The Dawg Howse

Why Is It So Hard to Admit Our Weakness?

2009-12-20T14:37:00.002-06:00

In the past couple of days I've noticed that a particular blog entry from the past has been visited several times as people searched Google and this one blog has been hit several times in those searches. I went back to read it, because honestly, I did not remember it. It was more than 4 years ago, after all. When I read it, I just felt prompted to re-post it for the readers I have on board today. I hope it helps someone.

Why Is It So Hard To Admit Our Weakness?

Those that know me well know that I was involved in a very serious car accident back when I was in college that has left me with a lot of back and neck trouble. One of the things most people do not know is that in that same accident the muscles and tendons in my right hand were torn as well. With therapy, I regained most of the use of that hand with only some cracking and popping in my wrist. The doctor and therapist told me back then that the real problem with this hand would come as I aged, with significant problems coming in about 15 years.
Well, that accident took place 17 years ago tomorrow, and their words bring loud and clear in my ears. I don't like to admit it, and I try hard to hide the complications, but the fact is I am losing the strength and my grip in my right hand. I struggle greatly to open a jar and sometimes cannot even get the cap off of a soda bottle without quite a struggle. My handshake is not as firm as it used to be, which is a sign of weakness or lack of concern to many people, so I am often even hesitant to shake hands. I have a hard time admitting it, but I am weak in that hand.
While I struggle with telling people this, I also am beginning to find it liberating to admit it, because hopefully I will not have to try so hard to compensate for this weakness in order to hide it.

Does anyone see a spiritual parallel?

I woke up at 4:05 this morning with my hand and back hurting so bad that I could not sleep. I got up for about an hour and finally lay back down. As I lay there, I kept thinking about how this accident has affected my life... and kind of had a pity party for a bit.
But then the thought hit me how there are so many people struggling with life because they cannot admit their weaknesses and/or short-comings.
They work long hours; put themselves deeper and deeper into debt trying to find that elusive "thing" that will bring fulfillment to their lives. But it somehow just never comes.
What they don't realize is that what is missing is Jesus. They refuse to admit that, because they perceive that need for Jesus to be a weakness, and they will never admit their weakness.

There are people I have met who arrogantly spout off that they don't need the crutch of religion. Yet their lives grow more and more miserable with every car, boat or home they buy. Many of these people scream out at the Christians as being intolerant and they want our "religion" banned. I believe that the real problem is that they resent that we can find happiness, contentment and joy in our lives without all the trappings they have, yet they remain miserable. They simply refuse to admit that they have a weakness.
But we all have the same weakness... and it is called sin. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." It also tells us that we were created to have fellowship with God. Therein lays the problem with so many. They are miserable because they are failing in their created purpose. What is missing is not another new toy or more stuff; but a relationship with the God of creation through his son, Jesus.

Weakness? We all are born with the same weakness, regardless of the color of our skin, the country we are born in or our economic status. It is called sin, which separates us from God.
Trying to build your life without God is the real weakness. It is like trying to erect a building without first laying the cornerstone. You may erect a great looking building, and may look marvelous, but it is weak, and will never be right until that stone is put in its place.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is that cornerstone.
Your life without Jesus is just incomplete.

It's Vacation Time

2009-12-20T07:57:00.003-06:00

Church this morning, the final presentation of the play tonight, and then we are off to Orlando. I always look forward to vacation, but this year it is really different. I've been so mentally and spiritually exhausted the past couple of weeks that I just feel like I've got nothing left in me. This break could not come at a better time. I'm looking forward to some time with the family, some time to unwind and some time to let the Lord pour back into me.

To Harvest Church... we love you, and we will miss you while we are gone. I ask you to pray for your pastor and family that this is a time of refreshment and renewal.
We will see you in a few days.

We The People

2009-12-19T22:16:00.001-06:00

A Very Special "Thank You!"

2009-12-19T11:12:00.003-06:00

All of the folks who worked to put on the Galesburg Christian Theater production of "Three Wisemen and a Baby" hosted at our church, deserve a lot of credit and thanks, and we do thank you. There is one young man however, who has made some tremendous personal sacrifices in order to uphold his commitment to be in this production, which has caused him other problems, but in order to be a man of integrity, he has paid the price. He does not even know that I know of these sacrifices, and I don't believe Amber knows of them, but I wanted him to know, it has been noticed, and so very much appreciated. Jordan, I have always thought a lot of you, but your stock went way up in my book this past week. You are quite a young man, and I am very proud of you and thankful for you!
Thank you more than words can say!

Pastor D

Christmas Without Christ

2009-12-18T09:28:00.003-06:00

I don't have to tell anyone that the Christmas season is a rushed, hectic and stressful time of year. It is amazing what we (as a society) have turned Christmas into. I'd dare say that for most people, Christmas really has nothing to do with Jesus anymore. This fact is pretty obvious, but the harshness of this reality hit me like a bat upside the head a couple of nights ago. I was sitting listening to the school choir that my daughter sings in perform their Christmas concert. They were singing a Christmas song that speaks clearly about the birth of Jesus. As I scanned over the choir, my eyes happened upon one young lady who is a professing atheist who will confront Christians in a heartbeat trying to bait them into an argument over the existence of God. Her face was just beaming as she sang this song, so I just had to ask her about. The next day I found the opportunity and asked her about that song (and others) and what it meant to her. She said it was nothing, just some beautiful music, nothing more. She had to get her dig in and she made a comment as to how sad it is that "you people" have to depend on such a crutch. I refused to get into the debate at that moment and told her we'd make that dance another day. I walked away feeling so heart broken for her. It's a terrible thing being lost, but it is even worse to be lost and not know it. That's where she and her family are. As I got back in my van, I looked at the others around me and I realized that odds were that the vast majority of those that I could see at that moment were lost, wandering aimlessly and without hope. Most of them were and are so excited that Christmas time is here, but they are missing the meaning for the whole thing. They are celebrating Christmas... but leaving out the Christ... the Messiah, the Savior.
What a terrible waste of time, money... and life.
They are ignoring or oblivious to the answer to all of life's questions... exchanging it for parties, fancy paper and gifts that will be mostly forgotten a month from now.

I pray that some how, some way, they discover the Christ child during this holiday season and they find out just why he came... to seek and to save that which is lost.

Galesburg Elves

2009-12-13T22:00:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Is the Bible Not Enough?

2009-12-13T16:22:00.002-06:00

I just sat and watched a TV show of a couple preachers from a nearby town where for 30 minutes they trash talked Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Billy Graham as well as others and spewed out crap about how these men are preaching a false gospel and that they are not (and I quote) "not even Christians." Wait a minute... I believe I even talked about this today in my sermon... the term "Gospel" means "Good News." What is the "Good News"? It is a message of hope, deliverance and life! Yet all these men did was run down these ministers and speak curses upon them and those who follow them.
Now, based on just this little information that I have given you, let me ask you: "Who do you think is preaching 'the gospel' and who is spewing a false 'gospel'." I can't speak for anyone else, but I'll take the message of hope! Jesus always spoke life... abundant life... not curses and death. I'm just wondering, can't these guys find enough in the Bible to preach without spending all their time, energy and money to tear down these ministries?

A Few Moments of Reflection

2009-12-11T08:59:00.004-06:00

Earlier this week I was having a conversation with someone who has been struggling, and who had fallen out of church. (I hate that terminology, because no one "falls" out, they walk out... but that's for another blog.)
Anyway, this person was talking about the need to make some changes in their life, but said that they just could not seem to figure out how to make those changes.
This got me to start thinking about how I make real changes in my own life.
Not just any change, but the kind that changes my life, that really change me.
As I reflect back on my life, I realize that whenever I have made changes that really took, I have had to change what i believe.
One thing that I have learned is that just repeating concepts that other people have written about or spoke of has never worked to change what I think, because it doesn't change what i believe.
News Flash: You and I just can't talk ourselves into accepting a thought that we have no basis for believing.

Those that have known me longest know that toward the end of the 70's and into the early 80's, when I was teen going into my early adult years I had some serious meltdowns. The truth is, I never had much confidence in myself and as a product of my insecurity and lack of self worth, I had never really learned to relate with others. I found my confidence in a bottle of Southern Comfort or Vodka, smoking pot, and various other drugs I used as my problem grew deeper.
I reached the place that I could not even function in life without chemical "assistance." In high school I always had a bottle in my locker, another in my car, stashed in my room, at work (I worked at Pizza Hut while in school) and always had plenty of pot stashed as well. Few of my friends new just how much I was drinking. Some actually saw me do a pinch hitter sitting in the back corner of the class room or bathroom, but they saw it as my being funny or trying to draw attention... I don't think anyone saw the dependence.

A really strange pattern developed in my life in my teen years. It's really weird. I never had any sense of self worth, so I was always seeking for approval of someone else. I constantly had to have a girl friend, because that meant I was accepted. I know, many folks do that. Where it really got weird was that I never would let anyone get too close to me. For one, if someone got too close, they might really discover just how much I was drinking, smoking and popping pills.
Another thing was that after losing my parents and my brother at a young age, I made up my mind that I just would not let anyone get inside of me. It hurt too much when they were gone, so I pushed them away.
I hurt a lot of people over the years because I'd let someone get just so close to me and then abruptly end a relationship for absolutely no reason that they could see.
A really strange twist was that if the young lady ended the relationship with me, I would feel so rejected that I would have an absolute meltdown and frequently became suicidal.

Ironically, I grew up in church, and come from a family with a strong relationship with Christ. Several times over the years I would pray and ask Jesus into my
life. My thinking was that because I asked Jesus into my life that things would change all by themselves. I found out that this is not how things work.
I got to the place that church and religion was a place to go and appease my guilty conscience and make me feel better for awhile, before I slipped right back into my "normal" way of doing life.
This became a regular pattern for me, running back to God every now and then when I was suffering another of my meltdowns, until finally I began to feel that God was rejecting me too.
This was primarily because my image of God was that of a God who was really pissed off at the world (and me) most of the time. God was a God who would "get you" if you did not serve Him.
I now know that I never really wanted to know God, but in fact, most of the times I had come to an altar to pray, it was usually because some one had preached a message on Hell and once again, how God was ticked off and was going to punish me.

This pattern, this vicious cycle continued on and on, with each cycle taking me deeper into depression, anxiety, feeling useless and the drinking and drug use escalated, pulling me more and more into a pit of despair.
I began looking for new highs and rushes in my life, and my exploration took me into a life of crime. I really did not need the money as I had a good job and was making a lot more dealing drugs to my co-workers. It was simply the "rush" that I felt when I stuck a gun in someones face and demanded their money or whatever.

Everything in my life began to unravel on December 17, 1980 when I was arrested on murder charges along with a host of others. In the course of the legal wrangling, it was found that I had not been involved in the murder, but a "friend" who I had brought into my criminal ways, had gotten out of control and killed a woman and then told the police that I had done it. By the time they finished with him, the detectives had enough evidence against me on other charges that I was facing a long, long time in prison. I became more suicidal at that time than ever before, and nearly killed myself several times between December 1980 and June 1981.

Oh yeah, I tried the "religion" angle during that time too, but I was looking for a way out of my trouble, not a change of life.

Then, on June 12, 1981, I had a real, personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
I have to admit, even then I thought things would change by themselves.
It still did not happen. My circumstances did not automatically get better.
In fact, I went to prison.
But being born again made me a new creature on the inside.
What I discovered is that my new birth gave me a brand new nature, and gave me access to everything God is and has.
But being born again didn't automatically change my mind, the part of me that connects to this world. It took me awhile, but I discovered that my mind wasn't the part of me that was born again.

The bible says in several places to put on the new man, made in the image of God.
It took me some time to grasp why that is necessary, and how that is done.
Like so many new believers, I thought changes would just take me over.
But the mind has to be renewed before the changes are evident.

In the book of James it is described like a man who looks at himself in a mirror, and then goes away and forgets what he looks like. The man who continues to renew his mind with the Word of God is like a man who continually looks into a mirror, sees the image of God there, and begins to believe that that is what he looks like too.

The key that began a life long change took place laying in a hospital room in Menard Penitentiary in January 1982, when a priest challenged me to forget everything I had ever heard about God, church, religion and the Bible, and to read the Bible for myself and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the true nature of God to me.
I was so tired of stumbling in the dark, and I accepted his challenge.
I asked the Holy Spirit to be my teacher, and He lead me to a scripture that launched me into many changes ever since that time.

1 John 4:16, “and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us …”

It was like the light came on!
It was not that God was pissed off or angry with me... God loved me!

Some of you are going, "Duh!?!"
But this was brand new to me! It changed me... and it will change you!

I now know God loves me.
Understand this... I KNOW... I BELIEVE that God loves me... and it is NOT because i feel like He loves me, because to be quite honest, there are times when I don't FEEL like He is even paying attention, let alone that he loves me.
But I KNOW that He loves me, and my friends... knowledge is power!

My faith is built on what I know the Word says, which never changes.
My feelings are the reactions of everything I think, experience, and believe.
It is easier to walk on water than to build on my feelings!
Why? Because they are always changing!

So when I saw this verse, I knew what to do. I had to begin to choose to believe.
Understand, NOT just believe whatever sounded good, or whatever people told me. I had to choose to believe what God was telling me.
He reveals what His Word is saying to my heart, and I choose to believe it.
Then I stand on it and speak it to myself – the same way people do when they're worrying about something and continually say what they're afraid is going to happen.

I began to apply this to all the scriptures that describe who and what i am in Christ. And you know what?
I began to renew my mind!
And as my mind was renewed, I began to walk in newness of life.
It was like being a warrior, and finally beginning to put on my armor.
It was like being a child of the King, and finally holding my head up, not because of who I am, but because of whose I am.

You know, the fact is that in the 28 years since I met Jesus, this world hasn't changed, except maybe to have gotten worse. There will always be things to contend with. There will be difficult people who will hurt me. There will be losses, pain and yes, there will be storms.
But I have changed.
I will still make mistakes, and sometimes do the wrong thing out of anger.
I still have many changes to make.

But these things, and the world, don't tell me who I am anymore.
I know who I am.
At times I still do struggle with having a personal identity, but I know I am a man who is in covenant with God. Today, I really know Who I am in covenant with and that makes me strong.

I wont be having anymore meltdowns.

Thank you Jesus!

Snowmen Fun

2009-12-11T08:31:00.002-06:00

Well, Now That That's Settled

2009-12-10T08:23:00.002-06:00

OK, since Gibbs says climate change is no longer debatable, I guess we are just supposed to accept that fact and bow down to those who want to rape our wallets and steal our freedoms in the name of a global farce that has now been proven to have been created by a bunch of knuckleheads. Notice that it has gone from "Global Warming" to "Climate Change." Duh... of course the climate is changing! It always has changed and gone through cycles. When I was in high school all the "experts" were telling us we were on the threshold of an ice age. Then they told us we were creating holes in the ozone layer and the temps were going to continue to rise. Now that the cycle is changing again and the temps have dropped over the past year or more, they are altering their hypothesis yet again. Has anyone noticed that the people spewing this rhetoric are getting rich off of it? Hello? Yeah, the climate is changing... it does it four times a year, and they are called seasons.

Jesus and Santa

2009-12-09T08:11:00.001-06:00

Give this a viewing.

How Marines Welcome A President

2009-12-08T19:33:00.001-06:00

This about says it all.

The Marines Show You How .... There's a 'message' in this video. You've got to take two minutes to watch this comparison between George Bush's visit with the Marines vs. Obama's recent trip. It is incredible.

There Is a New Breed of Christianity Out There

2009-12-08T13:10:00.002-06:00

I'm sure I will get blasted for this post, but hey, I'm used to it.
The thing is, that "Christianity" is changing. Today's breed of Christian feels no need to be committed to church, no need to tithe, no need to live a life of holiness... it's all about them and how God accepts them just as they are. The thing is, God DOES accept us into the family of God just as we are, but then there is supposed to be a change. Seems like I read somewhere something about not being conformed to the this world. In fact, that verse in Romans 12:2 reads this way in the New Living Translation: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." This new breed of Christian thinks that they can show how cool they are and how cool God is by using profane speech and shock value in their behavior. God's not interested in being "cool." You see, cool today is lame tomorrow. God is who He is. We are to conform to the image of His son, not try to conform to the image of the world.
Oh... relevant? Yes, we do need to present the Gospel in a relevant way, but that NEVER means compromising our standard (of holiness) nor the integrity of the Gospel or our Lord. Today we have people sitting in our church singing praises to God, raising their hands and shouting... then going out and having illicit sex, drinking with their buds and acting exactly like the world. Call me judgmental, but I'm saying God is not having a part of this! God demands that we be a holy people. God demands that we come out from among them and be separate.
This "new breed" of Christianity is NOT Christianity at all. To be a "Christian" means to be Christ-like." Somehow, I just do not believe that Jesus would be using the language and doing the things that so called Christians are doing today.
Nope... Not buying it.

By Special Request

2009-12-06T20:35:00.002-06:00

Whenever people tell me that they are upset, not feeling good, or just about anything negative, I am notorious for saying, "Stop it!" It dawned on me a few days ago that many people around me have no clue why I say this, and I promised one of my church members earlier this week I would post the reason for it on my blog. I forgot about it until just a few minutes ago I again told someone, "Stop it!"

So... here's the reason why Pastor D says, "Stop it!" so much:

What's It All About?

2009-12-05T16:41:00.001-06:00

Just in case you need a reminder.... let's keep this in mind over the next few weeks!

God Loves You, He Really Does!

2009-12-05T09:31:00.001-06:00

I wanted to share this from my online devotion (The Word For Today)

"'Can anything...separate us from Christ's love?...'"
Romans 8:35 NLT

Our limited minds can't comprehend God's love because it comes with no strings attached. He doesn't love us 'if,' but 'in spite of.' As a parent you may not approve of your child's behaviour, but you always love and accept them. Paul asks, 'Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?'(Romans 8:35 NLT) Then he answers, '...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love...'(Romans 8:38) Doesn't that blow your mind? We have just enough ego to believe there are certain sins God can't get over; like the ones we never commit. Do you remember the Pharisee in the temple who prayed, '...God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or...this tax collector [standing next to me].' (Luke 18:11 NKJV) Understand this: God's standard is perfection, and you couldn't reach it in a thousand lifetimes! Grace is the only hope any of us have.
Our love for God relates to the level of the forgiveness we've received from Him. The Pharisees were shocked that Jesus would allow a woman with a bad reputation to kneel at His feet, bathing them with her tears and drying them with her hair. They thought, '...If Jesus were a prophet, He would know that the woman...is a sinner!' (Luke 7:39 NCV) No, it wasn't that Jesus didn't know, it was that He didn't care. 'Then He said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'' (Luke 7:48 NKJV) Then He gives us the bottom line: '...to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.' (Luke 7:47 NKJV) And what should our response to God's love be? 'This is love for God: to obey his commands...' (1 John 5:3 NIV)

Have You Been Snookered?

2009-12-04T08:46:00.003-06:00

Haven't been feeling well, so this morning I've just been resting and watching TV. Found one of my favorite old shows on, "The Beverly Hillbillies" on. (After 44 years, this show still holds up.) Anyway, in this episode, Jed is feeling useless and decides to start doing handiman work for people free of charge, just so that he feels like he is useful and doing something. Mr. Drysdale decides that what Jed needs is a hobby, and he sets out trying to find something that Jed will enjoy doing. He shows him a ship in a bottle that it took Mr. Cushman 3 years to build. Jed see's this as wasting a ship and a bottle, not to mention a waste of 3 years. He presents him with the idea of stamp collecting and he thinks it's entirely too expensive to write letters at that price. Then he shows him a coin collection and a dime that the owner paid $12,000 for. Jed says, "Your friend got snookered!" Mr. Drysdale explains that the dime was very old, very rare and worth the price. Jed says, "If you put that dime into one of those candy machines, would it give you $12,000 worth of candy?" Drysdale tells him that it would only give a dimes worth. Jed tells him that he needs to go help his friend because he needs help because he got snookered.

As I'm watching this, the thought hit me how many people have been "snookered" in life. They have things that they value, even treasure and they've placed their trust in these things or activities.

I've often said that I think the idea of paying the prices that people pay for diamonds, pearls, so called "precious stones" and so on is just stupid. It's a rock! It's a piece of sand that got into a clam that was unwanted. The only reason a diamond is worth that much is because someone, somewhere decided they could charge that much for it. Tomorrow we could wake up to find that someone has decided diamonds are worthless and they would be. We could be told that now our money is worthless, and it would be. Don't think so? Hold on awhile and you will find out. I remember just a few years ago when Germany went to the Euro and those who had chosen to hold on to Marks found out that they were no longer of value. Just like that, it was not worth the price of the paper it was printed on.
Right now, people are being advised to buy gold. The price of gold has sky rocketed. But what will that gold buy you if gold is declared illegal to own once again? Having all the gold in the world would mean nothing if you could not trade it. People are putting their trust in gold, silver, diamonds, stock and bonds... and they are being snookered. No, I'm not saying that we should not prepare for the future financially, but I'm thinking of the big picture. What about the real future? What about eternity? The reality is that a man may be a billionaire and own houses and lands, jewels and gold, and still be absolutely without hope. They may be the most famous person in the world; someone whose face is known around the world... but if they are not known by Jesus, then they've been snookered!

Let me finish this with the words to one of my favorite old songs:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

I Still Can't Get Over This

2009-12-04T13:42:00.004-06:00

I've been writing this blog now for just over 4 years, and I still find myself amazed and humbled at the fact that people want to read what I have to say. I actually publish this through Blogger, Facebook and Myspace, and there are a number of readers from each site. I started blogging, really, more for me than anything. I have found it theraputic to vent my thoughts. It was never really about others reading in the beginning. Now, I find that I have regular readers from around the world. In fact, about 1 of every 4 readers is outside the United States. It just blows my mind. This picture is a screen shot of a map showing where my readers have logged on from today. This is just the readers on Blogger.
I just think it is so cool to see this every day.

3 Wise Men and a Baby

2009-12-03T10:13:00.003-06:00

For more information, click this link

Sorry, Too Busy

2009-12-02T15:56:00.003-06:00

Just a little while ago I was driving home and heard a spot on the radio about a woman who was role playing with her young daughter about the angel telling Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God. She said that she said her part. "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Without pausing to think about it, the little girl said, "Sorry angel, I'm too busy, you'll have to find someone else."

Wow... I wonder where she heard that?!

This little girl spoke a tremendous sermon in that one short sentence.
One of the biggest blights on the Body of Christ in America is that very few seem to have time to do anything for God. They will come to church on Sunday if they happen to get in bed early enough on Saturday, and if there is nothing that comes up to draw them away on Sunday morning. Wednesday night? Yeah, right. Precious few make it for mid-week service anymore, and some who do are always looking for a reason to miss. Even the leadership of the churches cannot seem to find time to come to midweek service. Is it any wonder attendance is shrinking? The people are simply doing what they see their leaders doing! We've got our priorities completely upside down and inside out. Thank God He is not too busy for us!

What Church Is Not

2009-11-29T22:58:00.002-06:00

I received this in an email today and wanted to pass it on. Once again, I have no idea who the author is, so I cannot credit him. Ever wonder why people pass so much stuff on by email but don't think it is important to attribute the author? If anyone knows who wrote this, if you'll let me know, I'd appreciate it so that I can give that person the credit. One thing I'd add, from my perspective of the first topic. Wolves are not the people of the world, they are the religious folks in the church who have one purpose, and that is to hurt, control and/or destroy others in the church. The world is not the problem in that regard.

There’s an ancient principle that says you can learn more about something by first defining what it’s NOT before you try to define what it IS. Let’s take a look at a few things that Church ISN’T.

Church Isn’t About Protecting Christians From The World

Some of the church environments I experienced maintained that the church was a haven of peace and hope in a horrible, broken world. We were the sheep. They were the wolves. We had to protect our sheep by keeping the wolves out. We were “in the world but not of it,” remember? While there are many churches who consciously or sub-consciously adhere to the idea of being a place to hide from the evils of the world, I remind you the type of company Jesus kept when he walked this earth. He could have adopted the Pharisee’s method of separating himself entirely from everything “unclean.” Instead, he was known as a “friend of sinners.” Can our church say that?

Church Isn’t A Club

One of our strengths as the church is the friendships and community that come out of our local expressions of worship. People who have been hurt and rejected for years find healing in healthy relationships. However, if we’re not careful, friendships can turn into cliques and new people walking through the door will find themselves on the outside looking in. Our circle of friends is important but let’s not be so self-absorbed that we miss those Christ is calling us to serve.

Church Isn’t An Event

In Western culture especially, we have equated church with an event that happens once a week. We get ready for church, we drive to the church, we do church, we come home and then we don’t think about it again until next week. God never intended church to be an event that we only participate in for a couple hours each week. We are the church. That means that we carry it with us 24/7. It follows us wherever we go, whatever we do. Church is as much a part of the conversation we have with a co-worker on Monday as it is about the worship songs we sang the day before.

Church Isn’t A Location or Building

While most of us know this intuitively, we still need to be reminded that the church isn’t a specific building or location. Our buildings and programs create environments for church to happen but they are no more or less sacred than our living room or even the neighborhood pub.

Church Isn’t A Denomination

We each like to think that our own beliefs and doctrines are the “right way.” Which is understandable. We wouldn’t practice them if we didn’t believe them to be true. The danger comes when we begin to see our way as the only way. There are some hills to die on but then there are other battles that don’t need to be fought. Some sprinkle, some dip. Some take communion with wafers and wine, others with bread and grape juice. One day soon we’re all going to be sitting up in Heaven wondering what all the fuss was really about.

Church Isn’t About You

This one is the most important distinction in my opinion. Church isn’t about YOU. It’s about THEM. I have no patience for people who visit a church and come home complaining that the music was too loud, the message too long or the air conditioning too cold. Some people view church as a “pick-me-up,” a little boost of joy and happiness to get them through the week. Show up, sing a couple songs, shake a few hands, go home and pull out the potroast. The church was never meant to be a place to cater to Christian’s comforts. It is and always has been about “seeking and saving those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Trust In The Lord

2009-11-29T08:04:00.005-06:00

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding".
Sounds pretty basic, doesn't it? Just lean on the Lord. Depend on the Lord.
Trust him. Put your plans, your hopes and your dreams into his hands.
So, what's the problem?
So many times, we think we have the answers and we know how to make things better. We have this fear of letting others see our weaknesses.Therefore, we have to be strong and show everyone around us just how independent and self sufficient we are. We hide our fears and/or loneliness. We cover up our broken heart and lives. In essence, we put on a show to conceal our struggles.

Here's a question: Why is it that we try so hard to impress others... or please others when the one we should be striving to please is God?

That passage of scripture continues on...
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

What does it mean to "acknowledge God." I believe it means that we completely surrender our will and our ways to His will, and we trust in His power, His wisdom, goodness, and righteousness. It is coming to a point that we acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing. I'm convinced that many, if not most of our failures are due to our pride, for we think that our own wisdom, strength and piety are sufficient, and so we do not acknowledge Him as necessary in all things. The reality is that we need God’s direction in everything, for this is how he directs our path.

Looking For the Other Shoe to Drop?

2009-11-27T22:28:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week I was having a conversation with an old friend who I had not spoken to in quite some time and she was relating how well things were going in her life, how blessed she was and the happiness that she had found. But then she said something that has had me thinking ever since then. She commented that the last couple of years had been so good that she was just waiting for the shoe to drop. She said that she figured no one could continue to be blessed like she had been experiencing without expecting that sooner or later the table had to turn and she would have to face a time of suffering and lack. She said, "there is no way God would continue to bless a person all the time without making them pay for it; right?" She referenced the whole Yin/Yang thing and how everything balances out because of opposing forces.

I was kind of taken back at that moment, but after a bit I told her that I believe that the Word of God is true and Jesus meant it when he said he came to give us live more abundantly. I believe you can walk in blessing continuously... IF we walk in obedience to that Word. No, I don't think we should be waiting for the shoe to drop, for if we do, we basically are closing the door on faith.

Just a thought...
I'll develop this more later.

Remember Billy?

2009-11-24T10:57:00.002-06:00

Some of you readers who have been with me might remember the story I wrote 3 years ago about a little boy named Billy, whom I met at Innkeepers coffee house. I don't think I explained in that story that Billy and his mom did not live in Galesburg but were in town to take care of some business. Anyway, this morning I received a phone call from Billy's mom. They were coming through town and Billy remembered me and wanted to see his friend. I was supposed to be going to the Quad Cities to take care of some business, but no way, no how was I passing up this opportunity. We met at Micky D's on Henderson and had a late breakfast together. I was really stunned at how much my little friend had grown in 3 years! We only had about 35 minutes and then his mother explained that they had to be on their way because of an appointment in town. It was really one of the coolest mornings I've had in quite some time. His mother told me that Billy has never forgotten that day we met and his friend, "Pastor D" and that when he heard they were going to Galesburg he would not stop with his insistence that they call me. I'm so glad they did!

If you've never read the first encounter with my buddy Billy, or maybe you just need to be reminded, here is a link to that entry. http://thedawghowse.blogspot.com/2006/11/take-time-to-be-friend.html

Are You Up to the Challenge?

2009-11-24T09:01:00.003-06:00

This past Sunday I preached a message about living life with a thankful spirit as opposed to becoming thankful at one time of the year. In the message I offered the challenge to my church and I wanted to throw it out there for others to accept or decline. The challenge is simple. During the final 5 weeks of this year, we will endevor not to complain, but rather, everytime we feel like complaining, turn it to praise.
I believe that if we can fulfill this challenge, it will change our lives forever.

I've been excited to see on Facebook and to hear in person people talking about how it is going not complaining. My daughter told me that by not complaining yesterday, she realized 1) how much she complained, and 2) that everyone around her was constantly complaining, griping and grumbling. She told me that it made her want to change even more. That's cool!

How about you? You up to the challenge?