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Uhaul Needed

Todays guest post comes from Gregg Farah. Gregg is a Pastor at Shelter Rock Church on Long Island, he writes,  pursues the perfect pizza slice,  cheers for the Mets, plays sports, and makes frequent visits to the doctor (see “I play sports”).

I know that you will enjoy this post! Make sure that you click on the image at the end to view the powerful 52 Week devotional that Gregg has written just for you.

“God moved out of Manhattan a long time ago…” was all I heard. I was listening intently to Gerald as I picked at my cheese Danish at an overpriced but chic coffee shop in Lower Manhattan when that phrase caught my attention. I stopped him mid-sentence, repeated his statement for accuracy, and then pushed my chair back to give my mind room to process what I heard.

Gerald paused, waiting for some kind of response, but when it was clear my brain was stuck in gear he picked up where I had interrupted. Still, I could not stop thinking of the implications of that statement. I’m one who actually believes this is a spiritually rich season in the life of New York City. While noontime confessions and unparalleled acts of benevolence are not commonplace, I hear a sufficient number of stories and see enough prints to reveal God’s hand at work in our greater metropolitan area.

But for others, God is nowhere to be found. I breathed in the smells of the coffee shop, held my drink with both hands, and leaning in interrupted Gerald once again. “Sorry to go backwards, but tell me more about your ‘God moved’ statement.”

Gerald obliged and shared the predictable tales of church neglect and abuse, hypocrisy and aloofness, and the painfully abhorrent charge of irrelevance. My years as a student minister brought back the stinging charge of youth ministry pioneer Jim Rayburn, “It’s a sin to bore a kid with the gospel.” The same holds true for adults.

For many, God and the church are synonymous. While not theologically accurate, it is a reasonable expectation. If God is in the transformation business, shouldn’t His children bear some resemblance to His love and care and compassion and creativity and unity? But just as plenty of children blaze a trail of independence far from the paved path parents laid before them, the same is true with those in the church. So what does the church do now? If God moved, is it possible to load a U-Haul and bring Him back? I think it is. And these are the two things the church must do: love God and love people.

Surprised by its simplicity? You’re not alone. When religious leaders challenged Jesus to state the most important law of God, He offered the same 2-for-1 special, sending the leaders away with more to think about then they hoped for. Jesus’ words sound simple and would look great on a T-shirt. But living them out is a high calling. Too many faith-filled people—of any religious affiliation—view God as a tattoo, something to wear, rather than a leader, someone to follow. But if God ever does move, I guarantee the moment a person chooses to follow His leadership and stands for justice or bends down to serve, a 17’ panel truck with God’s goods will be on the road headed back to Manhattan, or wherever you reside.

Want some evidence that God still has a Manhattan address? Here are three recent God-sightings:

  1. Michele gives up a week of her vacation to volunteer as a counselor at a preteen camp
  2. Jeremy organizes a trip to bring people to his home country to serve abandoned children
  3. Catherine listens with care and intensity as another woman shares her pain

These examples have God’s fingerprints all over them—and they come in varied shapes and sizes and commitment levels and ability. Yet they are all signs of a spiritually fertile climate that reminds the church of its priorities in the city and around the world.

Gerald’s “God moved” statement is not divinely inspired but it is real to him and challenges the church to reflect God’s love in plentiful and practical ways. And in case Gerald ever does speak for God, let’s hope God hires a moving company, because God’s got a huge sleeper-sofa.

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Also, Follow Gregg on Twitter an visit his Blog. 

 

Unrealistically Human

Meet my newest pal, Trevor DeVage. I met this guy while on his sabbatical here in Nashville. He and I hit it off immediately. This is a guest post by Trevor. Follow him on Twitter. This blog is to-the-point, so buckle up.

I just want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I don’t even have the energy for that right now. I am tired of having to put on the face because the “church” can’t handle reality. We read about it in scripture and are thankful that they are all just as messed up as we are. But the moment we become human too, people freak. They can’t handle it. They want pretty and perfect, yet what they say is they want real and authentic.

I wish the church could handle real and authentic.

Image by deviant art

You know what real and authentic gets you as a pastor…labeled.

He’s a rebel.

He’s angry.

He’s too edgy.

He’s married to a beautiful woman who should wear a burlap sack.

He’s not the total package.

He’s a jerk.

He’s prideful and arrogant.

He’s entitled.

He’s not lead pastor material.

He’s not…fill in the blank.

What we want is not what Jesus redeemed. What we want is something not realistic for any human being. I am wearied of people trying to cram other people into these labels and boxes. It’s as if you have to stay there and if you don’t well then you are not ministry material.

I wonder…was Moses ministry material?

I wonder…was David ministry material?

I wonder…was Paul ministry material?

I wonder…was Adam ministry material?

I wonder…was Abraham ministry material?

I wonder…was Samson ministry material?

I wonder…was Peter ministry material?

These men were liars, adulterers, murderers, prideful, arrogant, unloving, angry individuals…who the last time I checked were all deemed qualified for ministry. We love to say that God chooses imperfect people to carry out his will. But what our actions state is that we want God to give us perfect people to run our churches so we can land blast them when they are actually what they were created to be…HUMAN!

So may we become people who will make continual allowances for being what we were created to be. May we be people who will not hold humans to inhuman expectations. And may we realize that we are all in the same boat no matter the pedestal or platform that we elevate people to.

May we be HUMAN!

Discussion Question:
In what ways do you handle those around you in their “humanness”?

 

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The “International Church Of Waffle House”

Today’s guest post is from the one and only Stephen Haggerty – or as I first knew him, THE BEARDED IDEALIST. His humor will keep you and his sincerity will touch you.

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Bill Shakespeare had it all wrong. “To be or not to be” is irrelevant. “Hash browns or Grits?”… now that is the question.

And the answer is hash browns - smothered, covered, diced, and peppered. The next time you find yourself eating at a Waffle House, you better believe you’re going to be asked this question and you sure as fire better be ready to give an answer.

Image Courtesy of Stephen Haggerty

If you’ve never been to a Waffle House – first of all - I’m sorry. Not only do they have an automatic batter dispenser over the stove (which already makes it a winner in my book), but they set the bar in terms of good, down-home breakfast food and southern hospitality.

Most of us have a predisposed set of images that come to mind when hearing the word “church” (a steeple, a worship team, a Pastor, Sunday School, etc.). However, as I was listening to stories from my waitress while I chowed down on a salty piece of ham, this thought crossed my mind: “What if we thought of church the way we think about Waffle House?” I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but indulge me…

The fake locks

During one of our waitress’ many trips to come check on me and my wife, she informed us that the locks on the door are really just there for looks – that they don’t actually function. Since Waffle House is open 24/7, there’s never a need to cut off the “open” sign.

Now I’m not about to suggest that your church should never lock the doors, or that your Pastor should sleep at the church. What I am saying is that we, the people who make up the church, should be the church all week-long. Our love and grace should extend day-in/day-out in a way that we don’t have to flip the Jesus sign back on come Sunday. (Acts 2:42-47)

Home cookin’

Obviously, Waffle House’s hospitality would mean nothing if they didn’t have good food. Their unpretentious menu offers food that will bring you back to mamma’s kitchen, and at least a dozen plates that feature bacon… and bacon is good.

Psalm 34:9 – “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” The Church is intended to be a place where people take refuge, a place that leaves people with the imprint of Good News all over their lives. When someone spends time away from their church, there should be a craving to come back for more.

Good ole southern hospitality

I don’t know why it is, but something about the phrase, “can I refill your coffee?” means so much more when it’s said with a southern accent. Whether you think it’s legit or just an old wives tale – I happen to hold to the belief that no one knows how to make a complete stranger feel welcomed better than a southern waitress.

Jesus was great at this – in Scripture, we get to see him associating with “untouchables,” eating with tax collectors, and getting down on people’s level (Matt. 11:19).  What an awesome challenge this is to the church – to welcome in people of all walks of life, no matter background or appearance, instead of worrying how our membership will be affected by who we allow in.

So what do you take away from this? Should you swear off IHOP altogether, and add “eating a triple hash browns all-the-way” from Waffle House to your bucket list? Absolutely.  But I’d also hope that maybe, just maybe, the next time you bite into the sweet doughy goodness of a freshly made waffle, you’ll remember your calling to help the Church feel a little more like home.

Discussion Question:
What are some of the ways in which you make your local church feel “like home”?

Remember to follow Stephen on Twitter and connect with him on his BLOG.

I Think My Brain May Explode!

Guest Post by: Rob Atkins

Ok, maybe it’s just me, but when I was younger I used to think once I got like 40 or 50 I would have everything figured out. I mean, surely by then all of life’s answers would be clear. Really, how tough can it be? You get married, have a family, and buy a house. You go to church and everything should go smoothly, right? Guess what? For the most part it has.

Now I am sure you’re saying, “Come on you’re trying to tell me that life has not thrown you some curves. There’s not been some devastating moments in your life’s journey.”

No, I am not saying that there’s not been moments that shook me to my core beliefs or that I haven’t questioned why this or that happened. The real answer has come through the understanding that my mind has to be renewed daily. I know that may sound a bit cliché and, yes, I understand some of you have said, “I am done with church; I am done with people,” and I get it, trust me I do.

The fact of the matter is, deep down in you and me, our spirit yearns; it cries out.

There’s still a longing that we can’t turn off. The battlefield in our mind tries to destroy the communication it needs with our spirit. Why? Because it is in direct conflict with our spirit. Think about it. Your mind will take a suggestion and turn it into lust. Your mind will take one word and turn it into offense. Your mind will take God’s love and turn it into judgment. Our spirit and our heart are really one. When we lose heart, whether in people or in our belief of something, our mind jumps at the chance to reinforce it. That’s why it’s called head knowledge. It goes with what’s right in front of it, not taking into consideration how one moment affects the other.

Your spirit, on the other hand, desires to please God. Our spirit should have the ultimate say so. That’s why it’s so important that our mind be renewed daily, to bring it into right alignment with our spirit.

So with that in mind (no pun intended) it’s crucial what we allow to be imprinted on our heart/spirit. Our actions must match up to what the Spirit of God in us is trying to convey. It’s vital we recognize this, then take the proper steps. We can have the type of life we’ve dreamed of, but it will not happen if we think we can do it without God in our lives.

So here’s the challenge:

How do we accomplish this? We take ownership of our actions. Yes, parents, family, friends, pastors, husbands, wives, kids, bosses, ex’s,…shall I keep going? All may have let us down, done something to hurt us, they might even be the cause of where we are now. That, however, is called blame and the only person ultimately harmed by that is ourselves.

It’s not easy, this journey we call life. Saying words like forgiveness, trust and love are difficult to say to others, especially when we feel short-changed in those areas. I know lots of people who have allowed moments to turn into a lifetime of mental struggle.

I encourage you, don’t let your mind have the final word. Search your heart; find that place of desire and passion. There’s no shortcuts in life. Learn from yesterday, embrace today and have faith in tomorrow. Trust the God inside of you.

Psalm 49:3 (AMP) My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

 

What Forms Your Thinking?

Here is the question for you, “What forms my thinking? What affects the outcome of my decisions?” Is my mindset “fixed” in a moment or is it in a state of continual growth?

Over this series of guest posts that I am doing for Human Like You, we are going to spend time answering these questions:

  • How are mindsets formed
  • Can they be changed
  • Could I be stuck
  • What are the Spiritual applications

By definition a mindset is: a set os beliefs or a way of thinking that determines one’s behavior, outlook and mental attitude.

Image by Rob Atkins

I understand how easy it is to become “fixed” in moment of time. For years I was wrapped up in the title of a pastor. I let it define me. I enjoyed hearing people say,”Hey, Pastor Rob, what’s your thoughts on this, I enjoyed your message, you’re this, you’re that.”

You get the picture.

When I left the pastorate I allowed myself to become stuck in that moment in my life. It took time for me to figure out who I was outside of the scope of pastoring. I had to realize I was not just a pastor; I am a father, a husband, a friend, a student, and a teacher. All of these things make up who I am. I had to learn to enjoy just being me.

For some, a “fixed” mindset started back in grade school. We allowed one test we failed to define us, or one little word Suzy or Tommy said, make us feel like a loser. So what if you got a 65 on your math test and Tommy got a 92?

So what if you pastor a church of 75 and someone else pastors a church of 275?

When we allow ourselves to become “stuck” in a difficult moment, concrete can begin to form around our thoughts. We begin to compare ourselves to others. We start saying things like, ”Why can’t I have what they have. I must not be as smart as they are. People must like them more. They must have something I don’t.”

Those type of thoughts can form negative patterns. Learn to see opportunity. Understand that a 65 on a math test only tells you where you are at this point. Let it challenge you to improve.

Potential = Someone’s capacity to develop skills, with effort over time.

Our ability to recognize growth potential is key. As I tell people all the time, I have no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive when I speak or write a blog. My only desire is to try to help you be the best version of yourself you can be. Understand you can accomplish things in your life with a set-in-stone mindset, but why would you want to limit yourself? Why would you settle for not reaching your full potential?

I’m not saying it’s going to easy. Trust me, there are days that it’s a lot more comfortable to stroke my own ego, to find something or someone to say, “Hey, I’ve got it together more than they do.”

We set ourselves up for disappointment when we allow a moment or a person (ourselves) to determine the outcome of our lives. Recognize where you are in your life; if your stuck, admit it. If you need help, seek it out. Your willingness to change will affect everything and everyone around you.

Next time…. My mind and my spirit are working together.

Discussion Question:
What are some of the unhealthy mindsets in which you struggle to maintain motivation?

This Guest Post Is By: Rob Atkins

Former Satanist on God’s Love

Guest Post by Peter Gilson, Kissimmee, FL

Ever doubt God’s love? Ever find yourself thinking, “God couldn’t love me after doing this.” Or has someone who you are ministering to say “How could God love me after the things I’ve done? You don’t understand, He could never forgive me for …”

I thought that way for a long time. You see, I have spent over half my life as a Satanist. I was actively fighting against God. To this day, the enemy tries to deceive me with the whisper that God does not love me for what I have done in the past.

But the truth is this – He loves us so much we truly can’t fully comprehend the vastness of His love.

In Mark 12:28 He tells us that the “GREATEST” commandment revolves around love. That the second greatest also revolves around love. God is love. That is so His point. It goes on in the scripture to say that those two things are ”more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

It is impossible for any of us to love God as much as He loves us. We don’t have the capacity. God also knows our limit on love, which is why those two things – loving God with all our Heart, and loving our neighbor as ourselves – are the two most important things He asks in return.

When I think of having spent twenty years cursing him, actively fighting against him with all that I was, bringing people to satan, burning and destroying bibles, all the things I did as a Satanist and satanic priest I am beyond awe in being able to say I have FELT God’s love for me.

The changes He has made in me, the ways that God has used me as an example of His ability to forgive, and to love is the most amazing thing I have ever known.

Without God’s love, I would be back trapped in that darkness I lived in half my life. Or simply put, I would be dead and in hell. More than likely the later. Without a doubt in my mind.

God’s love did that for me, HE did that for me, and He doesn’t love me any more than He does you. So next time you hear a whisper inside you encouraging you to doubt God’s love, or forgiveness, think of my story, because He loves YOU, and everyone around you just as much.

If interested you can read my testimony HERE, God Bless you and keep you.

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Ministry As Worship

Ministry is all-consuming if we allow it to be.

We know the statistics.  Most pastors work too many hours per week, have too much stress, and drop out of ministry altogether at an alarming rate.

The question is, why?

Part of the problem lies in how we view ministry.  If we allow our identity to become wrapped up in our role as minister, we can easily find ourselves in a place where we have no identity other than “Pastor.”  This often drives us to perform, to make people happy, and to go to extremes to keep the people coming and the money flowing.  After all, if the ministry is successful, then I’m a success.  And if the numbers are down, then I must be a failure.

 

We must not confuse who we are with what we do.  They are interrelated, but not identical.  Consider this…  What if your ministry position was taken away from you tomorrow?   Who would you be then?

You would still be a man or woman of God.

You are not your ministry.  You are Christ’s beloved, redeemed by His sacrifice at Calvary, complete and accepted in Him.  This is your identity.  No one can take that away from you.

Understanding our identity in Christ is a key to emotional, spiritual, and even ministerial well-being.  It is the foundation we need so that we do not burn out when ministry gets difficult, or puff up in pride when it goes well.  Everything we are is rooted in the grace of God freely given to us in Jesus.

Ministry, then, is born out of our relationship with God.  It is a response to His call.  As such, ministry is worship.  Every act of ministry is an act of worship.  Every sermon we preach, every hospital visit we make, and every bit of counsel we provide is worship.  If we find ourselves sweeping the sidewalk in front of the church, every push of the broom is worship.  It is a response to God’s love freely given to us through Jesus Christ, an offering we give in gratitude for all that He has done for us personally.

Our success is not in how many respond to our sermon on Sunday; it’s in how we respond to the Holy Spirit’s work in our own lives.  Ministry to others is done “unto Jesus.”  The results of the ministry are up to Him.

Guest Post By: Chad Payne

The Warning Track

Guest Post by: Scott Couchenour 

Your eye is on the ball.  It’s a high, fly ball hit deep into your territory. You spot the screaming sphere of white leather and begin running backward as fast as you can. All the time, your eye never losses sight of the target.

The goal: catch this and the game is over, you win.

As your feet reach the end of the grassy field and onto the dirt of the warning track, a little signal is sent from your feet to your brain saying,
“Hey, we’re in the dirt now. Better start slowing down or you’ll hit that big green wall behind you.” So your brain signals back, “Copy that. Will do. Commencing the slowdown procedures.” And you take a well-timed leap, arm outstretched, and make the game-winning catch.


Your Calling

You are pursuing your passion, your calling, with all your might. Your “eye is on the ball”. It’s what you live for. The goal: reach as many for Christ as possible and grow disciples who make disciples. When the game is over, you want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The Wall

But there is a wall. There’s always a wall. Fortunately there is also a warning track, those little warning signals, to let you know when you’re getting close to that wall.

Do you know what your warning signals are?

Perhaps you get irritated easily. Or maybe you begin to lose hope. Some people start to feel a sore throat developing. Whatever your warning signals are, you must be in touch with them and make necessary adjustments in your rhythm. Do this and you will increase your chances of (in the words of Bruce B. Miller in his book, Your Life In Rhythm) full engagement, maximum performance, and sustained health.

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