never given as a means of salvation. It was given to reveal sin and show sinners their need for grace and to instruct and inform God's people on what to believe and how to best live their lives. Look at Deuteronomy 6:24, "The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today." The law cannot save from sin, but it was given for our prosperity and preservation. Or look at Deuteronomy 10:12-13, "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" The law can't save from sin, but it was given for our good!

I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to cast off something that was intended for my prosperity, my preservation and for my good! We are not bound to the letter of the law, but as we read the Old Testament we should invite the Holy Spirit to teach us the spirit of the law. Remember, while the law cannot cleanse us of sin, it still has value to instruct and inform.

Here's just one example of what that would look like. Leviticus 13:4 and 13:31 both teach that if an Old Testament Jew had an infectious skin disease, he was to remain outside the camp for seven days. Remember, in those times they were traveling through the desert, so outside the camp simply meant “away from everybody else”. Now obviously, today, if you have some kind of contagious infection, you aren’t legalistically bound to climb up a mountain and live in isolation for seven days away from everyone else. You don’t have to follow the letter of the law. But following the spirit of the law, you might want to stay home from work if you’re sick so that you don’t get others sick. Or if your kids are sick you might want to not bring them to church, so they don’t get the other kids sick.

So in summary...Legalism is trying to earn salvation by keeping the law. As Christians we are anti legalism, because salvation is by grace through faith. But while we are anti legalism, we are not anti law. Just because the law of God cannot obtain us right standing with God, doesn't mean it has no value whatsoever. The law was given for our prosperity, our preservation and our good. When we read it we aren't bound to the letter of the law, but we'd be wise to invite the Holy Spirit to show us the spirit of the law, because the law still has value in instructing us in God's truths and informing us of God's ways. The law can't save us, but that doesn't mean it's not still useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17) for other things.