For months now I’ve been preaching a series of sermons that I just titled “The Jesus Series”. It’s somewhat of a joke around our church actually. The church knows that this allows me tremendous latitude in subjects while still talking about Jesus every week. Whatever I call a sermon, all roads lead to Jesus as far as I’m concerned.

When I first became a Christian, I was taught Acts and the Epistles mainly. Therefore, when I first started ministering, which was soon after I committed my life to Christ, I preached from the Acts and the Epistles. I even went on mission trips (we called them “campaigns”) where we had to learn all kinds of scripture. Most of the scriptures I memorized, either to cite the verse or even be able to actually quote it, were from the Epistles.

And, don’t get me wrong, Jesus was referenced and preached, but I personally was missing something and leaving some things out as well. Perhaps it was just my own problem. Perhaps I just gravitated toward the more concrete messages of Paul and so forth, looking for specific answers and applications. The gospels’ presentations of Jesus make people think a lot. The gospels leave lots of things too open and unexplained for many. The letters (epistles) get more specific.

I had read the gospels, but still I realized I didn’t know much about Jesus. Our preacher was an awesome guy. He served as a mentor and today I still constantly think about him and all he taught me as I study and teach. However, a wonderful preacher named Stanley Shipp was the first that I really “heard” when he talked about Jesus. He became an important role model for me as a preacher and minister, even though he didn’t know it at the time. His Jesus was real. His Jesus was amazing. Jesus didn’t seem to be his excuse for preaching as it seemed with some but rather his reason for preaching. It was John Clayton and his “Does God Exist” ministry that finally tipped the balance and led me to believe in Jesus in my head—my mind. It was Stanley Ship that finally helped me to “believe in my heart”, as Paul mentions in Rom. 10:9, 10.

Another preacher named Jim Woodruff was one that further set me on a path to really preach Jesus. I heard him at a conference in Arkansas. For the life of me, I cannot even remember his subject. Jesus, I guess. I really don’t remember his sermon at all. I do remember being mesmerized by his message though. It changed my ministry direction. Perhaps it was the Holy Spirit translating his message into my own “language”, I just don’t know. But then and there I decided I would start preaching Jesus. I guess I’ve been preaching and teaching the Jesus Series ever since!

Although I still feel like a novice in the faith, I’ve been preaching and teaching since 1975. Thirty-five years. I’ve been around the block some. As a friend of mine, Tommy Bush, used to say, “I didn’t just fall off the banana truck yesterday.” I don’t know where that saying came from, but what it says to me is that I’m not a rookie. As Paul would say, comparing himself to some false leaders he referred to as “super-apostles”, “I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge” (2 Cor. 11:5-6).

I feel somewhat like Paul, although I would of course in no way elevate myself even close to where he was, what he did, or what he went through. But, he said he was like one “born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:8). He wasn’t one of the original apostles and came along a little later. He didn’t get to spend three years learning from Jesus, although Jesus did appear to him and Paul felt his presence in his life and ministry (2 Tim.4:17).

I didn’t go to Christian school, Christian college, or seminary. I didn’t grow up entrenched in church. I was never a part of the church “in” crowd for sure. I have taken some religion and philosophy classes, but I am not a theologian. I’m not a part of anybody’s special circle or fellowship. My knowledge and experience has truly been in the field. I’ve fought my own lions and bears, so to speak (1 Sam. 17:34), and can use my spiritual slingshot pretty well though.

I find Jesus refreshing and really simple. I think we often complicate him, obstruct a view of him, and otherwise distract others and ourselves from him. I want to share some observations from my experiences with churches and Christians of all kinds concerning our use of scripture and so forth.

First, we make it too complicated and we over analyze most things in the scripture. I don’t think most scriptures were written to be exegeted and dissected the way that is often done. I don’t believe Biblical inspiration to be divine dictation either. And, I don’t think Matthew or Luke or Paul knew just how inspired their writings were. I certainly don’t think they had any idea that their words would be analyzed with a fine toothcomb of Hebrew and Greek and cultural analysis. Led by God, they were just doing what they did—trying to help Christians and churches grow in their faith in Jesus. But, over-analysis generally just leads us to all sorts of division, pride, and self-centeredness. Even Paul, the writer of much of what I believe to be over-analyzed, said he decided to know nothing but Jesus and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). He probably learned his lesson in his previous visit to Athens, before he went to Corinth. He’d used a fairly philosophical approach preaching in Athens, which however yielded little fruit (Acts. 17:16-34).

Second, we’re still falling for the original sin—eating (overeating really) from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and urging those with us to do so as well (Gen. 3:6). I mean, we don’t just take a bite of the forbidden fruit; we founder ourselves on it (horses will sometimes overeat certain kinds of things and it causes an inflammation of their hooves, and we do the same thing in our over-analysis). We can’t do much of anything because our spiritual feet are too inflamed to even walk with Jesus. Rather, we sit on our rear ends and study for Jesus, I guess one might say. We’re going to be saved because of our faith in Jesus—our Tree of Life. Eat of him and you can live forever and enjoy the freedom of all the fruits of his creation. Eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and you will surely die.

Third, in our desire to “be like God, knowing good and evil” we just plain think we ought to know too much. My third son was nosy when he was a kid. Very little could go on without him knowing about it. If my wife and I whispered about something he’d either ask us what we were saying or he’d try to nose in so he could hear. He also snooped around through everything, although he thought it was on the sly. He wanted to know about things that he had no reason to know. He was too young to process much at the time. It’s the same with God and us. We just get too nosy, I fear. Job learned the hard way that there were significant things that were unknowable by him (Job 38-41). Paul too was shown things in a heavenly visit that could not be told here for some reason (2 Cor. 12:1-4). So it is in the church today there’s just a lot that we really don’t know. We have people lined up on both sides as well as in the middle of the “thousand year reign of Christ” issue. Man, there’s intensity and seemingly even venom some times in the arguing and rhetoric. I think we need to chill some. I simply do not believe our salvation is dependent on our being exactly right about that or most such issues. Jesus is already my Lord and King, and he wants to be everyone else’s too (oh well, there are some that even disagree with that). I think we’re trying to play God some times rather than trying to just understand God so we can serve him.

Fourth, we tend to equate knowledge with spirituality. So we must study, study, study. I really don’t know why. Some of the most spiritual people I’ve ever known were quite simple in their knowledge and faith. Jesus was Lord for them and they simply wanted to be and live like he did. They trusted God rather than their own knowledge of things. The churches that I got my start in generally did not believe that the Holy Spirit actually indwelt you but that he dwelled in you through the word that he had inspired. Really? Hence, the more one knew the more spiritual one was.

Fifth, we are often far too biased in our study to begin with. Churches and ministries generally indoctrinate us before we’ve even had a chance to develop any sort of filters of our own. Hence, we study in order to find out that what we already believe is really true. Too many churches seem to addict people to a cycle. I’m told I’m saved because of such and such. However, I also need to come to church every week or so to be reminded that I am indeed saved because I did what was right in order to be saved, and also I’m right about most things because of my association with the right church. And, if on any point you are unsure, just call the pastor. Is that really any different than what happened in the dark ages when the scripture was hidden from the Christian populace and they were forced to simply trust the leaders? The truth sets us free—free from fear of being wrong. Fear of being rejected by any particular church or denomination. Free from the control of people, period. Do you really want to win an argument that you are wrong about?!

Sixth, we are self-centered not God-centered. We make it about us. However, the scripture tells us that it is about God. “All things were created by him and for him” (Col. 1:16). We tend to think the world was created by him for US. And, so we study too often to validate ourselves rather than to simply find God so that we can walk with and live for him. The solar system never made sense to man until it was figured out that the earth wasn’t the center of it. Guess who mostly stood in the way of that being figured out and publicized—the church. Guess who I think mostly stands in the way of man figuring out and publicizing that we are the not center of the whole creation but that God is? You guessed it, the church, I think!

Seven, we want to impress people way too much. Paul warned that the church would produce teachers to tell them what they wanted to hear (2 Tim. 4:4). And, it’s happened. We go to our centers of learning. We learn what is taught there. Then we go out into the corporate or institutionalized church. Our livelihoods depend on pleasing the members as well as pleasing the powers that be in our “fellowships”. There are of course sacred cow doctrines that you had better not mess with or you’ll get rejected and even punished. So we learn to study, to write, and to preach to please people. If we want to move up we even need to impress more. So, it is the preacher that gets the pews packed, the bank account filled, and the church buildings impressive that will be tapped as the denominational or fellowship golden boy. John the Baptist would not have moved up in most of our fellowships. Jesus would not be accepted very well in most of our fellowships. Way too honest. Way too blunt. Way too God-centered.

Eight, we get frustrated and give up. Frankly, this is my challenge. I see both sides of most issues and it’s just hard to really feel confident about it. I understand why some believe in a premillennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem, and I understand why some don’t. I’m on God’s side either way and I figure God can and will do what he wants in that regard. And, I’m fine with it. However, from the way many speak and write, I think some are going to be really, really mad if he doesn’t do it the way they’ve got it figured out.

I understand why some believe the Bible is divinely dictated and some don’t. I understand why some believe women are free to lead in any way in the church, and I understand why some think they ought to sit through church meetings quietly in their veils. And, I still don’t know what Ham’s real sin was, and I can’t figure out why God hated Esau so. I don’t know what Paul was talking about when he referred to being baptized for the dead. I don’t know why the Bible says we’re saved by faith and not works, and turns around and says we’re saved by works and not by faith alone. I understand why some think the earth is 6000 or so years old, and I understand why some think that is an unnecessary assumption and that scientists are probably accurate in their billions of years estimates. I sure don’t understand the “trinity” (a made-up word) as if any of us can even begin to explain God. But, we will certainly reject those that disagree with our interpretation of what we don’t understand. How stupid can all the others be?!!

Yeah, I know all the pat answers. I’ve probably over-studied all these myself. Gosh, I was taught to over-study them. But, the Bible doesn’t explain itself lots of times. It just says stuff and leaves it at that. This is all just to say that I do understand why people disagree. However, it seems many simply cannot understand how anyone could dare to disagree with them in all their own obvious glorious “rightness”. So we bicker and divide and put other’s eyes out with the pride-beams sticking out of our own eyes. We attempt to get the speck out of the one eye and then put the other out with our own beam (sin).

Is Jesus really that complicated though? Do we have in mind how he saw things? Is that even our goals? Do we see through the eyes of Christ? It seems conversion is supposed to do that for us (2 Cor. 5:14-17). Is Jesus A truth for us, or is he THE truth for us. I believe he is the interpretive benchmark for everything. I believe he is the living lens for understanding the whole world, every bit of it including the Bible, Satan, sin, global warming, abortion, and corporate America.

Paul kind of summed it up for me: “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Phil 3:15-16). The goal is to win the heaven prize. We get the Spirit as a guarantee in the meantime, but in heaven we’ll get all of God in every way possible. If we’re willing and if we’ll be a little patient, God will clear up those critical spiritual success factors that we’re wrong on. He is, after all, the gardener. And, none of us are.

I think we ought to keep it simple. And, fix our eyes on Jesus.

As I was driving down the road some months back I saw a fire department truck with “Search and Rescue” on it. Now, I know this is no new name, but for some reason, I believe it was the Spirit, it caught my attention and made me think of how that’s who we are—search and rescue workers. We are commissioned to seek out those who are lost and in danger of eternal death and we are to rescue them.

So, I talked to the ministers and elders and we agreed the theme for our All-Church Retreat, October 29-31, would be “Search and Rescue.” Our theme verse comes from Jude 22-23, “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them.” Be merciful. Snatch others from the fire. That’s it—our mission.

One of the most inspiring and compelling stories of our times is that of the firemen who raced up the steps of the World Trade Buildings in the infamous 9/11 attacks. Although these men were already heroes, their heroism was most revealed in these dark and tragic moments. In those harrowing minutes when the building occupants were fleeing down the steps for their own safety, these firemen, a Search and Rescue Team, were racing up the steps, staring down the jaws of their own deaths in order to save as many as possible. Heroes are not made in crises, they are revealed in them though. Heroes weren’t born that day but heroes were revealed!

God calls us to be heroes. He has granted us the right and opportunity to be heroes. He has entrusted to us the ministry of seeking and saving the lost. He has entrusted to us this sacred privilege. But, we get sloppy sometimes and our heroism wanes, doesn’t it? Our retreat is designed to renew our fire, and to further iniate our “newbies”, our rookies, to this great mission of ours—of “making and maturing disciples to the glory of God”. Ours is a family of churches dedicated to being places “where hearts are turned to God and lives are changed.” What a calling! What a privilege!

You will be hearing lots more about this in the coming weeks. In fact, I have a leadership training class with some selected leaders called “2020 Leadership” (based on our 2020 Vision). In that group, we have a number of teams with one being an Evangelism Team. In the next few weeks, they will be asking some of you to allow them to record you on video. Some will be of those who have helped rescue another. Some will be of those rescued. Please participate if asked.

Otherwise, begin praying and preparing for our annual awesome weekend of growth, fellowship and renewal. It breaks my heart when I see any of our members miss this fellowship—both for the one who has to miss and the others who don’t get to have the time with them. We often get more time with more people that one weekend than the rest of the year combined. It takes some planning to block out a weekend like this. It takes some effort for sure. But, trust me, it’s well worth it.

It is held at Lake Lavon Christian Encampment, just a short drive from any of us. You can come and stay out there or you can come and go home and sleep in your own bed. There is some cost to it, but if you can afford to just come out and stay, it is money well-spent. We have great fellowship, tremendous praise and worship, morning prayer and devotional, and great food as well (really). (Please, no more talking about a trough though! It’s a food and refreshment table for a weekend festival to our God!) We do in deed bring refreshments for in between meals and we have a great Christian party all week-end!

We’ll be talking about it a lot more, but please put the retreat on your calendars right now and don’t miss a single session!

And by the way, guests are welcome and invited!

When I was a teen, a song by Dionne Warwick came out called, “What’s it All about Alfie?” I never even knew what the song was about at the time, although looking it up, I realize it was saying it’s all about love. Its advice is to just let your “heart lead the way” and you’ll find love every day. In reality, many of the songs during my growing up years were either complete gibberish, made into something “understandable” only by people who were high. Or, they were so loud that the words couldn’t be understood anyway. Some were just nonsensical—“Well a bird, bird, bird is a word…Don’t you know that bird is a word? Everyone knows that bird is a word!” Really! My kids never believed that was a song, when I sang it to them to annoy them.

So, I suppose Alfie couldn’t figure out what it’s all about. In so many ways, neither can I really. I went out for a drive one morning a couple of weeks ago in Oklahoma, “suffering” through such a “sacrificial” quiet time. Yeah, right. We have been on a roll of stifling heat, and I was driving out in the Oklahoma countryside being chilled by the car air conditioner and edified by amazing Christian music on XM Satellite Radio. (Honda has amazing air conditioners. I can get in my car when it’s 105 degrees outside and in ten minutes I have to turn the a/c down! Air conditioning has to be one of the most amazing inventions ever.)

Well, I was praying, asking God what it was all about. Bob Rogers, a friend and brother at church, had given me a copy of the book, “Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne and I had just finished reading it. It’s a wonderful book pandering somewhat to my cynical side. I’m not a traditionalist nor am I a died-in-the-wool conservative either. I’ve spent my life trying to right the things I see wrong with the church. The author points out so many things that have frustrated me over the last 35 years or so of my Christian life. It’s really a good book, but in my opinion it does what lots of books do—it over-rotates. It is so tempting to just go live among the poor and live a simple life. I’m sure I’d feel so much less angst and guilt if I were to do that. But it seems to try to answer the “what’s-it-all-about” question, by saying it’s about living a simple life ministering to the poor. And, I might add with no attempt to boast but only to explain that I’ve tried my whole Christian life to sincerely be about helping the poor.

I have the huge melancholy core and I can get really crazy deep sometimes. Well, while I was driving, I was wondering just how much I was supposed to know about “what it’s all about”, and when was I really just being nosy and possibly questioning God as Job did. God did not answer me that morning (or at least I didn’t hear). Usually, I have to go through some harrowing experience to get such deep answers, so pray for me, please.

So, what is it all about? I asked one of my early Bible teachers why God had made man and he said it was like parents wanting to have a baby to love and raise. For 35 years I’ve scoffed at that in my heart as simplistic and cheesy. I’m not sure of that any more, and maybe that is actually part of God’s purpose. But, what I do know is that I’ve read the Bible through many times. I’ve listened to more sermons than I could possibly sleep through. I’ve preached some sermons that deserved to be slept through and through which I’d likely have slept if I’d been forced to listen. I’ve listened to radicals of every kind. I’ve listened to the lukestwarm* people in the world (*I spend time around JVR, remember. For those that don’t know me or JVR, don’t bother to wonder.). I’ve listened to women and men so intelligent I was in awe. And, I’ve listened to some people who scarcely scored on the IQ chart and I’ve been even in more awe. I’ve seen Third World, Second World and First World. I’ve been rich and I’ve been quite poor. And, I really don’t know what it’s all about.

Oh, I know all the pat answers. I can quote Scriptures about most any question. I can argue and defend. But, I still don’t know understand why God institutes governments that oppress the poor and the weak. I thought governments were a terror to those who do wrong. God could immediately feed all the poor in the world and doesn’t. We can’t feed many poor people at all, and we’re supposed to try. God could judge and strike down all those who abuse children, but he doesn’t. We can’t do either but we’re supposed to try to protect the children and reform the abusers.

We end up guilty no matter what. No doubt, we ARE guilty. If we live responsible lives, taking care of ourselves and families so as to not be a burden on others, we are greedy bourgeois clones. If we go live among the poor, perhaps assuaging our own Christian guilt, we feel much better about ourselves and much worse about the Christians we raise money from to support our guilt-relieving ministry. But we fail to do much to reach out to the massive middle class or the incredibly rich upper class. And, there’s where the next generation of guilt-ridden Christians who will again try win the world to Christ and to end world hunger are going to come from.

We can go to seminary if we need. And, then that becomes a good reference point for our cynicism. After we learn Hebrew and Greek and systematic theology, we still won’t know what it’s all about. We can go to mega-church or mini-church and scoff at the other’s inability to do what Christ really wanted done (which we cannot really agree on). We can get born again multiple times. We can have countless epiphanies about what it’s all about. We can work our fingers numb. And, the poor we still “have with us always”, as Jesus said. And, the world just gets worse and worse. We try so hard to stop the tsunami of evil with our tiny sand bags, often getting washed away ourselves. God can stop all this if He wants. God can solve all of this WHEN He wants. God knows what it’s all about. After all, He created this world FOR himself.

So, I’ve decided not to spend too much time feeling too guilty about not being able to do what I’d like to do but don’t have a clue how, and what God could do and generally doesn’t. Yeah, Jesus spent his ministry with lots of poor people, but he still did not end world poverty. Heck, he didn’t even end poverty in a single town. Jesus indeed healed the sick, and even raised some dead, but they all still ended up dead. I supposed those he healed once got sick again too.

So, what is it all about, Alfie? I like to “bottom-line” the toughest issues I encounter. What I mean by that is to reduce it to the simplest approach and answer possible. I often use a line from a song by Aaron Neville, “I don’t know much, but I know I love you, and that may be all I need to know.” I fell in love with the God of Jesus a long time ago. It has caused me so much grief and guilt and angst. For sure, I have been blessed beyond measure! I cannot imagine not being a Christian anymore. But, it has driven me crazy trying to figure out what He was trying so hard to say to us. The seemingly conflicting statements and messages have been so tough to reconcile. And, trying to do that in the context of an insecure and often domineering church that wanted every tough question answered with a neat statement or platitude, defending that church of course, has made it even more difficult for me. I know very well that I am not alone.

It’s just I’ve been given all this noble work to do. I’ve been given this high calling. And, I’m supposed to do it under a curse. I have to deal with the noblest of missions and challenges looking inside myself at the most ignoble. I have to fight a great spiritual battle armed with a broken, sinful heart. I, who can be so selfish, greedy, and prideful, am supposed to teach others how not to be. I am armed with an ancient book written about ancient cultures and I’m supposed to make modern applications and be unified with others fighting the same gargantuan battle.

Rest assured, I know how uncomfortable reading this is to those who want everything neatly sewn up, every question answered clearly, and for everybody to be happy. I know the platitudes and simple answers. But sorry, they just don’t work for me all that well. I think our simplistic, “safe” answers divide us more than unite us; weaken our faith rather than strengthen it.

I have actually become much more comfortable not being able to answer the question Dionne so beautifully posed to Alfie. I really know little about what it’s all about in the mind of my God, who is awesome beyond my imagination. But, what I do know is that although I really don’t know much I know I love Him. And, that may be all I need to know.

I’m finally okay with that. Perhaps that’s God’s ultimate answer to a worm like me. 

Tonight is our final night of our 2010 teen camp. The end of camp is bittersweet for most of us. We have had one incredible week in one of the best places in the world to be in the summer. Everything is just right-- spiritual environment and emphasis, some of the best people anywhere, wonderful weather, and a beautiful place! It is a little taste of heaven. It is a refreshing bubble for all of us. Yeah, we know that we have to go home, and we love being home, being with our loved ones there, and being about all the things we are doing there. But, ending is always a little sad. We quickly become one big family at camp. We grow attached to each other. It’s a “mountain top” experience.

So ending in some ways is bitter because we want to hang on just a little longer—maybe just one more day and maybe another month for some. But the sweetness is found in what happens here and the fruit that will come from it in the lives of the teens, the adults, and our churches over the next year. We see kids bloom here. While they are well-supervised and watched over (about one adult to every two teens), they are expected to be mature and to self-discipline themselves. They have to take care of their own clothes, remember things, and do all the things mommy does for them at home. They are really more mature here.

They become free to worship and express themselves. They are more affectionate. They are more open to listen and to share. They laugh a lot. They bond with other teens and they bond with the youth workers. They are challenged intensely in their walks with God. They are well-supported and much loved here. And, as well all know, those who give the most get the most. All the adults will tell you that we are the most blessed for being with these guys. We see lives changed. We are loved up on. We are played with. We are treated with great respect. We learn from the youth ministers, youth workers, and the other adults here. And, we learn tons from the teens themselves. We watch the Holy Spirit work in their lives in visible ways.

Tonight we’ll have worship at 7 p.m. followed by a wrap-up challenge-sermon by Kale. There will be the final group discussions after that. Then there will be a bonfire celebrations with s’mores and mores (sorry, couldn’t resist). We’ll go to bed for a quick rest and get up and plan to leave at 3:30 a.m. The kids will be able to sleep on the buses and the adults will look enviously through tired eyes wishing we could sleep that way again!

This year’s theme was about making good choices—ultimately the right choice in choosing to make Jesus Lord—but also all our other choices. Our time here again confirms that we, as churches, made the right choice to again invest the time, resources, and money, as well as some of our finest leaders, to bring our teens to Colorado to help make disciples among those that aren’t and to help mature those who already are.

You have a fine bunch of teens and you should be very proud of the way they gave themselves to God this whole week!

This year we’ll be doing teen Sunday at Wylie Northeast on Sunday, August 1, the first Sunday after we get back. Teen Sunday will be held at Northeast in Garland on August 8. That will allow the teen praise team to be in both locations to lead the church and teens in some of the songs that were used in worship here. These services are certainly not just for the teens and arguably are more for the others in the churches. These kids come back with a contagious condition—they are excited about God. So, make sure to be there and bring teens and others with teens so that they can see that at our churches that we are dedicated to truly making disciples of teens and teaching them to be obedient to God in every way.

We’ll be returning tomorrow evening arriving at the Northeast building in Garland. My best guess is we’ll be there in the nine o’clock range, but it could be earlier or later depending on how long our stops are. As usual, the kids will have a chance to call you when we’re about an hour out so you won’t have to wait long, nor will they have to wait long for you. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow.

If you hang around either of our churches, you will eventually hear talk about teen camp. To some extent planning goes on year-round. The Youth Ministers throw around ideas for themes and so forth for the next year often before camp is even over. Any changes in dates and so forth have to be considered so that reservations can be made. Dates are announced early so that teens and their families can make plans around them. For most of the teens and the youth workers as well as other adults that go to camp, teen camp is a highlight of the year.

I’ve been doing camps and retreats my entire 36 years of being a Christian. I started helping lead and plan camps almost from my first days of being involved in ministry. These camps have been for college students, college age adults, young professional adults, teens, congregations and groups of churches—all kinds. I’ve been around ministers and heard descriptions about all sorts of camps. Each set of camp leaders will have an underlying philosophy. Unsurprisingly, many seem to work from basic assumptions of the way camp has always been. And, for teens it usually centers on fun, practical joking, funny entertainment, and which guy is “liking” which girl. However, I don’t think these camps are altogether bad because many ideas have emerged from such camps of how to instill in teens the Spirit of Christ and His way of living. But, as in everything we do, we plan from our vision, mission, values, and strategic objectives. Thus, if you look at our camps (teen, children, college or congregational) you will see many of the same basic components that you would see at other camps and that you may remember if you ever attended a Christian camp. I think the real difference you would find is in the spirit of our camps.

John and Kristy have done a wonderful job developing upon the threads of insights I’ve tried to hand down from my years. But, they’ve taken it so much farther than I ever did or even could have. They are so uniquely gifted and were so specifically called to lead our teen ministry in its inception and on toward its present maturity. I’m really amazed at what they’ve been able to get done. And, they’ve shared the load with a bunch of awesome youth workers and have passed the torch to more ministers, including Joseph and Kale. Sean is directing his third camp this year and he has done an outstanding job by building on the past experiences! It just keeps getting better.

Here at NEXT camp, w first try to turn teens’ hearts to God in a way that their lives will be changed for eternity (our vision). Second, we are here to make and mature disciples to the glory of God (our mission). We believe teens are also the “church of today” and that they are capable of making serious commitments to God. We believe that they often simply “live down” to our low expectations of them. We want to expect great things for them. We obviously have teens that have made their commitments to God and are already on their journeys toward maturity. But many others haven’t though—some because of age and others because they’re just getting started here or come from marginally Christian homes. Third, we work to teach our values—the values we believe Jesus held. You can read all of these on Goddeal.com website. We preach and teach the Word to them.

To accomplish these objectives, we begin with exemplary adults and college students to lead the teens, beginning with our youth ministers themselves. We believe character is more caught than taught and therefore we want people of great Christian character around the kids. The most important character trait of Christ is sincere love. The people that lead our teens are loving people, or they won’t be leading our teens for long. We want people that believe in teens’ abilities to be real disciples. We want leaders with great visions for adolescents and that possess the ability to communicate it to them well. We believe that what goes on between lessons and sessions is probably more important than what goes on IN classes, sermons, small groups and so forth.

A typical day involves waking at 7 a.m. (or earlier if they want) followed by prayer time in the cabins and rooms at 7:15 a.m. The whole camp group meets collectively for a morning wake-up activity at 7:30 a.m. This is designed to be fun as well as active to help everyone wake up and even get some blood moving through the bodies. Some of it is pretty funny! Breakfast is at 8 a.m. followed by an adult Bible study and discussion led by Ronnie. The teens simultaneously have individual quiet times. The quiet times are written ahead of time laying out the overall camp theme as well as the theme for each day. Through this assigned time we work to teach the teens to have personal quiet times—times of solitude alone with God.

At 9 a.m., we gather in the chapel for a time of praise and worship followed by a sermon. This sermon is usually intense, covers lots Scripture, and lays out the day’s theme. After the sermon, pre-assigned small groups meet with some assigned discussion and application questions from the sermon and about the day’s theme. Groups are generally assigned by age and gender. At 11 a.m., we all come back together for “big game” time. We usually have four big games, and the teens are divided into mixed groups and are sent to a different game each day. This year the games are dodge ball in the gym (guys have to play with their off hands), Frisbee golf, speed ball, and shaving cream whiffle ball and kick ball. At noon we gather again for lunch, followed immediately by a mandatory daily rest time. At 2 p.m. we meet back at the chapel for one of the favorite camp activities—walk-and-talks. Sean and Kristel carefully pair up each girl with another girl and each guy with another guy. Youth workers are included in the mix being assigned to visit with specific teens. Much thought and prayer goes into these pairings which are designed to help teens learn to have helpful spiritual conversations, both speaking and listening. Connections that last through the year are often made during these walks.

Canteen is at 3 p.m. John and Mary Ann McWilliams are the camp “mom and pop” and they take care of all of us. They keep bottled water on ice for the kids all day (well, there’s also soda). They have healthy sorts of snacks available most of the day and at canteen they throw in a choice of candy. After canteen up until 5:15, when dinner is served, is free time. There are multiple activities the kids can choose from. We do encourage them to be active and sociable during these times. They can go play dodge ball or volleyball in the gym. There’s a supervised climbing wall in the gym too. Most days we have the indoor swimming pool available. Also, there’s archery (and John McWilliams to instruct), Frisbee golf, supervised zip-line, and this year a group is playing a fun game that’s filtered over from FOCUS called speed ball. Lots of the teens just hang out or rest. This time is used as shower time by lots of the campers.

Dinner is at 5:15 followed by a briefer free time. Most nights we meet again collectively at about 7 for a lively praise and worship followed by an evening sermon. We’ve had baptisms two nights at 6:30, and we took the annual group picture last night at 6:30. The evening sermon is more of a testimonial sermon to bring application to the day’s theme. Small groups meet again after the evening time to process and apply what’s been experienced. Lights are to be out by 10:30 p.m.

Lots of ministry goes on between all the different things we do in groups. Youth workers watch out for loners, stragglers and strugglers, trying to help them however we can. Leaders are keen to notice and are available to kids who are looking for some personal help. We always have some “lost puppies” at camp that come from not-so-good home lives. We work to respect kids’ and families’ privacy, but we also work to draw kids out and minister Jesus’ truth into their lives. We work to really listen to them. We work to build bridges and help them make plans to help them serve Christ when they get back home.

At NEXT camp we see our church vision in action—teen hearts are turned to God and their lives are changed. However, every adult youth worker here would tell you that it’s the same with them. Again as one young guy who is at our camp for the first time told me, “This camp is seriously about God.” To God be the glory. Pray for our teens and the teens around the world. We fight for teens and say to the prince of darkness concerning our own, “not this one; not this time!” And, we mean it about each and every one of them. Our prayer, petition, and goal is for us to not lose one of our teens!

Camping has surely changed. I am sitting in a lodge room at my laptop writing this blog that I will post as soon as I finish via the wireless network of the camp itself. We’ve come a long way technologically!

I’m not the best historian, but I believe we started taking our teens to camp our first summer as a church in 1998. If memory serves me right, we went to Camp Christian out on the western slopes near Glenwood Springs, Colorado the first two years, 1998-99. That was with a group of youth ministers that Eddie Howard and his teen ministry were partnering with. We began doing our own camp in 2000, conducting it at Glacier View Camp above Boulder, Colorado. It was beautiful but was just too far for us to drive to in a day. In 2001, we conducted our camp in central New Mexico, but it just wasn’t Colorado. So, in the summer of 2002 we began conducting our camps at Golden Bell Christian Camp about 30 miles west of Colorado Springs. That is 13 teen camps, if I have my history correct. It has been an incredible run too!

Our camps have grown with our church and our church has benefited greatly from these camps. Gosh, I’ve benefited greatly from teen camp. We’ve learned a ton being up here over the years. I believe God has changed the hearts of those of us that have been here, and I believe that has changed the heart of our whole church. We have learned more about intense worship. We have learned more about tight-knit spiritual community. We’ve been enlightened in greater ways to the Holy Spirit’s work in the body of Christ. We’ve learned so much more about discipleship. And, our teen camps have been at the core of implementing our strategic objective of building from the ground up. Our experiences up here in Colorado have helped shape and define our church as much as any other single thing we do.

But still, most of all, we’ve learned about and from teens. Yesterday we took the kids on our annual fun-day. Again, we went to Buena Vista to a river raft company, Noah’s Ark. About 80 of the teens and adults went white-water rafting. About 30 went on the mountain rappelling. As we were going through all the preparation once we got there, I couldn’t help noticing what wonderful teens we have. And, they influence our guest teens in such a powerful way as well. We just have so few problems at our camps. It is certainly a testimony most to the families they come, but it is also a testimony to the church communities they come from. It is surely a testimony to the incredibly dedicated team of youth workers that minister Christ to them on a day-to-day basis back home too! The college students and adults that come along with them to help out at youth camp is also an impressive team of disciples.

One of the first things I was noticing about the teens this year was how well-disciplined they were out there in the parking lot. For a group of over 70 teens of all ages, we can get their attention without the typical whistling and yelling that is so common with large groups, especially outside with all the other noise. They just simply do what they’re asked to do with such little hassle. Another thing that hit me was just how serious they are about God. When it’s time to worship, they’re just into it. I was on a walk and talk with one of our fairly new 7th graders and asked him if he’d been to a Christian camp before. He struggled with what to say and then finally said, “Yeah, but not like this one.” I asked him how this one was different and he noted how while we did indeed have fun like the others, this one was seriously about God.

Last night I was watching teens sing “I’m Counting On God”, a particularly exciting and “active” song, and I just had to stop singing and be amazed by them, and keep from crying as well. For an old minister who’s spent his life dedicated to making disciples, and being regularly frustrated with the woeful lack of excitement in the church, this is the closest thing to heaven.

I’ve gotten to personally see how John and Kristy and the NEXT team have built this ministry brick-by-brick for 12 years. They have since used their experiences to take the reins as leaders of the Wylie Northeast Church plant. In 2008, John appointed one of his leading youth workers, Sean Hanlon, as our camp director. We not only didn’t lose a beat, but it just got better each year as it always has done. Further, we’ve gone from one youth minister to four! Sean and Joseph Carothers leading at Wylie and Scott Dugan and Kale Worsham leading in Garland is an example of the power of dedicated discipleship. And, that doesn’t tell the stories about the godly, talented, devoted, and well-training cadre of youth workers that unite to make our youth ministries work. When you look at FOCUS, you get to see the fruit of NEXT throughout as so many of our teens walk into FOCUS ready for leadership. They have especially been at the heart of the building of the Collin College ministry.

From my vantage point, I get to directly see the fruit of the dollars and the dedication of a church committed to fighting for its kids. I get to witness what we decided to do so long ago in building from the ground up. I tell you this because I want to say one more time, kudos Northeast Church! And, as a dad, as a church leader, and as a church member, I want to personally say “thank you” for taking a dare of sorts—a dare to invest money and heart in the long-run too. How many Springjitas have we had now? How many thousands of dollars have we raised at these annual church-wide events to fund our ministry and camps, buying everything from banana pudding to amazing vacations (often at grossly inflated prices)?! How many times have the elders said “no” in any way to the funding and resources needed to drive the ministry? (precious few!) How many times has the church opened its collective pocketbook to “make it happen”? How much love, respect, and support have the guys and ladies that lead this ministry been given? (lots!) And, how many adolescent lives have been turned to the Lord forever?! Only God knows and that’s ultimately why we do it in the first place!

No one thing assures teens will grow up deeply devoted disciples. Home-life is vital, but we have some great examples of teens that overcame some less-than-advantageous home conditions to be awesome Christians. Worship is important. Weekly groups are important. The regular love and support of adult youth workers is critical in discipling teens. Great Christian friends are also vital. But, it’s when you give teens all of that you are truly fighting for them. Our goal is to not lose one of our kids. And, clearly our whole church has set out to do just that! Thank you.

So, please know that camp is going great. Trip up went very well. Sean spoke when we got here on Sunday night on “The Choice is Yours”, challenging the kids on the overall camp theme about making the right choice for Christ. Great kick-off for one of the most challenging talks after a long day’s drive. Eddie Howard spoke Sunday morning on “Don’t Look Back Once You’ve Stepped Over the Line”. Well, for those that know Eddie, it was typical Eddie. Great teaching. Kristy and Krystal gave a presentation of two 80 year-old women giving their testimonies. One had chosen Christ as a teen. The other one had the chance but was lured back by the world. Very compelling.

JVR took on another one of the tough talks Monday night after our fun-day trip. The kids did great though and JVR demonstrated why he was called by God and the church to lead a church planting. He spoke on the topic, “Don’t Let Up, Back Up, Give Up or Shut Up”. He did great. The whole evening was incredible moving. Scott Dugan spoke this morning, Tuesday, on “Keep Your Focus Clear”. Scott has learned that lesson well and he communicated it very well. Also, the Praise Leaders, Garrett Davis, Kristy Von Runnen, Sean Hanlon, Austin Freemon and Sirak Asfaw are just doing an incredible job leading worship.

On an additional exciting note, one of our own little guys is not so little now, and Kale Rowe was baptized into Christ Sunday night. Further, after our group picture, we’re heading back over to the pool for the baptism of Carly Zach, one of our newer teens.

Abortion has been a hot topic since I can remember. I was getting ready to start to college in March 1970 when the Roe versus Wade suit was filed, and I was a junior in January 1973 when the Supreme Court decision was handed down legalizing abortion. I actually remember hearing about female students who performed their own abortions with clothes hangers and such. These were unsubstantiated as far as I know, but I mention it just to say I’ve been hearing and thinking about this my whole adult life.

Having been in ministry now for about 35 years, I have encountered quite a few women and men as well who had previously been involved in an abortion of an unwanted child. In a couple of instances, the man actually opposed it, but the woman had gone ahead with it anyway. Everyone that I talked to regretted ever having it done. My heart goes out to anyone who did things in their youth that they live to later regret, in some instances bitterly. I feel nothing but compassion and mercy for them. Now I’m well aware that the numbers of people who’ve been involved in abortions that I’ve known represents a small sample. The fact is that most people who are in a counseling session with a conservative Christian minister will not likely be indicative of the whole population of those who choose to have abortions. But, nonetheless, I do have some insight into the hearts of people doing it.

I find abortion personally repugnant and unbelievable. I think I understand those who’ve chosen it. However, I can certainly be opposed to something without being condemnatory of those who have been previously involved in such. My problem though is with those who are well aware of the brutality of abortion and then defend it! I have written an article on abortion that describes my personal convictions pretty clearly, I think. That article has not only stirred up people who are pro-abortion, but the article has also incurred the wrath of a couple of anti-abortion individuals I heard from who didn’t feel it was “telling people the truth from the Bible”. I just happen to think there’s a lot of Scripture being used in the debate that wasn’t intended to be used in application to abortion. These verses surely shed light on the subject but aren’t really addressing the subject at all. I think Christians ought to be the most honest, forthright people in the world, especially in our use of Scripture. The article I mention appears under the article section of this website if you’d like to read it.

The question I want to pose here is this: Why don’t those people who fight so vociferously for the “rights of women to choose” concerning their own bodies (meaning their fetuses), fight equally for those same women to have the right to pay a doctor to kill the women themselves. I’m talking about legalized euthanasia, defined as mercy killing. Euthanasia is allowing individuals to be put to death painlessly. It is allowing people to die by their own accord or perhaps by the decision of some other responsible party.

Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT for legalized euthanasia. I find duplicity in the right-to-choose position because of this, and it is seems to me just outright disingenuous. How can so many fight so strongly, and with a clear conscience, for a woman to have the right to have a doctor kill her fetus, but seem so silent about the fact that she does NOT have the right to have a doctor kill her. I mean if one is so “pro-choice”, considering those who don’t agree to be hindering women’s rights, shouldn’t they be equally assertive over her right to euthanasia. So, the Supreme Court rules, and advocates forcefully defend, that a woman should have the choice over her own body in that she can euthanize her living fetus, that is in fact not a permanent part of her body at all but just a temporary dependant, but she doesn’t have the right to actually have the life of her own body legally ended.

And by the way, I understand that there are modern forms of euthanasia that are truly “merciful” in that they just allow people to go off to sleep and not wake up. A pathologist and right-to-die (right to choose) advocate, Jack Kavorkian, was sent to prison from 1999 to 2007 for doing just this. This kind of mercy-killing is in sharp contrast to the cruel, clinical and brutal ways the lives of fetuses are often ended in abortions, and especially in late-term ones. And, the doctors who perform these cruel procedures do so under the protection of the law and at the insistence of the pro-choice crowd. I’m constantly astounded by this inconsistency. I’ve never heard this whole point even addressed. Go figure.

Silence is golden I suppose when a point shows an inconsistency.

Since I shared the poem I recently wrote for mothers on Mother's Day.  I have had others request copies of a tribute I wrote to wives and mothers a couple of years ago as an updated Proverb 31.  I thought I'd share that as well for those who enjoy such:

A woman of the noblest character is a rare beauty. Her value is immeasurable. The man she marries is blown away by her because with her he lacks nothing of value. She is his greatest blessing for as long as he has her. She is incredible at shopping for the best deals, and her ability to work endlessly for those she loves is amazing. She is like a freight train or semi loaded with wares as she returns home with her goods for her family from her latest foray at the grocery store, mall, or first Monday Trade Days.

No hour is too early or too late for her when she is working and providing for her family, those she loves, or those in need. She can find a great deal on a house, buy it, sell it again, and use her earnings to start a business or make an investment. She knows how to get what she wants, and pity the man who tries to stand in her way.

She works hard and is strong. She sees to the affairs of her family and her volunteer efforts, and her light always shines brightly. In one hand she holds a spoon for preparing dinner, and in the other her cell phone, talking to someone back at the office or planning rides for the kids to church or school activities. But, she still has room in her house and in her heart for the hurting, the lonely, the outcast, the poor, and the messy and often obnoxious friends of her children and husband.

When it rains, at the door, there are umbrellas and raincoats and warnings about catching colds. When it snows, there are coats and hats and scarves and gloves and snow boots that appear magically for each. Her home is decorated with the best she can get and she wears the most beautiful clothes she can afford. And her hair and shoes lack for no attention.

Her husband gets far too much credit for what he does, for behind him is the lady that is the true backbone and heart and soul of the family who takes care of so much so that he can often focus on so little.

She takes a job, runs an office or a department or a business, or teaches a class, and her bosses don’t know how to run it without her. She has untold strength and dignity and she is fearless toward what may come. The words that flow from her mouth are always wise and loving and soothing and unselfish.

She is ferocious in protecting her family and she has no time for laziness. Her children will look back on the endless house she spent driving them to soccer and basketball and music and youth group. They will remember the countless birthday parties and Christmases and Easter mornings and vacations and sleepovers, and one day they will look back on it with the deepest appreciation and thanks. Her husband knows in his heart who is the real hero, and he knows that no amount of time or words or money or gifts can repay the debt of love he owes.

Other women may do awesome things, but the godly wife and mother surpasses them all in the contributions she makes to all humanity. The youthful charm of the young lady is wonderful, but it can be so deceptive. Gray hair, facial lines, a pound or two too many, and a sagging tummy reflect a deeper and an inner beauty that is earned on the anvil of life and is brought on by sacrifice and worrying about the well-being and futures of her husband and children (rather than resting, playing and working out), by carrying and bearing her children through stretching and discomfort and even pain, by countless hours of chauffeuring in city traffic and sitting at endless and sometimes awfully boring sporting and music events, by waiting outside of Best Buy or Circuit City after midnight on cold winter nights to get one of the first copies of the newest game system or video game, by working a little extra to help pay for her husband’s new boat or car or big screen TV, by caring and fretting a little too much, by praying a little too long, by committing to too many activities, and all in all by trying too hard for too many who often appreciate it far too little.

Yes, youthful charm and beauty fade all too quickly, but the beauty of the woman of God only becomes more real and shines more brightly in the eyes of those who look at life through the heart of Jesus. Yes, it is the mom that is to be praised by everyone because she is the launching pad for all good lives and she is all too often only left with the burn marks of the blast-offs.

So, give her a just reward—enjoy the decorations, laugh too loudly at the events she plans, ooh and aw too long on Christmas morning at the gifts she’s found, hold her hand a little too long, hug her a little too much, kiss her too often, buy her too expensive of gifts, spend just a few extra minutes or hours or days too many, and give her a little too much credit for once for goodness sakes, and shamelessly brag on your wife and your mom before the whole world who has put the high price tags on things that cannot compare to her priceless value!

Following is a poem I wrote in tribute to all mothers for Mother's Day 2010:

I may not top the bell curve in math as lots of others might.
I may not win a championship or win a major fight.
To those and many others too, I may seem to play second fiddle,
Because I’m a part of the side-line class, the mettle in the middle.

But neither will I fall to the bottom of the curve in English or in Reading.
A higher voice is what I hear, a voice that’s worth my heeding.
No Chaucer have I lately read but I have “Hey Diddle Diddle,”
I am a master mother though, the mettle in the middle.

I may never have kicked a soccer goal or left a court to cheering.
I heard my own quiet fan urging me on, His cheer I’m always hearing.
He bade me drive the car for those who played when only little;
He cheered for me when none others did, the mettle in His middle.

My prom days long gone, my younger beauty fading.
I washed the clothes and fixed the hair while others did the dating.
I manned home base, becoming too a master with the griddle;
Others outside posed for pictures prized, while I live in the middle.

My mate drives off to work you see, his value seen in money.
I drove the kids to the doors of school, said “Have a nice day honey.”
I picked them up each afternoon; at home I scarcely piddle;
My husband’s greeted at the door, by the mettle in the middle.

The energy that I expend is never priced as oil and gas is,
Because it comes from another source, my energy source is His.
My victories are His you know; it really is no riddle;
The strength of everything that’s His comes from the mettle in the middle.

When the day is through and the years passed by, and the cream risen to the top;
And they’re all in bed, or at ventures sweet, my quiet work doesn’t stop.
On my knees I pray, important words I say, my thumbs I never twiddle;
Because the world’s held up and together by the mother in the middle.

“Mettle” comes from “metal” you may know, words of strength and great endurance.
The strength we place in everything to give us such a great assurance.
So to those who top the measured curves, I won’t play second fiddle;
For it is mine that is the strength INSIDE, the mettle in the middle.

Does anyone else notice all the enticements and lures of churches these days? There are all sorts of catch phrases and promises being given by churches: contemporary services (the kind of music YOU like), great children’s programs (we’ll get them out of your hair and we’ll teach them about God for you, and indoctrinate them while we’re at it), ministries for all ages (we’re a well-stocked storehouse designed to meet your every selfish craving), upbeat preaching (we’ll tell you how wonderful you are and we’ll never offend you; we may even promise you riches), and, of course, a picture of the pastor and perhaps even his beautiful wife (we’re beautiful, friendly, popular people too!).

Can you even imagine Jesus doing that? After a careful reading of the gospels, can you really imagine Jesus approving of this commercialization of his church? I know I can’t. Yes, it’s tempting to think it wise to “get people to church” so that we can get them saved and then perhaps even make disciples out of them. That’s just not the way Jesus did ministry. And, Jesus is what done-right-looks-like! He is the truth. While his methods are certainly culturally and generationally adaptable, the underlying brilliance of his methods to accomplish what he wants cannot be improved upon. Remember God’s words: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Get it?

Israel ultimately completely lost its footing with God when it demanded a king, in imitation of the surrounding Gentile nations. There were probably lots of reasons for their demand, but for sure pride played the major role. They wanted the pomp and grandeur a kingship would bring. They wanted parades signaling military victories and most importantly their national power. They wanted to be a part of something powerful and big. And, they rejected God in doing so. That’s how God saw it anyway, which is most important, I believe.

I believe the early church lost its footing with God in its compromise and later identification with Rome. Certainly it’s understandable. But, it’s still not right. They were persecuted and oppressed. I’m sure they thought that if they could get Rome on board, then they could win a lot more to Christ. And, Rome was pressuring them to conform by insisting on the standardization of beliefs and practices (obviously for control) and franchising churches with all the hierarchal control that would entail. They gave in eventually.

Today, churches are imitating American corporations. In doing so I fear we’re losing our footing with God too. We design grand strategic plans for growth and advancement. We’re in a land grab with new “campuses” and church-plantings that are just like the wonderful parent-church, name and all. We pipe in sermons from the wonderful senior-pastor who is the only person that is qualified to speak in such a grand scheme. We buy jets and cars and organize important conferences to inform the rest of the world of the secrets of our success that we personally discovered so they can jump on the band-wagon and get on the bottom-floor of the new opportunity. We target market and position ourselves against the competition (those who are not like us and are thus at least imperfect and perhaps not even as saved as we are). Then we write books to signal our success and we put our church name and our pastor’s name and picture up everywhere and tell everybody how good we are. Is that not an insult to the humility and meekness of Christ?

Can you imagine Jesus allowing the apostles to advertise a “healing service” on a billboard trumpeting his power? He mainly told them not to tell anybody. Can you imagine him allowing them to advertise his ability to feed the masses free? Can you imagine an ad for a 30-minute happy service? Can you imagine John the Baptist, whom Jesus commended at the time as the “best yet” so to speak, putting up a billboard for people to come out to his nice, comfortable, happy-service?! And, always over in only 30 minutes lest it intrude on your busy schedule on the Lord’s Day. Or come Saturday night if that’s more convenient on your weekend recreation calendar.

I can’t. What are we thinking? Why do we put up with this? Why do we go to churches that do that and why don’t we ask them what they are up to trying to lure selfish people with the promise of indulging them?

I was discussing with my son and co-minister, Brandon, a current billboard near my home of a church with a name that is so culturally appealing and with the happy faces of the pastor and his wife seemingly levitating diagonally into the picture from the bottom corner. Wow. That will bring in the disciples. And, it is a great precedence for new disciples.

Yes, we’ve gotten too smart for such appeals as Jesus made--if you want to follow me you’ll have to deny your selfish little self and start bearing a cross of sacrifice and pain and follow me every day. Or, unless you give up everything you have you cannot be my disciples. Yeah, I know Jesus didn’t always start there, but he did with the rich young recruit who told him his spiritual law-keeping resume. “You lack one thing. Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor. Then, come follow me.” This would have been one “sharp” leader candidate for our churches today and we certainly would want to offend him with all of his giving potential. He might even give enough money for us to afford a billboard with MY picture on it. And think of the books he might be able to get published with my picture on them too. With those kinds of members I can either build an empire or take over one. Jesus responded to the apostles informing him how he’d offended the important Jewish leaders with, “Leave them alone.”

I know this may seem cynical. But enough is enough. I’m embarrassed. I’m glad churches are reaching out. I do understand the healing and helping nature of our Christian ministries and how we have to find ways to reach how to the needy, the hurting and the bedraggled. Some of our churches do more for more people in a week than I’ll do in my lifetime. But that doesn’t make anything else okay. This is all of our church and Jesus is Lord of all of us and the world is watching. We’re still one family. We’ve got to work together here.

Church growth now seems often more fueled by money that it is by the Holy Spirit. Our ministry work is designed for “unschooled, ordinary” folks. It is built upon widows’ offerings and churches who gave out of their poverty. And, it was never designed to be merchandised by those who dream more about being CEOs than about being “scum and refuse” servants after the model of Jesus and Paul and John the Baptist! And the church was never intended to be a business. Can you imagine me putting a sign up in my yard trying to recruit the neighborhood kids to move into my home because of how friendly my wife and I are, because of all the amenities and indulgences offered, or because of how well-know, large, and popular we are?! I can’t, but that’s seemingly what we do when we try to recruit others with our boasting.

So let’s stop it already and start trying to magnify Jesus up-front and not trick people into coming and then trying to make disciples out of them. To quote the all-wise Forrest Gump, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” Not.

There is one more thing: if we ever put up a billboard, I’d want the by-line to read, “Come visit us when you’re really serious”, otherwise, don’t bother. And, if you ever see any ads with my picture on them, go ahead and throw up and then come and get me some serious professional help because I will have lost it, or sold out.