Ramblings from the life and times of Gideon

As Paul Harvey said--"and that's the rest of the story. Good day!" This morning as I read through Judges 6, 7, and 8 I kept thinking of the times I have taught/preached "the story of Gideon." I would always emphasize (and still think it true) the necessity of every man standing in his place and faithfully following God, with the result being God gives the victory. However, the rest of the story reveals MUCH more!

"Then the Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian." Judges 8:22, HCSB

How quickly they forgot---how quickly we forget! It was not Gideon, it was God that delivered. They advocated making Gideon king, when they should have bowed down to the King of Kings. In fact, this was just another time they rejected God to be more like the unfaithful men around them who did have kings. Why are we so willing to reject God and His ways for the ways of man.

Gideon must have really struggled with his crises. First, he had to send 31,700 soldiers home and keep only 300. Then after victory he had to send the people home without the king they wanted. Gideon's love relationship with God was so firm that he followed God's ways even when human ways were far more attractive. What human glory do you surrender to do it God's way?

There was 40 years of peace, BUT in Judges 8: 32 - 35, we see that AS SOON AS GIDEON DIED, "as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god." (8:33). They "forgot" the deliverance God had given them--they did not show kindness to the household of Gideon. Before I am too critical of them, I must examine mmy own life. How quickly I forget. How quickly I "play the harlot." I (we) are guilty of spiritual adultery when we fail to surrender all and FOLLOW Christ daily.

That hymn at the end of the service, "I surrender ALL," (have you noticed) is generally sung quietly and mumbled through. Our hearts are literally singing--"I surrender SOME----." May we surrender ALL to Him this day and experience the JOY nad fulfillment that only comes through faithful and COMPLETE obedience/following of the LIVING Lord Jesus Christ!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! That's the greeting going around this weekend. It is a good time to examine who we are in Christ and what He would have us to do with out lives! It has been a LONG time since my last post (on any blog), so my first New Year's Resolution as it relates to "social media" is to post more often on the blogs and sites I maintain.

Not just posts, but posts "with purpose." Some of you understand that term. It is not my desire to fill up my time with useless info. Rather, I want my posts to have some value to the reader. So, whether it be an actual blog, FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or TRBA's website, it is my prayer you will find information useful that I post in 2012.

As I have thought of what to post in 2012, I have prayed and then examined what I am "hearing" from various sources in denominational life. To that end, I have determined to focus on the purpose of the association, as well as issues related to overall church health. I will be looking a LOT to Transformational Church and Transitional Pastor as I am working with both LifeWay and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in those areas. Truthfully, I think there are things we can glean to strengthen the church and impact lostness (our purpose as an association of churches).

In a conversation with a Sunday School director today we began to discuss some information we had obtained during a Josh Hunt conference several years back. In fact, I bought a book by Hunt today that reiterated the idea of "how to double your Sunday School in two years or less."

The gist of the conversation centered on the fact that the classes seemed content with where they were and had not grown in several years. Basically, we talked about the lack of evidence in many area churches (from conversations the two of us have had with other church leaders in neighboring churches from three associations) that churches want to grow.

I think that is perhaps the first thing we need to honestly look at as we begin the new year. Do we have a genuine desire to grow closer to Christ personally and to grow both spiritually and numerically in our churches. Or are we content with where we are. I would invite you to pray and search with me this simple fact over the next couple of days. After the first of the year I will examine the idea of doubling Sunday School attendance in less than two years. I am pretty confident I will address it from the standpoint of IF we REALLY want to see growth.

I have become convinced that we have all the tools we need to advance the kingdom. We have attended conference after conference. In the YEARS we have attended, there has been little kingdom advance and virtually no SUSTAINED evidence of growth in many of our churches. Yet - we have the tools sitting idly beside us as we moan about our lack of advance.

What do we have:

1. The authority of Christ who commanded that we make disciples.
2. His Word.
3. His presence to instruct, lead, guide, empower.
4. Prayer.
5. His promise to hear, answer, empower as we walk in obedience to Him.

Then we have other tools to assist. Among the ones I have emphasized in TRBA are Link2Lead, The Mapping Center, continued training of church leadership, Transformational Church, Transitional Pastor, etc. etc. etc. Over the next few weeks, expect much info to be shared. As it is shared, pray about your participation individually and as a church.

Do you want to see kingdom advance in 2012? If you do, please join me and the other TRBA staff members as we answer the call to prayer by our denominational leaders. Pray with us daily for kingdom advance. Join us on Monday, January 23rd at 7 PM for a corporate time of prayer.

Again, I wish you the best for 2012. I look forward to walking alongside you as we set out together to strengthen His church and impact the lostness of THIS generation!

2010 - A New Year For TRBA

It is still early in the New Year - a new decade. As we enter 2010, TRBA also begins full implementation of its policies and procedures under the "new" ByLaws that were approved by the association. I am grateful for all the hard work that has been done to prepare for the implementation. I am excited as I see how God will use these efforts to help us go forward in the new decade.

By now, you should have experienced our enhanced efforts to communicate the life and work of the Association. We have established both a FaceBook Group and Fan Page. We will use these pages (and the services offered through FaceBook) to communicate to the many members of Tar River that daily use FaceBook. We will advertise TRBA events (inviting you to RSVP to the various events) and also invite you to participate in discussion topics as well.

One very important feature on the FaceBook is that YOU - any member of the group - can send out messages to all other members. This way, you can get the news out to all our member churches regarding activities in your church and community.

We will expand our use of e-zines. Pastors should be receiving a weekly e-zine entitled THE NAVIGATOR. Everyone on our "Constant Contact" list should receive THE MID-STREAM around the 15th of each month. These detail important information to our members and we would appreciate your sharing them with your church family. If you are not receiving these, please email us at tarriverbaptist@hotmail.com and ask to be added to the e-zine lists.

Third, we are also expanding the use of TellBlast. You should have received the first mass effort to get the word out about the Sunday School training on January 30th. We will utilize this a great deal more during 2010 to get information to you in a timely manner.

Fourth, we will utilize both TRBA blogs (one for general membership and the second for pastors) to communicate ideas and discussions about major changes taking place in the life and work of the association. Please participate.

Finally (in the arena of communication) we will also be altering our monthly newsletter, THE CURRENTS OF THE TAR, pretty soon. It is our hope that any changes we make will enhance our communication efforts to our member churches.

There are a LOT of quality events coming forward in the next few weeks:

January 19 - 7 PM: Treasures IRS Update (TRBA Center)
January 23 - 9 AM: Pastors' Families Fellowship Breakfast (Ephesus Church)
January 25 - 6 PM: Associational Council Meeting (TRBA Large Conference Room)
Janaury 25 - 7 PM: Quarterly Executive Board Meeting (TRBA Large Conference Room)
January 30 - 8 AM: Sunday School Training (Pearce Church)
Feb 16 -10 AM: Monthly Ministers' Fellowship (TRBA Large Conference Room)
March 6/7 (TBA): "Life Is A Mission Trip" Training (Duke Memorial)

One final announcement for this post: EVERY MONDAY at 9 AM your TRBA Associational Staff gathers for prayer. All persons in the building will be invited to join us in the small conference room for a season of prayer. During 2010 there will be invitations for all to join in prayer for the ministry that is before us.

Next week's post will be a brief update of efforts regarding the CURRENTS OF THE TAR and some of the particular training events for 2010. We will begin to share our goals as an association in our weekly (hopefully) blog posts. Please join me in praying for the life and work of our member churches as we work together to accomplish the work God has called us to do together.

The Choices Before God's Church

It has been a LONG time since I posted anything. Truth is, it is difficult to find enough time to deal with all the tools we have to better communicate AND still do all the work that is required. I HOPE to become more regular in posting, but can make no real promises.

I am in the process of adding 2 Corinthinas 11:28 as a life-verse as it relates to my calling to serve as Associational Missionary. It reads, “Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” When I read through that earlier this year it truly spoke to me. I am concerned gretayly about "the church." I am burdened about the stats I see related to the church of North America in particular. I see the baptism rates in TRBA churches and my heart aches as well.

I have to admit to you, the ideas expressed in this post come from reading an article in the newsletter of a friend of mine - Bud Parish, Associational Missionary for the Robeson Association. His original remarks sparked ideas for me and I have chosen to modify them to share a piece of my heart and calling for Associational Missions.

Some have stated that the church of North America has been in a "spiritual drift" for the past 150 years and there is a need for a spiritual awakening in our country. I think we will agree that many of our churches throughout America have been "sliding backwards" for at least the past 30 - 50 years when it comes to reaching the people that are not in relationship with Christ. Sometimes we have looked to the convention (state and national) to provide a new program or a "quick fix" for us. All the while, God is calling us - the local church - to simply be His church and be faithful where He has placed us.

What are our options/choices?

I believe there are three basic choices we have as churches:

1. Separation - we can escape into ourselves and "hide" from that which God has placed in our path.

I think you can tell from the "tone" in my writing that I am NOT for such a choice by the local church. We are IN the world and not OF the world, but we certainly can not hide from the realities before us.

2. Assimilation - we can assume our culture and look "just like the world."

Again, there may be a little in my "tone" here as well. Yes, we must be relevant to ouyr culture, but I think there is inherent danger when we look JUST like the culture. There is a natural, marked CONTRAST to the ways of the world when God transforms our lives.

3. Association - we must.............

....work together and pray together
....move from limitations to innovations
....step up to the challenge God has placed before us (no matter what that
is for our local church and not be concerned with the "measurement
stick" used by others)
....move from preservation to penetration of our culture ("go and see")
....become pro-active as opposed to re-active
....start NEW ministries - ministry is seeing a need and meeting it

Oh well, I think from the "tone" here you can see where I am as well. Think with me for a minute - why were Sunday Schools started? They were started to teach children how to read. That says something to us. What is the greatest need in your community? Don't you believe that's what God has placed you there to meet. I am sad to report to you that there are many church leaders I speak with that do not have a clue as to what the greatest need is in their community. Sure, I think we can all agree their real greatest need is Jesus, but there are temporal needs to be met to bring them in to listen to the Gospel (and if you think their greratest need is Jesus, are YOU busy sharing Jesus with your community?).

TRBA is made up of what would be classified as "smaller membership churches." That simply has to do with the numbers that gather weekly for praise and worship in their local assembly. It has NOTHING to do with the calling of God on our individual church. I believe strongly that God has equipped us to do ALL that He has called us to do. We are to be obedient to that call and step out in faith believing God is God and we are His church.

IN ASSOCIATION with one another, the churches of the Tar River Baptist Association have committed to minister to the needs of hurting people in our community. Each of us have a roll to fulfill. All are equally important to the total need of the community being fulfilled. All of us are to be faithful to the call of God. We are working in concert with one another - not in competition. That is a key concept for us to grasp as churches.

I ask that you join me in praying for the member churches of our association. Pray for your church, but also pray for the leadership of your neighboring churches. Pray that God will bless us all as we step out in faithful obedience to His calling for the local church we serve. Just BE READY to be the instrument that God has called YOU to be in His work.

My friend Bud closed his article by saying, "God is always ready for a New Thing, are we ready?" It is my prayer that we will be ready to respond to the Lordship of Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit to do that which God has called us to do as His church.

What "NEW THING" is God calling YOU to today? Will you be that faithful servant that yields to the Lordship of Christ and follow Him wherever He leads and whatever He demands?

When I Was A Child

The Bible teaches that we can expect children to act and think like children. However, as we grow up in Christ, we are to behave as more mature believers; follow Christ more each day; and, stop yielding to the wind that blows one direction today and another tomorrow. Let me ask you a question, if Paul were to write you (or your church) a letter today would he say that "when you ought to be eating meat, you still have need of milk?" In other words, are we growing in our relationship with the Lord?

If you look at statistics, it appears that we are - at best - stagnate in our growth. We are not reaching the lost - not even our own children and grandchildren. When we do win someone to the Lord, we fail to walk alongside them in their spiritual growth (discipleship) and many "drop out/" Even in churches that are leading in baptisms, the back door is appear to be open as there appears to be no increase in the life and work of the church.

I could go on and on, but I think you get my point. We - as a church - seem to have little (if any) impact on the world around us. And - we seem to be OK with it because reaching the lost and discipling the saved appears to be low priority for most churches. Certainly, it is low priority for individual believers.

Now--I know at first read those could be "fighting words." But honestly answer these questions:

1. At your church's last business meeting, was outreach to your community discussed?
2. Does your church have an active and accountable outreach ministry to the community?
3. What was the last discipleship class that you personally took? What did you do personally as a result of that class?
4. When was the last time there was a baptism in your church of an adult?
5. When was the last time you shared the Gospel with a lost person?
6. Are you more likely to be at a revival service or a civic meeting if they are on the same night?
7. If your church has cottage prayer meetings in preparation for revival, do you attend?
8. When was the last time you went to the altar and prayed for the life and work of your church?

Pray with me about the church of North America---the church of North Carolina -- the church of Tar River. There is a field that is "white unto harvest." but most assuredly, "the laborers are few." If we are going to reach our communities for Christ, then you and I MUST change our priorities and place God and His caqll upon our lives first and foremost!

Project Father's Day

As I read through my mail this morning I noticed a brochure. Normally, I would have just trashed the advertisement. It was a brochure promoting "PROJECT FATHER'S DAY". If you have never seen one, your pastor gets such cards regularly promoting some emphasis for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Race Relations Sunday, etc. There is no way we can keep up with all the promo materials we receive.

You will note that I said, "I NOTICED a brochure...." The "headlines" for the promotion were compelling. Sure - it is advertising a Father's Day promotion in the local church (you can go to www.maninthemirror.org and get the details). And yes - I am facilitating a men's group at my church right now with one of the books they are highlighting. And truly it is a way to "Reach every husband, father, and son in your church this Father's Day for about $1 each," BUT the words leaped from the page to my heart strings and I felt compelled to both pray over these facts in our member churches and to write this blog asking you to pray with me. If the men of our churches experienced the transforming power accessible to them through the Holy Spirit as a result of our fervent prayer, there would be "revival in our land."

What was the compelling information that was shared in this brochure? Please read it with an awareness in our churches and throughout our communties:

For EVERY 10 MEN in YOUR church.......

10 are STRUGGLING to balance work and family,
9 WILL HAVE children who leave the church,
5 will have a SERIOUS problem with pornography,
4 WILL GET divorced, and
ONLY 1 has a biblical worldview.

These facts are alarming!!!! With Christ as Savior and Lord - our lives are empowered through the Holy Spirit to be "more than conquerors." Yet - only 1 of 10 in our churches would even think in that frame. Serious problems exist within our curched families (hear me -- CHURCHED families) that are tearing families apart and lending itself toward an ever increasing divorce rate. 50% of our men have a SERIOUS problem with pornography (and this includes laity and clergy) that both reflects dissatisfaction and problems in their life and contributes to an abundance of other problems that exist within our homes and churches (and society as a whole). Our daily struggles to balance the demands of life rip into our marriage relationships; our relationships with our children; affect morale and productivity in the work place; other interpersonal relationships, etc. etc.

I am not writing this to encourage you to participate in
"PROJECT FATHER'S DAY. However, I am writing you to encourage you to join me in praying for this situation. I am also asking that you commit with me to be men and women of faith; striving to live in accordance with a Biblical worldview; and striving to balance our lives by seeking FIRST and FOREMOST -- above EVERYTHING else - His righteousness.

Personally devote MORE TIME to "being still" and LISTENING to God in the midst of your day. Corporately - lead your church to face the realities before them and sure them up to be beacons of hope in the midst of chaos, turmoil, and despair. Pray WITHOUT CEASING -- but understand the prayers of a "righteous man" (or woman) "availeth much." So -- we begin with OURSELVES and not the church in total. Just some thoughts to consider as you prepare for a season where many churches emphasize the family - that time between Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day.

The Future Of Associations

I have served as Associational Missionary with Tar River Association since November 2000. I remain excited about the work God has called me to do and in 2008, pledge myself anew to the work of strengthening the church.

This week I was privileged to attend the annual summit of the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA). I am excited about this organization as it shares my vision/passion for strengthening the local church. Each year we gather to offer training and resources with one another. As the name implies - we NETWORK. To work with such men that are willing to share their expertise/life's work to help churches all accross North America. I am grateful to God for such an organization.

Last year I was prvileged to serve on the National Leadership Team (NLT) for NOBA. That mostly helped me! The other 15 men responded to every question I asked and shared resources very helpful to the life and work of the association with me. I obtained much help from them in developing our By-laws, and now policy and procedure manual. I can see much more to help the association as this organization grows.

The organization has now grown to over 300 members (our goal for 2007 was 200). We expect more growth this year. LifeWay, the IMB, and now NAMB have become a part of what we are doing - to varied degrees. Over the next 3 - 4 years, a third of the Associational Missionaries across the nation will retire. I expect much from NOBA to assist these new DOMs.

This year I am privileged to serve NOBA - and thus remain obedient to God's call to strengthen the church in my role as an Associational Missionary. This year, I will continue to serve on the Resource Team (I am excited about that as DOMs around the nation sending me the best of their resources to upload on our website). I have also been asked to serve as the liason to LifeWay for NOBA and I am excited about that as well.

Please pray for me as I strive to be obedient to the call of God to strengthen the local church. Know that I am praying for you daily and expcect to see God do great things through His church in 2008.