church

Weights That Hinder

Ministry, , , , , , Leave a comment

On August 20, 2023, this message was originally delivered to the Cherryville Campus of Bethany Wesleyan Church. If you watch that message, you’ll notice that it ends slightly differently. That is partly because August 20th is my wife, Julie, and I anniversary. For this message, you’ll want to have read Hebrews 12:1-3.

You can find the live video version of this message delivered on August 20, 2023 by clicking HERE. May this message encourage and empower the work of Jesus Christ in your life.

Sometimes I need to practice saying no.  Okay, not sometimes. All the time. For the most part, I am not great at it.

You can ask my wife, I struggle with this even in little situations.  At a restaurant, if I am asked – “Do you want dressing on your salad?”  Hearing me say – “No, if it isn’t on the side, I send it back.”   Yeah, you’ll probably never hear me say something like that. (Even if it is a great ‘Office’ reference.)

‘NO.’  How is it that such a small word carries so much weight? It really is a powerful word.  

  • My guess is that some of us need to learn to say no.  
  • Because of its weight, some of us do say it regularly, but we need to learn to say no more kindly.
  • Most of us, probably need to learn a better balance on when is the right time to say no.  I am definitely there.

The opposite word – ‘yes’ – is usually pretty great.  It is often easy to say and it is easy to receive.  We want to hear yes and we love telling people yes.  The world is looking for yes.  There are books out there about the power of yes.  We see power is saying yes, a lot, whenever possible.  Getting the chance to work in our church office and with the staff, I try to say yes whenever possible.  It encourages, enables, empowers, uplifts.  

I save my no’s for when they are truly needed.  But isn’t that the key, sometimes we have to say no.  Sometimes the biggest difference is made in a very key strategic no.  We still don’t like to say it.  We certainly don’t like to hear it.  But that no is powerful.

In these moments together, we are talking about saying no.  Not just generally, although you may find that point in some other piece of scripture. It can be a valuable habit.  We’re looking at saying no in one particular conversation.  And where no is concerned, it is probably the most important one.  It is when no is both the hardest to say and to hear.  To give and to receive.  It is the no’s we say to ourselves.  

We are in a message series speaking about being ‘Free to Fly’.  The idea is that we want to be enabled, empowered to live out our faith.  To live for Jesus.  To pursue God.  To live what we know of from John 10:10, what Jesus came to give us – life to the fullest, an abundant life.  This understanding of saying no to ourselves plays a large part in pursuing God, in living for Jesus.  So may we see the value in discovering the power of saying no to ourselves – and then actually doing it.

God, we ask that You’d be with us in this discussion. May our lives and all that we are be Yours.

Why would anyone want to say no to themselves? I get it.  The whole premise of this message, this thought, sounds a little funky, a little off.  Who talks about something like this?  And who actually does it?

To understand why we would even think about doing this, let’s understand our goal.  What is it that we are trying to accomplish?  

In scripture, we are look at the start of Hebrews 12.  Hebrews 12 is the chapter directly following Hebrews 11.  You’re welcome, once again, math has entered the conversation!  This fact actually is important.  Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter.  As a child, I memorized Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11 continues to then talk about so many individuals in history that accomplished great things by faith. They believed in God and then adjusted their lives and lived with God as their priority. They lived for God. That is living by faith.  “By faith Noah…. By faith Abraham… By faith Moses…”  By faith, they did wonderful things.  

That is our goal – prioritizing God and through that bringing about great things, wonderful things, life to the fullest.  Here is where chapter 12 adds so much value. Chapter 12 actually clarifies it even better for us to live out.  Our goal is to run this race, locked in and moving towards Jesus.  Keeping our eyes on Him. Moving toward Him. That is living faith.

That is our goal – faith that gets us to Jesus.  Jesus is the goal.  What do we have to do to get to Jesus?  Well, any guess it involves saying ‘no’ to ourselves?

Hebrews 12:1-3, our main scripture for this conversation.  The key part that we are focusing on is a part of verse 1.  In the NIV Translation it says, “let us throw off everything that hinders.”  In the NLT – “let us strip off every weight that slows us down.”  Others like the New King James say something more like, “let us lay aside every weight.”

It is important that we understand what is being communicated with the word ‘weight’.  What are we to know?  This word does refer to a weight, a mass, a heaviness. My favorite translation said – an encumbrance.  That sounds fancier, doesn’t it?  

There is an encumbrance that we are being instructed to put down.  So what is it? That is a great question – thank you for asking such a great question!  The easy answer is to just assume that it is sin.  It mentions sin soon after in this scripture. It could be sin, but it isn’t limited to just sin.  That is too easy.  

The weight is anything in this world, in our lives, in our lifestyles, that holds us back from seeking, grasping, racing towards our goal, Jesus.

That weight, it isn’t necessarily good or bad.  It doesn’t have to be something that is a right or wrong issue.  It is anything that stops us from making our best effort to Jesus and for Jesus.  

So we come back to this, yes this –  are we willing to say no to ourselves?  

At the writing of this, if you put a microphone in our house, you would hear the word ‘no’ said a lot.  We have a new kitten.  His name is Grogu.  He is fantastic.  He was rescued from our back yard.  He is filled with love and energy in equal amounts.

Grogu gets told no a lot right now.  My favorite, (this is wonderful) there is a certain house plant of my wife’s. We will say that I don’t love it.  On the other hand, our kitten absolutely loves it.  It is big, he can’t get in the pot (not sure what would happen if he could…), but he can massacre the leaves.  Again, this is wonderful. He runs full tilt across the room to tackle it. He will stand cutely beside it only to suddenly rip leaves right off. It is fading fast.  He hears no, but he goes right back.  Clearly, he hasn’t learned no yet.  Then there is our older cat, Eclipse, he hears no and he has developed an understanding. He is still a cat, but at times he even immediately course corrects.  

We need to develop an understanding of how saying no to ourselves matters. May we recognize the need in our lives to have moments where we course correct.

I don’t like saying no to myself.  I have to hear that from the world.  I don’t want to hear it from myself. But that is what this scripture is telling us.  There is a lot out there in our world – good and bad and somewhere in between.  Not all of it, in fact probably not most of it, gets us to Jesus.

This is difficult because we don’t have a set of rules.  And I don’t want to create one for you.  I have no interest in policing this or forcing opinions on you.  That leads to legalism. It isn’t what we do or who we want to be. We probably all know some clear things in this world that aren’t good for us.  But there is a lot that isn’t so clear and it may impact all our lives differently.  

Like so much else in this world, this is a battle with our own selfishness.  We have to personally decide: Do I just want this thing, because I want this thing? Is it about me and some desire I have?  Does this thing, this lifestyle, this relationship get me to Jesus, or is it a weight that is stopping God’s work and Jesus’ clear presence in my life?

Again, I won’t tell you what it is in your life.  But let us ask some probing questions:

  • What habits are weighing us down from getting to Jesus?  I have known people, we have probably all known people that a certain substance is that thing. Does alcohol get you to Jesus? Remember – the question isn’t, “Is this bad?” The question is – “Does this get me to Jesus?”
  • I got one for me – technology.  This is a habit. I don’t think I watch garbage, but is my pad or phone a distraction, a weight, from who I could or should be?  Understand, when this is a real thing, you will find excuses all over! For me, I need some decompression, brain time. Is that true? Yes. Do I lean into that too much? Absolutely. If I don’t say no, if I don’t set up healthy boundaries, then it definitely isn’t helping me get to Jesus.
  • Relationships are a big one.  What relationships am I pursuing, right now?  Are they for me?  Are they healthy? How do they impact others in my life? And the biggest question – do they draw me closer to Jesus?  Or is something else happening?  This is probably the hardest area to say no to ourselves and the easiest are to make excuses!  
  • What about what we fill ourselves with?  Politics, opinions, where we get our news, what we dwell on, what we have to throw into conversation.  It is drawing me closer to Jesus?
  • And one more – what about our feelings? Please know, feelings are natural and they aren’t sin. But are we dwelling on certain feelings? Are they controlling us? Driving us? Impacting how we live? For example, is there an anger in our life that has become a weight? We like that anger, don’t we? We make excuses for it.

Relationships, lifestyle, the way we use or prioritize our money, work, issues and opinions, the stuff we own, the attitudes we have – does it get me to Jesus?

I know this isn’t fun or easy.  Saying no when it matters really never is.  But this is part of being a mature Christian.  Taking regular moments to ask these important questions, this matters. We don’t just have easy black and white issues.  Sometimes we have to say, this thing isn’t sin, but it doesn’t help me get to Jesus.  So while I could say yes, for me, I will say no, for Jesus! 

May we remember, this is all about Jesus.  He is the goal.  What Hebrews 12 also shows us is that He is also the example.  

It is what He did for us on the cross.  He said no. He made a hard selfless decision.  He could have said yes to a decision to protect himself.  Yes to comfort.  Yes to power.  Yes to happiness in the moment.

What does our scripture today say He did?  He chose faith. He chose prioritizing God. He chose the joy that comes on the longer path, the eternal path, the course of knowing His decisions impacted the world. His faith would be the greatest faith story, the greatest story.  

Yes, we may have to say no to happiness in the moment.  To comfort and to power.  But we have a chance to be a faith story that has an impact.  And we can find joy in knowing that we are growing closer and closer to Jesus.  For now and for eternity.  

Are we willing to say no to ourselves?

I learned this lesson early in my ministry.  I want you to know, that I still need regular reminders though.  Say no to myself.  Do it.

If you know me, you know I joke about my hair.  My hair is fairly fantastic, right? RIGHT? I enjoy spiking my hair and having fun with it, but back in the day… Well, back in the day I had real hair. Long hair. Fantastic hair.  When I first went into ministry I had wonderful long hair, that my wife doesn’t miss. (Ergo – why it doesn’t exist any more.)

I remember going to my first interview for a pastoral position.  (I would get the job. You didn’t expect anything different. C’mon.)  Before the interview, my dad asked me if I was going to cut my hair.  I said no. They wanted someone to work with youth, the hair didn’t hurt at all. In fact, it super helped.  

I remember thinking, though, if I ever needed to, I would.  I really liked my hair, but I wanted to be what Jesus needed me to be more.  Hair is a fairly silly thing, important to me, but I want to say no to anything that stops me from being all that I can for Jesus.  

I want to make my best effort for Jesus.  I want to give my best effort to Jesus.

I have learned that If I said no to myself, God could reign in my life.  

  • If I said no to myself, I’d have a better chance of being the husband I knew I could be.
  • If I said no to myself, maybe just maybe, I could figure out this parenting thing.
  • If I said no to myself, people would see Jesus in me.  
  • If I said no to myself, I got a little closer, and a little closer, to Jesus.

My guess is that right now we could be a little closer to Jesus.  Will we do it?  Will we say no to ourselves?

Fear

Ministry, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

(The following was part of a sermon delivered towards the end of 2015 at North Collins Wesleyan Church.  It felt a bit more relevant then, but I thought it was still worth sharing.)

Over the past few months I have noticed a growing sickness spilling from the hearts, minds, attitudes, mouths, and even social media pages of Christians.  There is an overwhelming plague against the attitude of joy and gladness that we Christians are supposed to have.  A plague that is attacking our spirits and hampering our impact on the world right now.  That plague is called FEAR.

Fear can be a ridiculous thing.  Recently, YouTube and social media has been blowing up with a new cat discovery.  People are placing cucumbers close to their cats, without the cat’s knowledge.  The results are often incredible.  For some reason, when a cat is faced with the unexpected arrival of the long green cucumber, it often decides to spaz out, in a big way!  (This is for real, look it up on YouTube!)

Why does this happen?  No one really knows.  Maybe because it’s unexpected or outside the norm.  Maybe because the cat mistakes it for a snake.  Maybe because the idea of eating a vegetable is the worst.  (Although my previous cats always got really excited when I gave them an olive.  Really excited, too excited, like – get a room, cat.)  Maybe because the cat just wants to confuse their human owners.  From what we all know about cats, this seems like the most logical answer.

Well, for whatever reason – the fear and the response are simply ridiculous. But then again, that is the nature of fear, it is usually ridiculous.  Especially for Christians.  Especially for anyone who says their faith is placed in God, the Ruler and Creator of our world.  Our God, Who controls the world, Who loves us completely, Who has our future on earth and for eternity taken care of.  Fear seems very out of place in our lives.

So let’s get to the point.  It is clear that our nation and culture is struggling with what to do with the refugee situation, quite possibly Christians most of all.  This is a situation about which I can’t and won’t tell you how to feel.  That’s not going to happen.  To be honest, I struggle with different feelings myself.

I know God wants me to love and care for all the people of this world.  That is the #2 commandment for the world given from Jesus! (Next to love God!)  I also know and feel the pressures of being a parent.  My family is my #1 ministry.  Their protection is important to me.  As Mel Gibson once said in the movie The Patriot – “I’m a parent, I haven’t got the luxury of principles.”  The desire to protect my family is very real in my heart.

I also struggle with understanding if and how my actions (and the guidelines for those actions) as a Christian individual, living for Jesus Christ, should be different from the actions of the United States of America (if we consider this country Christian or not).  Our nation needs to make decisions for the health of a nation, I need to make decisions for a life dedicated to Jesus Christ.

I say that all to clarify that I will understand wherever it is you feel you fall on this matter.  It is not easy and it is not clear.

But I do know this is very clear – we cannot be people of fear.  Fear cannot drive us, fear cannot motivate us, fear cannot be our response.  We, Christians, are not people of fear.

Fear cannot play a part in the lives of Christians, it simply can’t.  We know too much about who rules and controls the world.  Our Faith is built upon something too great for fear to play a part.

As Psalm 100:5 (NIV) says…
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

As 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) says…
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

You, my dear Christian friend, know too much to let fear drive your life, your actions, even your posts on Facebook.  Through God, we have power, we have love, and we have the ability to make wise choices because we have been empowered.

Allow your faith to have the place it deserves in your life, behind the steering wheel.  Do not allow fear to kill the opportunities in your life to stand in God’s power and show God’s unending love.  Instead, cast a message to those in your world that you know who rules the world and therefore you will make decisions out of power and love.

Maybe in the past few weeks, because of fear, you’ve said a few things or felt a certain way that was ridiculous.  Know now that fear has no hold on your life.  Take control.  Live, rather, in power and love.

General Tso’s Chicken

Creativity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , One comment

I LOVE Chinese food.

I love everything about it.  It is wonderful for my belly in some of the best ways – taste and um…taste.  Delicious!

I find that there are usually two kinds of people when it comes to Chinese food:

  1. First are those like myself.  These kinds of people realize the delicious saucy goodness that it is.  They love the taste, the smell, the look, everything!  And just me mentioning it is driving those people crazy right now.  They want it!  They may even get some at some point today or tomorrow, just because it’s on their mind! (I’m sorry about that…no, I’m not.)
  2. Then there is the other type.  These people have preconceived perceptions of Chinese food.  It’s “different”. The smell is “odd”. The look is definitely not “right”. They’ll think things like – Who wants to eat all this rice?  Is it supposed to be gooey like that?  What is this meat that I’m actually eating?  These people ask too many questions!  Why does it matter if this place is “sanitary”?  The food is good!  And who really believes the rumor about “cats”?  Sure, those rumors started from probably true experiences… but how does that affect the deliciousness I’m about to eat right now?

Here are my key rules when eating Chinese food.  Follow these and you will be good to go!

  • Don’t ask questions!  Just enjoy.  I know this sounds like bad advice, but do you really want to know the answers to the questions you’re about to ask…
  • When at a Chinese restaurant, in almost all cases, don’t use the bathrooms!  Enough said.
  • Stick to the basics!  Don’t go off the beaten path.  If it sounds odd, it probably will be.  If you don’t expect that they have fresh seafood at this location, they definitely don’t – eat chicken or beef.  Stay with the meals that others order and that are guaranteed to be good.

Here is that most basic rule and #1 rule:  If you’ve never had Chinese food before, order General Tso’s Chicken.  And be ready for your life to be changed FOREVER!

This is easily the most popular Chinese food in America – General Tso’s Chicken.  It is so delicious and wonderful – for real!  The combination of crunchy and soft, sweet and spicy – perfection!

I like General Tso’s Chicken so much that the other day I watched a special on it.  I was curious – who is this wonderful general?  And why is his chicken so amazing?

You know what I found out?  Disappointment.  It’s not his chicken!  General Tso is apparently a popular general from Chinese history.  He was a general for his people.  Super loved.  But the thing he is most famous for (at least with me) – his chicken – is not even his.  It wasn’t invented in China.  It wasn’t around in his day.  Where he was from they didn’t even eat food that was sweet and spicy.  He never had chicken close to this!

MIND BLOWN!  We have been fed, literally fed, a lie!  All this time and it’s not even his chicken…

Okay, so I don’t really care.  The chicken is still delicious, and at least it doesn’t sound like General Tso was a bad guy!  But it raises the question – how long have I enjoyed something, partaken in something, and never really knew who or what it was about?  Many of us are Christians just like this.  We say we’re Christians, but we don’t truly know what that means, what we believe, let alone for why or for what reasons.  We like things about Christianity, but we don’t really know God or Jesus Christ for ourselves.

Because of this we often struggle to truly live the life we think we should as a Christian.  We often find purity, holiness, peace, joy, contentment, (the list goes on) out of reach, unattainable.  But how can we be or find those things in Christianity, when we don’t even know the God and Savior upon whom it was founded?

2 Peter 1:3 (NLT) says it simply:

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

What Peter says is very simple but so important and profound – you want to live a godly life?  Then know God.  It is that simple – KNOW GOD.

You want to grow, mature, further yourself, be useful, make a difference, find peace, live in joy and contentment, purify your heart, reach holiness – then get busy knowing God and Jesus Christ.  Get into God’s Word (the Bible) daily, find devotionals that connect you with God, pray often, listen to God in silence, fill your head with His praise and thanks.  Christianity is a relationship, with God and Jesus Christ.  Relationships take work.  Put in the work to know God.

As 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, God has given us everything we need, the opportunity and tools are in your hands.  Do you have a struggle, a decision, a stress, a pain?  The opportunity for help and guidance to handle this moment is within reach.  You can achieve it.  KNOW GOD.

My Hands Are Full

Ministry, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I gave my son, Seth, three peanut M&M’s this week.   He’s two years old and he is starting to learn how the ‘system’ works.  So he ate one and then kept the other two in his hands.  He waited a few moments and then he came up to me asking for more.  The two M&M’s were still in his hands.  I shot him a look and was like, uhhh dude, what’s that in your hands, there?  At this point his fingers were turning colors from the M&M’s.  They say they melt in your mouth and not in your hand, apparently whoever tested this theory did not use two year olds in their research.   Seth smiled at me and made a very ‘knowing he was caught’ face.  That rascal.

I don’t know what his plans were exactly.  The M&M’s held an obvious value to him (and every person who likes to eat food in this world!) and he knew he wanted more, but he wasn’t willing to just eat those that he had and spoil the moment of chocolate bliss, until he was guaranteed more.  As I became worried about what he was planning to touch with those multi-colored hands of his, I told him to eat what he had and then we’ll talk about more.

That rascal.  I feel like I should have all kinds of thoughts about this, but mostly I have one very unfortunate thought – this is completely something I would have done!  And truthfully, it is something I do and on a larger scale.  In so many ways, I am that rascal.  I have a lot – time, potential, opportunities, resources, and incredible amounts of love and care to give.  Yet, with that said, so often I find myself wondering what difference I could make if God would only give me more.  I so easily forget, here I stand and my hands are full.

I know I am not alone.  It is so easy for us to stand before God, telling Him we will live for Him, do great things for Him, make a huge difference – just give us the chance, the opportunity, the blessing, the resources – and God, we’ll use it for you.  But our hands are already full.

Your hands are full!  Be encouraged!  There is nothing you need to make a difference in your world, the power is in your hands already!  Lift your head up, clear your focus, and look with fresh eyes – God has you where you’re at for a purpose, make the difference!  You don’t need more, you’ve got all you need.  God has you right where He needs you, use what is in your hands – love, care, provide, uplift, share, empower – shine brightly for Jesus Christ!

God has already filled your life with chances, opportunities, and blessings.  Your hands are full.  Have confidence in God, it’s time to step out with what you have.

And one last little note: you’re probably still a little bit like my son, I know I am, I still want those other M&M’s.  Maybe, just maybe, if you prove to God that you can use what you’ve been given, He’ll be excited to give you something more.  But until then, remember…

Your hands are full.

What We Need

Ministry, , , , , , , , , , , One comment

It happens almost every day around 7:00pm, just like clockwork!  Something changes in our children, and we have to be ready for it.  It is almost like a switch is flipped and they become incredibly needy.  Not needy in a real way.  Needy in a whiney way.  Not needy in an “I have a serious problem” way.  Needy in an “I am just a supreme turd ferguson” way.  There are things that they feel they need to be happy in that moment – a snack, a certain toy, a specific show on TV to watch, a book read to them, and the list goes on and on…

Here is the thing, if you fill that need you have bought yourself a total of five minutes, tops, and then another need arises, and another, and another.  As a parent you can weather the storm, from need to need, or you can realize that there is an actual need and you can fix the situation if you meet that real need.   The need called BEDTIME!

Now this is not the need they want answered.  And most likely, if you suggest that this is the need you’re planning to take care of, expect a fit.  Probably the real kind of fit marked by loss of body control, cries resembling that of a furious squirrel, and potentially comments of the dramatic type (“I’ll never be happy again!”).  This is only further proof that the true need is bedtime.

So as a parent what do you do?  You answer the need that you know is the root of all the problems.  You answer the real need, the one that has brought the unsettledness, discontent, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and disagreeableness.  You know it’s not what they want necessarily, but you know it’s what they need.  So bedtime it is.

In Acts 3 of the New Testament, we see a quick but interesting moment with Peter and John.  On the way to the temple, they walk by a man who has been lame from birth, begging for money, and they decide to help.  This man had expectations on what Peter and John were going to give him.  Expectations on what he knew would be useful for his life – silver or gold.  Peter knew that he didn’t have that to give, but he didn’t allow it to stop him from giving the man what Peter knew he really needed, healing through Jesus Christ.

One of the issues facing Christians right now is the belief that the world doesn’t need Jesus.  While there is often a realization that there is a need in people’s lives, we have become so good at trying to fill that need with one thing or another – money, security, human relationships, pride, attention, prosperity – the list goes on and on.  These are the needs our culture desires filling, when in the end they are just symptoms of the real and true need we can never lose sight of – people need Jesus Christ.

Don’t ever doubt that people still need Jesus.  Maybe all the more because we’re in America.  All this ‘stuff’ we have just complicates matters.  There is still an awful lot of hurt and pain, broken relationships and marriages, misunderstandings and unhappiness, a strong lack of hope and belief in the future, dependence on drugs, money, things, and unhealthy relationships.  Our world right here, right now, needs Jesus, and every individual does.

You have people in your life right now.  They have needs.  Help them with those needs – provide love and care, money and time, friendship and encouragement.  But remember that there will be another need and another and another – until they connect with Jesus Christ.  Give them Jesus.

When Life is Best

Family, Ministry, , , , , , , , , , , , One comment

(The following post was originally written as an essay for admissions to Wesley Seminary.  The point being to give a quick look into the testimony of my life.   A few changes have been made to make it blog-ready.  I hope you enjoy.)

One of my favorite things about being a father is the complete faith my children place in me.  They know I am their father, they know I love them, and they know how special they are to me.  I have demonstrated this to them through my words, my hugs, and my actions throughout their lives.  So moments come where they trustfully place their safety in my hands.  While my son has reckless desires, even my daughter, who is sometimes shy and all the time cautious, loves to find moments to fling herself off a high surface into my arms.  She knows her hope lies in me and her faith says that I’ll catch her.  And catch her I do.

From an early age, I learned that life was best when my faith and trust were placed in God.  I am the son of a Wesleyan pastor and grew up at the Port Ann Wesleyan Church in central Pennsylvania.  Like most kids growing up in church, I can remember multiple moments of decision in my relationship with Jesus Christ.  They happened as early as age five, were brought about through many experiences including camp meetings and movies about the rapture (there is this scene with a guillotine that still haunts me…), and came to maturity through my final years of youth camp.

While all of these moments hold value to me, the experience that truly cemented my faith and certainty in Jesus Christ came through the life and walk of my mother.  When I was around 10 years old my family was informed that my mother had breast cancer, and that it was severe.  In fact, we were told that she had little time to live – doctors were expecting three months.  As my mother began chemotherapy, with no where else to find help, we all turned to prayer.  I can still clearly remember lying in bed at night begging God to save my mom.  And He did.

To the amazement of the doctors, God saved my mother.  She won her first battle with cancer and then throughout the next 8-9 years she would do the impossible and win again and again, as the cancer would appear in new parts of her body only to be defeated.  I cannot tell you in words what an experience like this can do for the faith of a young Christian.  But I can say that I learned to again and again throw myself towards God’s arms knowing and believing that He would catch me.

My mother’s impact on my life doesn’t stop here.  See, it wasn’t just that she defeated cancer.  Her continual dependance on God, her strive to seek His will and follow Him, and her dedication to spiritual growth and development of character was incredible!  She was, and still is, everything I want to be as a Christian – loving, humble, and so filled with hope.  It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I found out the depth of her love.  As I often prayed for God to save my mother, she prayed to simply live long enough to see her last child, me, raised and off to college.  It is almost too perfect that when she did go home to heaven it was after twice visiting me at Houghton College and seeing that her prayers were answered.

Matthew 18:3 (NIV) – And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

In Matthew 18, I believe Christ isn’t talking about simply believing like a child, but having the humility of a child.  Saying to God not only do I trust you, God, but my life is Yours, do with it as You will.  May Your will be done with my life.  That has been my goal, to continually throw myself into God’s arms and to allow Him to do with my life as He sees fit.  As is always the case with God, He has taken me to places that I never expected.  It is through God’s hand that I went to Houghton College debt free.  At Houghton and without my understanding, God gave me opportunities to serve that provided leadership and creative ministry experience that I would use in years to come (like dressing in a kilt and leading a team of young men in obnoxious cheers…seriously).

After Houghton, God guided me to the first job I applied to, being the Assistant/Youth Pastor at Pine Grove Wesleyan Church. At no point in my life had I felt a specific call to youth ministry, yet I quickly found that God had given me the gifts and graces to excel.  In one year’s time, feeling like I couldn’t possibly be the best candidate, I was asked to become the District Youth President for the Penn-Jersey District.  What a blessing this opportunity has been!  In 2008, God guided me to Bethany Wesleyan Church. Here at Bethany, I serve as the Pastor of Family Ministries, overseeing ministries from Nursery to Young Adults.  Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry – of all my time at Houghton, I never once took a specific class in any of them.  But God has opened these doors for me to serve in life and as long as that is the case – His will be done.

I am 32 years old and I know that another step of faith is coming.  As has been the story of my life, I want to be prepared for whatever faith step God brings my way.  When that step comes, I don’t want to just be ready to take that step, I want to confidently leap forward into God’s arms and everything He has in store!  I know there will be moments of doubt and uncertainty ahead.  But if I have learned one thing from my life it is this – life is best when my faith and trust are placed in God.

Summer Pt.3 – Vacation Bible School

Creativity, Ministry, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Another summer comes to an end.  For most of my life summer has meant three things – Youth Camp, Family Camp, and Vacation Bible School.  Three things that have brought so much to my life.  Three ministries that many would say their ‘time’ or ‘value’ is fading.  As I finish another ‘summer’, I amazed at the impact and life-change these events have brought and I want to share a few thoughts as to the value I see.

Who really likes hosting Vacation Bible School?  I mean seriously – the noises, the whining, the germs, and the smells (don’t forget the smells – they can be potent).  Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a ton of work and at times it feels like glorified baby sitting.  What parent doesn’t want to have a week of having their children entertained most likely for free – that’s the best, but not if you’re the ones running it!  And then, as a leader you realize that your dreams of reaching to community kids is for the most part not happening – you’re just entertaining kids from your church and other churches in the community – for real!  So really – who likes hosting VBS?

Me!  I love Vacation Bible School and while some may refer to it as a ministry of the past, I say they’re just not doing it right! I work at a church that I believe is moving forward. We’re growing and trying to be as relevant to our community and time as possible. Even so, as the years have passed I have found VBS to be only getting more meaningful to us. Here are three awesome reasons why it works for us:

1. We make a statement! VBS is a great opportunity for your church and kid’s ministry to make a statement. First – that children and families are important to you.  Second – a statement about what your children’s ministry will focus on and prioritize.  Through this event we clearly communicate we are about being a fun and safe place where children will feel welcomed to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  We don’t focus on what VBS has been historically – we focus on what we want to be for children and family.

We are creative in the way we communicate the gospel, but we are steadfast in communicating the love of God and His Word.  It costs money because big, ridiculously cool things do, and we want this to be big and ridiculously cool.  Children have a lot of fun opportunities over the summer, but if they’d rather come to our VBS than something else, we’re doing something very right.

2. We recruit new leaders!  Children’s ministries need dedicated volunteers and often this is something that is hard to find.  Vacation Bible School gives you a great opportunity to get new people involved in children’s ministry.  Think about the pros:

  1. They only have to commit for one week.
  2. There are lots of opportunities to serve in low pressure roles (snacks, games, hayrides, inflatables, check-in, etc.).
  3. They get to be a part of the big cool thing happening that week.

VBS can be very attractive to volunteers and it is a great way to find new leaders who will often decide they like it and want to give even more time.  Don’t be afraid to ask people to volunteer, this is an easy commitment.  Always get background checks on everyone (ALWAYS).  Allow people to see the joy in volunteering, they may catch the bug!

3. We build relationships!  The biggest impact in ministry comes through relationships.  But when you only see a child one to three times a week for just a few hours (if that), then building those relationships can be tough.  VBS presents a huge opportunity to grow closer in just a short span of time.

Believe it or not, I have found that people like to check something out a few times, maybe even quite a few times, before they really commit to it – go figure!  (Did you catch the sarcasm?)  I have noticed that for many families that have connected to our church, it took multiple special events for them to “check us out” before they really committed.  VBS is a great opportunity to build that connection and even speed up the process as it gives you a lot of time with a family.  Build relationships with these new children and make sure to connect with their parents every time they pick-up/drop-off their kids.

We’ve created a Vacation Bible School that works for us.  For us that means no crafts, but fantastic snacks (think cotton candy, nachos, Italian ice).  We retired flannel-graphs and instead our Bible stories are shared through the use of costumes, videos, and mega-illustrations.  We like hayrides, making a mess, and renting large inflatables.  It’s not perfect but it’s pretty awesome.  Yes it still smells, it is tiring, and it does cost money.  But the statement, the new faces, and the relationships are well worth it.

Summer Pt.2 – Youth Camp

Ministry, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Another summer comes to an end for me.  Now maybe summer isn’t officially over, but for me it is.  For most of my life summer has meant three things – Youth Camp, Family Camp, and Vacation Bible School.  Three things that have brought so much to my life.  Three ministries that many would say their ‘time’ or ‘value’ is fading.  As I finish another ‘summer’, I amazed at the impact and life-change these events have brought and I want to share a few thoughts as to the value I see.

Throughout my life, especially my teenage years, there have been different versions of me.  Let me explain.  There was School Justin, Jr. High Soccer Justin, Family Justin, Church Justin, Cross-Country Justin, and the list could go on and on.  Different versions of me for the different places, people, and cultures in my life (and man was it awkward when some of those cultures collided – I know you’ve been there!).  Of all the “Justins” out there though, my favorite to be was always Youth Camp Justin.

What makes Youth Camp Justin so special?  Youth Camp Justin was the best!  He was free from all the restraints and pressures of the society around him to fit in and meet a social norm.  He was a Justin who didn’t have to work at looking out for himself because he was in a place where he was accepted and loved.  He was a Justin proud of the God and Savior he followed and to whom he devoted his life.  He was unashamed of serving Jesus and excited to stand as an example for Him.  Youth Camp Justin was on fire, courageous, hopeful, and light-hearted.  He  could light up others’ lives so easily with his steadiness and patient smile.  Ready to say to the world, “You be you, I’m going to be like Jesus.”

Few places in life so easily allowed me to be that person.  There were glimpses of that person at home and church, but the nature and culture of youth camp so easily brought it alive.  Every year of youth camp it became my dream to be that person all the time, for there not to be different versions of Justin but for me to become completely and utterly the Justin I liked so much.

As much as I wanted it to, it didn’t happen immediately.  Pressures are tough, wanting to fit in is real, confidence isn’t just bought, friends aren’t always helpful.  But that person I was at youth camp started to make a difference.  It was that version of me that made a pledge of purity and stuck with it.  It was that version that kept me away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.  It was that version that found life in spreading hope and seeing God’s light open others’ hearts.  And year after year, youth camp after youth camp, that Justin slowly took over, slowly came to dominate every part, every aspect, every avenue of me.  Today, I like to believe that every part of my life is that Youth Camp Justin.

I believe so strongly in youth camp.  Sometimes I am pretty sure I slightly offend people when I try to promote this event to them.  I probably come off a bit strong, a bit dramatic (that does sort of fit with youth ministry though – am I right or am I right?).  I simply want so badly for every teenager to see the youth camp version of himself or herself.  To have a chance to dream about what life would be like if they became that person.

Parents and leaders of teenagers – I could try to sell you on the opportunity to see great speakers, to participate in dynamic worship, to experience great events and building moments, or even plug the greatness of 5 teenager-free days!  Instead, I’ll simply ask this – Have your teenagers had a chance to see the best version of themselves?  To dream about the person in Christ they could become?

Teenagers – Life doesn’t have to be about fitting in.  You don’t have to settle for society’s desire for who you are and how you’ll live your life.  Find the best version of you, the you YOU love to be, and bring that version to life everyday.

As a pastor I hear so many stories about youth camp.  Stories of husbands and wives meeting at camp or dramatic moments of teenagers accepting Jesus Christ for the very first time!  These are the best.  I didn’t find my wife at camp and I had already accepted Christ into my heart at least 7 times before I was considered a teenager.  But youth camp is where I met the best version of myself and for that I’ll be forever grateful.

Summer Pt.1 – Family Camp

Ministry, , , , , Leave a comment

Another summer comes to an end for me.  Now maybe summer isn’t officially over, but for me it is.  For most of my life summer has meant three things – Youth Camp, Family Camp, and Vacation Bible School.  Three things that have brought so much to my life.  Three ministries that many would say their ‘time’ or ‘value’ is fading.  As I finish another ‘summer’, I amazed at the impact and life-change these events have brought and I want to share a few thoughts as to the value I see.

 

The Family Camp I grew up attending had very little amenities to offer.  There was no swimming pool, fairly questionable bathrooms, minimal space for activities, and a dining room that I’m not sure I ever had the courage to eat from.  I loved it!

You may think I’m kidding, but Family Camp was the best!  For one reason and one reason alone – the people.  People of different ages, backgrounds, and lives with basically one connection – Jesus Christ.

Family Camp is about one big purpose – people investing in one another.  I see this happen in a lot of ways and it allows us to see the value that Family Camp can still have today:

1. Strengthening Families.

One of the things I love about Family Camp is the opportunities for family members to grow individually while also being together and growing as a family unit.  There is the attraction and value of the age geared activities but plenty of time for families to purposefully unpack everything together.

Too often I worry that church ministries add to the world’s ability to pull family members in different directions.  Camp offers a wonderful opportunity to slow down and be together.  For myself Family Camp meant time with siblings, grandparents, parents, and more.  For my daughter it has already meant special time with daddy, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  It still amazes me that people take actual vacation time to spend on Family Camp.  But what could be more valuable to your family than this?

2. Building Connections.

The book Sticky Faith speaks about the importance of young people (and I believe any aged people) having relationships with mentoring Christians outside of their families.  These individuals don’t even have to be mentors per se, just invested people.  But how to form these at church?  Not a lot of time while passing the offering plate or during your church’s ‘moments of friendship’ (this is what we call the awkward handshake time during service that some love but most of us panic at and remember to stock up on hand sanitizer for – just kidding I love this time…really…) is given for building relationships.

If only there were a magical place (with cement bathrooms) that was filled with snack shop, volleyball, small group, and countless other moments basically making connections impossible to not form. Do the members of your family have enough positive connections to church and God?  Do you?  Family Camp is a great place to build those meaningful relationships.

3. Fostering Belonging.

As a pastor who often works with youth, I have grown to understand the importance of having a place to belong and not just for teenagers but for everyone.  We all need safe places that accept and love us.

Growing up as a Christian at a public school, on high school sports teams, and with a ‘secular’ job (Do we call Sheetz a ‘secular’ job?  Does anyone use the word ‘secular’ anymore?) it was incredible having this ‘breath of fresh air’ place to get support at being me.  It felt like an extension of home.  Do you and your family have places like this?  Safe places, where you get support in being the person God has called you to be.

Okay, Family Camp may not be for everyone – there is the whole ‘camp’ aspect.  I found a little sweat, a little exhaustion, and even a little smell is always worth the people who have and will continue to impact my life greatly.  32 years and they still make me want to go back – every year.

 

Today in Paradise

Ministry, , , One comment

(Note: this post was originally a mini-message I delivered at Bethany Wesleyan Church for a Good Friday Service)

How would someone describe you?  Think about it and be honest with yourself.  If someone had to describe you, what would they say?

Obviously, someone should start the description process with the hair.  Alright, maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part.  It has been said that I have the best hair in the Lehigh Valley (okay…the person who actually said that was me…).  We do tend to start with physical attributes though, don’t we?  Hopefully, the description would go deeper.  They’d talk about if you were a nice person, a caring individual, a creative mind, a loving parent, etc.

For most of us we will be described by what we have done.  When I was in 5th grade I had a teacher named Mr. Dippery. (Seriously!  Imagine the fun a 5th grader could have with the name Dippery! Oh the temptation to say Dippy or Drippy.)  We took a class trip to a local park with a creek and Mr. Dippery made it very clear that every year someone fell into the creek.  He made it just as clear that we were not to be that person.  Wouldn’t it be great if this was the year where no one fell in the creek?  Yeah, that would have been great.  I can’t remember if it was hot out, if the water looked refreshing, or if maybe I saw a fish, but I ended up in the creek.  For Mr. Dippery, I became the “fall in the creek” type of kid and that description was probably well deserved!

How would someone describe you?

Jesus is on the cross and two other men are on crosses with Him. Matthew and Mark describe them as thieves. But Luke chooses a different word – a Greek word that literally means “those who do evil works.”¹  This is probably one of the ways we’d all least like to be described.  But the fear is that at one point or another in our lives this could have described any of us.  At one point or another we’ve all done evil. And we all hope not to be remembered for those moments.

Jesus hung on the cross with these two men. One, for some reason or another, decided to berate and mock Him. Did this evil man feel better from his words? Did he feel like part of the crowd? Did resorting to bullying make his situation seem better? I don’t know.

While one berated Jesus and mocked who He was, the other took a different stance.  Something from his evil life changed. Could he change his past? No, every action he had made remained.  Could he change his present situation, of hanging on the cross? No, he was literally nailed to that situation.  But he must have seen something in Jesus’ actions that gave him the hope to believe.  And as his heart began to change, he made a simple plea:

“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”

And with those words he proclaimed his faith, his belief, his hope, his heart.

And Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Many across the world will remember Good Friday as the day that the world, humanity, a race of “those who do evil works” destroyed the greatest person among them.  It could be the day that they took the one true innocent man, the one Man that certainly was not “one who did evil works” and killed Him next to those who did.

That is one way to remember Good Friday.

I’d encourage you to remember Good Friday like this:  The day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ looked into the eyes of one who did evil works – a representative of each of us, maybe the worst of us – and because that man believed, Jesus invited him to spend eternity with Him in paradise.

How would someone describe you?

Remember that no matter how lost you are – Jesus came for you and on the cross He invited you to paradise with Him.  However your past may describe you – with a confession to Jesus Christ and a belief in Him, He will describe you as one fit for paradise, one made for His family.

How would someone describe you?

If those of us who claim to be Christ’s followers would show the compassion and love that Jesus showed even up to His most painful moment on the cross, think about how you and I would be described!  Think about the difference we could make!

How would someone describe you?  Time will tell.

From Good Friday we do know one thing, how Jesus would describe you – worth it all.

 

 

¹Adam Hamilton, Final Words From the Cross, (Abingdon Press, 2011) p. 38.