The Barking Dog

A little book arrived on my desk earlier this week that drew my attention. As I glanced through it, I read a statement that I found both provocative and true. Here is is, written by Paul Scanlon, pastor of Abundant Life Church in Bradford, England:

The Barking Dog:

"I hate the fact that much of the church has become famous for its intolerance of the world. We are known for what we are against, whether it's abortion, homosexuality, smoking, alcohol, or Harry Potter.You name it, the church is against it. Now I'm not particularly advocating any of the above, my point here is that we have become the angry dog that barks at every passer by. Eventually the dog just becomes an irritant in the neighborhood. The neighbors avoid the dog, but can never forget it because like all barking dogs, much of the time it just barks for no reason.

I don't want to 'bark' at my city or the people in it. I want to appreciate it, love it and learn to live amongst the people of my city as a revolutionary for positive change.

Jesus was not known for what he was against. he was not known as the 'Pharisee hater' or the 'Tax Collector's worst nightmare'! Instead he was famous for the good he did for people. He was called the healer, one who spoke with authority and wisdom, the great teacher. But most notably, he was called the 'friend of sinners.' What a reputation to have! And we, Christ's Body in the world today, should have the same reputation.

The church is not a resistance movement; it is a replacement movement. God so loved the world that he didn't send us an ultimatum but an alternative."

Paul Scanlon

Another Godportunity

Since I began my day with a "forget everything" drug for a medical procedure, I figured I'd better write this down before I "forget it."

After the procedure, I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. When I was on my way out of the pharmacy, I almost literally ran into someone who is very well known, actually all over the world. I'd met her before a number of years ago, so I reintroduced myself to her, and asked her how things were going for her. I had heard she'd been struggling with a lot of "demons" from the past, things that don't just go away. Having been victimized in more ways than she could count while growing up, there's no question it has been hard for her to see life in any other way. She "accepted Christ" some years ago, but making the decision, and actually embracing all that is true about new life in Christ, are two very different things.

When she told me some of the stuff she was dealing with, I asked if we might pray about it. She jumped at the chance, and right there in the middle of Walgreens, we went for it, going right to the throne of grace. When we finished, she grabbed me and gave me a "hug of hugs." I said a couple of other things encouraging her in Jesus, and before turning around, she hugged me again.

Man, I hate the devil. I hate the things he does in the lives of people, especially when he convinces Christians they aren't really free, can't truly have a brand new life. And when other so-called "believers" jump on his bandwagon, piling on when people like her have their struggles, it's even worse. Why would a believer want to play on his team??? She may have issues, but she belongs to Jesus, chosen by him. As far as God is concerned, she's priceless!

"When anyone is in Christ, she is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become brand new!" Praise God!

Busting buttons...

It was truly a moment in time that was awesome to behold. It was one of those "you had to be there" experiences. This last weekend, Easter weekend, was a time that our church truly made me proud. Perhaps it was best symbolized in the choir, which was totally intergenerational. You hear people talk about this, but seeing it in action is something quite different. High schoolers, mixed with grandmas and grandpas, and everybody in between, led us all in fantastic worship.

One of the things that really struck me happened right before I came out to speak for the last service. Just before going onto the stage, I overheard one of the younger choir members thanking the various orchestra people for their outstanding contribution. What a joy to know that kind of encouragement was being expressed with nobody having to make it happen. Proud? You bet!

The Church is the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ has all kinds of people in it, young people, and not so young people, babies with full heads of hair, and grandpas who forgot how that feels. In too many places today, the church doesn't look like this. What a shame!

You bet I'm proud of our people. Praise God for the wonderful church he allows me to pastor!

Godportunities revisited

This week I heard about a most amazing way in which God worked in the life of an individual. After hearing the story, I'm sure that he did something powerful in more than one life.

I have a friend who, for a variety of reasons, is terrified of sedation. This past week, she had to have a procedure done that demanded the very thing she feared. As she lay on the table in the operating room scared to death, she revealed her struggle to her surgeon, asking for help. Instead of simply trying to talk her fears away, this angel from God masquerading as a physician took my friend's hand, and right there in the operating room, in front of the other professionals hovering around, she began to sing a hymn. After finishing that, she launched into "His Eye is on the Sparrow." Perhaps you know that old song. As she was drifting off to sleep for her procedure, my friend her these incredibly comforting words filling her ears, her room, and the lives of all present:

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for Heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

This sensitive physician obviously has a close walk with the Lord. She senses when doors fly open, and she walks right through. May we all be encouraged by such a great model!

Have a wonderful weekend, filled with "Godportunities"

Bill

Godportunity

Recently at church, we have been speaking about power tools. No, not electric screwdrivers or drills, but rather the "tools" God gives us to express his power, otherwise known as "gifts of the Spirit." Among those power tools, one we found
particularly exciting was that of "miracles."

Personally, I have found it more helpful to use the word "godportunity" when speaking about miracles, because the very thought of being involved in a full-fledged miracle just seems too overwhelming for some folks to handle. A "godportunity," however, an opportunity for God to express his power through a person's life, seems so much more manageable. Any of us could get into a godportunity. All we need to do is show up, ask God to use us, and go for it when and where he opens the door.

A week or so after sharing the whole concept of godportunities, I received an email from one of our folks that pretty much had me falling out of my chair laughing. Let me share it with you:

"I was in Safeway last week and saw an elderly woman struggling to get a can on the top shelf so I went over to assist. The lady then asked about the brand and which brands I thought were the best, where certain items were located in the store, and then commented on the weather. She was lonely and obviously just wanted to talk! Aha! A Godportunity! I told her that I wasn't sure about the brand because I buy the same brands over-and-over since my husband is a picky eater. She stopped me and asked if I thanked God daily that I had a husband to prepare a meal for. I confessed "no". She then shared how people don't know what they have 'til it's gone. The lady then asked if she could pray for me!! So right there in the canned soup section of Safeway the lady prayed for me. Hmmm, I don't think this was the way the Godportunity was suppose to go (maybe she heard your message)."

When I read this email, besides laughing uncontrollably, I realized that whether it was the widow in the soup aisle, or our wonderful member who chanced to meet her, they both got to take part in a real-life godportunity!

I hope this week finds you looking to the Lord for the great things he might want to do through your life.

Pastor Bill

Too blessed to be stressed...

This last Sunday, we had a wonderful guy with us at church who shared some simple things he's learned through his life, and communicated them in such a "street level way" that lots of folks were able to hear what he said, and immediately put it into practice. Among the many nuggets that Al Egg, chaplain of the Trail Blazers, gave us was the fact that regardless of what he was up against, when he kept everything in perspective, he realized he was "too blessed to be stressed." Isn't that a great way to live? He went on to say that subsequent to his sharing this concept, various people have stated it in different ways like, "I'm too redeemed to be steamed," or like Travis Outlaw opined, "I'm too anointed to be disappointed."

All of this is simply the outworking of taking Jesus at his word in John 16.33: "In the world you will have tribulation, but cheer up; I've overcome the world!" He said it, but will we believe it? How about you...are you too blessed to be stressed?

Blessings,

Bill

Merry Christmas!

When I look at pictures taken from our back porch exactly one year ago today, I realize how blessed we are! What could we be thinking when we sing, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"! It's one of the few times I am exceedingly thankful for mild temperatures and rain.

Truly this is a Merry Christmas. As I stop and consider the gift God gave to us that first Christmas in order for us to have a relationship with him, I am overwhelmed. When you get right down to it, it's all about relationship, isn't it.

Over the past year, I have witnessed such great growth in our own church in this regard, both in terms of people growing in their relationship with the Lord, and as a result, in their relationships with one another.

That gives me great hope for the new year. My prayer is that we all will recognize more fully the beauty of the relationship God wants with each of us, and simply echo that in our relationships with one another.

Oh, it may snow again in the new year. But as we stay close to the Lord, it won't make any difference. His warmth will carry us through anything!

Be blessed,

Bill