What if...my church, my house

I have enjoyed reading articles, notes, postings on Facebook, and getting phone calls - catching up on the many places people are traveling and ministering all around the world. I love it. My prayers are for and with many.

What I like best is that these are people from all different denominations, varied visions and passionate about what they do…

I am all for that.

I have Baptist friends, Christian Reformed friends, AG & Charismatic friends, Wesleyan, and Catholic friends (of course God uses Catholics), and many others who love God and desire for others to know His Son Jesus.

They preach, hold healing services, feed the hungry, sponsor children from orphanages, hold children’s crusades, visit nursing homes, minister on college campuses…on and on I could go.

God wants to use everyone who wants to be used.

He wants to use us in our uniqueness to reach people. No one has a corner on the evangelistic market or the power of God market – there is no special “remnant” who is the only one actually doing something for God.

And there is no special group who are more special because they want to fight for their right to wear $500 shoes – wear on, brother – bless you…

But please don’t try to bully those of us who choose to be modest and frugal in life into accepting an extreme of a Biblical principle.

True prosperity means “help on the road”… and there are many who have been forced into poverty (it was not their choice). Those are the ones I think we could sell a few Rolex watches and cars and care for them. The Gospel is at its best when loving hands are reached out to those. We can reach out and tell them about a Savior who loves them – making Him real to those who have not met Him.

Side note……

I was driving on the freeway yesterday and was going 65 miles per hour. I could have gone 70. That was the speed limit. But I wanted to just enjoy the ride, glide along and take in the journey. Some people passed me going 80-90 miles an hour at least – and some probably we just going 70 who gently cruised by.

I never felt for one moment that I was missing anything, or felt “gosh, I have to speed up so they don’t pass me.”

In fact, I actually waved and smiled at a few going by… and it made me think…

This is where I am at in life. 32 years in ministry, going way past a healthy speed limit… I was that person in the lane passing….

Does the word “burn out” come to mind?

By the way, a good book to read is “Mad Church Disease.”

Very good.

Must buy.

I hit burn out and was running on fumes for a few years.

But would not admit it, because I was too busy confessing “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me….”

And all the time God was trying to get a word in to alert and warn me that I was heading for a train wreck if I did not “wake up and smell the coffee, gal,” so to speak.

Back to my note here…

So, I am cruising at a different speed, recovering from burn out.

My bad, I know.

God is so gracious. He holds us in the palm of His hand and gently walks us through the hard times – all the while teaching us, speaking to us, helping us, mending us, reminding us…

I salute those going on faster at the speed of light as they fulfill the vision God has given them. And I mean everyone - no matter what it is they are doing – as long as Jesus is being glorified and lives are being changed and helped…

I applaud you, pray for you, and cheer you on. You will experience some of the most rewarding times of your life.

I see a few of the newest “golden boys” on the horizon now – enjoy it while it lasts, my friend. We need you, we need your voice, your influence…lead on. I am sure God has brought you here “for such a time as this.”

I will continue my ranting a little – just reminders – not criticisms at all. Just reminders…

Like when, as a young person, you would be running out the door to go somewhere and mom would say, ”Do you have everything you need? Got your Bible? Got your toothbrush? Got your deodorant? Don’t forget your manners!!”

Not criticizing, just wanting to remind, because you were in such a hurry “to get going and get there” you may have forgotten….

Let’s make sure we stay pure to the message of the Gospel. That we draw people to Jesus and not recruit them to a religious system of rules.


“The truly amazing thing about early Christian preaching is that it did not proclaim religious duties or moral standards, or even a reforming program – but a person:

one Jesus who was crucified and whom the Christians knew to be alive. They devoted their energies to understanding him better and making him real to the people who had never met him.”
Michael Green on Early Christian Preaching – Eerdman’s Handbook of the Bible.

After all, it is my church and my house still….