Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

Here’s a quote from Sunday’s sermon by Steve Saint. One of my irritations with some missionaries is the tendency for people who aren’t interested in evangelism or soul-winning here, but they think that by going to a foreign country that something “magical” happens and they’ll be interested in souls in their new country. It doesn’t work that way. Missions begins at home. Thus, I found Steve’s quote significant…

If you cant picture your neighbor becoming a God follower dont try to imagine somebody in Hungary or in the Amazon jungle becoming [a God follower]. It starts here, it starts with us, it starts at home, it starts with what God has put in our hands. So let God write your story.

Steve Saint
Northside Baptist Church
February 26, 2006

This is a busy week for me and I haven’t made the time to blog about my week-end with Steve Saint. I hope to do so soon. However, I wanted to post a commentary by my friend, Warren Smith, who owns a chain of Christian weeklies and EPNews which is the syndicate that runs my commentaries.

Warren attended Sunday’s service with Steve Saint and wrote this afterwards…

Following Gods Trail

by Warren Smith

COMMENTARY–When Pastor Dan Burrell of Charlotte’s Northside Baptist Church looked out over his congregation on Feb. 24 and prayed that God would do something unexpected and everlasting on this the final day of the churchs missions conference, I had no idea he was talking about me.

But that was before I heard Steve Saint talk about walking Gods trail with the Waodani tribe of Ecuador.

You may know the beginning of Steve Saints story. In 1956, when Steve was a small boy, his father Nate Saint was killed by the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. The story of the martyrdom of Nate Saint, Jim Elliott, and other missionaries was a defining moment for the growing, post-war evangelical movement, largely because of books by Jim Elliotts wife Elizabeth.

But what happened to the other wives and the children of the martyrs? These missionary martyrs were, after all, husbands, brothers, sons, and fathers. And what of the tribe itself? Did their sacrifice have an impact there? Those were the questions that Steve Saint answered when he spoke at Northsides missions conference.

To recount Steve Saints answers in the short space I have here would be to do violence to a thoughtful and nuanced presentation. But a few ideas and images continue to haunt me.

First, its important to remember that the young Steve Saint wanted nothing more than to be like his daddy. His daddy had promised to teach him to fly, and young Steve lived for that day. So can you imagine the impact when, after the missionaries had not reported as planned, and then were found dead, Steves mother had to say to the six-year-old: Stevie-boy, Dads never coming home again.

What does Steve Saint say today about that wound? Amazingly, he thanks God for it. He says that too often we try to hide our wounds from the world. But Saint said these wounds give us the wisdom we need to speak words of healing to a wounded world. The world has wounds, too, Saint said. And the world wants to see that we have scars where it has wounds. We need to learn not to hide our wounds. Not to hide our scars.

Another thing I learned from Steve Saints presentation is that Gods timetable is not our own. Though thousands were inspired to the mission field by the martyrdom of his father, when Steve Saint grew up, he did not immediately follow his father in mission work. He became a businessman here in the United States. Steve said that during this period of his life, when people found out he was the son of the famous missionary pilot Nate Saint, they seemed disappointed that he was “just” a businessman.

Eventually, he did go back to Ecuador, but only to bury his aunt Rachel Saint, who had stayed in the jungle and devoted her life to the Waodani. The Waodani elders then asked him to stay, to use his business skills to help the tribe become self-sufficient both spiritually and economically. Saint had not planned on that, and he told the elders that he would pray about it, which Saint said is what Christians say when they want to brush off someone politely.

But the elders were wise to that tactic. They answered him: We have already spoken to God, and He sees it well.

So, finally, Steve Saint began his own work with the Waodani in the early 1990s, a work that could not have come to full flower without the skills he had learned as a businessman, and a work that continues today. If Nate Saints story is of what happened in 1956, his sons story is of what has happened since, of that training of the Waodani to be self-sufficient.

That this work has born lasting fruit can be seen in one of Steves stories: One of the ministries there is a dental clinic, where the elders themselves are trained to do the dental work. Dawa, one of the earliest Waodani Christians, said of the work: When we fix our peoples teeth, we will teach them how to walk Gods trail, and they wont even be able to talk back to us.

Another story was a highlight of Saints presentation. Mincaye, one of the men who killed Nate Saint, traveled with Steve to India to show missionaries there how to set up a dental clinic like the one in Ecuador. A short video showed Mincayes rough hands, covered in latex gloves, extracting an impacted and diseased tooth. Mincaye said, Doesnt Gods carvings say that all Gods followers should teach people to walk His trail? Now, I say, you teaching us how we too will teach.

When Pastor Burrell prayed that the missions conference would accomplish something unexpected and everlasting, I just assumed he was praying for what would happen on the mission field as a result of the weekend. A few checks would be written, a few missionaries supported. Now, thats not a bad thing, but it is not the whole thing.

I now know that God sees it well that we here in America learn from this tribe of former killers who have become by Gods grace God followers and healers. It occurs to me that the unexpected and everlasting thing God may be accomplishing is an awakening of the American church by reminding us that money and power are not what He desires for us or from us, but brokenness and obedience, in imitation of the original wounded warrior, Jesus Himself.

I just pray I have the courage to walk Gods trail in the direction Steve Saint and Mincaye and the rest of the Waodani God Followers have set before us.

Its Saturday. In about 5 hours, Ill be having dinner with Steve Saint. I cant wait. Ive never met him before and hes speaking at my church tomorrow morning. Its been an exhausting week. I spent too much time blogging. I didnt have sermons to complete this week because of our Global Outreach Conference and we have guest speakers all day tomorrow. Next week, Ill be in San Diego with our Senior Class (Im the chaperone and the dad of a graduate not to mention the president of the school. Rank DOES have its privileges.) and well be visiting Shadow Mountain Community Church. (Ive never been there and Im interested in seeing the church where David Jeremiah is the pastor.) Thus, no sermons for two Sundays. I might explode. Thus I wrote too much this week. I have to have an outlet.

A few miscellaneous thoughts running through my mental mill for this day

I just read one of the greatest comebacks of all time in a discussion being held on Sharper Iron that dealt with Christians going to the theatre. It literally made me laugh out loud and then convicted me in one fell swoop. Here it is A Christian Professor at the UNLV told me that the when the Southern Baptists had a meeting there in Las Vegas in the 1990s, one Pastor said to him; “I can just feel the demonic presence here in Las Vegas.” His reply was; “must be something like what you felt in the South during the time of segregation and Jim Crow laws.” Many Christians have avoided places they thought were evil while practicing greater evil in their daily thinking and lives.

Speaking of Sharper Iron Ive gotta say I think it is one of the healthiest and most interesting places on the internet. Id love to meet Jason Janz one day and learn what makes him tick. Years ago, I was friends with his pastor, Les Heinz and remember being impressed with Les balance and spirit. Sharper Iron is not a place where youll always agree with everything thats posted and its not for the faint of heart who think that every challenge to ones own thoughts is worthy of offense. Its a place for spiritual provocation and civil debate and I think it is does a great service to fundamentalism (particularly for younger leaders of which I am no longer one.)

I love missions conferences (we now call ours a Global Outreach Conference.) Ours ends tomorrow. Im wasted and I dont even have to care the largest burden of putting everything together. But its a good kind of exhaustion. Sometimes, I find when Im tired, the Lord speaks best and clearest to me. Kind of like Im paying attention more. Im not nearly so self-sufficient at that time. Less prone to argue. More prone to shut-up and listen.

By the way, if you want to hear what Steve Saint has to say, you can watch it on our website live at 10:30 EST or you can watch it later in the week in our streaming video section of our website. Just go to this LINK.

I really enjoyed the updates by the SI bloggers from the Lansdale conference. Ive now put the conference on my conferences I want to attend list. I wish it wasnt so close to the Shepherds Conference which is where I hope to be next year at about this time. But I appreciated reading the notes of those who attended the Lansdale conference and it impressed me enough to make me want to attend. For what its worth.

I wonder if anyone else who preaches or writes for a ministry feels like I do after I unload a bunch of thoughts or study or a challenge. Sunday nights and Mondays are often times when I feel totally empty, bereft of reserves and more than a little vulnerable. I end up wondering if I said too much or too little, said it too fast or too intensely, communicated what was important and not what was simply interesting. Its like you have shed a tremendous burden and now you feel a sense of loss or even worth which leaves a melancholic taste in the mouth. I feel a bit that way after having disgorged some of my deepest and most private thoughts and concerns with Christian colleges. Theyve laid on my heart for years. I wish I could say I feel better having laid out this first wave. Maybe I will eventually. No regrets on raising the issues Ive raised. Just hoping someone heard my heart and not just the words.

Enough ruminations for this day. May each of us worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth this Sunday.

You want to know why I’ve been writing articles on needs within our Christian college community? The testimony I’m going to print in this post is why. Over the last several years, I’ve had the opportunity to minister to folks who are trying to recapture their spiritual/intellectual/familial/personal equilibrium after an experience like this. Some of these folks are just devastated after years of disingenous living. For others, a failure to have ever been thoroughly discipled in the Word of God even though they grew up in conservative churches or homes set them up for the kind of externalism that leaves one eventually spent and reeling. Many have peevishly decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater and are going from one extreme (legalism) to the other (license) and will face a different sort of catastrophe if they carry through.

The comments that follow are from someone I do not know nor have I ever met. They are taken from one of my blog comment sections, but I was afraid they might be overlooked and I think they speak to what I am hoping to warn against and begging others in positions of authority to change.

Do not dismiss this fellow as a “disgruntled” as some have tried to paint any who would find resonance in what I’ve written. I know full well that not everyone has the same experience and you can find plenty of my past employees who will tell you that their experience working with me wasn’t all that and a bag of chips either. But go into the spiritual desert you can since in this man’s soul and ask yourself, “Is it necessary?” “Could it have been prevented?” “By what standard is what he experienced rational or justifiable apart from a world of excessive control and no small amount of paranoia?”

One last request. Please don’t flame this guy in the comments. Flame me. I started the conversation. This family needs encouragement, grace and compassion. Not a pharisaical slap or harsh retort. And pray for him and his family. They had a servant’s heart. They did what was asked. Now they need some family support. I don’t generally edit comments that are negative unless they are profane. I will say up front, that I will do in this case if I feel like it will discourage this brother who offered his story in transparency.

———–

As a former staff member of a well-known Christian college in [edited]–who left on good terms by my own decision, not theirs–I can say that not only are your observations about the colleges themselves apropos, but also your comment on the treatment of those who attempt to serve God by working for them.

Looking back, I think my coworkers at the college could be classified into several main groups. The Pragmatists, who touted the party line for reasons of job security, but discreetly lived according to their own beliefs; the Conflicted (like us), who felt we couldn’t live according to our beliefs because we had given our word to live by someone else’s beliefs instead; and the True Believers, who had no problem living by every jot and tittle of the Staff Handbook because their own beliefs on every issue meshed with the college’s. Looking back, most of the staff and faculty I knew were either Pragmatists or Conflicted. The True Believers were few and far between.

I realize that at times, I can be exceedingly dense. Ill use as my excuse the fact that I was reared in Missouri home of the famous Missouri Muleas hard-headed a creature as has ever walked the earth. Or if that one doesnt work for you, my mom did drop me on my head when I was a baby. Thats always been a convenient excuse for me. (Sorry mom, for letting out that family secret.)

Im not a particularly brave person on some things. For example, a snake (anything that slithers and is longer than a small fishing worm) will make me scream like a six-year-old girl. Seriously. I lived in South Florida for nearly seventeen years and there are more snakes there than orange trees. EVERY time I saw one, I nearly had a stroke. My wife was forced to kill several of them in our pool, on our porch, even in our house while I bravely sat in the car waiting for her to get the job done. Im not afraid of a 1,200 pound Hereford bull, but when my kid puts a rubber snake on my shoulder for kicks, its enough to require a change of clothes for me.

But, that part of my brain that deals with asking questions, thinking out loud, challenging sacred cows or just asking what if apparently never developed the fear button. Thus, I dont understand why people are afraid of ideas, questions and the occasionally politically incorrect inquiry. So maybe its because Im dense rather than fearless that I am the way that I am.

In the last week, Ive received quite a few emails telling me I have guts for publishing some of the things that I do in my blog. For years, Ive had members of both churches Ive pastored occasionally mention to me that they are often taken back by my willingness to speak plainly about Biblical issues from the pulpit. Im often mystified by the comments of others which often go something like, Id really to speak out on this subject, but Im afraid of what others might think. Ive never been overly encumbered with that particular concern. Perhaps thats a character deficiency on my part, if not an intellectual one.

So with those introductory paragraphs in place, I guess I want to ask today, What are we afraid of in Funda-mentalism and Conservative Christianity these days? Why is there such a spirit of fear even intimidation, in so many peoples lives, churches and ministries?

As I look at what I view to be an oppressive fear that permeates the circles in which I run, I believe it has several dangerous consequences. (And if not dangerous, then they are just sad.)

1. Fear produces inauthenticity. We try to perform to the expectations of others rather than to enjoy the freedom we have in Christs grace. We worry more about whether we are pleasing man than we are about pleasing God.

2. Fear spawns duplicity and hypocrisy. Most people cant sustain a fear-driven life, thus they learn to compartmentalize and can end up being someone different in private than they are in public and sadly, because they arent honest about their own struggles, they become quite good at living the duplicitous life rife with hypocrisy.

3. Fear squelches personal worship. In many cases, fear is little more than idolatry. We let the expectations and intimidations of man to mean more to us than the expectation of God. Thus, we conform to that which is un- or non-Biblical while ignoring that which God has expressly encouraged.

4. Fear is contagious. Recently, my wife was vacuuming happily in our home when I needed to ask her a question. I walked up behind her and she jumped and shrieked like a banshee. I, in turn, jumped (though I DID NOT shriek and Im sticking by that.) Our fear of being criticized, ostracized or marginalized often keeps us from speaking up, joining in or participating and not only that, it keeps others from asking questions or speaking up.

5. Fear is discouraging. Who, in their right mind, wants to remain forever squelched? Eventually, many good people just throw in the towel because they want answers but are too afraid to ask the questions.

6. Fear is over-rated. Most of the time, exaggeration feeds our fears. Seriously, whats the worst that can happen to you? So you ask a politically-incorrect question? You express some doubt. You voice an opinion. Whats going to happen to you? Somebody says something unkind to you? (Have you ever worn the wrong colors to a professional football game? Unkind words happen and youll live through them.) So you dont get invited to something? (If thats the price of admission, I dont want to be there.) You get fired? (What, God wont give you another job or take care of you?) You lose a friend? (Were they ever really a friend if theyll cut you off for not sharing their exact same opinion on every matter?) In the end, most of our fears are exaggerated reactions that will never pan out and if they do, they arent really that big of a deal.

7. Fear is unbiblical. Check out 2 Timothy 1:7

8. Fear breeds ignorance. If you are too afraid to ask the question, you arent going to get the answer. Asking questions invites responses and encouraged discussion and we learn in the process.

9. Fear impedes healthy relationships. Who wants to be held hostage by fear? If you cant be honest in your marriage, in your faith, in your church, in your friendshipsthen you have an healthy relationship.

10. Fear prevents depth. Shallow people are fearful people. The are happy with the status quo. They are more concerned with personalities than principles. They end up talking about people and their responses rather than ideas and their implications. As a result, we turn into dried up, shrewish, embittered, shriveled shadows of what could have been.

It breaks my heart that so many Christians fundamentalists, conservatives, evangelicals are so afraid within their own families of believers.

I see it in our own church. I admit that Im a bit free-spirited on a lot of things even though people might be very surprised at how reserved and conservative I am on a personal level. When I first came to Northside, I found it interesting that people were afraid to clap when they enjoyed something or agreed with something or it was appropriate in keeping rhythm during a particular song. Some might say Amen (though not a lot). Others would offer a few tepid hand strikes on occasion, but Id see a look ranging from discomfort to terror cross their faces as they looked furtively around them to see if anyone was going to join in with them. More often than not, it petered out with an embarrassing smattering that left some vowing to never connect their hands in public again. It was deemed appropriate to tap ones toe or nod ones head to a song that was rhythmic. It was even considered acceptable to tap one hand (ONE only), on the Bible in keeping beat, but heaven help that some poor soul who was new or Latin or something and would really want to clap along and get with it. (EXCEPTION: anything Southern Gospel was considered clappable. But only that.)

Now, Im not intending to mock (well, maybe tease a little) but seriously, there was at times a fear permeating the room that was almost palpable. And lets not even consider what happened on the occasions we would sing a song that spoke of lifting ones hands. Even the ol Gaither song, Lets Just Praise the Lord that had a line in it that said Lets just lift our hands toward heaven had to be edited to now say, Lets just lift our HEARTS toward heaven for fear that someone might walk in, see a bunch of Baptists with their hands in the air and jump to the immediate conclusion that Benny Hinn was our guest speaker that day. (PLUS, I always have this really weird picture in my mind with people lifting their physical hearts upwards when we sing it that way.)

If I havent been specific enough, let me give you some more examples of fear and intimidation keeping us from saying things that might need to be said to the right AND to the left.

Billy Graham once gave a squishy answer on Salvation through Christ alone and I addressed it publicly as a disappointment right from my pulpit in the hometown of the renowned evangelist. Someone asked me if I wasnt being indiscrete due to the fact that I have a weekly radio broadcast on WMIT 106.9 (Sundays at 6:30 p.m. for those in the Carolinas). My thought was, it was an issue that needed to be raised. Would Billy Graham really want to leave an impression that people can go to heaven by some other means than the blood of Jesus Christ alone? If he did, Id rather get kicked off the station (which I wasnt) than be silent on such an important issue. And if I were to ever be unclear on something of such great importance, I hope theyd call on me to clarify myself as well.

When the liberal Democrats and homosexual activists teamed up to introduce gay-friendly changes in our ciys discrimination policies, I lead the opposition to it from the conservative Christian communitys perspective. I was asked if I was afraid there would be ramifications that could happen including losing our tax-exempt status. I responded by getting in the pulpit and saying they could have our tax-exempt certificate if that was the price for being silent on moral issues in Charlotte. (We didnt lose our 501c3 certificate either.)

Several folks have implied that I might be committing professional harikari by writing the articles Ive written in the last few weeks regarding some things in Christian colleges about which Im concerned. I asked them, What should I fear? That they wont invite me to speak at their chapels? OK. I wont speak there. That I wont be asked to serve on their boards? OK. Ive got other things to do. That I wont be invited to speak at a national meeting somewhere? Whatever. Ive got a church where I love to preach as often as theyll let me, so Im really quite content. Why should I be afraid of asking questions? Isnt God still Sovereign?

Maybe its because Im getting ready to turn 45 in a few weeks. Maybe its because I spent a LOT of my life worrying about what others thought about me and decided enough was enough and that I was tired of feeling dishonest? Maybe its because I bought into the politically-correct intimidation often whispered to me within the fundamentalist bureaucracy that warned against rocking the boat for too many years and I vowed Id never sell out to that again. Maybe its because when I speak out so many others are now saying Amen and finding the courage to start asking those questions out loud themselves.

You see, Ive heard a lot of people gossip and whisper and discuss in hushed voices with furtive glances their views on a plethora of issues in evangelicalism, fundamentalism, Independent Baptist-ism and a lot of other areas. I just think its time that we cast off the spirit of fear and start talking about stuff.

I decided that if I want to clap along with a praise chorus, Im going to do it. David did it in fact, he got naked and danced while he clapped. Im not ABOUT to do that. So Im thinking Im safe to clap along with What Mighty God We Serve.

I took it a step further. I found all these verses in the Bible wherein the ancient saints of Scripture would raise their hands in submission and praise as they sang or prayed. I know the Charismatics have turned hyper-emotionalism into an art form, but Im SO not charismatic and why should I let them steal a Biblical expression of surrender from my worship. So when I pray or sing a song that humbles me, Im not afraid any longer to raise my hands. If it bothers you dont do it. I dont care. Im not even paying attention to you. Im just yielding myself personally to Truth. Its between me and God. I dont think it makes me more spiritual than you. Ill be a humdinger if Im going to allow some Islamic terrorist show a greater demonstration of personal humility to his phony-baloney god than Im willing to show to the Great I AM.

I decided that if I see something unbiblical in our church, were going to use Church Discipline. We recently had to church two of our young people. I LOVE those kids. It broke my heart. They come from great families. Someone asked me if it didnt make me nervous to use church discipline in our family. My reply is it would make me MORE nervous to not use (excuse my split infinitive there) something so Biblically clear as church discipline than it would be to use it as a loving method for upholding our doctrinal and practical orthodoxy.

I think racism is wrong and I think theres a lot of latent racism in fundamentalist churches and colleges. Im going to write about it. I think the average youth director thinks hes more of an activities director on a cruise ship than he is a minister of the gospel and Im going to write about that too. I think the KJVO controversy and the Music/Worship wars have done more to damage fundamental churches in the last twenty years than all the liberals in Wheaton, Illinois and Colorado Springs, CO combined have done and Im not afraid to say it. I think weve done a lousy job of teaching worldview, philosophy and discernment to our Christian school students and wed better get with it or close the schools. I think the whole Repeat this magic prayer for me so that you can have fire insurance and then party on mentality of evangelism has created a generation of lost church members in America and its reprehensible. I think our lack of discipleship in the typical fundamental church is a crime against the Great Commission and tantamount to spiritual child abuse and I plan on poking on that point again in the future. I dont think fundamental and conservative pastors are doing enough to counter the pragmatic industry (and I use that term purposefully with no pun attended) of the Church Growth Movement and we should be writing about it and discussing/debating it.

And Im just getting started on topics Id like to see aired and you havent even had a chance to float your pet balloons and pet peeves as well.

I want to challenge my fundamental and conservative brethren (and sisters) to get rid of the fear and start talking. Here are a few ground rules I try to keep to help keep me accountable.

First, I also make sure people understand, my views are just one mans opinions. I dont have a corner on truth, Im still learning every day and I enjoy the dialogue. But in the end, apart from what is clearly defined in Scripture, its all just opinion.

Next, it doesnt have to be personal even if it is direct. If we start taking unfair swipes or begin mischaracterizing things, then we should point it out to each other like grown-ups and then stop it. We should be able to be specific without being mean.

Also, I try to be accountable. I have a very wise pastor friend who is old enough to be my father that has been very influential in my intellectual development as a fundamentalist. I have other experts who know me fairly well that I can reach with a flick of the send button. So before I post something that has the potential to be misunderstood, I have one or more of them vet it for me to make sure its appropriate.

I want to use some manner of journalistic standard when I write. For example, it is something that happened to me personally, I want to make sure the reader understands that Im the source. If someone shares information with me, I verify it with someone else to make sure that the double check standard of journalistic integrity is kept. If I mess up a detail or need to retract something, I will as soon as I become aware of it. Thats only fair.

Finally, I want to keep a good attitude myself. When my pet peeves become vendettas, its time for me to stop typing for a while. When I start taking criticism to heart in that it discourages me or reveals a pride issue in my own life, then I need to back off and regain my perspective. If I should start being more of a distraction than a help, then Ill need to sign off.

But, I simply refuse to be afraid of what others might think if I ask questions of those in positions of influence, if I challenge group think, if I dont stay on the fundamentalist plantation or if I might lose an opportunity for asking things out loud that Im thinking about in my heart. When I know my heart is sincere, it gives me the freedom of conscience to ask things without malice hoping that my own thinking will be challenged and hopefully that my heart will always be transformed to become that which is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

A good friend of mine and one of the most constant sources of encouragement in my life sent me this over the week-end and I thought I’d post it in my blog this Monday. Monday’s are often “recovery” days for Pastors as they empty themselves spiritually, physically and emotionally the day before. I know a lot of pastors and faithful church members read this blog early in the week and I thought Spurgeon’s words might provide some encouragement and challenge for the week to come.

The following excerpt is from a sermon titled “Encourage Your Minister,” preached by Charles Spurgeon on Sunday Morning, October 18th, 1863, at Cornwall Road Chapel.

Encourage Your Minister by Charles H. Spurgeon

If you do not encourage your minister, your minister will probably sink down in despair. Remember that the man himself needs encouragement, because he is weak. Who is sufficient for these things?

See that he is resting upon God and receiving his divine power, and you will all know, each Sabbath day, the benefit of it. This is the least thing you can do. There are many other things which may cause you expense, effort, time, but to encourage the minister is so easy, so simple a matter, that I may well press upon you to do it.

We have a tendency of calling our Sunday services Worship Services. Indeed, its the hope of every pastor, minister of music, worship leader or whatever you call those who lead the congregation through a liturgy of whatever sort that people will engage in worship. But is it possible for most of us to simply throw a switch somewhere in our hearts and minds and enter worship mode simply because our favorite anthem declares the beginning of a service or because it is 10:30 on Sunday morning?

As I have been preparing my own heart for ministry this week-end, Ive thought of several things I want to make sure set the stage for real worship and indeed, if I am aware of what is doing in and around me I should be anticipating that worship will begin before I ever walk into the auditorium.

First, am I right with the Father? A few minutes of quiet reflection or reading of scripture followed by some meditation gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to point out the attitudes, actions, words and thoughts which have polluted my heart and character in recent hours. At times, meditation becomes very painful as the stillness that overtakes me gives voice to the convicting presence of Truth and the Holy Spirit. At that point, my only correct choice is to confess and repent.

Next, am I right with the Family? Schedules are tight. People are busy. Sin happens. And over the course of weeks, days or hours, offenses and irritations accumulate and yet, often we are simply too busy or too resistant to deal with them. Yet the Great Commandment to love the Lord God with all our hearts, souls and mind is followed by a secondary commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Ouch. Choosing to release bitterness, determining to embrace forgiveness, committing to offer grace, promising to seek reconciliation are all prerequisites to meaningful worship.

Also, is there an openness in my heart? A determined spirit of submission which invites the Lord to use His Word to purify me. If Im looking to be comfortable in worship, then my priorities are wrong. This isnt about whether or not Im comfortable, its about the Lordship of Christ in my heart and life.

Finally, am I there as a participant or as the audience? Years ago, I chose not to sit on the platform during our congregational singing. In fact, I only go up the stairs to the platform when it is required for me to offer leadership whether in prayer or in preaching. The rest of the time, I sit in the congregation. I want to be able to participate. I want to sing and pray and raise my hands and bow my head and be reminded of truth in song so that my heart and focus is fixed on the real audience the Audience of One.Christ. If Im compelled to say amen or to applaud, I want it to be my personal expression of worship to Christ not one who is directing others to follow my example or to serve as an encouragement to others. Sometimes I sing with the congregation with my eyes closed so I wont be tempted to examine others or worry about flow or fret about something that didnt occur as planned. So many times, folks enter church as critics or audience members with expectations of entertainment or having their personal needs met.

Worship is an exercise that will redirect our attention, reprioritize our agenda and refocus our hearts but only if we approach it with a commitment to Biblical responses, thoughtful participation and a prepared heart.

I hope as you worship this week-end with your church family that youll be aware that real worship may begin before you think it will if youll just prepare your heart in advance.

I’m really not a tree-hugging environmentalist type, but the more I read about global warming, particular articles like this one, I wonder if the collapse of the ozone layer could be part of the prophecy in Revelations that deals with the earth suffering from famines, heat, etc… I’m also not a Prophecy expert at any level and consider most of them to be like the proverbial cat — always capable of landing on their feet no matter from what height they are dropped. (How else can we explain the likes of Jack Van Impe and Hal Lindsey still be popular after all these years and failed interpretations.)

I guess I’m just thinking out loud. But it seems to make sense to me.

——-

On another note, the response to my first article on Bible College Challenges has been tremendous and almost unanimously positive. (I’ve been getting both private contacts and comments on the blog though for some reason, it shows 0 comments, there are some there if you click on the comment button.) I’m about finished with Part 2 which will deal with the fixation some colleges have with the Southern Baptists. It should be interesting. So stay tuned.

Sometimes, my mind just gets cluttered with assorted and random snippets and thoughts. Lest I get a headache from over-crowding, I voice them here….

Youd think if you are smart enough to be the Vice-President, youd be smart enough to notify the official White House Press Corp when you shoot somebody accidentally.

The older I get, the more I find myself preferring to be the most conservative voice in a room full of liberals than the most liberal voice in a room full of conservatives.

I often wonder if guys that wear earrings think that it makes them look pretty or that it makes them look tough? Im thinking neither.

I often wonder if girls that get tattoos think that they make them look pretty or that it makes them look tough? Im thinking neither.

If you took all the Hallmark Valentines Cards and all the people who write those insipid messages on Hallmark Valentines Cards and stacked them neatly in the deepest part of the ocean, youd have done a really good thing.

I believe Christians should protect the earth and oversee Gods creation with care and consideration, but I also LOVE my great big Chevy Suburban SUV.

When people tell you every single week that the sermon you just preached was the greatest sermon theyve ever heard, it stops meaning much. But I guess thats better than having them tell you that you just laid a royal egg.

Its my personal opinion that cell phones have set back civilization at least 200 years.

I find it ironic that these days many of my Southern Baptist friends are more ardently evangelistic and more concerned about authentic personal holiness than many of my Independent Baptist friends who think that Southern Baptists are liberal.

I found myself extremely bored with the whole Chad Allen controversy for his role in The End of the Spear.

I probably just made a lot of people mad for writing that last snippet.

Im a blogaholic. Theres something about perusing the thoughts of others as they work out their salvation that is spiritually challenging in a voyeuristic sort of way.

Even though Im not a real warm-and-fuzzy-people-person, I really love the people in my church and I often find myself feeling frustrated with the fact that they probably dont know how much.

I would rather read a single well-crafted and thoughtful sentence that is intricately graced with powerful and persuasive wording than to listen to a symphony for an hour.

Tonight, I may well watch my senior son play his last basketball game in his high school career. I just hope I dont cry when it is over.

Several years ago, I re-read the passage where Jesus fed the 5,000. This is perhaps one of the most frequently-referenced miracles of Christ’s ministry. What an amazing feat. Yet, embedded in this story is a point that I’d never considered until this particular day. I eventually developed a sermon and an article out of this thought. I decided to blog it tonight…

Here was a kid — probably not even a teenager yet on his way out the door to hear this prophet/teacher that had been creating such a stir. He was probably in a hurry as boys his age typically were. I can almost here her voice now — John Mark? Do you have your jacket? John Mark? Dont forget to put on your sandals? Watch out for camels when youre crossing the streets! Dont talk to Samaritans! Make sure you are home in time for evening prayers! And oh. John Mark! Heres a little lunch for you in case you get hungry!

With a sigh, the little boy rolls his eyes as every boy of every generation since and before has done at the cluckings of his mother. Without out a thought, he twirls, grabs the small bundle wrapped in a cloth and tucked in an old leather pouch, pecks his mother on the cheek and darts out of the door. Hurrying, lest she interrupt his big plans with yet another admonition. All you hear now is the dull thud of his sandaled feet padding through the dusty paths as he trotted to the gathering near the Sea of Tiberias.

As he approached, he was shocked at the size of the crowd. The roads were packed with others who were rushing to this open-air event. He had to cut across the hill-sides and through the bushes and briars to be able to get a good position where he could hear. Finally, finding an acceptable spot, he sat and listened to the words of this man they called Jesus.

At first, he thought it was thunder. But then, he realized it was his stomach. He looked at the sun and could tell by its position that it was well past lunch time. Jesus had taken a break from his teaching and he was surrounded by some of his loyal assistants. The boy reached for his pouch and unfolded the napkin. There nestled in its folds was a feast for a boy as hungry as he was. Two small fishes and five barley rolls. Leftovers from last nights dinner. But in his current state, this was a meal fit for a King.

Then he became aware of a shadow. Someone was standing over his shoulder. As he looked up, he saw a tall, rough-looking man. A man they called Andrew. What do you have there, boy? Why, its just a small lunch, sir. Something my mother gave me as I left her home this morning. Would you share it with the Master? he asked. Pausing, hesitating, as any ravenous boy might, he gulped and slowly shook his head. For the Master? Yes, I will share. And he handed over his lunch and we know the rest of the story.

This was truly one of Christs most spectacular miracles. Scripture tells us that somewhere between five and ten thousand people were likely fed that day from that little snack pack. And when it was over, there were 12 baskets of leftovers.

When we read this story.many times we focus on the miracle of the Lord as well we should. Sometimes, we consider the attitudes of the apostles — also an opportunity for learning much. Ive also heard applications made regarding the boys part in this drama and again, much can be learned.

But right now, I want us to focus on someone who was very likely in this scenario, but whom is never mentioned.

Lets hear it for the Lunch Packer!

For you see, this miracle had another participant who has remained nameless throughout the ages. In all likelihood, it was the boys mother. A little lady with calloused hands and stooped shoulders whose brightest joy was this little olive-skinned, curly-haired lad. He was her pride and joy. She anticipated his needs, she sacrificed for his well-being, she toiled in anonymity and she served with faithfulness.

Glamorous, she was not. Famous, she would never be. But her faithfulness was as much a part of this story as was Andrew or the lad or the multitude. For she was the lady who had the foresight to pack her son a lunch.

Most all of us have had a lunch packer in our lives. A mother, grand-mother, a dad or aunt someone who saw to it that we were ready for the day when we werent discerning enough or mature enough or smart enough to think ahead for ourselves. Today, many of us have experienced a modicum of success. Many of us are comfortable. Many of us are being used by the Lord in some way for His kingdoms sake. But let us not forget OUR lunch packers.

(If you enjoy commenting, perhaps you might leave a comment telling about some “lunch packer” in YOUR life.)