Today, that sign is on the Internet. Every church should have a website.

In the past, some church leaders either did not see the need for learning what the Internet is all about or they felt that it was too technically involved for them to learn. Fortunately, many of those folks now use email and browse the websites that they feel are both safe and valuable. But some still do not have a website for their church.

It is a fact that the church cannot retain a 20th century mindset and expect to be effective in the 21st century. People of this generation are more familiar (and comfortable) with Facebook than with a hymn book. It is not enough for a church to just “be there” — in brick and mortar – and expect new people to come and fill it up. Old school outreach techniques like bus ministry and tent meetings have lost favor with the current generation. For most younger people today, if it doesn’t work on their iPhone or Blackberry, then it probably isn’t relevant.

Even though they might desire to reach the younger generation, they may feel unable to do so. Added to the lack of technical ability, some smaller churches feel that the financial cost of maintaining a web presence is too much for their already strained budgets.

It is my desire to help ALL Christian churches to overcome some of these obstacles. I have two projects that are designed to do just that:

• The FREE Online Christian Community, “Beyond The Limits Of  Church” is open for business at http://btloc.com. This community is very similar to Facebook and offers most of the same capabilities. One difference is that rather than seeing unending notices of someone’s Farmville “accomplishments” (or other game reports), the BTLOC will have true notes between Christian friends. Another difference is that most users will qualify for a FREE website hosted on the system.
• The second project is the Church Locator at http://churchloc.com. This site is a place where anyone in the world can search for a church or Christian business. Christians are welcome to submit their website for inclusion (free). Having a site included on the Church Locator will not only increase the number of visitors but also help develop a better ranking on the various search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.).

Give these two projects a look. I trust that they will help you overcome some of the roadblocks to 21st century ministry!

The first project is the “Beyond Limits COG Community” (BLCOG) at http://beyondlimitscog.com – This is a network underwritten by the Churches of God (COG) in Louisiana. Membership in this network is limited to those affiliated with the COG in Louisiana. This community is working and users are being added every day. New sites are being built and I am close to the point that I can move to the next project.

The original project for BLCOG was to assure that every COG congregation in Louisiana has a web presence to point seekers to their church. In the development phase, I found that I could inject a social networking function into the project. The result is that users of the network of sites have most of the same tools as they have on Facebook. Users can assign “friends” or “UNfriend” them, they can create groups, discussion forums and send private messages to other users. Additionally, they can create their own blog, upload photos, videos, etc and post articles about whatever interests them. And all costs are underwritten by the State Offices with free gratis Tech Support being provided by the “Bishop of Technology” (me).

The concept of a “Community of Christian Websites & Users” is exciting! However, due to the limited membership of BLCOG, I am also working on another (very similar) project, “Beyond The Limits Of Church” (BTLOC) which is located at http://btloc.com (but is still in testing). The difference between the two is the BTLOC is owned, operated and funded exclusively by me. This system will offer all of the benefits of the BLCOG community without the restriction on membership. The only restriction to possible membership is that one must be a professing Christian.

Expect to hear more about both communities in the very near future! If you would like to participate in either community, just leave a comment to this article or send me an email.

Here is a new book that may interest you. Click on the picture to visit the author’s website and get the accompanying slide presentations.

Dr. Lee Roy Martin has published a new and exciting study of the book of Jonah. Written for adults and arranged in five lessons, the work includes a thorough study of Jonah, a teacher’s outline, student handouts, and study questions. The format allows the study to be used by an individual, in a small group, or in a church class. The book is available by calling Pathway Press (1-800-553-8506). Free multimedia presentations designed to accompany the study are available from Dr. Martin’s website: http://web.me.com/lrm777/Jonah/Home.html.

I have not read the book but I welcome your comments.

• I like/dislike the colors & balance on the site
• I like/dislike the functions of the site
• I find  the site easy/difficult to use
• Now, I cannot __________________
• I liked the old site better/worse
• Or any other comments

I am also concerned about any problems that I may have introduced in the conversion.

• Dead or misdirected links (cannot find what you asked for)
• Missing  functions (something that  you could do previously but not now)
• Articles that are no longer applicable (talking about something that is no longer correct on the site – maybe a step-by-step instruction concerning the {now changed} menu system)
• Anything that is just incorrect now (probably was thought to be accurate when written but is clearly wrong now)

If you find any of these errors, please post a comment and tell me the Title of the article and what is wrong.

Special thanks go to SRS Solutions who designed the theme for the site and made it available for free! If you operate a WordPress blog, check out their designs.

A few years ago, I got acquainted with Joel Comiskey. He has written several books about the cell ministry concept & how to put it into action. He is a good man and he is NOT married to the G12. (I feel that the official G-12 concept is flawed in the “government” portion.)

Joel has taken the best of the G12 format and several others and now offers coaching from a more Biblical perspective. He has a lot of resources online.

Check out his site at http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/

The spots confess that many consumers thought their crust tasted like “cardboard” and the sauce like “ketchup”. The company had encouraged feedback from the public and they were stung by their honesty and/or meanness. Their reaction was to get defensive and hidden and childish. No wait…that was Congress. By stark contrast the Domino’s leadership decided to make changes in the recipe and be completely honest about the process. Experts have weighed in about how dangerous it is to trash your own product. That this kind of honesty is doomed to fail. They trot out the disaster of New Coke as a comparison. But I love the new campaign. Covering up what is obvious to many seems like a much worse strategy. I will try the new recipe soon and my sampling will be entirely because of this campaigns refreshing candidness.

I remembered a similarly bold admission that took place in the Dallas area a little over a year ago. It came from, of all places, a local church and the text was stunning in it’s raw honesty.

“We followed trends when we should have followed Jesus. We told others how to live but did not listen ourselves. We live in the land of plenty, denying ourselves nothing, while ignoring our neighbors who actually have nothing. We sat on the sidelines doing nothing while AIDS ravaged Africa. We were wrong; we’re sorry. Please forgive us.”

That was a powerful and sobering admission. I was shocked. And I was greatly encouraged by the courage and the humility needed to admit such an embarrassing message to the public. Since I loved the ad I am sure Springcreek Church in Garland, Texas got a lot of criticism. I don’t think like most of the herd. For example, I opened my first book When Bad Christians Happen To Good People with these words.

I must begin with some words of disclosure. I am a hypocrite. I can be arrogant and selfish. I have been known to stretch, conceal, or slightly massage the truth. I am sometimes inconsiderate and insecure. I struggle with lust and impure thoughts. My ego often rages out of control, and I battle foolish pride. I can be lazy and foolhardy with my time. I get angry, petty, and ill tempered. I am sarcastic and cynical.

I am a Christian.

Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. If there is one theme about our faith that should be communicated, it is that we all fall short of the goal spelled out in Christ’s teachings. Author Max Lucado has a wonderful line. He says that God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. So all of us believers are somewhere on that continuum of where we started and where God wants us to be. But that realization seems to penetrate our thinking only sporadically. In fact, there are those among us who will call me a counterfeit since I admit to such unflattering traits. They will write and tell me that if I had their brand of faith I would be above any of these sins all of the time. I believe they would be wrong.

Obviously a “bad Christian” like me was intrigued to hear how Springcreek Church explained their very public confession. Senior Pastor Keith Stewart wrote this in an open letter on the church website.

No one is perfect. No one lives sin-free. You blow it. I blow it. And the church does, too. I’m sure that you (like me) have, on more than one occasion, had to make something right by apologizing. So why is it so rare to hear a church apologize? The truth is, an apology from the church should not “stand out.” It should not make the community sit up and take notice. But it does, precisely because that the church rarely does what it tells others to do.

In all sincerity, we want to change that. The church in America has a serious credibility problem. Those outside the church look at us and often don’t see anything that even remotely resembles Jesus. Instead they see judgment, hypocrisy, and very little compassion. They hear our words, but don’t see a lifestyle that aligns with those words.

I had the same thought that you may have entertained. Is this Godly or a gimmick? Pastor Stewart began his open letter with this Scripture.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1, NIV)

I would love to go to a church that can confess with humility and grace that they have erred. I trust that Pastor Stewart’s heart is sincere and his congregation shares his authenticity. I am careful about when I write in absolutes but one thing I have found is that truly Godly people always demonstrate humility. From reading the comments at the church website I am struck by the humility of Pastor Keith Stewart.

I hope to have a followup this week with the Springcreek leadership to see how they feel the advertisement worked in the community and especially in their own church body.

I am convinced that the community will believe your words if you create an environment of grace. A place where people can walk in flawed and hurting and be accepted for who they are and where they are. A place where they don’t have to wear a mask to be accepted. That is when, in my humble opinion, the community will believe your words. I pray that many of us will follow your example both personally and corporately.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Dave’s website “Confessions of a Bad Christian” and republished here by permission.

Click the here to read the entire article.

Forum - Social Network

For as long  as I have been writing this blog,  I have been searching for a suitable “Forum” solution. I have tried several and none of them were up to the task or did not meet some requirement for integration with this site.

I recently discovered the WordPress plugin “Mingle.” It integrates into this blog flawlessly. Registered users of the blog are automatically signed up for the Forum – and the reverse is also true: When you sign up for the Forum, you are also signed up as a registered user of the blog!

This forum operates very similar to Facebook or MySpace. So there will be a very short learning curve.

To get started, From the HOME page, click on SIGNUP from the  ”Forum Actions” menu in the outside right panel. Or, select the FORUM option on the menu bar, just above the header for this site.

For more info and some “tips” click here: FORUM.

Forum - Social Network

For as long  as I have been writing this blog,  I have been searching for a suitable “Forum” solution. I have tried several and none of them were up to the task or did not meet some requirement for integration with this site.

I recently discovered the WordPress plugin “Mingle.” It integrates into this blog flawlessly. Registered users of the blog are automatically signed up for the Forum – and the reverse is also true: When you sign up for the Forum, you are also signed up as a registered user of the blog!

This forum operates very similar to Facebook or MySpace. So there will be a very short learning curve.

To get started, From the HOME page, click on SIGNUP from the  ”Forum Actions” menu in the outside right panel. Or, select the FORUM option on the menu bar, just above the header for this site.

For more info and some “tips” click here: FORUM.

I get misty-eyed every time I see one of them! Check this new one out (encouraging “Patience”) on their website at http://values.com. Sorry, they do not allow in-line posting on other sites.

I can certainly identify with that worker’s FIRST emotion. I wonder if I would follow his second emotion. How about you? I HIGHLY recommend that you visit the site and see all of their spots and the other encouraging posts that they have online.

BTW, I like to know WHO I am actually endorsing before I write such a post as this. The Wikipedia article for the foundation (here) says, “it [the Foundation] is entirely funded by billionaire Philip Anschutz.” So, I checked the article for Mr. Anschutz (here) and found that he “has been an active patron of a number of religious and conservative causes”   (here). The following list is only some of the causes listed on the Wikipedia article:

• Helped fund the Discovery Institute, a think tank based in Seattle, Washington that promotes intelligent design and criticizes evolution.
• Supported the Parents Television Council, a group that protests against what they believe to be television indecency.
• Financed and distributed films with Christian themes, such as Amazing Grace and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for mass audiences through his two film production companies and ownership of much of the Regal, Edwards and United Artists theater chains.
• Financed The Foundation for a Better Life.

Although some people. who are more aligned with the Democratic Party, may think that Mr. Anschutz represents an opposing viewpoint (due to his political affiliations), I believe that he & the Foundation represent CONSERVATIVE FAMILY VALUES. So, for my part, I endorse the work of the foundation – regardless of political parties!

Social Media: Although the Foundation has a Twitter accoun (@valuescom), it appears to be just an auto feed from their Facebook page (FBLife).  You may want to follow them there.

The idea is to pick a verse of Scripture and then read it one word at a time. Literally, ONE WORD. Giglio suggested that you mediate on that single word for a day or longer. During that time, you seek God for instruction, you search your memory for associated information and you allow the people & events of the day to teach you.

This type of study has some benefits and some liabilities. The benefit of remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance for an extended time is enormous. However, and this is one of the problems that I find with Giglio’s theology, focusing on a single word (or even a single verse) encourages non-contextual ideas. It is akin to the old adage, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” All Scripture must be interpreted in the proper context and must be consistent with all of the other verses of the bible.

At any rate, I enjoyed ministering at the New Covenant Church of God in Roseland, LA this morning. Pastor Keith Hawes and the congregation there were kind and receptive and even ignored the fact that I preached for almost an hour (grin). I say “preached” but I don’t know if it was preaching or teaching or a seminar or what. But that was my intention! I wanted to illustrate that the line between teaching and preaching is very difficult to locate.

I framed the message as being instruction on how to do the One Word Bible Study (OWBS). I used Romans 1:1 as the focal point of the instruction (who has EVER preached a sermon from Ro. 1:1???). Then I selected four primary words from the verse (Paul, Jesus, Called & Separated) to use in the study.

Without giving away the “bottom line,” I will just say that  the actual message was meant to clarify some commonly held but mistaken concepts of holiness, sanctification and the offices in the church. I really believe that God directed the entire service. Thank you Pastor Hawes for the invitation!

You can view the slide show presentation here:

You can download the slide presentation (with speaker’s notes) and the outlines (PDF) of the entire message. If the audio recording is available, I will also upload that. Check back here in the next week or so to see if it is available.

BTW, the presentation (& my preaching style/technique) was patterned somewhat after the ideas found in the Steve Jobs post here: http://chiefshepherd.com/2010/01/how-to-present-like-apples-steve-jobs/

My grandfather’s generation was so brand-loyal, they would continue to go to their church until almost everything had dried up and they continued to support their church no matter what.

My father’s generation was also fairly brand-loyal and remained with the church although toward the end of his pastoral experience, you began to see people checking out other churches, running to what were the “hottest’ revivals, “being led to another church now” kind of excuses.

My generation and those behind me are not brand-loyal and will often drive past many churches in their community to find the one that “meet their needs“–as if that is the reason you attend a church– and as such the pressure on pastors and leaders to perform became greater.  This mindset began what I call a consumer mentality in our churches that looks like marketing the difference between Target and Walmart for churches.

“This one has better parking, music, bigger kids programs, etc.”

What makes it tough is trying to pastor and lead in this generation. Pastors who don’t stay “tuned in” will find that people have chosen to leave the church for reasons that are not know and the leadership is at a loss as to why. Believe me, pastors feel this strongly and hardly does one leave a church that the pain is not hard on the pastor and the leaders of the church because it feels like you failed the people who are leaving.

Tim Stevens has written an excellent piece here on how people leave and how they should leave if they come to a decision to change churches. I think you will find it insightful if you are considering leaving your church or if you lead a church where people have left or are considering leaving.

Your feedback is welcomed!

Link to Forward Leadership Blog

The issue is NOT for every wireless microphone in existence. However, many of the mics operating in the UHF band are included. Check the above article for more complete info.

If you have ever seen a video of Steve Jobs presenting a new product (iPhone or MacBook Air, etc), you know how dynamic his presentations are! The video below describes some of the key ways that Jobs is able to develop such excitement among the “fanboys” at Apple – and anyone else who hears him. (Thanks to Jason Fitzpatrick and the Lifehacker website for pointing us to this video. And thanks to BNet.com for producing the video.)

Here are some of the major points in the video:

• OPEN STRONG! Inspire the audience by introducing a clear theme for your  presentation.
• PROVIDE AN OUTLINE. Give the audience an overview of what you will be covering then open —  and close — each point clearly. Always transition to the next point.
• BE ENTHUSIASTIC! Excite your listeners and be passionate about what you are saying. It was mentioned on the video but I have been telling young ministers for a long time, “If you are not passionate about it, then the audience will not be passionate either!”
• MAKE IT VISUAL. Use multimedia (if available) and make slides with very little text and few —  but exciting — pictures/clips. Add in (appropriate) video if it continues or adds to the excitement.
• STRONG CONCLUSION: Build up to the primary point of the presentation then present it with enthusiasm!
• REHEARSE. This must be done several times if the presentation is to be fluid and sync’ed with the multimedia and the overall “show.”
• ADD SOMETHING: Jobs often closes with, “And one last thing…” It may be some special music or a “deal” or something similar. The idea is to leave his audience with a feeling of having gotten more than they expected – something extra!

Take a look…

Can  you use some of these techniques in your ministry? I sure can. I plan to try some of them the next time I am up to speak!

Someone may say, “I just trust the Holy Spirit to lead me.” And I would NEVER dismiss such an approach. However, He (the Holy Spirit) is the One who “walks beside us.” WE must also walk. He will enable us and bring things to our memory (Jn. 14:26) but we must have learned them before He can remind us. He will always HELP but I want to do the best that I can as well. What about you?

Your comments are always welcome….

Updated Jan 17,  2010: You can check out my implementation of this technique here:  http://chiefshepherd.com/2010/01/one-word-bible-study/

Can you believe that “unfriend” has been named the word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary? What does it mean anyway?

Recently, I had the opportunity to use the facility for the first time. I hope I do not have that “opportunity” again for a while.

I write a LOT now.  I publish two active blogs (this one and my Bishop  of Technology blog at http://raywaldo.com.) This blog offers Christian, devotional articles. The latter is intended to make technology more accessible to ordinary people. I am also writing two books online (at http://james.cdntoday.com & http://salt.cdntoday.com). Added to this, I am trying to engage others on several other blogs that I support  and  on the social media sites Facebook & Twitter.

So,  how do all of  these online sites work together? Well, read on…

I have been using Facebook & Twitter for a while now and I have made some missteps. Not that I have done something on either site that I am ashamed of – both of these sites have  enabled me  to minister to new people that I would never have met otherwise. The “missteps” were in the way that I set them up for use. So, this article is my version of how they should be used.

Facebook is a place where “friends” can meet and  share conversations with all of  their friends — as if they were all in a single room. This is great for connecting with friends and family. When you post a comment (called an “update”), it can be read by every person with whom you are friends (and, according to your “privacy” settings, may be visible by everyone on Facebook. And, when you comment on a friend’s update, your comments are visible by all of your friend’s friends! It is pretty cool. Each update is limited to about 420 characters.

I recently re-connected with some people that I have not seen or talked  to for almost 30 years! From that connection, I have found others friends that I share with the original group. You only need to browse the “friends” of any new friends that you  make. You can even browse THEIR friends (in most cases). When you find someone that  you recognize, just request that they accept you as a friend.

That is what I use my primary FB account primarily to accomplish – connect. I use the Facebook page http://facebook.com/chiefshep to link FB users to my Chief Shepherd blog. I use the FB page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishop-of-Technology/134868284909 to direct users there to my technology site.

There are some people who see Facebook as a game where the object is to acquire the largest number of “friends.” I have learned not to accept friendship with anyone with whom I share no common interest. Even then, I may find that I don’t wish to continue communication with someone. They may not  offer anything of value to me (some people only post nags or complaints while others post mundane, “I am eating green beans”) or they may post comments that I find objectionable. In such cases, I may wish to “un-friend” them. However, it is embarrassing to some people when someone unfriends them.

Then I discovered the “Hide” button on Facebook. If you “mouse over” the right side of a post, the button appears. Click it and it will allow you to hide that person. None of their updates will show on your timeline until you UNhide them. If the update is a notice from a game or other application, you have the option of hiding either the person or that app. I hide EVERY app that shows up. Once hidden, it will not reappear – even for different user. That is VERY helpful. It allows me to stop reading all the objectional posts without having to unfriend someone.

Twitter,  on the other hand consists of a stream of “tweets” (short updates of 140 characters or less) which can be read by anyone connected to the internet. Google now indexes tweets based on key words found in them. I have been using Twitter for my “headline news” feed for several weeks now and it works well. I am able to get fresh up-to-date news on the  topics I choose — as it happens. I follow sources for traditional news, technology issues, conservative politics, blogging helps & for Christian & encouragement issues.

Rather than connecting with another as a friend (as in FB), a Twitter user chooses whom he/she will “follow.” Following another user MAY encourage them to also follow you but there is no requirement to do so. Users develop a network of other users whom they follow and eventually find that others will also follow them.

To develop a usable network, I look for the SOURCES of information. Some of these sources are evident (major news networks all have Twitter accounts) while you will have to search for others. Like Facebook, you can expand your network by examining the profile page of the people who interest you. Check the profile pages of the people THEY follow and you will get back to the sources of information. Examples: I follow Todd Starnes (Todd is a Fox News Radio reporter and best-selling author) and CNN Newsbreak for traditional  news. Then I follow Max Lucado, Rick Warren & Chuck Swindoll (plus several other, lesser known leaders) for Christian news.

At this writing, I have 113 follows and I am following 99 others. But both of those numbers are continually changing. As I view the updates from those I follow, I find that some may not be providing anything useful to me. But with Twitter, I can simply UN-follow them and there is no ill-will. Likewise,  others may decide that they no longer wish to follow me  and therefore unfollow me. It is not insulting.

Twitter allows users to RETWEET any tweet that you find (even from those you don’t follow or who do not follow you). This is done by quoting the tweet and preceding it with “RT” (short for “retweet”). This retweet is then sent to all those who follow you. Likewise, when someone that I follow retweets someone else’s tweets, I can see them. (This may alert me to someone new that I may want to follow.)

Added to the stream of tweets sent to me from those I follow, I can also SEARCH for information about practically any topic. Beyond the traditional searches for any word, Twitter uses “hashtags” (a word preceded by “#”) as special key words allowing users to search for the most current tweets on that topic. Some are easy to recognize while others may not be so simple (#TCOT stands for Top Conservatives On Twitter).

If you think that Twitter (or email, etc) is too “complicated” you may want to try a new service called Celery. View the video below to see how this 80-yr-old uses a FAX MACHINE (!!!!) to send twitter messages to her family.

Summary:

I use my blogs for extended articles (such as this one) since neither Facebook nor Twitter allow for longer posts. Instead, updates on Twitter (and to a lesser degree, FB) make use of links to other sites to complete the flow of information.

I use Twitter as my news source (those I follow) and as a way to share notes, RTs and links to information with those who follow me (http://twitter.com/raywaldo). I previously forwarded these tweets to my FB page but it no longer seems appropriate so I have now stopped doing so. If you have become a friend of mine on FB and  LIKED these short updates, you can continue receiving them by following me on Twitter.

UPDATE Jan 5, 2010: I have developed a “Nubie Guide to Twitter” that guides new Twitter users in how to get started. Find it  on my RayWaldo.com  site here: http://raywaldo.com/2010/01/nubie-guide-to-twitter/

I will continue to use Facebook for connections and general discussions with friends & family. I may provide some links to other articles as it  seems appropriate. If you wish to link to me on FB, click here.

I am not an expert on any of these sites. This post (hopefully) will enable new users to begin using the services effectively. To correct any errors in this post – or to add additional tips, just hit the COMMENT button below.

_____

H.B. London on his blog, “The Heart of a Pastor” posted an article titled “By Any Means.” He presented several very significant questions about the self-proclaimed “TV Pastors” that are on the Christian cable channels 24/7.

Mr. London tried to imagine himself as a layperson watching these programs and wondered about the thoughts going through such a person’s minds:

• What did they think of the evangelist who minimized the importance of any style of worship other than his own?
• What did they feel like when their potential for healing was tied to an offering they might “send in”?
• How would the average small-church attendee deal with the extravagant “show biz” atmosphere so often displayed?
• Is being poor or sick a “sin issue”?
• And how would they reconcile the appearance of great wealth and opulence from these messengers, knowing the average pastor in America lives from one small paycheck to the next?

I believe that H.B. has pin-pointed some significant issues here. What do YOU think?

I applaud H.B. for his candor in questioning these things. But I am humbled by his wisdom in applying the words of Paul, “I have become all things to all men so that, by all possible means, I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22) and praying, “Oh God, by whatever means, save some.”

Read the article on H.B.’s site here: http://hblondon.typepad.com/blog/2010/01/by-any-means.html

Will it be called “Twenty-Ten” or “Two Thousand, Ten” or “Oh-Ten” or what? The TV and Internet are filled today with predictions of what the next year may hold but, if past years’ predictions are representative, then most of what we EXPECT will not occur. I will just repeat the chorus from  Ira Stamphill’s “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.”

Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

It is a little easier to look BACK on 2009 than to see into 2010. During 09, this site experienced considerable growth.

• Over the course of the year, we welcomed 13,561 visitors and approximately 70,000 page views! Thank you for your support and visits.
• Blogged now rates this site “Great” (8.0)
• Website Grader says the site is better than 91% of the millions of sites it has graded!
• Our Facebook Page now has 167 fans and continues to grow
• We have update feeds for RSS, email, Twitter, Facebook & others

It is our prayer that these pages have blessed YOU in an individual way. We try to focus on articles of encouragement and development. There are also great resources available here. One of the most popular articles in 2009 was “Pastor Appreciation Ideas.” That encourages me to believe that MANY good folks went out of their way to show special appreciation to the many wonderful pastors – some of whom we have the privilege to serve – often via their members who visit here.

Moving forward!

We are expanding our list of authors whose postings we provide here. In the following list, you can click on an author’s name to get a list of the articles they have contributed here or click on their blog’s name to go directly to their site.

• We recently agreed with Dave Burchett to repost select articles from his blog, “Confessions of a Bad Christian.” Dave is an Emmy Award-winning television sports director for Fox Sports, ESPN, and Jefferson Pilot Sports. Dave has directed Southeastern Conference basketball games for over twenty years. He has also directed Texas Ranger’s major league baseball telecasts for over twenty years and had the thrill of televising one of Nolan Ryan’s no-hit games and Ryan’s 300th win. He and his wife, Joni, are former staff members of Campus Crusade’s Athletes in Action. Dave has written two books, including “When Bad Christians Happen To Good People” which offers “Help for all those who have been harmed by Christians-and those who have inflicted the wounds.”
• Another new writer here is Rhonda Miskowski who writes from her blog Rhonda’s Reflections. Rhonda & her husband Rob Miskowski serve as the State Directors of YCE & Evangelism for the Churches of God in the great State of Louisiana. They have become personal friends and Rhonda’s writing is light and funny combined with deep meaning.
• Tim Fulmer recently submitted a series of articles on the ministry of deacons & apostles. Tim is a good friend and serves as the pastor of a local church in Alabama.
• Rick Batchelor is the pastor of the Lebleu Lighthouse Church of God in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
• We  continue to post articles by Bishop Bill Isaacs from his Forward Leadership Blog. Bill & I have had a deep friendship for several years. He joined me in my second missions trip to Africa where we ministered to hundreds of people in Uganda and D.R. Congo. Bill currently serves as Administrative Bishop of the Churches of God in Northern Ohio and also on the Council of 18 for the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.
• Steve Hall is a long-time contributor who continues to provide great devotional articles from time to time. Steve writes a monthly email called “Notes from the Valley” and “Humor from the Valley” which are meant to brighten your day and encourage you along the way.  To subscribe, send a blank email to HeartStrings-subscribe (at) topica.com
• You will also find occasional articles by guest writers from a wide array of viewpoints.

We will be looking for new contributors as we continue to grow. Perhaps YOU would like to contribute an article? If so, send the copy in email to  chief (dot) shepherd (at) gmail (dot) com and include your personal bio and contact info.

For this ministry to do all that God intends, WE NEED YOU. If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please use the COMMENT BOX at the bottom of each article or click on the “comments and reactions” link below each article on the front page.

Jesus Calling is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. Sarah Young knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.

Now, Jesus Calling is the free download for January, only from christianaudio! A daily devotional is a great way to start the New Year and this one is thoughtfully and warmly narrated by Pam Ward.

Also, special thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers, publisher of the print version of Jesus Calling, for allowing this free download. Thomas Nelson has published many great titles which can be found on their website.

Christianaudio has formatted this free download in the popular MP3 & WMA formats so you can easily listen to it on your computer, put it on your iPod, burn to CD, or use in a variety of other devices. In addition, we have also provided the download in a tracked-by-chapter, bookmarkable M4B format as well; compatible with iTunes, the iPod, iPhone, and QuickTime.

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Free Audiobook Download of the Month
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue.

Add the download format of Jesus Calling to your cart and enter the coupon code JAN2010 when prompted during checkout.

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Ms Stringfellow named the puppy, FAITH. The article reports that, at first, the family had to carry Faith to keep her from just dragging on the floor. But after a period of training, the dog learned to walk upright on the two remaining legs.

According to Faith’s official web site,

When Reuben [Ms Stringfellow's son] brought Faith to us she had 3 actual legs, but the left front leg was badly deformed, placed backward, upside down, and it had more toes on it than normal dog legs. The leg was removed when she was 7 months old when it began to atrophy. People ask me if it was easy to teach Faith to walk upright…the answer is NO! It was not easy, and it was not natural. It was SUPER natural, and therefore, we have to give all of the credit to Jesus. Of course, it took a little….Faith as well.

The AP article states, “Faith is [now] a brisk, upright walker.” She runs and skips and rarely falls. Just look at the photos and you can see that she is a VERY unusual dog.

Faith is now a widely known inspiration. She & Ms Stringfellow tour the country with a message of hope and encouragement – especially for those who have also suffered great loss. Her mission is stated on her official website, “Faith was born for a reason. I believe it was to first heal my family from sorrow and sadness, and this allowed us to help her fulfill another mission – - to help as many as possible.”

The AP article describes how Faith and Ms Stringfellow visit military bases and hospitals with encouraging words and happy barks. Some of the better stories…

For many, Faith brings a powerful message about overcoming adversity. “Faith has shown me that different is beautiful, that it is not the body you are in but the soul that you have,” Jill Salomon of Montreal, Canada, wrote on Faith’s Web site.

Stringfellow will never forget a woman from New York who happened to see Faith on a street corner. She was depressed and had lost both legs to diabetes.

“She was in her wheelchair and saw us. She was crying. She had seen Faith on television. She just held her and said she wished she had that kind of courage.” Stringfellow said. “She told us: ‘I was on my way to pick up the gun.’ She handed the pawn ticket to a police officer and said she didn’t need it anymore.”

So what hardship have YOU experienced? Have you OVERCOME your difficulty? Have you learned that faith walks – not just in this wonderful story – but in everyday life. All of us can, by keeping our faith in Christ, become BETTER because of our adversity. The alternative is to become bitter – each of us must choose.

Listen to The Faith Train Radio Show

But he did live...and still lives today.

I saw him today.

He is leading worship for my brother in law’s church.  His name is Brandon Bell.

Today as he lead the church in singing praises to God–I felt God nudge me–”don’t ever lose hope in my power.  I can still heal cancer!”

Brandon proves that and I believe it…for Kathy!

Link to Forward Leadership Blog

Beau was a rescue animal that we received in 2002. He was in pretty bad shape but we took him to the vet to get him checked out and get his shots. Unfortunately, he had already developed a case of heart worms.

We began the process of trying to get him well but just a month after he came to live with us, a larger dog bit Beau on the back of his neck. The bite was so severe that the vet had to cut all of the skin around the bite and let then let it grow back. It was my chore to wash the large open wound (a circle of about 5″ in diameter), medicate it and then bandage it up. It has never ceased to amaze me that every time I put Beau in my lap to begin this procedure, he would fall asleep! It said that he trusted me completely and that he was shutting off all his sense of pain until I finished. After a month, I took him back to the vet to have the skin stitched back together. He retained that unique “Y” shaped scare until he died.

Beau was a very quiet friend who rarely spoke. He only barked when there was some perceived danger in the yard or house. During his last year or so, he had lost most of his hearing and eyesight. But he was the first to recognize if a skunk was anywhere around! He would start announcing this and then the other three dogs would join him in wanting to go out and chase the offender off of our property.

Although Beau was the oldest dog in our home, when we received Papillion (a Pomeranian 1/3 Beau’s size), Beau allowed him to become “alpha” and rarely did Beau challenge him. I think that Beau held the motto of the ’70’s “I am a lover – not a fighter.”

But the cancer in Beau’s body became too much for him. Today, I took him to the vet and she told me that there was nothing else she could do for him and that it was time to allow him to rest. I still do not LIKE euthanasia. I just don’t know what is right. I did not want Beau to suffer any longer but I just wonder if it is RIGHT to stop their life. Never-the-less, I made the decision and with no pain or fighting, Beau easily went to sleep in my arms and his heart stopped just a couple minutes later. The problem — I cannot stop crying.

Our home will never be the same. But Beau got to enjoy one more Christmas. He loved being with all of the family and he loved the corduroy coat that Viv got him. He died warm. And, he was buried in his “Sherlock Holmes” coat. Rest in peace, my friend, rest in peace.

I just read a great article written by Garrison Keillor and published on the Baltimore Sun website here. You need to read it but let me give you a little introduction first.

For those who may not know him, Garrison Keillor has become infamous as a result of his radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion” airing on public radio stations each week. You can get a taste of his dry humor by visiting his website here.

Keillor has a very dry wit that may require some work to appreciate. I have enjoyed his show for years. It includes mixed “radio acting,” music & his personal monologues about his “home town” which he calls,  The News From Lake Wobegon.

Back to the Christmas article… Keillor criticizes the nonbelievers who have re-written Christmas songs such as “Silent Night” to NOT include Jesus. Here is a quote that puts it into perspective…

If you don’t believe Jesus was God, OK, go write your own … “Silent Night” and leave ours alone. This is spiritual piracy and cultural elitism, and we Christians have stood for it long enough. And all those lousy holiday songs by Jewish guys that trash up the malls every year, Rudolph and the chestnuts and the rest of that dreck. Did one of our guys write “Grab your loafers, come along if you wanna, and we’ll blow that shofar for Rosh Hashanah“? No, we didn’t.

Christmas is a Christian holiday – if you’re not in the club, then buzz off. Celebrate Yule instead or dance around in druid robes for the solstice. Go light a big log, go wassailing and falalaing until you fall down, eat figgy pudding until you puke, but don’t mess with the Messiah.

Christmas does not need any improvements.

To which, I say, AMEN!!!

Now,  go read the entire article and enjoy even more of Keillor’s dry wit & while you are there, leave a comment & tell him that you and I agree with him whole-heartedly! http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.keillor16dec16,0,225627.story

Truth can be so annoying. If annoying truth was a Jeopardy category it might look like this…

“I’ll take Annoying Truths for $100, Alex.”
This famous preacher said,  ”Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”
“Who is Billy Graham? I’ll take Annoying Truths for $200, Alex.”
This missionary to India said, “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.”
“Who was Amy Carmichael, Alex. I am getting very uncomfortable with this topic so let’s take “Sins that make you worse than me for $100.”

Money is an uncomfortable topic for followers of Jesus. One anonymous writer noted that a lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many are willing to give Him the cash.

Twenty-nine years ago a man in Kansas City made a choice to give away the cash. It was a choice that changed his life and the lives of thousands more. The Associated Press reported that for the next 27 years, a man known only as Secret Santa roamed the streets every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa handed out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots. He anonymously gave out about $1.3 million. It was a long-held holiday mystery: Who is the Secret Santa? During Christmas of 2007, weakened from chemotherapy and armed with a desire to pass on his belief in random kindness, Secret Santa finally revealed his identity.

Larry Stewart, a 58-year-old businessman from the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit, Mo., made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service. While Stewart also gave money to other community causes in Kansas City and his home town of Bruce, Miss., he offered the simple gifts of cash because it’s something people didn’t have to “beg for, get in line for, or apply for.”

His epiphany happened just before Christmas in 1979. His circumstances were dire. For the second year in a row he had been fired just days before Christmas. He admits that he was wallowing in self-pity when he learned that giving returned an inexplicable joy. That simple discovery changed him, the entire city of Kansas City, and beyond. Let’s pick up the story as Stewart was nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant after getting fired once again. He describes that December day in his own words.

“It was cold and this car hop didn’t have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She’s out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,”‘ he said. He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change. “And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.”‘

Larry Stewart was deeply touched. He decided to go to the bank that day and took out $200, then drove around looking for people who could use a lift. That was his “Christmas present to himself.”  He hit the streets each December every year after that Christmas. In January of 2007 Larry Stewart died from complications caused by his esophageal cancer. He was only fifty-eight years old.

Stewart spoke often to community groups about his devotion to kindness and to inspire others to donate their time and money. “That’s what we’re here for,” Stewart says, “to help other people out.” Today his legacy lives on at Secret Santa World, a website that reports on the giving of other “Secret Santas” around the country.

Larry Stewart learned the reality of money and possessions that was eloquently expressed by author Thomas Fuller. “Riches enlarge rather than satisfy appetites.”

As a follower of Christ I think Stewart has it half right when he notesthat we are here to help other people out. The religious scholars asked Jesus what a purpose driven life should look like.

“Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”   (Matthew 22, The Message)

During this Christmas season I am challenging you to join me in trying Larry Stewart’s experiment. Go buy yourself a gadget or outfit or bauble. Note the reading on your personal joy meter. Then go give money to a desperate Mom trying to make ends meet. Or give some cash to an elderly couple who can’t pay the heating bill. Deliver a Christmas gift to children who would not receive gifts any other way. Then see which action has given you real joy. Was it acquiring more stuff or meeting real needs in the lives of others? Larry Stewart learned that lesson. And the world is a better place because of the revelation he experienced on a cold December day twenty-seven years ago.

I came across an update on this story recently. KSHB-TV reported that a new “Secret Santa” hit the streets on December 10th. Here is a part of that report.

Secret Santa is back in Kansas City. The new Santa handed out nearly $14,000 of surprise cash to people throughout the Kansas City area on Wednesday. The lucky recipients included a variety of people from thrift store shoppers and cancer patients to a police detective with a boxing gym for at-risk children. The cash itself also varied from a single $100 bill to $2,000. But the tradition is expanding beyond the metro. Kansas City’s Santa recruited 20 others to distribute holiday gifts of cash across the nation, including cities in Arizona, California, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

This man is continuing the tradition started by the original Kansas City Secret Santa, Larry Stewart. Stewart gave away about $1 million over more than 20 years prior to his death in 2007.

Pray about what you can give this Christmas. Remember that Larry Stewart started small. I pray that you will receive the kind of joy that drove the Kansas City “Secret Santa” for twenty-seven years. The chance to witness the surprised joy of a person receiving an unexpected and much needed gift. Kind of like salvation, isn’t it? That is the gift that Jesus brought to Bethlehem two millenia ago. And that is another gift we should be eager to give away this season.

Most of the old hymns are in the public domain and can be used, produced, performed, recorded, distributed or even sold without recourse.

But most of the current “worship music” that is used in churches is COPYRIGHTED. When a song is copyrighted, you are NOT allowed to perform it or even play in in a public arena without a license to do so.

Some of the old “camp meeting” songs were also copyrighted but in years past, we acquired a license to use the song in public worship when we purchased the song book that included the song. The publisher of the song book had arranged for the license prior to publication.

Today, most churches are using overhead projection of some sort to display the words of the songs they sing. Since there were no song books purchased, there was no automatic license granted. This places a church in jeopardy of being sued for misuse of copyrighted material. Fines can very VERY severe!

The most common solution to this problem is to purchase a license from Christian Copyright License International (CCLI). The cost of the license is based upon the size of the congregation and for small churches is around $100 per year. Here is s short quote from their website:

The Need

The copyright law is very clear on copying music. If you do not have express permission from the rightful owner of the song, you cannot make a copy. Many church music leaders who have made efforts to honor the law and have tried to obtain permission first from the copyright owner before making copies have found this to be a time-consuming challenge and in many cases, an administrative nightmare.

Many have agreed…the copyright law is fair but not practical. That’s why more than 150,000 churches across North America are taking advantage of the Church Copyright License from CCLI.

The Solution

The Church Copyright License is a contractual agreement with songwriters and publishers from around the world. For an annual license fee, a church receives legal authorization to copy from over 200,000 songs for congregational use.

Find out more at http://support.ccli.com/knowledgebase/afmmain.aspx?topicid=&faqid=&question=

There is no place more beautiful than upstate New York in the summer. The weather is perfect and the people are happy to be warm and unthawed. The Adirondacks are at their best, the fishing is world class and the shops are buzzing with Canadians looking for a deal. So our lives on June 10th of 2009 were just as perfect. Rob’s sister was getting married, it was Arianna’s 9th birthday and our church was poised for a great revival. Happiness for everyone! And then…it came…an email from a holy, dear and trusted friend. We hovered over our laptop together and read it again and again, hoping it would make sense the 7th time, the 8th time.

It read:

Blessings Pastor Rob,
I was in prayer yesterday and the Holy Spirit told me to contact you. The Lord gave me a word for you.
He said, “take the job offer and leave the church.”
Grace and peace
Cody

Rob and I looked at each other. “What? Job offer? What job offer, there’s no job offer…leave the church? Now? No. Never. We’re happy. Finally happy. Job offer? There’s no job offer…and even if there were…why would we leave? We’re happy. We don’t need to leave. We just hit our stride!”

Rob paced the floor. Cody wasn’t the type to throw out a heavy “thus saith the Lord” without the worn knees to back it up. So we paused and reflected.

“Maybe God is trying to humble me,” Rob lamented, “because the Church is doing so great…I’m so proud of how far we’ve come…I don’t deserve it. He wants me to take a job and leave ministry….ya think?”

“That’s crazy,” I countered, dutifully as the voice of wisdom (as all wives are). “Maybe Cody had too much coffee, or not enough. Sometimes well meaning, Godly people, miss it,” I reasoned.

After all, I just finished school and got a job. We just remodeled our house…and the church! The church had gone from dead to vibrant. We were off and running on every level. This was no time to pack up!

Rob hit “Reply” and let Cody know that there was no job offer but would keep his eyes open for God to move unexpectedly.

Ten days later, Cody wrote back:

Rob,

I received your email this morning. I am committed to pray for you and Rhonda and I know the Lord will send a beautiful confirmation!!

I do not know anymore than I had shared with you before. Just that one sentence. I know that when the Lord confirms the Word He will wash over you with His presence and comfort. I have yet to receive the presence of the Holy Ghost when the Lord confirms His word. It is like a giant Hug from heaven! Today has enough worries in itself and His yoke is easy and burden is light. I pray the devil is not taking advantage of this situation and filling you with anxiety and burdens from Hell. I to am fighting from being anxious about the word- being the one who delivered it but I know it is from God!

While I was praying in the spirit today I saw a vision of you and your family.

There were two cliffs and connecting the two cliffs was a rope bridge with wooden planks. You and your family were leaving one ledge and heading toward the other. You were in the front holding Elijah in your arms and Rhonda was behind you holding Ari’s hand. As I looked at the other side, I saw people and they were African Americans. I believe that the Lord is going to bring you to an African American community…

The Lord’s grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Cody

Now. This was even worse than not knowing. Now we thought we were going to Ethiopia. Which would be wonderful if we had a heart for third world missions. I envisioned giving my kids malaria shots and homeschooling in Africa.

“This can’t be right. God’s going to send us to a jungle with rope bridges and wooden planks and danger all around?” The thought kept me up at night.

Why wouldn’t God just tell us? Why did He tell Cody to tell us? Is it because we wouldn’t listen? Is it because He knew how much we had come to love New York and the broken souls of our church that He had so mercifully let us watch mend and grow and bloom? Because He knew that love would deafen us to any call away from them? And so specific. Does God really still do that? Write on walls? We couldn’t let it change our path. We pressed on. We finished a huge remodeling project on the church. Siding, painting, laboring, sweating, investing. We decided that if the Missions department called, we’d listen. We spoke about it every once in while and went back to reread it.

“Hmmm,” Rob would say, “if I’m going to carry Elijah across a bridge, it’s got to be soon. He’s six.”

“What if we got a job offer out of the blue? A really good one,” I asked, “Without Cody’s prophecy, would we listen, would we consider it?”

“No,” he answered flatly.

”I would have just seen it as a distraction and turned it down to finish what we’ve started here.”

“But now?” I asked.

“Now….now I’d listen,” he answered.

So we waited. Waited for the phone to ring. And it did.

“Rhonda, this is Rob Moore,” said the voice on the line and nostalgic giddiness ran through me. Rob Moore was our Ministry to the Military boss. He appointed us to England and then to New York. He was part of every pivotal move we ever made in ministry and there he was…calling from his new job as the State Overseer of Louisiana. Rob wasn’t home. So I listened while Brother Moore spoke.

“I have a job opening and God put Rob on my heart,” he said.

“Hmmmm…could this be it? No, this can’t be it….,” I thought to myself as he continued.

“The community here is really culturally diverse. You guys would love it. There’s a big African American population, there are French, there are…” his words kept going but my mind was now fixated on the vision, the ledges, the people on the other side.

“Really? Wow, he’ll be so flattered to know you called and thought of him,” I tried to stay calm and sound dignified.

Brother Moore went on about the food and the work but all I could do was pray while he talked.

“Is this it? Is this the job offer God? You want Rob in a state position?”

“You know,” he continued just as I came to my senses and was able to hear him again, “if you’re the ones to come down here, we really need to start putting the planks in the bridge.”

His words – planks in the bridge – the vision – it echoed in my heart and gripped me so that I stopped in the doorway and was unable to move.

“WHAT? What did you just say?” I was thinking out loud now – and sobbing too.

“Did you just say ‘planks in the bridge’?” I blubbered.

“Uhhhh….yeah…it’s a metaphor….you know…it means…”

I stopped him before he could explain and told him about the emails and the vision that had preceded his call. After a proper goodbye, I ran to the church in tears to tell Rob it came – the call – it came. And I relived the conversation over and over with him and then with our families and then a few trusted friends….and now, with you. We kept looking at one another and stating the obvious: God must know something we don’t know. (duh). My husband wasn’t looking for a promotion or putting out resumes and it never would’ve dawned on either of us that we’d fit in Louisiana.

It wasn’t over by a long shot. There were still hurdles to be jumped through. Rob Moore had received a hundred applications. There was a Louisiana youth board that would be asked to look us over. There was the international offices that would give us a nod…or not. The I’s had to be dotted and the t’s crossed. We waited and wondered. In the meantime we put our house up for sale. In an unremarkable market, it sold immediately without a sign in the yard to the very first couple to look at it.

“We should write all this miraculous stuff down,” Rob suggested.

We began to go through a bit of mourning. Rob talked about how far so many in the church had come. He didn’t like the idea of leaving them but we were sure – if God was so perfectly orchestrating our exit, He was busy orchestrating someone else’s entrance.

Rob called a trusted professor back at Lee University to relay the word, the vision, the call.

“What do you make of it?” he asked.

“Well,” said the trusted professor, “it’s a clear call and you should take heart: The clearer the call, the more difficult the task.”

We broke the news to our daughter first. She’s nine and her friends mean everything to her. She wept at the thought of leaving them. I reminded her that the first word from God came to us on her birthday.

“God wants you to see this as a gift. He could’ve picked any date to tell us. He picked your birthday on purpose. He has a plan and it includes you.”

We finally told Elijah the news by asking him if he’d like to move somewhere that had two Chuck E. Cheeses.

“YES!” he answered.

“That would be like heaven,” he said.

“Only hotter than heaven,” his wiser, older sister added.

“Because heaven has a thermostat that you can set with your mind,” reasoned Elijah.

So there. I wanted to tell you the story because I think it’s important for us to be reminded of how it happened and maybe God needs you to know that He still writes on walls…and, on occasion, if need be, sends an email.

Pray for us as we pack and travel to Louisiana November 9th.

In awe,

Rhonda, Rob, Arianna and Elijah

This is the project that I have been WORKING on for the past week! I do think that it was worth it, however.

What do you think? Would you like to do something like this in your yard? If there is interest, I will be glad to provide some instructions and materials list.

Finding your niche is important. Have you found yours in ministry?

A few years ago, I had a very positive experience. I had the opportunity to preach at one of the most successful Cowboy Churches in America. It was so interesting. The architecture, the dress, the rodeo arena, the cattle grazing beyond the parking lot, the music, the atmosphere — all of these things went together to create a “Cowboy Church.” The church was seven years old. The pastor was a former rodeo performer and racetrack chaplain who felt a burden for those who might not fit the norm of another church.

Montgomery, Texas, is not a very large place, but those who have been loved and fed by the Lone Star Cowboy Church flocked into the two services. I even preached in jeans and cowboy boots. It was a real blessing.

How about you, pastor? Are you living your dream? Have you found your niche? What is your niche? If you could pack it all up today and start fresh, what would the church you served look like? Perhaps, it’s right where you are. Hope so!

I know for a fact that a lot of us who have struggled at one place and succeeded at another most likely found our comfort zone in that place.

What does niche mean? “A place of employment or activity for which a person is best suited” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). What keeps you from your “niche zone”?

• Fear of failure?
• Finances?
• Denominational structure?
• Comfort in our present place?
• What people would think?
• Uncertainty related to family and long-term career?
• Is it God’s will or just a notion?

I talk to so many clergy friends who are “tied up” and unhappy with their situation, but they do not know what to do about it. Caution: You must not make a move without godly counsel, a clear response from the Lord and cooperation from your family.

I value and love my niche — how about you? The scripture says, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 7:22). When I hear some of my colleagues say, “I’m like a fish out of water at this place,” it saddens me. Have you found your niche?

Remember, we are available to you. Call our toll-free Pastor Care Line at (877) 233-4455, or write us at pastors@family.org. We are also available through our Web site at www.parsonage.org.

Have a great week!

There is a tremendous disparity in our understanding of the doctrine of holiness and/or sanctification.

The definition of those terms is a matter of debate among many teachers and preachers. It is also one of the primary differences between some major denominations.

Many people today believe that no one can be holy except God Himself. I have heard people “quote” the Bible as saying that. However, the Scripture they think they are quoting is not found in any Bible that I have ever read. The nearest that I have found to such a statement is Luke 18:19 where Jesus asked, “‘Why do you call me good?’ …. ‘No-one is good— except God alone.‘” But this speaks of “good” — not “holy.” And even the statement of “good” is not to be taken literally – Jesus taught that true disciples would be “GOOD and faithful servant[s]” (Mat 25:21).

Still others understand holiness as the elimination of all sin in our lives. When I first joined the Church of God (in 1968) that was the prevailing belief about holiness. We were taught that “Christians do not commit sin.” The problem with that concept was that each of us (without voicing it) realized that we were failing in that area. The reality is that we DO fail God – even to the point of sin. But even frail, failing humans like us can still be holy.

Semantics is the study of the meanings of words. Our understanding of holiness is made difficult because of a confusion of definitions.

I found six different Greek words that the editors of the King James Version (KVJ) translated into the English word “holy.” (note 1) Each of these words reflects a variation in the concept of holiness. To the person who reads only the KJV, all of those concepts are lumped together in the single word “holy” (or some variation of the word). The issue is made more confusing since the translators also used various other words (sanctify, hallow, saints, etc) to translate one or more of the six Greek words. The result is that when one searches a concordance for the word “holy” (or “holiness”), we are presented with over 280 references with that appear to have conflicting meanings!

So, what *IS* holiness? Can a common man (or woman) achieve such a sacred level? Although many might disagree, holiness is apparently a requirement that every Christian must meet. Look at what Peter taught…

1 Peter 1:15,16, But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

This verse has troubled me (and many others) over the years. If I must be as pure and holy as God Himself, then I am doomed! But that is NOT what the verse is requiring of us.

If that is not the meaning, then WHAT DOES THE VERSE MEAN? Since I do not read Greek or Hebrew, I use the Strong’s numbering system as my “translator.” If you are not familiar with this system, you are missing much in your study of the Bible. (note 1)

No one will see the Lord unless they are holy. That is a paraphrase of Hebrews 12:14, “…be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” The Greek word used here is hagiasmos (Strong’s #38). That particular Greek word is used 10 times in the KJV texts. Five times the KJV editors translated the word as “holiness” (Ro 6:19,20; 1Th 4:7; 1Tim 2:15 & Heb 12:14). In the other five cases, they translated it as “sanctification” (1Co 1:30; 1Th 4:3,4; 2Th 2:13 and 1Pe 1:2). Here are those verses as translated in the New International Version (NIV)…

Ro 6:19,20 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. (20) When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.

1Th 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

1Ti 2:15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.

1Co 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

1Th 4:3,4 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (4) that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

2Th 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

1Pe 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

This word hagiasmos refers to consecration or sanctification. Both of these words describe the act of dedicating one’s self to God & His work. This act is not the exclusive domain of those in full-time ministry as a vocation. It simply means that we separate ourselves from the world and to Christ. In this act, we “pledge” to marry Christ and therefore we will keep ourselves “pure” until the wedding. Hagiasmos includes the act of making such a pledge and, our continuing commitment to remain pure for Him.

From the ten verses using hagiasmos, I isolated three important issues for all Christians:

1. We are called to live a holy life
2. Holiness is enabled by the Holy Spirit
3. Holiness is a part of the process leading to eternal life

1. We are called to live a holy life. This is clearly stated in 1Thes 4:7. It is not an option – it is a calling and a command. The Bible says that we are to “learn to control [our] own body in a way that is holy and honorable” (1Thes 4:4).

2. Holiness is enabled by the Holy Spirit. This is understood from Scriptures such as 2Th 2:13 and 1Pe 1:2, both describing “the sanctifying work of the Spirit.” This tells us that we cannot become (or remain) holy as a result of our own actions. Such work must be enabled by the Holy Spirit.

3. Holiness is part of the process leading to eternal life. This is understood from the previous two concepts and is stated in 1Tim 2:15 (“if they continue in… holiness”) & Heb 12:14 (“without holiness no-one will see the Lord”). The process leading to eternal life is defined in Ro 6:19,20. First, we must accept Christ and be set free from the slavery of sin. Second, we are to offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness. Third, we are to live a life of holiness. The final result is eternal life with Christ.

But this still does not tell us the real meaning of the word holiness. If we look at the etymology (study of the history of a word), we may see more. The Greek word hagiasmos (Strong’s #38) is derived from hagiazo (Strong’s #37) which is derived from hagios (Strong’s #40). So, let’s begin by looking at the word hagios.

The word hagios is defined as “a characteristic of God; or one separated to God; or one worthy of veneration.” As such, it is applied to persons separated to God’s service. It refers (in the moral sense) to the sharing of God’s purity and to the pure, clean sacrifices and offerings presented to God. Hagios was derived from the Greek word hagos which is not used in the Bible. However, in secular literature of Biblical times, the word hagos refered to “an awful thing.”

The most significant definition of holiness is that it is a characteristic of God. When someone in the Bible came in contact with God they always experienced the awesomeness of His presence. The definition of the word “awesome” is that someone (or something) that is so impressive or overwhelming as to inspire awe, admiration or wonder. Something or someone that is “awesome” will simply take one’s breath away.

This is the characteristic of God that caused Moses, Elijah and John the Revelator to take off their shoes, hide in a rock or fall on their face before the Almighty! The word used in early English was “awful” – which meant FULL of awe. That is the root meaning of hagos & the Biblical hagios (#40), “an awful thing.” It describes someone (or something) that is awe inspiring.

How can I inspire awe in others?

1 Peter 3:15,16 But in your hearts set apart ["sanctify" in the KJV - hagiazo, #37] Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. [Emphasis mine]

In the KJV, Peter says that we should “sanctify Christ.” Some believe that sanctification is the elimination of sin. However, we cannot eliminate sin from Christ, who never sinned. But we can “set apart” Christ in our hearts (NIV). We can set him in a very special place, recognizing His awesomeness. And, by doing so, we can acquire the same holiness in our own lives (cf. 1Co 1:30, He has become our holiness). When such holiness is active in our lives, it will inspire awe in others and they will ASK, “How can you have such hope… ?” (See the context at 1Pe 3:14-17.)

True Biblical holiness is not defined by wearing a particular “uniform.” Those who demand that Christians dress a certain way have missed the point. Harlots may never cut their hair and may wear dresses down to their ankles. Ungodly men may wear a nice suit and tie. But what defines holiness is something in the heart. It is recognized even by people of the world! Holiness is the awesomeness of God shining through in our life!!

Note 1: (The Strong’s system presents the original Greek or Hebrew word that was translated into the text of the KJV Bible — plus the definition of the word.) In the case of our present study, The Greek words assigned Strong’s numbers 37-42 are all translated in the KJV Bible either as “holy” or “holiness.” A simple distinction between them: Hagiazo (37) generally means to make holy, consecrate or sanctify; hagiasmos (38) generally relates to the act of sanctification; hagion (39) points to a sanctuary or holy place or someone (or thing) that is worthy of veneration; hagios (40) is the most basic, root word in this series. It refers to the characteristic of God or to those separated to God; hagiotes (41) is only used once in the KJV (Heb 12:10) and it speaks of the resulting state of our holiness; hagiosune (42) is the last word that I found and it also speaks to the resultant holiness or moral purity.

Note 2: I recommend that everyone download the Online Bible (OLB) program at http://www.onlinebible.net/. (NOTE: Disregard the “online” part of the name. Use of this program does not require that one be connected to the internet.) The program is written for Windows but it can be used on a Mac or Linux computer using other utilities. The OLB is entirely free. Most importantly, the program has an extensive dictionary function using the Strong’s Numbers. If regular use of a computer is not convenient, then I recommend that you purchase a printed copy of “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.” The book is generally priced around $30 but it is my firm conviction that “Strong’s” should be the second book a Christian should own (the Bible should be first).

Since this is a very controversial subject, I would sincerely like to hear your comments about this study. Let me know whether you agree or disagree. Leave a comment on the “Prophecy With Salt” site.

I hope you will post in the comment section your responses and perhaps your own special set of leadership lessons.

Here goes…

#1…The banana that leaves the bunch is the first one to be PEELED!

Of course, you know this is not original with me but was taught to me by a mentor who wanted to warn me about my cavalier approach on a leadership item.  Courage in leadership is so valuable and yet it must be tempered at times with wisdom that acknowledges [that] you often cannot lead alone.  Effective leadership is done in community-among others both followers and other leaders.  This does not imply that one should always “follow the party line” or give up the individuality of leadership but rather that all leadership should be processed over time, with others, with accountability.  So much of what has happened with our present banking industry and investors was the kind of “I’m in this for me and forget others” leadership that made significant and impactful decisions that hurt others without thinking or perhaps dismissing them.

So, as you lead and learn to lead, surround yourself with others and let them help you lead.  Don’t be afraid to use other people’s ideas, to accept the counsel of those who don’t share your passion and accept that there is likely some valuable nugget in all criticism that comes your way.  You won’t regret the intentional “connecting” your leadership will require as you determine to be a top-shelf leader in your church, family or organization.  The Bible says there is safety in many counselors…use it!

Your thoughts?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a REPUBLISH of the article on Bishop Isaac’s blog. You may wish to post your comments directly on his site: Link to Forward Leadership Blog

ALSO, Bishop Moore has a similar series on his blog at: Link to Followership Blog.

What is the difference between preaching and teaching?

I have had a lot of discussion in church about whether a particular person was preaching or “just teaching.” What is the difference?

For some of the more “spiritual” churches, the concept appears to be that you are not preaching until you get into “high gear.” (Compare to a car with a manual transmission and the process of shifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gears.) That concept places teaching into a lesser category.

1. So, here are some discussion starters for you.
2. How do you define “preaching”?
3. How to you define “teaching”?
4. What is the difference?
5. Who does God direct to “preach”?
6. Who does God direct to “teach”?
7. Is the CONTENT of preaching different from teaching?
8. Is the STYLE different between the two?
9. Are teachers called like preachers?
10. Was Jesus a teacher or a preacher?

Here is a video of a 1-year-old. Is he preaching? Teaching? What?

I published a similar article some time back: http://chiefshepherd.com/2008/01/what-is-preaching/

Let us hear from you in the comments section below.

Note the NUMBER of the item you are responding to (or add your own issue related to this topic.)

NOTICE: Contest has ended.

Romans 13:1 (KJV) speaks of “power” and “higher powers” and the fact that “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” The NIV translates the original Greek word here as “authority” rather than “power.” In the NIV the Scripture reads, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

The writer of Romans simply stated the fact that GOD is the Source of all legitimate authority. Anyone trying to exercise authority that God did not establish can be said to have exceeded his (or her) authority. So how do we determine which authority is legitimate and which is illegitimate? The answer seems to lie in the definition of the (KJV) word “ordain” used in Romans 13:1.

The original Greek word that the editors of the KJV translated as “ordain” is the word tasso (Strong’s <5021>).  It means: 1) to put in order, to station; 1a) to place in a certain order, to arrange, to assign a place, to appoint or; 1a1) to assign (appoint) a thing to one; 1b) to appoint, ordain, order. This is similar to what our military calls “the chain of command.” It refers to the fact that each person in the chain is accountable (we will consider this concept in a later article) to those under whose authority he/she operates.

Again, God is the SOURCE of all legitimate authority. The bottom line is… unless God (the Ultimate Authority, cf. Mt 28:18) has shared a portion of His authority (possibly through the “chain of command”) to an individual, any “authority” that they may claim is ultimately void and WILL be taken away!

Another point that can be drawn from this is that, although each person in the chain has some authority, they also have accountability. They are accountable to the person from whom they draw authority. The British Royalty and indeed, almost all nations proclaim their own “sovereignty.” However, no one is SOVEREIGN except God Himself. You can print it on coins and advertise it around the globe but, in the end, “[ALL] men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken” (Mt 12:36).

Back  to AUTHORITY:

There are four different Greek words that are the KJV editors translated as authority. That means that, from the perspective of the Biblical Greek writers, there were four distinctly different meanings for those four unique words. However, the KJV editors failed to find an equivalent English word for each of those meanings so they assigned the same word (authority) to all of them. If we distinguish between the original words and where (in the Scripture) they are used, we gain more knowledge about what God was actually saying in those verses.

The four Greek words translated into the English word “authority” (with limited definitions) are:

1. Strong’s <2715> (katexousiazo) refers to the exercising of power. This word is used in Mt 20:25 when Jesus spoke of the rulers of the Gentiles who “lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.” Jesus said that this was NOT God’s plan. In verses 27 and 28 Jesus said that “whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” In other words, a person cannot, by chance of birth or by force of money or might, become “first” in God’s order. Instead, he or she will have to become a “slave.” They will have to forfeit their own “authority” in order to be ordained into God’s order of authority.

2. Paul wrote to Timothy (1Tim 2:1,2) that we are to pay proper respect and to pray “for everyone — for kings and all those in authority….” The reason he gave was so that we “may live peaceful and quiet lives.” The Greek word for authority in this case is Strong’s <5247> (huperoche) which refers to their position of elevation, pre-eminence or superiority. It does not deal with how they reached that position. Kings were often born into their position. Others may have bought it or taken their “authority” by force. Still, we are to pray for them. However, in 1Cor 15:24, (the same huperoche is used) when we are reminded that, in the final battle, Christ will destroy “all dominion, authority and power.” Meaning any “authority” which was illegal and not ordained by God.

3. The Greek word epitage, Strong’s <2003>, is used to describe an injunction, mandate or command. Paul used it in Titus 2:15 while mentoring a young pastor, “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” This word does not relate to how we normally think of authority. In the KJV, epitage is normally translated as “commandment.” Some things in the Word of God are absolute. Paul was telling Timothy that the minister of God has a MANDATE to preach those things regardless of their immediate approval or rejection.

4. The Greek word exousia (Strong’s <1849>) is translated in the KJV as power (69 times), authority (29 times), right (2 times),  and 1 time each, it is translated as liberty, jurisdiction and strength. This is the word that the Centurion (in Mt. 8:9) used to describe himself as “a man under authority.” In the Roman military (and any other organization with authoritarian structure), he had be given the right to “tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes.” But in order for that structure to hold up, he also had to be “under authority” and respond to the commands of those over him.

The word exousia was also used by Matthew (7:28,29) to speak of the way the crowds of people saw Jesus. They were “amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority.” In other words, they recognized that Jesus was in His proper place in the divine chain of command. He had not usurped authority (as “their teachers of the law” evidently had). It is not difficult to respond to the legal commands of one who is in his or her proper place of authority. Instead, it is when we perceive that someone has tried to exercise illegal authority that we tend to rebel.

This exousia authority is what has been “given” to us to enable us to make free choices in life. We are free moral agents because God has ordained it so in His authority structure. It is the underlying principle in Joshua’s most notable statement:

Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Exousia is the means of our adoption into the Family of God. In John 1:12, “to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he [God the Father] gave the right [exousia] to become children of God.”

The God-given authority/right/ability of each person to choose sets up another concept in the actual administration of authority. Although all legitimate authority comes from God, there can be major obstructions in the administration of that authority. All rejection of authority and even all rebellion & bloodshed are the effect of people’s CHOICE to NOT honor a particular authority – regardless of the source of that authority. (We will address this issue in the next installment in this series. In the mean time, you may wish to visit the Three Rivers Episcopal website to see how they view authority that apparently does not come from God.)

Leave a comment – even if you only say, “Hi.”

If you experience any difficulty in making comments, please send me a email at:

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Blessings,
Ray

Can software be “Christian” or “non-christian”?

Isn’t software just a bunch of lines of code? How can it be considered as “Christian”? Matthew Miller (Tech writer for ZD Net) received a LOT of “flames” (strongly negative comments) for writing on the subject of “Christian” software. I was one of a small minority of Matthew’s defenders. Read the article (and flames) here.

When I first started distributing Christian shareware products via FidoNet (circa 1987/88 — which was before ordinary people could access the Internet), I was asked that question MANY times. The answer is, yes — based upon its primary purpose. If the software is primarily intended to serve Christians and their unique computing needs, then it is “Christian” software.

In January of 1990, I created an international network of computer Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) using the FidoNet.0rg technology and sending everything over modems & telephone lines. It was called the “Christian distribution Network.” I incorporated the organization as a non-profit business in the State of Louisiana, USA under the name “Christian Distribution Network, Inc.” We used the acronym CDN and had around 300 “nodes” or BBSes who participated.

This article is a history of that organization and how it relates to the Chief Shepherd website. It is a bit long but I feel that I need to record some of the history before it is lost. If you are interested, just push the “read more” button.CDN was a member of both  FidoNet and FamilyNet.  FamilyNet was a large group of g-rated bbs’s. Here is a quote from the online history of FamilyNet (you may read the entire article here.)

There are several special interest nets within FamilyNet. One is the Christian Distribution Network (CDN), which is a files distribution network for sharing Christian-based resources (software) and echomail areas. CDN uses the same file distribution technology as SDN in FidoNet, and CDN file areas and echoes are available from the FidoNet backbone, as well as in FamilyNet. At the time of writing, there were 300 nodes in CDN. The Host Node for CDN is The Preacher Online (1:394/1 in FidoNet, 8:200/0 in FamilyNet.)

BTW, “The Preacher Online” was the name of my first BBS which was the starting point of the CDN. I stopped using that designation (for ideological reasons) and eventually settled on the name “Chief Shepherd” for my BBS, then for the email mail list, and finally for the website.

In 1992, the Morning Star Magazine was the premier Christian magazine being published in electronic format. Its primary distribution channel was our CDN network. Here is a feature article that I wrote for their Oct, 1992 issue (read the entire issue here).

(Note: this is a lengthy article and  you may wish to just scan it. However, since this is the history of the CDN, I felt I should include it because it is the best description of  the CDN from that time. It also answers the question of “Christian” software.)

THE CHRISTIAN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
By Ray Waldo
Loranger, LA.

The Christian Distribution Network (CDN) is a computer-based system for distributing computer software and text files to computer users who wish to use their computers for some phase of Christian undertaking. The CDN project was begun by Ray Waldo as a ministry to such computer users.

Although it is illegal to share most commercial software, the CDN project distributes what is commonly called “shareware” or “freeware”. The developers of both types of software encourage the copying and redistribution of their software. Authors of “Shareware” generally request that those who continue to use their software send a registration fee while “freeware” authors generally ask only that users send them a post card to establish themselves as a user.

A good example of freeware is the Christian Magazine you are reading called “Morning Star”.

With approximately 120 computer Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) connected via their dial-up telephone modems, the Christian Distribution Network is now international and offers its services on several continents. Very likely, there is a member node (BBS) nearby where ever you may be.

A common question is “How do I make ‘1-2-3′ [this was the dos spreadsheet application prior to MS Excel] to be ‘Christian?’” Actually, some very creative software has been developed because of the CDN. Not only does the Project distribute Bible concordance software, Church/Parish member tracking and business software, etc. but it even carries a graphics-oriented aid to evangelism and a Christian-based BBS software package. The network maintains a database program for organizing the published music pieces and the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) files to play hundreds of songs for contemporary and standard Christian music including the entire Canadian Hymnal. Recently, the network distributed a program to help Christians in memorizing facts such as the books of the Bible. Monthly computer-based electronic “magazines” (such as “Morning Star”) round out the fare offered by the network.

The CDN project continues in the same “hobby spirit” as the SDNET/Works! (Sm) Project (Meriden, CT) from which it germinated. CDN uses the filename extensions “.SDN” , “.SDA”, and “Security Envelope” (supplied by Nogate Consulting) through a license from the SDN project. The SDN extension refers to an archived package that is electronically “Shrink wrapped” with a special seal that, once opened, cannot be replaced — thus assuring that the package is original and has not been tampered with. This seal helps prevent you the computer user from obtaining a program through this network which has been tampered with by adding a virus to it.

The major method computer viruses are injected into computers is through illegally tampering with an existing program and adding the “virus” program to it. The “security envelope” can be tested by the end user to assure the file’s authenticity and by that assure the user that the software is virus-free.

Although most of the CDN’s programs are shared when a user calls a local computer BBS using his or her modem, some users prefer to exchange floppy disks. Therefore, the CDN has set up specific nodes that offer such service. For example, recently the on-line Bible program (14 each, 360k diskettes) was made available to those interested through postal distribution.

Some overseas systems also require floppy transfers of the larger files.

There are several types of CDN members, based on the requirements for each node level. Full members fly the CDN user flag in the nodelist for whatever network they are a participant.

Full members must carry all program file areas, maintain files for a specified length of time, and not change the compression type or remove the Security Envelope during the specified minimum time. Limited members do not fly the CDN flag and are not required to carry all program file areas. “Recipients” are the end users and their participation in the CDN is limited.

CDN operates in several hobby computer networks:
Family Net International (FNI)
Agapelink Christian Network (ACN)

The CDN was widely respected and was listed in the November 1994 issue of “Who’s Who in Shareware.” See that issue here. The network even came under the ire of Planned Parenthood who called us an “occult” network. <grin> Here is a quote from a 1993 article that the group published (found here).

The following companies support planned parenthood and the right to
choose abortion. Please write to them and thank them for their support.
Special thanks goes to FidoNet's occult network "Christian Distribution
Network" for providing this list.   -- drice   May 31, 1993

An  extended article was published about the CDN project in the May, 1990 issue of Fidonet News (read it here). Here is a small quote from that publication:

From time to time, CDN makes certain large files available through postal distribution. For example, recently the Online Bible (13  360K diskettes) was considered too large to distribute by modem, so it was made available to those interested through postal distribution.  The package went to the first SysOp on the list, who sent it to the next, and so on until it was returned to Ray.

This may have been the first public mention of our association with the OnLine Bible program.  The OnLine Bible (OLB) was our “biggest seller” (actually, by definition, all software was delivered by CDN members totally free of charge). Larry Pierce (OnlineBible developer) and I have continued an almost 20 year relationship as a result of our distribution of his software. In my opinion, the OLB was, and still is, the best Bible Study software at any price – and it is totally free (except for some copyrighted Bibles & commentaries whose publishers require a royalty – and some other very unique extras.) I plan to write a review of the OLB very soon but here, I just wanted to establish the history of my relationship with the software and its developer.

The CDN project’s mission was to distribute Christian resources via computers and networks using the most current technology. Although this website is not directly related to the Christian Distribution Network, Inc’s business model or the corporation by that name, the mission of CDN is also the primary mission of the Chief Shepherd website located at http://chiefshepherd.com. So, this site traces its roots back over 20 years!

Robert Moore, Jr posted an article on his blog recently in which he spoke about leaders who are insulated from the realities of the people that they should be leading. (Read his article here.) This concept is similar to the quote that is commonly attributed to Marie Antoinette, “If the peasants do not have bread, let them eat cake.” Note, the Wikipedia suggests that she was not the originator of the phrase. However, the phrase demonstrates the same isolation that the “Emperor’s New Clothes“ describes.

I responded on Rob’s site but this issue ties into the “Authority Under God” series of articles on this site so I am adding it here also. Here, I can include a bit more detail and offer you,  my users, the opportunity to read and respond.

During my two interruptions in pastoral ministry, I learned a lot about the “insulated leadership” that sometimes happens in churches today. I found that the same things that I had said previously from the pulpit sounded quite different when sitting on the pew.

I believe that when a pastor is able to give all of his time to the church (a very desirable situation that I endorse), he or she has a tendency to get isolated into what I call the “glory world.” It is a place where he has the time to study God’s Word and pray and get in touch with God – every day. And, although that level of devotion is possible (and desirable) for EVERY Christian, in my experience, it is not the norm.

The people who sit on the pews on Sunday have spent the entire week fighting the devil – in the person of their supervisor and/or co-worker or someone that they have to deal with every day. When Sunday comes around, he/she is spiritually exhausted and the most spirituality that they feel they can muster is to just get up, get dressed and go to church. And maybe, the pastor will say something, or do something, that will help them get through another week — a week that will start in less than 24 hours!

When the pastor sees these folks, he (having been in his “glory world”) expects them to be just as spiritual as he is. (Let me interject here that pastors are often not as “spiritual” as they feel they ought to be. But feel that they must display spirituality or else the congregation will never be spiritual.) So the pastor expects Mr Pew Sitter to jump right into worship with “both feet.” And in many cases, it just ain’t gonna happen! (Can I get a witness here?)

What do you think?

Have you ever known a pastor or other Christian that you felt was just TOO “spiritual”? Do you think that pastors are always as “spiritual” as they appear? Is it an unforgivable sin to go through a church service with LESS than a “super spiritual,” “glory world” feeling? Tell us about it in the comments section.

If you have a comment, please visit the Forward Leadership site:  http://forwardleadership.org/blog/?p=989

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I recently read a book by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff called “Groundswell” you can find out more about here. It’s not Christian book, its a book about social technologies (computer nerds like me soak this stuff up) but at the very beginning of the book they discuss what qualifies a social technology to create a groundswell. I thought these questions were incrediblly profound for where we are headed in our churches. Keep in mind that the goal of all these online tools is to create community (and make money) which is exactly what we’ve been called to do in the body of Christ. So whether you are having lots of success in your ministry or struggling to engage people beyond Sunday, ask your self these questions.

1. Is it effortless to sign up for?
Whether it’s small groups, or bible study, or softball, is it easily accessible? How hard does someone have to work to get “signed up” for your “next step.” Obviously promotion and creativity come into play to grab people’s interest but once you have grabbed their interest how hard is it for them to get connected? For us “professionals” our initial answer is probably “Oh well, it’s real easy” because we are familiar with our environments but what about someone who doesn’t know where the sign up table in the foyer is, or someone who doesn’t know everyone’s name. If someone came into your church tomorrow and wanted to get connected, how easy it for them?

2. Does it shift power from institutions to people?
This is interesting, and we probably don’t have the time to really dive all the way into this one, but their thesis is that the companies experiencing the most success with social networking tools are companies who use their technology to empower the people. Companies who let users rate their products, or leave feedback (good or bad) on their website. Companies who allow customers to instantly access support and help for their products. They show how many companies have tried to provide a facade that they want to connect with their customers, but it’s really just a front to give the perception that they are using the new tools, but in the end they want to hold on to control and power. It’s a scary thing to empower a customer to leave poor feedback about tech support or the quality of a product. For our churches it’s not a question of who has the power, and I’m not claiming that the church be congregation led or anything like that, my question is do our people feel empowered? Do they feel like what they do matters, like they are a part of the company, and what they do has influence over the success of our church?

An example would be Youtube. It’s good idea for you to provide videos to your customers, it’s a much more powerful idea for everyone to provide videos to everyone!

3. Does the community generate enough content to sustain itself?
Another way of posing this question is, “Is the impact worth the energy?” There have been a lot of companies out there that have spent LOTS of money on web applications and tools only to find that the consumer or customer didn’t have any interest (or lost interest). If a company is constantly having to provide the content, and the customers aren’t taking the lead it’s only a matter of time before it dies. We are really bad about this one as pastors and leaders. What areas are we having to pump all of the energy into because the people don’t have any [interest] for it? It’s probably time to shut it down.

An example would be the newspaper. It has been slowly dying for years now. Why? because people are looking for community where they generate the content. Does it lower the quality of the content? Yes, but people don’t care as long as they feel a part. Most of your people would probably want to hear teaching from someone worse than you if they had time to give feedback and discussion.

4. Is it an open platform that invites partnerships ?
People are connected to a lot of things now on the web, and a sign that an idea will take off is if it incorporates a way to connect all of the different tools we use. Think about how many things we use now that have a way to update facebook and twitter instantly. People don’t want to be a part of isolated things anymore. We are seeing that trend in churches now as well – especially among younger attenders. They’re not looking for a place that is solely focused on itself, they are intrigued by places that are secure and smart enough to partner together. Partnering with organizations and churches that are already doing things. I heard of a church recently that wanted to provide a place for homeless people to sleep at nights, but they didn’t feel like they had the facility or ability to do it all. So they partnered with 6 other churches and each church took 1 night of the week. There is power in partnerships. People want to know they are connected to a large CHURCH – not just yours! On a side note, for all the talk about denominations are going to continue to die, I don’t think that’s totally true. I think it’s all in how you present it. At our New Members class we explain how great it is to be a part of a denomination because there is accountability and partnership. We say things like “a percentage of your money will go build 69 orphanages around the world this year.” People get excited about that.

5. Is it accessible from a mobile device ?
This may seem like a silly thing to relate to a church, but I think it’s incredibly important. More people update their Facebook from their phone than from their computer. Think about that for a second. I’ve been asking myself for a few weeks now, how can we incorporate the cell phone into our ministry? Their are people out their doing it all ready. A great example is http://youversion.com/live. If you have a younger church get up Sunday and ask this question. First, ask how many people brought their bibles. Then ask how many people brought a cell phone that has internet on it. I think you’ll find that cell phones win. Now, you can either get mad about that and tell people that they should bring more bibles or you can figure out a way to use the cell phone.

Sermon notes, videos, church website, bible reading, etc. these are all just the surface level answers of how we can connect the cell phone to our ministry.

An example: We didn’t come up with it but one of the things we do at our church is put a number up on the screen and allow people to text in questions during the sermon, at the end of the sermon I answer those. It allows people to have their questions, that are created by the bible, answered (or at least attempted).

I know this has been incredibly long but think through these questions in your ministry and see what you can come up with.

Link to Forward Leadership Blog

Here is a funny video illustrating the problem:

If you have an Iphone, Ipod or other MP3 player, then head on over to ChristianAudio.Com for some free books. Each month, the site gives away one audiobook to visitors to their site. No purchase necessary. This month (Oct 09), they are giving away a copy of the book “Just Courage” by Gary A. Haugen.

Here is a quote from the site…

Free Audiobook Download of the Month

Each month christianaudio gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, we give away one audiobook download (that we have published or that a partner has allowed us to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.

Instructions: Add the download to your cart and use the coupon code OCT2009 when prompted to receive this month’s free download! You must use the code to receive the download for free.

Just Courage (Unabridged) by Gary A. Haugen

International Justice Mission president Haugen has found that “the pathway out of a nearly comatose state of boredom, ineffectiveness and triviality lies in the struggle for justice.” This book describes how to break out of a ho-hum Christian life and see God’s powerful and mysterious ways at work.

This month’s free download of Just Courage is brought with thanks to the International Justice Mission (IJM) and InterVarsity Press.

Plus – here are four more FREE audiobooks:

The Jesus of Myth and History (Unabridged) by N.T. Wright
Wright, boldly stating that historians can construct a sketch of Jesus that makes sense historically and subsequently serves as the beginning point of Christian theology.

Athanasius: Deity of Christ (Unabridged) by D.A. LaGue
Part of the “Perspectives from the Pages of Church History” collection. Each program highlights a different individual or event in the history of the church in order to illustrate a Scriptural principle.

God’s Story: As Told By John (Unabridged) by Crossway
Discover in the Gospel of John the amazing ways our stories intersect with God’s Story. As you come alongside your friends, you can help them connect Their Stories with God’s Story. God’s Story, My Story (that’s yours) and Their Story (that’s your friend’s) all overlap.

DTS Five Little Words That Changed History (Unabridged) by Stu Webber
Dr. Stu Webber, senior pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring, Oregon, communicates that the local church is the central element in advancing God’s kingdom today.

Check it out  today at http://christianaudio.com/free

Where are you going? Why are you here?

Why are you reading this? Did you just happen to visit this place?

I don’t believe that we are here by coincidence. Actually, I don’t believe in coincidence – or luck. What I do believe is that God’s providence has ordered my steps (compare Ps 37:23 KJV) and brought us together.

Many times, we are totally unaware of the events that transpire in the process of getting us to a place where God wants us to be. After the events begin to happen, we are still not likely to understand them. However, God has a plan and He orders our steps to bring us to the “watershed” points in our lives.

You may ask, “What is God’s plan for my life?” Well, I can’t answer that directly. But, I do know some general things about God’s plan. I know that God’s plan is to bring us to a place of success and eventual good.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

First, God does not measure “prosperity” the same way the current crop of TV preachers often do. Prosperity in God’s view is equated with good success. It refers to our being successful in the things that He has designed for us to accomplish. More than that, God intends to develop hope in us and his plan is to provide us with a future of unimaginable joy and promotion.

I don’t know the details of God’s plans but I do know that the plan of God involves several goals for us:

1. God wants us to have communion with Him – a relationship of love and worship

2. God wants us to become complete & mature – to have every good thing

3. God wants us to make disciples – to win the lost & develop in them a desire for communion

4. God wants us to finish the race – to continue in the faith all the way to the end

In Numbers 20:1-11, the children of Israel were in dire circumstances. They had wandered in the wilderness for 39 years. Although they didn’t know it, they were getting close to entering Canaan. God’s plan is often unclear to us, but He does have a plan. He orders the steps of a good man and that plan often includes opportunities for learning (also called hardships, difficulties, or trials of our faith.) And the Israelites were being given all the “opportunities” they could handle.

They arrived a Kadesh and found that there was not enough water to support the two million (plus) people in the community. Also, within a few days of their arrival, Miriam, the prophetess of Israel, died and was buried. There is no mention of Israel even mourning for her. Perhaps they were too concerned with their own problems to even consider her death.

This group of Israelites was young. All of the adults who refused to enter Canaan (37 years prior), died in the wilderness. Caleb & Joshua (the two spies who gave a good report) were the only adults permitted to enter the promised land. This group had seen the errors of their parents – and the penalty they had to pay. This group had witnessed the miraculous flow of water from the rock at Rephidim (Ex 17:1-4) as well as the death of Korah and his supporters (see Numbers 16) when they rebelled against Moses.

Even with this history, when they were faced with a lack of water, they chose to play the “blame game.” They gathered in opposition to Moses and asked why HE had brought them, their children and their livestock to this “terrible place” to die. They even said that they would have been better off if they had joined with their “brothers” and also died in Korah’s rebellion.

But that is what adversity does – it brings out the REAL you. Hardships force us to chose which side we are really on. Hypocrites and half-hearted followers will fall away when faced with persecution. On the other hand, true disciples will develop perseverance through the “testing of your faith” (James 1:3).

And that is what this event was all about – God wanted them to CHOOSE Him (compare Joshua 24:15). He was offering them an opportunity to fulfill the first goal – to choose to worship God and have real communion with Him.

Even if God’s plan is not always clear to us at the time, it does make sense later. That’s because God is a logical and organized God. He is not random and capricious. What He does has purpose and meaning. And, there is a reason why He places a person in leadership. God had installed Moses as their leader. When they quarreled with Moses, they were actually fighting against God and His plan. God had directed Moses and Moses had led them through the wilderness. Now, God would use him to provide water to the thirsty nation.

The second goal of God’s plan is for us to be complete. Although we are inclined to think that we are not complete until we can meet all of our own needs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Once, when preaching this message, I had the weakest person in the room to break a wooden pencil – which they were able to do without difficulty. Then I offered a dozen wooden pencils to the strongest person in the room and he was NOT able to break them. Why? Because they were bound together with tape.

When bound together (united), the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. Maturity comes when we recognize that we cannot live for God without the help of others. The only way we can be “complete” is to accept that we need God’s appointed leader. The Israelites were fighting with Moses but he was the very person who would provide water without which they would die.

Another issue that arises in our attempts to follow the plan of God is that we sometimes fail (would “often” be a better term?) Moses is one of the most respected persons in all of history. He is honored by Jews and Christians alike. He was described as “a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). But he was still a man. He was a man who let his anger get the best of him at times – like this time. God told Moses to speak to the rock but Moses struck the rock instead. It was a dramatic failure! But God was not surprised by Moses’ actions. God’s plan is not derailed by the mistakes, sins or moral failures of a leader.

I have heard people say, “someone is hindering the Spirit of God.” But I serve a God who is GREATER than any individual, group or even the devil and all of his cohorts! When the Holy Spirit wants to act, NO ONE can interfere!! Notice that Moses missed God BUT the water still gushed out of the rock!!

This is the place that many “fruit inspectors” (those who claim that they can recognize another’s failure by observing their fruit) would jump in and demand Moses’ resignation. But let me offer a bit of advice, when it looks a leader has made a mistake or a wrong decision, let God take care of it. He is the Judge – not us. Even though Moses missed God, God STILL operated through him – the water gushed from the rock!

The reality of this matter is that Moses’ failure was NOT in striking the rock. That was just a symptom of the real issue. Verse 12 says that Moses and Aaron “did not trust in [God] enough…” But Moses DID trust God – He expected the water to flow – and it did! Neither did God throw Moses away in punishment for his failure. Instead, we are all convinced that Moses is in heaven right now! The belief that Moses went to heaven is practically universal.

The real issue was NOT about Moses at all. Verse 12 continues, “in the sight of the Israelites.” The REAL issue was how the Israelites viewed God. God’s plan was for Moses to teach the people to trust God. Ideally, Moses would have taught the people, “Observe as God opens the rock and provides plenty of water – without any human intervention.” This would have helped them to trust God – not man. But Moses (and Aaron) failed. When we fail to fulfill God’s plan, deliverance will come from another place (Esther 4:14). But deliverance still comes.

One of the first rules of leadership is that a good leader will train his replacement. That is what God had in mind for this situation. Moses was supposed to make disciples of the people – the third goal of God’s plan for our lives

Moses failed but Paul serves as a better role model. In 2^nd Timothy 2:2 Paul told Timothy to learn all that he had heard Paul teach, then practice it and finally to teach it to others who would then replace Timothy. Discipleship is God’s plan for continuing the Kingdom of God on earth.

The final goal in God’s plan is for us to finish the race. It is not satisfactory for sinners to accept God’s forgiveness, only to go back into sin. “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning” (2Peter 2:20). God’s plan is for us to FINISH the race.

Paul said, (2Timothy 4:6,7) “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering [the road is becoming rocky], and the time has come for my departure. [But that is OK because...] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Two things seem to be significant in Paul’s race, 1) Keep the faith – don’t give up on God and He will not give up on you; 2) Fight a good fight – do your best, even if you miss it sometimes (as Moses did).

With the children of Israel, as they neared Canaan, the troubles got more difficult. This is consistent with my experience. The rougher and more narrow the road, the closer we are to the end.

And at the end of a successful race, God will award the “crown of righteousness” to “all who have longed for his appearing” (2Timothy 4:8). Longing for Christ’s appearing is another way of saying, “finish the race.”

My prayer (and your’s also, I hope)… “Lord, give me grace to follow the plans that you have for my life. Even when your plan is not clear to me, guide my steps to that place where I develop true communion with you. Teach me that I am not complete until I learn to depend upon others. And when I fail to follow your plan, forgive me and draw me back. Inspire me to live my life in such a way that others will desire to follow the God who has guided my life. And finally, give me strength and patience to complete the course and finish the race successfully so that I can inherit the crown of righteousness.”

If you would like to download my sermon notes & this manuscript, click here.

I wrote a similar article on my “James on Trial” site: What Does God Want?

An extension of this concept is a live webcast of a funeral. Maximum PC posted an article about this a while back (read it here). Dan Cohen just published an article titled, “Technology Meets Tradition” describing his first experience with this new way of conducting a funeral. (Read the article here.) Dan’s experience was with a Jewish funeral home that offers both a live webcast and a telephone “call-in” functions to allow remote family members or friends to participate in the funeral.

What is your take on this? Is it ethical to do a webcast of a funeral service? Is it just another way to leverage technology in ministry? Or, has the technology over-stepped its bounds? Do you feel that this is an invasion of the privacy of the family? Is it disrespectful of the deceased? Or should this be made available to everyone? Leave a comment and tell us what you think….

I am embarrassed that in 40 years of dedicated Bible reading and study, I have often overlooked some of the most astounding Scriptures. One such Scripture is Zephaniah 3:17:

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Leading up to this verse are some of the more depressing verses found in the Bible. The chapter starts out with a “Woe” and, since I don’t like “woes”, I probably have just “shut down my thinking” when I tried to read this chapter in the past.

However, this time, when I read the chapter, I realized that the woe is to the wicked people – not to God’s children!

Another powerful concept also came to my mind — Just read the first 13 verses and you may recognize that these verses describe our present world! This woe was written to warn the wicked people in OUR generation!

The good news is that those who are meek & humble and trust in the name of the Lord will escape the wrath of God at the end of this age. (Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:4,9)

1. Instead of impending wrath, God said (vv.15-17) that “The LORD your God is with you.” The meaning of the original Hebrew word for “with” includes both a physical nearness and more. The word (Strong’s # <07130>) is often used in the Old Testament to describe the entrails of an animal sacrifice. And that is how close our Father wants be to us – He wants to IN us – to be an integral part of our life. And, when we allow God inside our lives, He says (v.17) that “he is mighty to save.” Regardless of the situation in which we find ourselves, we can take comfort in knowing that “the one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
2. Second, these verses tell us that God (when He is near) will calm all of our fears. Fear is a debilitating infuence in a person’s life. When fear reaches this stage, it is generally called a phobia (“An unreasonable sort of fear that can cause avoidance and panic.” Medicinenet.com) And the phobialist.com website lists over 600 named phobias! Zephaniah 3:16 tells us to “not let your hands hang limp.” In the KJV, the word is “slack.” In other words, do not stop working in the Kingdom of God because of fear! Rather than stop working, we are to stop fearing.

One of the primary reasons that I fail to do more in the Kingdom is the fact that I am uncertain. I am uncertain about what God wants me to do. I am uncertain about when to speak (or when to shut up); about where to go; about His plan for my life; etc, etc. In short, I am uncertain about all of the details of life. I probably will never know all the details surrounding life, but I am NOT uncertain about one thing — my Heavenly Father loves me! Not only that, according to verse 17, “He will take great delight in you” WOW! When I remember that, I have no reason to fear.

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Again, look at verse 17, “he will quiet you with his love.” When He lives within us and we know that He takes delight in us, then we have nothing to fear. But when fear does try to raise its ugly head, our Father pulls us to His breast and comforts us with His awesome love for us!!

1. The third – and most exciting – concept in this portion of Scripture is found in the phrase, “he will rejoice over you with singing.” I cannot fathom what the voice of God would sound like when He decided to sing, can you? But God takes such delight in us (as His children) that He has authored a song to tell our story. I believe that He goes around telling everyone, “Let me tell you about my son Ray. Ray is such a delight to me, that I wrote a song about him. Let me sing it for you!”

But our Father does not single me out for such a blessing – He takes great delight in all who are “meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord.” (v.12) So, while He is singing His song about me, He is also singing about you and the millions (billions?) of believers who trust in His name! Consequently, the “song” becomes a “symphony” of God’s voice(s) declaring His great delight in each of His children. We grandparents who want to tell everyone about our grandchildren have NOTHING on God! He is the proudest parent of all!!!

The thought that Almighty God has written a song about me is indeed “amazing.” But, knowing how He uses it is even more astounding! The word that the NIV editors translated to “rejoice” is the Hebrew word “gheel.” Strong’s gives it the number <01523> and defines it

Gheel: to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, -be glad, joy, be joyful, rejoice.

This is the word used to describe the dancing and spinning that went on at the Hebrew festivals. It is the way they expressed, in the physical, what was in their emotions. God expresses his great delight in His children by spinning round & singing a song that He penned to tell our story!

Jared Anderson wrote the song “Amazed” and used this concept in the lyrics:

You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound

Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
How You love me

How wide
How deep
How great
Is Your love for me

Music and lyrics by Jared Anderson
© 2004 Vertical Worship Songs
CCLI# 4221021

My favorite performance of this song is done by Exalt Worship on their album “There is a Place” but I could not find a video that used that so here is one using some clips from “The Passion” and the Desperation Band singing the song. I hope you enjoy it…

If you want to download my sermon notes, click here.

Just when I thought I have seen everything, along comes something that just really blows me away.  Life for me is one great surprise after the other.  Today, I got the shock of my life and was reminded once again… don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Today started like most of my days.  I got up as late as I could and, after my morning pot of coffee, I trekked outside to see what I could accomplish around the house.  A few days ago, I took on the mammoth task of building my very own privacy fence.  Not that I have anything to hide… I just don’t like people watching me laying around my house.  I thought the fence was coming along pretty good for a guy who is better at demolition as opposed to construction.  I just needed some more lumber to finish the job and that was a good excuse to go to my most favorite place in the world… Lowes!

In my driveway sat my three vehicles…my 2000 Lincoln with busted air bags, my lawnmower that starts fine but the blades won’t turn, and then, Ole’ Blue, the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned.  A 1992 GMC pickup truck that just sits there rairin’ to go anywhere and at any time.

Not much to look at though…the tailgate won’t stay up, plenty of dents, a front bumper that curls down like it’s frowning, and faded- blue paint that has succumbed to 17 years of blistering Louisiana sunshine. It has the latest Cajun-’ engineered air-conditioning system with rear-air blowers, (when I have my back window slid open).   Oh yeah, I forgot that the exhaust pipe is gone, but it has the muscle car sound that some people pay big bucks for.  (My teenage son did it for me for free… what a guy!).

Off to Lowes I went… me and Ole’ Blue out on another mission.  After loading a ton of lumber in the bed of the truck (Ole’ Blue didn’t even squat), I got to thinking about the “Cash for Clunkers” deal going on.  I could hardly bear the painful thought of trading in Ole’ Blue, but he did have 246,000 miles under his belt.  I knew Blue’s days were numbered and I had to make proper plans for his departure.  We all have to face this reality at some point, don’t we?

As I drove up to the dealership, I just knew those guys standing out in the front with their white shirts and neck ties were saying amongst themselves, “O boy, another ole clunker.”  I knew Ole’ Blue wasn’t really a “clunker,” he was just like me… dependable, faithful, not that old… just a lot of mileage.  Those guys reminded me of a flock of buzzards nesting in a tree salivating over the fresh meat below.  I got out and said, “Boy, you guys look hungry.”  (You see, you have to set-up your delivery style right up front.)

They tripped over each other scurrying my way, but one guy got to me first, so I guess he was the one who claimed the prize.  He said to me, “Yeah, we’re pretty hungry.  You here for “Cash for Clunkers?”  I thought to myself, “My… what an assumption.  What in the world made him think that?”  I was offended, but I tried not to show it.  (Can’t take things personal when you’re doing business.)

“I want to see the cheapest, no frills, roll-down-the-windows pick-up you’ve got.” (Once again,  I let him know who was in charge of this deal right from the start.)  “Sure, right over here,” he said with confidence.  He pointed to a real nice, brand new, white pick-up truck that would have made me the envy of all my neighbors!  I got in it and began to dream of driving down the road in this little baby.

My salesman guy was sitting in the passenger side, showing me all the latest technological devices that were installed but not activated… because it was the “low grade model.” (Who needs satellite radio anyway when all I listen to anyway is KELB 100.5 FM, the greatest little southern gospel station in the state.) And that little OnStar gadget that tells you where you are…. who cares about where you are?  I am more interested in where I am going!

“How much?  I mean… what is the bottom dollar for this truck?” I asked with firmness.  He shot back just as quickly, “About $21,000,”  If I was chewing gum, I know I would have swallowed it.  “$21,000… dollars!” I moaned.  “You have got to be kidding me!  This is the cheapest truck you have on the lot?”  The white-shirted buzzard affirmed and then asked, “How much did you have in mind?” (A little snippy I thought.)  I replied with all honesty, “Well, Lord God!  I figured I’d find one for 12 or 13 thousand and by the time I get the clunker money and rebate applied, I would drive outta’ here in an 8 or 9 thousand dollars brand new truck!”

By this time, I figured this guy thought I was an old country bumpkin who came crawling out of the woods for his annual trip to the big town of Lake Charles.  Little did he know… I was a high IQ’d college graduate who has forgotten more than this guy knows.  I was, however, pleased to maintain my disguise as a dumb country hick as I continued my hagglin’.

“Well…” then came the hook.  “By the time you subtract $4500 clunker money and then another $3000 on our rebate… that’ll lower the price down to 13 to 14 thousand!  Why don’t we go inside and sit down and figure out how much your payments will be.”  “O yeah”… I mused, “I’m sure you would love that you little salesman dude.”

You see, this wasn’t my first rodeo. I knew the two things a car salesman needs to do to get a sale:  1. Get the customer to sit in the vehicle,  AND  2. Get him to sit down at the table with a free coke or cup of coffee.  Well, I was willing to give him one out of two, just to make him think he might have a chance for a sale.  I told him to go inside and see if I would get $3500 or $4500 on the “clunker deal.”  I already knew by now I wasn’t leaving Ole Blue in Lake Charles today.

Like a hungry wolf sliding up to a helpless lamb, the guy returned with a mixed face of serious concern and fainting hope.  “I’m sorry sir, but your truck doesn’t qualify for the clunker program.  It’s based on mileage and your truck gets too good gas mileage compared to the new truck.”  I had to grin a little bit!  Off I went with my little speech.  “You mean to tell me that my 17 year old truck doesn’t qualify as a clunker?  It that doesn’t qualify, nothing will!”  (I have to confess, I really was happy to learn that Ole’ Blue wasn’t a clunker after all.  I knew it all the time… but this guy just made it official.)

I thanked the guy for his time and left the lot.  I was now on a roll and I just had to find out what the other dealer down the road could do for me.  I forgot all about my fence and was now on a new mission.  Maybe this dealer had something he could put me in without pulling my eye balls out.  “Let’s go Ole’ Blue!”

I pulled into the dealership on Prien Lake Road.  Surprising to me, I only saw one salesman up front.  He was a young black guy who looked to be about 21 years old and I immediately felt sorry for him. It was really hot and he was sweating like a politician at a town hall meeting.  I guessed he was doing his best to make a few bucks to take care of his wife and kids.  I really was hoping we would be able to help one another.  Really!

I gave him the same speil… I wanted the lowest-priced, simple, no frills truck on the lot.  I walked with him down the lot as he was leading me to my prize.  “Got a problem with color?” he asked.  Without a second of hesitation, I quipped back, “No… I’m not prejudiced.”  He laughed and laughed and said, “Now that’s what I like… a man with humor.  Now we’ve broken the ice.  Not prejudiced!  Now that’s funny!”  “Yeah, just a plain white truck,” I added.  I figured we were off to a real good start until we stopped at my qualified “pick of the litter.”

I looked down at what seemed to be a little sardine can with an engine.  Since I was speechless, I sat in the midget truck after he kindly opened the door for me.  The cheap cloth seats and cheap plastic interior reminded me of the old El Camino I used to drive as a kid.  It was a Pinto version of a truck.  It had the curb appeal of a Waste Management garbage can.  It was a “truck wantabe.”

“How much?” seemed like the next best thing to say.  “Twenty thousand dollars” he sheepishly replied.  “Twenty thousand dollars!” I exclaimed.  “You have got to be kidding me.  Twenty thousand American dollars?” I continued. “I could have bought a big truck… a real truck, down the road a while ago for that much.”

He had to explain to me in my confusion.  “This is a 4-cylinder engine.  It gets better gas mileage than an 8-cylinder.  Plus, you can’t qualify for anything else.”  He explained to me that, once again, my truck gets too good of a gas mileage.  I had to say it.  “I thought the whole idea of the Clunker program was to get the old gas hogs off the road and get us into more fuel-efficient vehicles.  Do you mean to tell me that 17 years of research and technology couldn’t produce a vehicle that gets the gas mileage I’m already getting in my old truck!”  I wasn’t really upset… I was proud!

“So what you are saying is this:  For $17,000 and throwing in my old truck, I can drive outta’ here in a brand new matchbox with a motor in it. Right?” I summed it up for him.  He hung his head as he seemed to struggle for something  smart to say.
I have to give it to the guy.  He didn’t give up on the sale.  “Sir, you have to understand that inflation increases the price 4% every year” he explained.  I shot back, “You’ve got to realize my salary doesn’t go up 4% every year!”.  (Boy, now that was a good one.)  When I asked if he had a real truck with 8 cylinders that I could get into, he said “Yes we do… but it’s about $30,000.”  Well… it was all over at that point, as I heard the fat lady sing!  I shook the nice fellow’s hand and said, “Well… me and Ole’ Blue are goin’ to the house.”

Off we went… me and Ole’ Blue heading back to the house, feelin’ real good.  I was glad I didn’t have to give Ole’ Blue “the boot.”  He’s been too good to me for so long.  It would have be so very wrong for me to just “kick him to the curb” in search of something better.  My little flirtation with something new showed me “I already have the best one and I should be thankful!”  Please forgive me Ole’ Blue for even entertaining the idea.  You have been so faithful to me for too many years.  I’m sorry! We pulled in the driveway and he proudly took his special space next to the lawnmower.  Ole’ Blue was home!

Later that evening, as I was fixing the battery cable on Ole’ Blue, I began to think of how God tells us to be contented and satisfied with what we have AND to not covet what your neighbor has.  Well, I have decided to stay Biblical with the whole idea of “Cash for Clunkers.”  I will remain contented with my faithful and true-blue Ole’ Blue.  AND I will not covet my neighbor’s new pick-up truck.  I will let them continue to pay those high notes every month on something they really can’t afford.  It’s just Biblical!

Yes… today, I was reminded of a very valuable lesson.  Many times, the grass does look greener on the other side and that’s when temptation sneaks in.  Be satisfied with what you already have at home and don’t go looking for something better, or prettier, or just different.  Remember the many years of faithful and dedicated devotion that money simply can’t buy.  Even if years of wear and tear might be showing a bit… it got there taking care of you.

I love you Ole’ Blue!
Rick Batchelor

The news is good…bottom line the CEA number apparently rose in response to the severe diarrhea that she has experienced in the past 15 days.  A new med has been prescribed to bring that sequence to an end (if you know what I mean!) and the hope is that the quieting of the GI tract will result in lower numbers.  The CT scan shows NO NEW GROWTH of cancer in any area from the neck to the abdomen.  There is no indication of cancer development or “hot” spots in the PET scan and all her other labs are NORMAL. Subsequently, the doctors seem to agree that this rise in the CEA is not problematic for now….

So, PRAISE THE LORD! Prayer is still effective.

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Today (30Sep09), Bishop Bill posted some discouraging news about Kathy. See the entire post here.

Well, this has been a huge emotional roller coaster for us this visit to Zion. Today is Wednesday (09/30/09) and we are sitting in our hotel room waiting on the insurance company to pre-certify a new CT scan for Kathy in hopes of determining the cause for the jump in her CEA-tumor marker numbers….

When Dr. Thompson told us that the numbers had jumped from 1.4 to 6.0, it was a shock to us. I guess we had not even prepared for the possibility of this, mainly because everything had been going so well and despite the side-effects, we were banking on a continued “normal” run to the announcement CANCER-FREE! Such may not be the case…

Here is the response that I left for them. I am confident that it is similar to what many of you would  also say…

Viv and I are believing God with you on a daily basis. We are confident that God has ordered your (& Kathy’s) steps. You have many others before us but certainly you were “God’s man of the hour” during the crisis that so many of us faced after Hurricane Katrina.

I was a direct beneficiary of your counsel at a moment of my fear & frustration. I will never forget that. And, your support and encouragement led me to two trips to Africa and (finally) to writing two books.

You and Kathy will always have a special place in our hearts. We also find it to be a “strange route” that has taken you to another area of service and now, taken you into the most difficult path you have ever faced.

Just remember, none of this has taken God by surprise. He has a plan of action. That plan is to PROSPER you & Kathy. It is NOT to harm you. As you said, the journey is about trust. It is not about me, you or even Kathy. It is about God and our absolute dependence upon the Source of our help.

Today, I visited with Nelda & Jimmy Jerrell of the Savannah Branch Church. The doctors did not expect Nelda to live past 10:30 this morning. But THAT decision is not up to the doctors. It is GOD who determines when we are promoted. However, (thanks to God’s intervention) Nelda is making a slight recovery this evening.

It is similar with all of our difficult “routes.” God has ordered the steps of a righteous man & woman named Isaacs. His plan for them is not and will not always be evident but it will always lead to VICTORY. He can change the CEA markers & all that they represent!

Let this be the day that doctors in Zion & Covington are presented with undeniable evidence of HIS power!!

Ray

They decided to run some extended tests to see if everything is ok with my heart – so I am spending tonight in the hospital.

But it is still good. I have said  for a long time that I do not believe in coincidences or luck – it is the divine providence that orders the steps of a righteous man. Someone recently added to that, “there are no wrong numbers (on the telephone).” Everything has a purpose – even an unexpected trip to the ER. Just remember me in prayer that I will recognize whatever opportunities God has in mind for me while I am here.

BTW, this situation will severely hinder my access to the Internet so I will catch up when I can.

Monday, 28Sep09 Update: I still do not know anything about my situation. I feel fine now. They did an ultrasound of my leg to check for a blood clot but I have not seen the doctor about that or any of the other tests. You may call my room at  985-230-xxxx but I think that I  have already served the purpose that God had for me here  so I expect to leave today (??)

Tuesday, 29Sep09 Update: I was released from the hospital at 11:30pm. None of the tests revealed any problems and I am released to normal activity without any restrictions.

Wednesday, 30Sep09 Update: This morning, I am reflecting upon the opportunities that were presented to me during my stay. I did not recognize any epiphany event that shouted “NOW is the time!” Although I did find a number of opportunities to share with different individuals. One of whom was my room mate during the stay.

But that is the way God works with us in life. We are not put here to develop ourselves and lay claim to the fame. We are here to be His emissaries – representatives of our home country while we are in a foreign land. We are to be an ambassador for our king – not a superstar in our own glory. But the reality is that sometimes I feel more  like a mascot than an ambassador.

Well, today is another day in another place with more opportunities for service. I plan to do what I can to represent Christ – whether I recognize the event as an “opportunity” or not and, whether I am received as an ambassador or a mascot.

Jeremiah 23:1-4 (NIV):

1. “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD.
2. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.
3. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.
4. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.

Questions:

1. What is the primary job  of a shepherd?
2. Does a true shepherd coose the job?
3. Who gathers up the lost sheep?
4. Who is responsible for the sheep being driven away?
5. What is needed for the sheep to be complete?

Post your comments on the Chief Shepherd Facebook page

Here are some of the highlights:

• Michael Johnson:  The Bible states the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, about their destruction for being wicked filled. But the Bible stresses and talks more about same sex more than anything. Based on this, it would seem the Bible speaks against this lifestyle.

• Chief Shepherd:  Personally, I cannot afford to take a chance on such an uncertain lifestyle. I want to be absolutely certain that I have done all I can to find grace in the eyes of the Lord. But that does not give me the right to condemn someone to hell.

• Lisa Batchelor:  The bottom line is unless the Blood of Jesus is applied then my sisters and others in a unnatural relationship will not see heaven. The Word clearly says…sin will not enter heaven…therefore AT ALL TIMES we need to be ready.

• Rick Batchelor:  To me, it is obviously wrong and is a sin…. Where are the “watchmen on the wall” and where are the “voices crying in the wilderness” . Unfortunately, the church has lost its voice and the result is the ungodly world we now live in.

• Chief Shepherd:  The Holy Spirit must do the work of conviction in the life of ANY sinner before they can be born again. And, I believe that sinners show more acceptance to our message of love than our condemnation.

This is just a small sample of ONE discussion area on the page. There are 12 additional topics open for your comments. Why not jump over there and add your input right now? http://facebook.com/chiefshep/ Check it out.

A few days ago,  I created a FaceBook page to support this website. It is located at http://facebook.com/chiefshep and in just a couple days has already collected over 60 “fans” of  the page! I certainly encourage you to to also become a fan. Just click on the above link.

One of the real benefits  of the page is the ease with which FB users can jump to the page and join immediately. And, they can also begin to comment on the already active discussion board. The discussion board was created two days ago and already has a dozen topics with some active participation. Check it out here.

Excerpt from… How does one acquire wisdom?

Several years ago, I did an in-depth study of the Book of James. I ended up teaching and preaching for a full year on the series! One of the primary concepts that I developed through that study was concerning the acquisition of wisdom.

I do NOT believe that God “sprinkles wisdom dust” on our heads. I believe that there is a PROCESS through which we develop wisdom. Here is my take on that line of intellectual development:

1. Knowledge is the accumulation of “facts” (or presumed facts)
2. Understanding is the comprehension of those facts
3. Wisdom is the application (in life) of our understanding of the facts that we have accumulated

Most of the education today (up to and often throughout undergraduate studies) is simply sharing “facts” from a book (or from a teacher’s brain) to a student. Then a test is given where the student is expected to repeat the “facts” that he/she has been “taught.”

With such a program, there generally is no understanding involved and WISDOM is not acquired in this way.  So, how does one get wisdom?

To read the rest of the article, click on the title of this post to go directly to the original article or – click here to go to the “James” website.

What is authority?

The word “authority” has many meanings in today’s language. Here are some of the definitions that I found on the web:

• the power or right to give orders or make decisions; “he has the authority to issue warrants”; “deputies are given authorization to make arrests …
• (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others; “the authorities have issued a curfew”
• an expert whose views are taken as definitive; “he is an authority on corporate law”
• official permission or approval; “authority for the program was renewed several times”

• The power to enforce rules or give orders; Persons in command; specifically, government; A person accepted as a source of reliable information … en.wiktionary.org/wiki/authority

“The power to … give orders.” That is what many people find most despicable about authority. It is also where we often feel that someone “exceeded” their authority. There are many small people who try to exercise their “authority” over the wrong people. Here is a quote that I read recently which puts that facet of the definition into perspective…

No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets. – Edward Abbey

Although the humorous  jab about electromechanical gadgets doesn’t mean much in our present discussion, the other parts are applicable. Young people from the ’60s (perhaps much earlier) till now have felt that it is their duty to resist “authority” – both the function and those who represent it – in order to “reset” the authority structure.

The confusion of contemporary meanings of authority has fueled the flame of rebellion in our society. But in the Bible, authority is clearly defined. Here are some notes from my recent study on Biblical authority:

OLD TESTAMENT: I only found two references in the KJV for “authority.”

• In Esther 9:29 (NIV), “So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm ….” The Hebrew word is found at Strong’s number <08633> and refers to power and strength. It is the kind of authority that people sometimes call “tyranny” and often leads to rebellion and bloodshed. This usage only refers to the method used by the Queen –  which may or may not be according to God’s plan for the use of authority.
• In  Proverbs 29:2 the Hebrew word is found at Strong’s <07235> and actually means “majority” rather than authority. From the NIV reading, “When the righteous thrive [are in authority or majority], the people rejoice.” This is a true proverb and SHOULD still be appropriate but it still does not tell us anything about God’s plan for the use of authority. So, this is not really pertinent to our  discussion either.

The NIV translates several Hebrew words as “authority.” Perhaps the best would be in Da 4:31 “King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.” The Hebrew word is Strong’s <04437> and is defined as royalty, reign, kingdom, kingship or kingly authority. This verse  tells us something about authority in that God has the right to remove anyone’s “authority” if their actions are not to His  liking. God said in Da 7:14 that Nebuchadnezzar had been given that authority (same Hebrew word) and since he was no longer using it appropriately, it would be taken away.

Next installment: The Source of Authority

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The Pastor Appreciation Net website has these ideas (plus others)

They offer the following advice, “Present your pastor with meaningful pastor appreciation gifts. Pastor gifts can [be] given not only during pastor appreciation month but also throughout the year, making every Sunday Pastor Appreciation Day.” Good point. So here are the ideas:

• Actually listen to your pastor’s sermons.
• Better yet, apply the truth of your pastor’s preaching to specific areas of your life and then say “Thank You Pastor, for helping me spiritually”.
• If you nod your head during the sermon, do so because you are in agreement, not falling asleep. (Please avoid shaking your head “NO” should you disagree with something the pastor says during the sermon.)
• Take notes of your pastor’s preaching, hopefully of the sermon.
• Say “amen” when the pastor proclaims spiritual truth, because “amen” means “so be it!” and “right on!”.
• Say “amen” real loud but be careful because it will shock the pastor and some will think a spiritual revival is beginning.
• If you hear someone say “Praise the Lord”, stand up and actually do so! People will be convinced spiritual revival is taking place.
• Give a good report about your pastor, bragging about your pastor in such a way that your relatives and friends just might want to attend church just to meet such a wonderful person.
• Show up at church workdays so that there will at least 2 people present, the pastor and you.

What can I say? That would definitely make almost any pastor happy!!

Here are a few other, more traditional, ways that they offer for showing appreciation:

Be aware of the unique needs of the pastor’s children, providing financial help for church children’s camp or church teen camps as well as youth group retreats.

Suggest your church leaders explore the idea of granting your pastor a pastor’s sabbatical.

A bed and breakfast gift certificate was one of the most memorable pastor appreciation gifts given my wife and [me] by one of our congregations.

Updated September 22:  Here are a few more ideas from My-Pastor.com:

• Adopt a child. Have seniors “adopt” each of the pastor’s kids. The adopted parents or grandparents would commit to pray daily for their adoptee, send them birthday cards and Christmas presents. A senior in my church intentionally seeks one of my daughters out each Sunday. This grandpa gives my daughter a hug and asks her how her week went. She feels special without being self-conscious.
• Make repairs to or paint the pastor’s house. Some pastors are skilled at home projects. Some are skilled and enjoy home projects. Some just enjoy home projects. Then there are pastors like me…I’m neither skilled at nor do I enjoy home projects.
• You might also pay for a year of music lessons, or karate lessons, or gymnastics for the pastor’s children.
• Or you might pay to send a child to basketball camp, or some other unique opportunity.

Along the lines of ministering to the pastor’s children, they offer the following (excellent) advice: “It might help you generate ideas if you ask the question, ‘What do my kids have or what have they done that my pastor’s son or daughter does not have or has not done?‘”

And this one from the North American Church of God (Anderson):

• Pastor appreciation will continue throughout the year when each of our leaders will be treated to a home-cooked meal at least once a month by members of the congregation.

What have you and your church done in the past? Tell us in the comments section below.