Not Enough Potatoes!

Amazing Grace is one of the great hymns of the church. You may know the story. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807). He was born in London in 1725. He grew up without any religious conviction. As a young man he was pressed into the Royal Navy. After his service, he got involved in the Atlantic slave trade. The practice was just as sinister as it sounds. West Africans were captured and sold into slavery in the Americas. As many as 1/3 of the slaves died in route. In 1748, when Newton was 23 years old, his ship encountered a terrible storm off the coast of Ireland. Newton cried out to God for mercy. That experience marked his Christian conversion. He stayed in the slave industry for another six or seven years, then he began to study Christian theology. The hymn, Amazing Grace, came from his own personal experience. He knew he was a sinner saved by God’s amazing grace. How many times have you sung Amazing Grace?  When was the first time you pondered God’s amazing grace? That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the first eleven verses in the fifteenth chapter of Acts. Paul and Barnabas have just completed their first missionary journey. It should have been a happy time because so many new converts were added to the fold. Everyone should have been happy, but that is not the case. I spent forty years in the ministry, so I am qualified to make the next statement. Everyone says they want church growth, but that isn’t true. Church growth always leads to change and most people don’t care for change. Historically, the church has never cared for change. You can find the tension in this passage. The first converts to the church were Jews. That means they came from a common background – Judaism. The new converts to the church are Gentiles, non-Jews. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Most of them had very little interest in the old Jewish ways. The only thing they care about is Jesus.

The original Jewish converts had a problem. Was it necessary for the new Gentile converts to follow the laws of the Old Testament? To be more exact, do the new male Gentile converts have to be circumcised? It is a sensitive topic at various levels. As with all church debates, everyone chose a side. Like drawing a line in the sand, the two sides parted. On the one side are the characters mentioned in verse one. They insist the new members must be circumcised. Many believe their numbers were made up of converted Pharisees who valued and upheld the law. Their voices carried some weight in the past, but the times had changed. The spokesmen for the other side were Paul and Barnabas. They said the law, circumcision in this case, had nothing to do with salvation. They said, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. They said Jesus’s sacrificial death was enough. It is a point that many still wrestle with today. Is Jesus enough? Or is Jesus needed for salvation?

Recently, I read a study that shocked me but did not surprise me. It came from the American World View Inventory and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. They reported, only 35% of Americans continue to embrace the traditional biblical view salvation comes from the sacrifice of Jesus. He is our only hope of salvation. That means 65% of Americans adults do not believe Jesus is not necessary for salvation. In other words, most believe salvation can be earned. I find myself in the minority. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace that you have been saved – and this is not from yourself, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that we cannot boast.”

We are saved by grace and by grace alone! We are saved by grace, not political correctness. Christianity is the only world religion which has an answer to death. We are the only ones to serve a risen savior. We are saved by grace, not by our political views or patriotism. I believe America is the greatest country in the world. If you cannot succeed in America, then you cannot succeed anywhere. However, that does not mean God only loves Americans. God’s love is universal. You are saved by grace, not osmosis. God does not have any grandchildren, only children. He doesn’t care if your grandfather was a preacher, or your mother taught Sunday school. God wants to have a relationship with you! We are saved by grace, not church membership. You can be a church member and know nothing about Jesus or his ways. There are many reasons to join a church. You are saved by grave, not good deeds. Cooking dinner for a sick neighbor is nice, but it will not save your soul. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. May we never forget we are like John Newton, sinners in need of a savior. (Romans 3:23-24) Our only hope of salvation is Jesus!

I had a colleague by the name of George. I respect him because he has a pastor’s heart. He once told a story I have never forgotten. I have told it many times. I worried my church members were like the woman in his story.

According to George, he had a woman in one of his churches who loved her church. She was supportive in every way. She never missed worship and served on every church committee twice. She sang in the choir and was generous when the plate was passed. She never missed a workday. However, her true passion was the kitchen. She spent many hours in the church kitchen. If you have ever worked in a church kitchen, then you know it is true. The regular kitchen workers have a certain job. Her job was to peel the potatoes. Only the Lord knows how many potatoes she peeled through the years. She never had to be asked, she just got into position and peeled the potatoes. It became her identity within that congregation. She was known as the potato peeling lady.

One day George was told the potato peeling lady was feeling sick and went to the doctor. The doctor sent her for tests, and the tests revealed she was terminal. George was a wonderful pastor and supported her as the disease progressed. As the end drew near, George was with her. From her deathbed she looked at George and uttered words that broke his heart. She said, “George, have I peeled enough potatoes to get into heaven?” George was speechless. The good woman had spent her entire life in the church and never heard the most important thing. We are all sinners saved by grace. Our only hope of salvation is Jesus. There are simply not enough potatoes!

I hope that is not your story. I hope you understand you cannot earn your salvation. We are sinners saved by grace and by grace alone. Take this opportunity and recommit your life to Christ. Heaven wouldn’t be the same without you! Philip Yancy (born 1949) once said, “Grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us.”

An Encouraging Word

We find ourselves in the fourteenth chapter of Acts, verses twenty-one through twenty-eight. As I mentioned in previous blogs, Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey. To be exact, they are on the island of Cyrus. Our reading is the closing words of that missionary journey. They must have been ready to go home. Their trip had been filled with both adventures and hardships. However, before they return home, they want to do one more thing. They want to check on their new converts. Verse 21 says they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. We looked at those communities in the past. The scriptures do not tell us how many were saved originally, nor does the scripture tell us how many remained. I am sure some walked away from the faith in their absence. Some walked away because the emotions of that moment had faded. Some walked away because living out the faith was hard. Paul and Barnabas went back to encourage those who remained. That simple fact was important. Never underestimate the power of encouragement. It is as powerful today as it was in Paul’s day. Just think about it for a moment.  

Encouraging, and being encouraged, is part of the human experience. It is one of those things that separates us from mere animals. It is one of the building blocks of our society. We are always encouraging. We encourage babies to take their first steps. We encourage our youngest students to get on the bus for the first time. We encourage college students to do their best. We encourage people who are overwhelmed with responsibility to take it one day at a time. We encourage the sick to trust their medical professionals. We encourage the elderly to eat so they can gain strength. We encourage the grieving by reminding them they are not alone. Encouraging, and being encouraged, is part of the human experience.

Encouraging words are extremely important. When you encourage someone, you give them energy. When you encourage someone, you give them hope. When you encourage someone, you change their perspective. When you encourage someone, you restore their self-confidence. When you encourage someone, you help them work harder. When you encourage someone, you help them succeed. When you encourage someone, you help them rebuild their self-esteem. Don’t tell me encouraging words aren’t important, they are extremely important. When was the last time you encouraged someone? When was the last time someone encouraged you?

If there is any group that should understand encouragement, it should be the church. Romans 15:2 says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” I do not want to sound critical, but this is the problem. The church is far more comfortable discouraging people than we are encouraging people. You know it is true. We hear it all the time. My past is filled with discouraging words. How many examples do you need?

When I finally surrendered to my calling, I was filled with a variety of emotions. I had a million questions, but I knew only one thing. God had called me into the ministry. I went home to tell my parents. I thought they would embrace my calling because they loved their church. I was sure they would encourage me; I was wrong! There was not a single word of encouragement, there was a mountain of discouraging words. My father said volumes in his silence. He thought I was crazy. My mother said, “We don’t see it. You are not intellectual enough.” I heard I was dumb. Their discouraging words still upset me.

When I finished seminary with a mountain of debt, I went for my ordination interview. I assumed I would be welcomed into the United Methodist Church. I was wrong! They didn’t want me. I was denied and, I believe, they just wanted me to go away. However, the next year I was approved and went on to be respected by many of my colleagues. Their respect became my sweetest revenge. Yet, that denial still haunts me. I still have a hard time forgiving those discouraging people.

When my wife Kathryn organized her first volunteer in mission’s trip, I signed up. It was 1993 and we went to the Philippines. As the news of that trip spread throughout the community, everyone had a reaction. I thought people would encourage me to go. The church is supposed to reach out to the world and help the forgotten. I was wrong! They came up with every reason not to go. The plane may Crash. The food will be bad. They hate Americans and the rest. I guy said, “I hope you have a will. I don’t think you will be coming back.” I remember all those things because they are the same things people say to me every time, I go on a volunteer in missions trip. I would encourage you to go to Estonia with us next summer.

Between 2011 and 2013, my church co-hosted two Mill Creek Workcamps with Group Work Camp of Loveland, Colorado. Each time, we brought 400 young people from around the country to work on approximately 60 homes within the city of Youngstown, Ohio. Everybody won: the residents, the youth, and the church. I thought everyone would be encouraging. I was wrong! Some were discouraging. Some questioned the character of the youth; they are just on vacation. (Who vacations in Youngstown, Ohio?) Some questioned the residents; how do we know they really need help? Some questioned the city; how safe is the city? Some questioned the leadership; good intentions are not enough. Why are church people discourage? The church should be a body of encouragers. Paul and Barnabas went back to their new converts to encourage them because everyone in the convert’s world was trying to discourage them. 

This is the truth. I am, like you. I really don’t care what the discouraging voices say. While frustrating, they have very little long-term effect. I have forgotten most discouraging words spoken to me. I am going to do what I want to do. I am going continue to try to discern God’s will and do it. An encouraging word is far more influential. Let me tell you a story about both discouraging words and encouraging words.

In 2006, I was just pulling into my garage about 9:00 in the evening. My cell phone rang. It was my District Superintendent. I considered him a friend. I could hear the strain in his voice. He told me my name came up around the Cabinet table. They wanted to move me to the Akron area. He knew my response before I said it. I didn’t want to move, I couldn’t move. I had a variety of good reasons. He invited me out to lunch the next day and said we would talk about it. During that meal I gave him all the reasons for not moving. He seemed to understand but ended by asking me to go talk to the District Superintendent in the Akron area. He said, “Maybe he won’t want you. It is important that you respect the system.”

I agreed and a few days later I found myself in the Akron District office. He asked me a few questions and I told him I didn’t want to move. I couldn’t move. My words fell on deaf ears. He told me he was going to arrange an interview with that church. I said, “I don’t want to move, I can’t move.” He said, “Don’t worry. Maybe they won’t want you.” On the night of that interview, the weather was horrible. The meal was stiff with the District Superintendent and the parsonage was in horrible condition. As my wife Kathryn, my daughter Anna and I drove to the church, I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant evening. I was going to have to do something ugly because I couldn’t move to Akron.

The committee was nice. I answered their questions honestly. There came a point when I knew they wanted me. It was time to be ugly. The question that ignited the whole thing was, “How do you feel about selling your home and moving back into a parsonage?” I was honest with them. I said, “I hate it. To tell the truth, I don’t want to be your pastor. I just want to go home.” Kathryn broke out in tears and the committee was compassionate. The women huddled around her and gave her a box of tissues. Anna sat in stunned silence. The District Superintendent looked at me and said, “You can’t do this.” I said, “I think, I just did. I told you I didn’t want to move, I can’t move.” He responded, “If you have a job in July, it is only by the grace of God.” We drove home in silence, and I was sure my career in the United Methodist Church was over.” When we got home the words were few, but I remember saying, “I don’t care what they do to me, we aren’t moving. I’ll sell Fords if I must, but we aren’t moving.” Obviously, sleep was hard that night. 

The next few days, I jumped every time my phone rang. I was sure someone official would call me. That official call came several weeks later. The voice on the other end of the line sounded sinister. I was informed the Cabinet had filed a complaint against me. I was asked to have lunch with the Bishop several weeks later. The weeks dragged but on the appointed day I appeared on time and looking professional. When I arrived, I was asked to sit and wait for a few minutes. With no other choice, I did. Suddenly, the Bishop walked in with three District Superintendents. There was my good friend. The guy who threatened me, and a neutral District Superintendent.  I was offered a sandwich, and I choked down a few bites. The Bishop looked at me and said, “Russ, we are all uncomfortable with this matter. We consider you one of our finest pastors.” I thanked him and he added, “But, this is the business of the church.” He looked at the Akron District Superintendent and said, “Why don’t you tell us what you remember from that evening?” He told the story perfectly.” Once completed, the Bishop look at me and said, “Russ, is there anything you would like to add or correct.” I said, “No! He has an excellent memory.” The Bishop looked at me and asked, “Why did you torpedo the interview?” I said, “I told everyone I couldn’t move, but no one listened to me. So, I told the only group that has listen to me, the laity.” He looked at the District Superintendents and said, “Did Russ tell you he couldn’t move?” They both said, “Yes!” The Bishop looked at the three District Superintendents and said, “Why don’t we start listening to our pastors.” He looked at me and said, “How can I help you?” I said, “Can you come and preach at my church’s fortieth anniversary in the near future. We would be honored if you would come and preach. He said, “Talk to my secretary, I’ll be there.” 

On the day of our anniversary, he did come. He treated me with dignity and respect. Before he preached, he had a few kind words about the church and me. I have never been comfortable with compliments. So, what happened next was truly humbling. The church gave me a standing ovation. I didn’t deserve it, but the church gave me a standing ovation. Every time I spoke to the Bishop after that day, he reminded me of that moment. The encouragement I received that day changed my life. I have forgotten those who tried to discourage me, but I gave that church my best effort because they encouraged me.

Do tell me an encouraging word isn’t important. They bring the best out in others. They bring the best out in you. American motivational writer William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) once wrote, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”  Paul and Barnabas went back to their new converts to do one thing, encourage them!When was the last time you needed a word of encouragement? When was the last time you encouraged someone else?

Mother Theresa Was Right!

In 1858 the Illinois legislature–using an obscure statute–sent Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.” He is not alone.

Many famous people throughout history have experienced disappointment. Consider these examples:

Alexander the Great conquered Persia but broke down and wept because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India.  

Hugo Grotius, the father of modern international law, said at the last, “I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.”  

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the U.S., wrote in his diary: “My life has been spent in vain and idle aspirations, and in ceaseless rejected prayers that something would be the result of my existence beneficial to my species.”  

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote words that continue to delight and enrich our lives, and yet what did he write for his epitaph? “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.”  

Cecil Rhodes opened Africa and established an empire, but what were his dying words? “So little done, so much to do.”

Disappointment seems to be part of the human experience. It is not just true of the famous. It happens to everyone. When was the last time you were disappointed?  It may have been the time you bought your home. It seemed perfect, until the first rain came. You walked down the stairs and saw your wet basement. It may have been the time an old friend came to visit. You counted the days down, but you got sick on the big day. It may have been the time your children partied their way out of college. Why didn’t they study? We all understand disappointment because disappointment is part of the human experience. Life is filled with disappointments. If that is true in the secular world, then it is true in the life of the church as well. That takes us to our scripture lesson.

We find ourselves in the fourteenth chapter of Acts, verses eight through eighteen. If you have read my past few blogs, then you know the text’s background. Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey. To be more exact, they are on the island of Cyprus in the town of Lystra.

As with all new ministries, their expectations must have been high. They must have dreamed of winning the whole community to Jesus. Their evangelistic efforts in that town began with the community’s saddest citizen, a gentleman who had never walked. It is safe to say he was a professional beggar; he existed on the compassion of others. His friends or family placed him in the same spot every morning to beg. The same group took him home in the evening. The whole community saw him as a victim, but Paul saw more. Paul asked the man to do something he had never done — walk! Miraculously, the cripple did walk. There should have been a happy ending to the story, but the crowd didn’t understand. To Paul and Barnabas, the healing demonstrated the power of God. To the people of Lystra, they believed Paul and Barnabas were gods. The whole experience was a disaster. Have you ever done something for the right reason, but everything went completely wrong? The story began with high expectations and ended in complete disappointment.

When was the last time you were disappointed? When was the last time your expectations didn’t match your reality? It may have been the time you organized Vacation Bible School. You were looking for a big crowd of happy children, but only a handful came. It may have been the time you scheduled music for a special program, but only a handful came. It may have been the time you ordered twelve pizzas for youth group, but only two youth came. It may have been the time you cooked 150 chicken dinners to raise extra funds for the church and only sold 47. There is no other way to say it. You were disappointed. Have you ever said, “I will never do that again”? If you are planning on doing something great for God, then you better be prepared for disappointment. In my time in the ministry, I have experienced disappointment countless times. Then, I read a story that changed my view of the ministry. This is the story.

Mark Hatfield (1922-2011) was an American Politian and educator. A Republican, he served eight years as the Governor of Oregon and thirty years as a Senator. As a Senator, he once visited Mother Theresa (1910-1997) and her “House of the Dying” in Calcutta, India. The trip was intense. He witnessed how sick children were cared for in their last days and the dispensary, where the poor lined up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers faced daily. “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?” he asked. Mother Teresa replied, “My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.” Mother Theresa was right! We spend far too much time worrying about being successful in the ministry and spend far too little time worrying about being faithful. The Bible is filled with many unsuccessful faithful people. How many examples do you need?

Do you remember John the Baptist’s story? He was born to an elderly couple, Zachariah and Elizabeth. His birth ruined their retirement plans and paved the way for something new. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus who did great things for God. Yet, he lived in Jesus’s shadow. Oh, he had his supporters; some believed he was the Messiah. However, John knew his place – he was only the forerunner of the Messiah. That was good enough for him. He was not interested in worldly success; he was only interested in being faithful, doing the will of God. Mother Theresa was right! Being faithful is the only thing that matters.

Do you remember the story of that first Palm Sunday? The gospel writers go out of their way to emphasize the size of the crowd. It has been estimated 2,500,000 people crowded into Jerusalem for that Passover. They came to pay their taxes and they came to be with their loved ones. However, that Passover was different because Jesus was the hot topic. So, they went to see Jesus. Some went to see Jesus because they needed something from him. They had a sick person in their life who needed healed. Some people went to see Jesus because he was trending. In other words, Jesus was a celebrity. Some went to see Jesus because they wanted him to lead a political revolution against the Romans. However, Jesus was not interested in a political revolution. Jesus came to lead a spiritual revolution. They came and there was a big crowd. Yet, what happened? The big crowd on Palm Sunday was reduced to a small gathering at the cross on Good Friday. What do you think? Was Jesus more impressed by the big crowd on Palm Sunday or the small gathering on Good Friday? Mother Theresa was right! Being faithful is the only thing that matters. It sounds so simple, but it took me a lifetime to apply that simple truth.

When I was appointed to the Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield, Ohio, in 1994, I had big dreams. The reason is simple: during my lifetime, the mainline Protestant church had been dying. Our branch of the church peaked out in 1957, when 57% of the United States belonged to a church. Every year that percentage has been dropping, it is now 46%. To prevent our demise, my generation of clergy was inundated with church growth principles. We were told that any church could grow. All you needed to do was discover the needs of our community and start ministries to meet those needs. The models that we were to follow were Saddleback Church in California and Willlowcreek in Illinois. If your church didn’t grow, then you were a failure. I did not want to be labeled as a failure, so I longed for church growth. I spent my last twenty-eight years in the ministry longing for church growth.

This is the problem — Western Reserve was not located in southern California or the greater Chicago area. Western Reserve was in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley. Our population base isn’t exploding, it is imploding. According to census reports, in 1970 the population in Mahoning County, the county in which the church was located, was 303,424. In 2021, the population of Mahoning County was 233,869. That means we have lost approximately 70,000 people in 51 years. My hometown of Warren in Trumbull County, just north of Mahoning County, had a population of approximately 68,000 when I graduated from high school in 1975. In 2021, the city of Warren had 39,070. This is the point — there are fewer of us all the time. Some left looking for work. Some left for better weather. Some just left. That means expanding any business or organization is extremely hard. I don’t care what business it is.

However, I am a church growth person, and the numbers were everything. On my last Sunday, I told the congregation I had failed. I was not able to turn their church into a megachurch, but I didn’t feel like a failure. I was proud of many things we did during my time at that church. I was proud we grew numerically. We rebuilt the congregation. I was proud our finances were solid, and we were able to help other none profits in our area. I was proud we worshipped. We offered three worshipped services every Sunday. Each service had a different style. I was proud we offered three worship services on Christmas Eve. I was proud we offered four services on Easter. I was proud we built a first-class pavilion and a wonderful outdoor chapel. I was proud we got involved in missions. Annually, our youth went on a mission trip with Group Work Camps. Twice we co-sponsored a Group Work camp to help the needy in Youngstown, Ohio. Annually, our church participated in sending many adults to the former Soviet Union to help orphans. Those were life-changing trips. Plus, we sent people to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to help flood victims. I am proud the church became a landlord during my time. The church is the home of Great Expectations Day Care and the Mahoning Valley District office. I am proud of the identity we forged in our community and the relationships I built. I should have felt like a failure because my church never became a megachurch, but I felt like a success because Mother Theresa was right! We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful.

Many have asked me what I miss about the church in retirement. The answer is not much. If God calls us into the ministry, then God tells us when to stop. However, one of the people I do miss is Bonnie. She owns the day care at the church, and we became friends. I did not know how important she was to me until I was gone. I miss talking to her about nothing. One day near the end of my time, we were talking, and she said something that caught me off guard. She said to me, “Russ, can I be honest with you? I can’t believe you are still here. I thought you would have moved away a long time ago. You seemed so ambitious when we met.” She closed by saying, “I’m glad you are still here.” I responded, “Me too.” If you want to survive doing ministry, then forget your expectations and surrender to God’s will.  Mother Theresa was right! We are called to be faithful, not successful.

They Continued

We are in the fourteenth chapter of Acts, verses one through seven. Paul and Barnabas are on this first missionary journey. As I said in my past few blogs, their method of teaching was straightforward. They entered a community, located the synagogue, waited until the Sabbath, and talked about Jesus.

In our text for today, we are told they are in Iconium. Guess what they did? They entered the community, located the synagogue, waited until the Sabbath, and talked about Jesus. In my last blog, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, I talked about the three reactions you can expect when you talk about Jesus. They are illustrated once again in this text. The Gentiles were good because they accepted the Good News. The Jews were bad because they ignored the Good News. Some of the Jews were ugly because they wanted to prevent anyone from hearing the Good News. Verse 4 tells us the whole city was divided. Everyone had an emotional opinion. The debate was so heated that some formed a plot to stone the apostles. When Paul and Barnabas got wind of those plans, they fled town, but they didn’t stop talking about Jesus. They traveled about twenty miles to the cities of Lystra and Derbe. When they got there, guess what they did? They entered the city, located the synagogue, waited until the Sabbath, and talked about Jesus. Verse seven summarizes it for us. It says, “They continued to preach the gospel.”  I know it doesn’t sound exciting, but continuing to preach the gospel is extremely important. It is the only thing that really matters in the life of the church. We must talk about Jesus! Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) once said, “If the church stops talking about Jesus, then the church has nothing to say.”  We are not much different than Paul and Barnabas. They had to talk about Jesus and so do we. Sadly, many churches have gown mute.

The building sits at 702 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio. It is located next to absolutely nothing. However, at one time it was considered “out in the country” next to the once proud city. It is the home of Hopewell Theater, one of the community theater groups in my area. I have been inside several times because my wife Kathryn has been in several of their productions. It wasn’t built as a theater; it was built as a church. It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine the good old days. The audience sits in uncomfortable pews. The chancel area has been replaced by a small flat stage. The fellowship hall in the basement has been converted into tiny changing rooms. Every time I go, I ask the same question, “What was the name of this church?” Every time, I get the same answer, “I don’t know.” The next line has nothing to do with the quality of the productions. However, it has everything to do with the unknown church. Every time I walk into that building, I grow sad. That building was not built for entertainment purposes; it was built to tell people about Jesus. That building does not stand alone.

There are other church buildings that have been “repurposed.” There are far too many examples. Former church buildings have been repurposed into all kinds of things. In my community, former church buildings have been turned into daycare centers, beauty spas, microbreweries, and art museums. That is not all bad. I like young children, attractive women, cold beer, and art. However, the whole situation makes me sad, and the trend is not over. More churches will close, and new businesses will be opened on those sites. According to Lifeway Research, approximately 4,500 churches close in America annually. The vacated buildings are often large and sit on public locations. I learned long ago churches are much like people. They have a lifeline. When they are young, they grow and thrive. When they are old, they decline and die. However, this is not the end of the story. The church will continue.

The same study tells us 3,000 new churches start in America annually. They are easy to overlook. They are not found in obvious locations. They are found in strip plazas, malls, bars, and private homes. It is easy to see them as a threat to the established church. I try not to do so. I find them to be the next chapter of the church. Society is constantly changing, and the church must evolve to adapt. Many believe the largest churches in America in thirty years have not yet been started. Many active church members do not like these church starts because they are not interested in continuing church traditions and ways. Instead, they are interested in promoting Jesus, like Paul and Barnabas. I would like to think all these churches will succeed, but many will fail. They will be replaced by even newer churches. However, one thing is clear: The church will continue because the church is of God.

In seminary I heard a lecture that changed the way I look at the church. The professor told us the church will exist forever, because the church performs various divine functions unique to the church. This is the list:

          Worship      The church has no other option than to worship God. It is a public event. It is the one thing every congregation must do to remain a church. Style of worship does not matter. The only thing that matters is the heart of the worshippers. In worship, we publicly declare our love for God.

          Spiritual Disciplines       Believers have no other option but to practice the spiritual disciplines. It is a private act. The church encourages us to pray and study the Bible. In those, we share our lives with God and learn about his ways.    

          Fellowship            The church faith was never to be lived in isolation. We need one another. Fellowship has little to do with learning someone else’s name and having fun. Fellowship has everything to do with holding one another spiritually accountable and encouraging one another.

          Service       The church must give everyone an opportunity to serve. Jesus cared about the basic needs of individuals. He cared that people had enough to eat and he cared about their health. The same must be true in the church. Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

          Evangelism           In the great commission, Jesus commands us to go into the world and make disciples. To be a disciple, you must be a disciple, yourself. That means two things. Are you living in a way that is pleasing to God? Are you able to tell the world what Jesus means to you?

St. Andrews Episcopal Church was in Austintown, Ohio. I was there several times for a variety of reasons. I did not consider that congregation to be old. I considered it to be a younger congregation. That is why I was so surprised to hear the news. The church was closing, and the building was being put up for sale. In other words, the congregation did not die off; they gave up. They grew tired of all the fundraising. They grew tired of the building maintenance and all the pastoral changes. One day they simply locked the door and never looked back. Today, that building is a counseling center with a wonderful pipe organ. Every time I drive by that building, I am sad. It wasn’t constructed to be a counseling center. That building was built to proclaim the Good News. The building was built to tell people about Jesus. Yet, that is not the end of the story. The church will continue.

Roman Emperor Constintine (272-337) once said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” He knew what many in our time have forgotten. As moral beings, we need God! First, we need God in this world because our lives are incomplete without him. We will never experience spiritual peace without God. Second, we need God when we leave this world because without Him there is no hope of salvation. That is why the church is so important. That is why the church will continue.Let me end with this simple story.

A couple took their son, 11, and daughter, 7, to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. As always, when the tour reached the deepest point in the cavern, the guide turned off all the lights to dramatize how completely dark and silent it is below the earth’s surface. The little girl, suddenly enveloped in utter darkness, was frightened, and began to cry. Immediately, her brother replied, “Don’t cry. Somebody here knows how to turn on the lights.” Can I state the obvious? Our world can be a dark place and the church is the only one who knows how to turn the lights on. That is exactly why the church must continue to preach the Good News. Fear not. The church will continue!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

We find ourselves in the thirteenth chapter of Acts, verses forty-two through fifty-one. Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey. According to the text, they are on the island of Cyprus and, as in other stories in Acts, their method of teaching was straightforward. They entered a community, located the synagogue, and told people about Jesus. Up to this point, everyone seems to be open to their message. At first, this community, Pisidian Antioch, was no different.

This chapter gives us the outline of Paul’s message. It is chronological in nature. First, he reminded them what God had done for their ancestors. God had liberated their people from Egypt. Second, he reminded them of the period of the judges. Third, he reminded them of the period of the Kings. Then, he told them of the one God chose from all the rest, David. Through his line the Savior would be born. In time, it happened. Two thousand years ago, the Savior was born and given the name Jesus. You know his story. His time in this world was brief but he had a long-lasting effect. His sad death looked like the end, but it was just the beginning. Death could not hold him. Jesus’s resurrection changed everything. God’s love was no longer reserved for the Jews. God’s love is universal. Salvation is available to all who believe in his resurrection. That means, your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable! According to the text, the news of Paul’s message spread throughout that community. Everyone reacted to his message in their own way. They still do.

One of my favorite movies is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Filmed in Italy, it was released in 1966 and made for $1.2 million. It made more than $25 million at the box office. The movie stars Clint Eastwood (born 1930), Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989) and Eli Wallach (1915-2014) in the title roles. Set in 1862 New Mexico, the plot revolves around three gunslingers who are searching for Confederate gold. It came out to mixed reviews, but it is now considered a classic. It teaches us about the dangers of greed, but today it acts as the perfect outline for this blog about how people respond to Jesus. Look at the text with me.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. Many responded and asked him to stay longer. They wanted to hear more about Jesus. The good responded to Paul’s message in a positive way. They were open to Jesus and their lives were transformed. I am assuming you are a good person if you are reading this blog. I have known many good people in my life. The good are open to Jesus.

I am beginning my second year of retirement. I find myself reviewing my time in the ministry. I am proud of many things I accomplished. Near the top of that list are the youth mission trips my church supported. For over twenty years, my church annually sent youth on a Group mission trip. Each year they went to a different community. The location was always different, but the program was the same. Our group of approximately twenty were part of a camp of 400 youth from around the country, who performed some basic home repairs in that community. However, the camp was more than just free manual labor. The camps were really about Jesus! Every night the entire camp gathered for worship. Every night after worship they would gather for devotions. Thursday nights were always special. For it was on that night the entire camp was asked to commit, or recommit, their lives to Jesus. I do not know how many lives have been changed at a Group Work Camp. However, the organization reports that 90% of participants were closer to Jesus leaving the camp than they were when they came to camp. I believe that figure is accurate and that is why so many have worked so hard to make those trips possible. If we are not offering our youngest to Jesus, then we are not offering them anything at all. The people who supported and attended those camps were good people because they were open to the Good News. The good accept Jesus. Look at the text again.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. The bad rejected the message about Jesus. Their problem was not theological in nature, they understood what Paul was saying. Their problem was, they refused to believe it. That leads to a series of questions. How many people do you know don’t want to have anything to do with Jesus? How many people do you know have altered the Gospel message to fit their opinions? How many people do you know have used the Gospel message to promote their politics? How many people do you know have watered the Gospel message down to make it more comfortable? The Christian faith was never designed to be comfortable. The good accept the Good News of Jesus Christ. The bad reject the Good News of Jesus Christ. The bad are still with us.

What do these ten people have in common? 

Steve Jobs 

Tina Turner 

George Harrison 

Julia Roberts 

Lew Alcindor 

Cassius Clay 

Fidel Castro 

Napoleon Bonaparte 

Brad Pitt 

Joseph Stalin 

I hope that list is wrong. I found it on the internet. If true, each one of the ten people walked away from Christianity. Steve Jobs and Tina Turner became Buddhists. George Harrison and Julia Roberts became Hindu. Lew Alcindor became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali; they became Muslim. Fidel Castro, Napoleon Bonaparte, Brad Pitt, and Joseph Stalin said, or say, there is no God. That list bothers me. How can you walk away from Jesus and be something else? This is an even harder question. How can you walk away from Jesus and say there is nothing at all? How many bad people do you know? The bad rejected Jesus. Look at the text again.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. The ugly do their best to frustrate people from talking about Jesus. In the scripture lesson, a select few caused all the problems. They used their influence to have Paul and Barnabas silenced. They got them expelled so no one could hear about Jesus. Sadly, the ugly are still with us.

It was back on June 24, 2015, that a Christian was shot in Suez, Egypt. It was not an accident. He was shot twice in the chest. The violence was shocking, but the reason for the shooting was sinister. He was murdered because he refused to denounce his Christian faith and accept Islam. Does anything else have to be said? Things are not getting better in our world. The spiritual tension in our world is growing. Being a Christian is no longer a safe thing. The world seems to be against us. The ugly do their best to frustrate people from talking about Jesus. That leads us to an interesting question.

When was the last time you told someone what Jesus means to you? Please don’t misunderstand the question. I am not talking about preaching to your loved ones. I am not talking about judging the people in your lives. I am not talking about leaving a Christian track in a public place for someone to find. I am not talking about reporting your local church history or most recent debate. I am not talking about how you feel about your minister. I am not talking about long heavy theology. I am talking about speaking from the heart and being able to tell someone what Jesus means to you. It is not really an option. God expects two things from us. First, God expects us to be living the faith. There is nothing worse than being a hypocrite. Second, God expects us to be able to articulate the faith. When was the last time you told someone, what Jesus means to you? Dallas Theological professor Howard Hendricks (1924-2013) once said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”  You know it is true.

When you do, you will get the same reactions as Paul. Some will love to hear it; they are the good. Some won’t want to hear it; they are the bad. Others will be mad they heard it and will try to get you to stop talking about Jesus; they are the ugly. American clergyman Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) once said, “Let God be the judge. Your job is to be the witness.”

Preach It!

Preach It!

I love this story. There was a pastor who never prepared his sermons in advance. His name was Ralph. Every Sunday morning he’d sit on the platform while the church was singing the hymns, desperately praying, “Lord, give me your message, Lord give me your message.” One Sunday, while desperately praying for God’s message, he heard the Lord speaking to him. The Lord said, “Ralph, here’s my message. You’re lazy! Preaching is hard work.” That simple story leads us to our scripture lesson.

We find ourselves in the thirteenth chapter of Acts, verses thirteen through fifteen. Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey. According to the text, they are on the island of Cyprus. Their method was simple. They entered a community, located the synagogue, and told the people about Jesus. In many cases the people were open to their message.

According to the text, Barnabas and Paul were in Pisidian Antioch. That community was a trade hub for a large Jewish population. The synagogue was easy to locate. The order of worship must have been familiar to them. They heard the appropriate pieces of scripture, the Law, and the Prophets. What came next was of no surprise to them. Visiting rabbis were always asked to speak. The synagogue rulers were more than inviting. Verse 15 says, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement, please speak.”  I read that verse one time and got it. They were not just asked to speak and tell them about life in Jerusalem. The rulers didn’t want to hear about their adventures. The rulers didn’t want to hear the latest news. They were asked to do much more. They were asked to preach, because the rulers wanted to know if God had a word for them. They did not have a clue how their theology was about to change. Standing in a room filled with strange faces, Paul didn’t just talk, he preached about God’s plan of salvation for the world. In other words, he told them about Jesus. Preaching is God’s chosen method to save the world. That is why preaching is so important. For this reason, I have spent my life trying to become a better preacher.

It must have been Easter morning 1984. I was a first-year seminary student at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was also the youth director at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Frankfort. It was about Ash Wednesday when the pastor of the church asked me if I would like to preach at the Easter sunrise service. His question filled my heart with fear. I had never preached before, and I didn’t know where to begin. I hadn’t taken a single preaching class and didn’t feel comfortable enough with him to ask for help. I can remember sitting in the seminary library with an open Bible and a blank piece of paper trying to prepare. When Easter morning came, my primary text was John 20:24-31, the story of doubting Thomas. My handwritten manuscript was filled with abstract thoughts, which I delivered poorly. The only thing I felt when it was over was relief. My sincere effort was not good enough. The next day someone called the church to complain about my message. They said, I ruined their Easter morning. It was at that moment I learned I had nowhere to go but up. I had much to learn about preaching. I have learned something about preaching at every church I have served.

When I transferred to Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky in 1985, I became a student pastor at the Pleasant Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) near Danville. That congregation changed my life. They understood their calling was to train and encourage students. For the next three years I stood in front of them and did my best. At first it was a little rough, then I began to settle. It was there I found my identity as a preacher. To be honest, my sermons sounded a great deal like my classroom notes, with a story or two. It was an emotional day when I announced I was leaving. I was near the end of my formal education and wanted to return home. When I packed my boxes, I didn’t have a single sermon manuscript. I did most of my preaching from an index card. Looking back, I am sure I was horrible, but I, at that time, thought I was quite good. I gained confidence in that church.

My first United Methodist appointment in the East Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church was the Morristown Charge in the old St. Clairsville District. That charge consisted of three churches. There was Morristown, Lloydsville and Bannock. I lived in Lloydsville and could drive the circuit in twelve miles. My District Superintendent was a man by the name of Abraham Brandyberry. He too had a past with Asbury Theological Seminary. He told me something I have never forgotten. He said, “Russ, if you want to be a great preacher, then you have to preach!” That appointment gave me the opportunity to preach three times every week. I learned listening is a big part of preaching. Each week the three congregations responded differently to the same message.

When Kathryn and I were married, I was appointed to the Waltz United Methodist Church near Medina, Ohio. I stayed a single year, but I learned a great deal about preaching from that congregation. They were a former Evangelical United Brethren congregation, who valued preaching and expected a 45-minute sermon. It was there I began to work on my sermons and developed my thoughts. It was not enough to be a storyteller.

When we moved to Garfield Heights, I was appointed to the Hathaway United Methodist Church. That church was known for one thing, their horrible music program. The choir was filled with wonderful people, including the choir director. She had held that position for years because she was the matriarch of the choir. There was only one problem, she was a terrible choir director. Generally, everyone looked forward to the summer months because the choir was gone. For the first time I felt the pressure to deliver a quality sermon. I felt like I had to bail out the service! It was there I learned the importance of quality preaching.

My last United Methodist appointment was the Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield. Like every other congregation in the mainline protestant tradition, they wanted to rebuild their aging congregation. Quality preaching was vital if we were going to succeed. That church evolved through the years. Each step challenged my organization skills. It was there I started developing sermons series. I laid those sermons out months in advance. It was there I first experienced contemporary worship. I enjoyed using power point slides and movie clips. It was there I learned there must be a balance in preaching between the divine truth and entertainment. The days of the talking head behind the pulpit were over. I worked hard on those sermons and the church responded. I have learned something about preaching in every church I have served. The truth is I am still learning.

Through the years, I have learned every sermon must have four vital characteristics. Kevin DeYoung (born 1977) of the University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan put them in print. If you do not find them in every sermon, then you, as the preacher, have failed.

  1. Veracity – Every sermon is about God. Preaching is not just an opportunity to express your opinions. People want to hear what God has to say to them, not human opinion.
  2. Clarity – Every sermon must be understandable. Clarity doesn’t mean the congregation must remember your three points, but they should know what the text is about and what you were trying to say.
  3. Authority – Every sermon must be delivered with certainty. No preacher is infallible. Our authority comes from God, Himself. It is God who makes claims on people’s lives, declares the truth with boldness and takes courageous stands where others fear.
  4. Authenticity – Every sermon must connect with the congregation. Your personality must come through, and at the same time, your concern for the congregation must come through. It is impossible to preach someone else’s sermon. The preacher must make their sermon their own.

The point of this blog is to promote the value of preaching. If you are a preacher, then work on your sermons. It is my experience that good preaching takes hard work and time. I used to write “Saturday Night Specials,” but no more. If you take your time, it is amazing what God will reveal to you in a variety of ways. God will reward you for your efforts. If you are a member of the laity, then pray for your preacher and be encouraging. Preaching is hard work.

Years ago, on the editorial page of the British Weekly, this provocative letter was published:

It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend a great deal of time preparing them. I have been attending church quite regularly for 30 years and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation, I

might be more profitable spent on something else.

That letter triggered a great debate that went on for weeks. It ended with this letter:

I have been married for 30 years. During that time, I have eaten 32,850 meals–mostly my wife’s cooking. Suddenly I discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet . . . I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago. 

That leads me to some interesting questions. How many sermons have you heard in your life? How many sermons do you remember? Do you think that God made a mistake calling preachers to change the world? God does not make mistakes. The founder of the great Methodist movement John Wesley (1703-1791) once said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, I care not if they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.”

Are You Listening?

History tells us Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945) hated the long receiving lines during his time in the White House. He often complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. As each person passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.” It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were heard. He heard the President say, “I murdered my grandmother this morning” and responded, “I’m sure she had it coming.” That story reminds us that listening does not come naturally. Listening is a true art.

It is my experience that people don’t listen for several reasons. Some don’t hear because their ears are damaged or broken. According to the Rochester Institute of Technology, nearly 11,000,000 Americans consider themselves deaf or hard of hearing. That is 3.6% of our population. Some don’t hear because of what my father called selective hearing. That happens when we hear the words, but we dismiss them because we don’t like or value what is being communicated. Like when the doctor tells you to lose weight and exercise. Or, like when your minister says you are to love everyone unconditionally. You hear the words, but you dismiss the words. Some don’t hear because they are preoccupied. I find myself in that category. I cannot tell you how many times I was physically present to hear the words but mentally I was a million miles away. How many times have you said, “Can you say that again? I wasn’t paying attention.” That is what is happening in our scripture lesson.

We are in the thirteenth chapter of Acts. The first three verses of that chapter explain the rest of the book. According to those verses, it all began in the church at Antioch. The teachers and prophets had assembled when the Holy Spirit began to move. There were seven people present and each one got the same message. They were to set Barnabas and Paul apart to begin their lives’ purpose. They were created to win the world for Jesus. 

According to our reading, Acts 13:4-12, Barnabas and Paul began their missionary journey on the island of Cyprus. They are accompanied by Barnabas’s cousin John, who later wrote the Gospel of Mark. Their method of teaching was straightforward. They walked into a local synagogue and proclaimed the word of God. People responded to their message in every congregation. In one of those congregations, they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus. “Bar” is Aramaic for “son of”; “Jesus” is derived from the Greek word for “Joshua.” In verse 8, Bar-Jesus is called “Elymas”, which is the Greek word for sorcerer or magician. Bar-Jesus was the assistant to the proconsul, or governor, of the entire island. The proconsul’s name was Sergius Paulus, who is remembered as a gifted man. He sent his assistant, Bar-Jesus, to Barnabas and Paul for one reason. Like many, he too wanted to hear the word of God. The story would have gone unrecorded except for one thing: the sorcerer Bar-Jesus (or Elymas) tried to turn the governor away from the faith. In the end, a show-down occurs between the sorcerer and God. Bar-Jesus is no match for the Almighty and finds himself temporarily blind. The whole event becomes a great witness for God. No one present could question God’s powers.

When I first read the story, I thought it was odd. When was the last time you met a sorcerer? Then, I read the story a second, third and fourth time. In the end, I read it countless times and every time I read it, the point became clearer. Every day, we play the part of the Roman proconsul. He wanted to hear the word of God, but he was frustrated by Satan. We too want to hear the word of God, but Satan frustrates us. The problem is not that God mumbles. The problem is our lives are filled with so many distractions. Satan uses those distractions to prevent us from hearing God’s words. How many distractions has Satan put in your life to prevent you from hearing God?

Years ago, I had breakfast with a friend. He told the story of going to a funeral of a woman who had died from a drug overdose. As he stood in the back trying to support the grieving family, someone walked up to him and said, “The devil is sitting over there.” He must have looked confused because the person said the same thing in a different way. This time the person said, “The drug dealer is over there.” The drug dealer came to pay his final respects. Do you consider drug dealers the devil? 

Years ago, I stood at the back door leading out of the sanctuary and said, “Good-bye,” to everyone. One person looked at me and said, “Russ, you will never guess what I am going to do this week.” I didn’t have a clue. I thought, go to a ballgame, or go to dinner at an expensive restaurant. She looked at me with a big smile and said, “I am going with a friend to a psychic reader!” My head spun around a few times, and I didn’t know what to say. She caught me off guard. Psychic readers are wrong at so many levels. The Bible takes a hard stand against such things. Leviticus 20:27 says, “spiritualists should be stoned to death.” There is nothing entertaining about psychics. They are simply sinister. I do not question their insight. I do question the source of their insight – Satan, himself. Have you ever been to a spiritualist? Every community has several psychics. Let me say this clearly, Satan loves it when you do such things, because they distract you from God. Satan doesn’t want us to hear God.

Can I state the obvious? Our world is filled with “dark” distractions. Satan has filled our world with all kinds of addictions. Our local, national, and international news is filled with all kinds of addictions. We have people who are addicted to alcohol. We have people who addicted to drugs. We have people who are addicted to pornography. We have people who are addicted to gambling. Every community seems to have a place to gamble. Thirty states have statewide lotteries. According to WalletHub, Americans lose $100 billion annually gambling. We are losing children to human trafficking. It is easy to attach those things to Satan, because so many lives have been destroyed by them. Some of our distractions are “dark.”

Some of our distractions aren’t so dark. Our lives are filled with “positive” distractions. There is a website called livingforjesus.com. It says there are seven things that distract us from hearing God. None of them are sinister in nature, but each one prevents us from hearing God. This is their list: 

  1. Money – That is why proper money management is important. Money makes a wonderful slave but a horrible master.  
  2. Media – How much time do you spend watching TV? How much time do you spend reading secular material. How much time do you spend on social media?
  3. Church – Have you ever gone to church and failed to experience God because you were consumed by some other church activity? Have you ever gone to church and failed to experience God because you were too busy socializing?
  4. Relationships – Family and friends are time consuming. How much time do you spend with people in your life? How much time do you spend with God?
  5. Routine – Is spending time with God part of your daily routine? 
  6. Work – How many people do you know work more than 40 hours a week? Time management is important, and life must be lived in balance.
  7. Hobbies – How much time do you spend entertaining yourself?  Hobbies are important but they cannot consume your life.

This is the point. Our lives are so full that we have very little time left to hear God. When was the last time God spoke to you? When was the last time you gave God an opportunity to speak to you?

One of the greatest preachers of the twentieth century was a man by the name of Fred Craddock (1928-2015). I have written about him in the past. No one influenced my preaching more than Fred Craddock. He taught homiletics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. However, I will always remember him as a great storyteller. I have told you some of his stories in the past. This is another one.

He once sat in a group of incoming seminary students. Each student was asked to tell their story, how God had led them into the ministry. One by one the students spoke. Each story was different, but each story was the same. One story stood out. A man in his late thirties told the group he had been a teacher. He worked with children who had a hard time hearing. He said his work was both heartbreaking and exhausting. Every student struggled hearing anything. He said he just couldn’t do it anymore. The end came with a little girl by the name of Susan. She was as cute as a button. One day she was in the playground, and he tried to talk to her. He walked up to Susan and looked at her square in the face. He said, “Susan, what do you want to do when you grow up?” Susan responded, “My shoes are red!” She didn’t hear a word. The incoming student said it was so heartbreaking that he had to leave. Fred looked at the student and said, “If you are going into the ministry, then you’d better get used to people not listening. Every church has a surplus of people who just don’t listen.”

Sometime later, Fred was on vacation in Texas. Sunday morning came and he was in a strange community. He just walked into a convenient church to see if God had a word for him. He sat alone in the back and was pleasantly surprised. Everything about the worship was perfect. The preaching was solid. The music was inspirational. The prayers were sincere, and the spirit was moving. He was sad to see the benediction come because God was speaking to him. After the benediction was given, he just stood there with his head down and his eyes closed. He wanted to absorb the last spiritual crumb. When he finally looked up, a man was standing next to him. The stranger stuck out his hand and said, “Do you think the Cowboys will win today?” Fred said, what the man was really saying was, “My shoes are red!” Like it or not, our lives are filled with all kinds of distractions that prevent us from hearing God’s word. The question is not if God has a word for you. He does. The question is, are you listening?

The Choice Is Yours

Did you know, according to PBS North Carolina, the average person makes approximately 35,000 decisions in a single day. Obviously, not every decision we make is a major decision. There is a difference between deciding to get married and deciding on what to eat for lunch. However, each decision carries consequences.

There is a website called 12most.com. They tell us there are twelve different kinds of choices you make in your life. It must be true because it is on the internet. This is their list: 

Choice to learn      Are you trying to learn something new every day? Knowledge is a choice. 

Choices in and of relations       Do you surround yourself with people, or not? How close do you let people get to you?  

Choice of personal health         Are you eating your fruits and vegetables? Do you exercise? Or are you smoking like a chimney and drinking like a fish?  

Choice of where you reside      Are you going to live in the city, or the country? Are you going to live in the north, or the south?  

Choice of personal finances     How comfortable are you with personal debt? Would you take a loan out to buy an RV? 

Choice of parenthood     Are you going to have children? How are you going to raise your children? 

Choice of life’s priorities           What are the most important things to you?

Choice of vocation           What are you going to do when you grow up? 

Choice of time       We spend our time on the things that are the most important to us. What takes up most of your week? 

Choice of spirituality         Are you going to be a Christian, or one of the other world religions? Are you going to be a true disciple and strive to be a little more like Jesus every day? Or are you just a church member? Are you going to be an atheist or an agnostic?

Choice of self-worth       Do you see yourself as a child of God, or the runt of the litter? Do you like yourself? Are you proud of yourself?

Choice to choose  Are you going to take control of your life, or just do what others expect?  

Life is filled with choices. Each choice we make comes with a consequence. The church is not excluded. In the life of the church, we make many decisions. That is why discerning God’s will is important. That takes us to our scripture lesson.

We find ourselves in the first three verses of the thirteenth chapter of Acts. There is absolutely no association with the previous story, except to say the church is growing. According to our text, the prophets and teachers had assembled in Antioch. Some believe the names listed are in order of importance. If they are correct, then Barnabas is the most influential member in that congregation and Saul is the least. They were worshiping and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The divine helper is clear in his communication. He tells the assembly to set apart Barnabas and Saul. They are about to begin their divine purpose. Everyone heard what the Holy Spirit said, so everyone fasted and prayed before they laid hands on them. Before long, Barnabas and Paul were gone.

It is a great story, but it frustrates me. Look at the story one more time. There were five people present. When the Holy Spirit spoke, all five got the message. It doesn’t say that Simeon or Lucius missed it. It doesn’t say only two got it. It doesn’t say some got a different message. It says all five got the same message and did what God commanded. I find this short story frustrating because that is not my experience within the local church. In the churches I served everyone seemed to hear something different, so everyone is pulling in a different direction. I was always in the middle trying to keep the group together. I found that to be extremely exhausting. Discerning God’s will is not easy.

One of the things I clearly have in my life is my calling. I can say that today; I couldn’t always. When I graduated from college, I worked in the secular world for three years. I hated every day. It all seemed so pointless. I see my calling now, but I didn’t go to seminary right away because of self-doubt. I didn’t do poorly in school, but I was never comfortable in the academic world. My parents never encouraged me to go into the ministry because they thought I was too social, not academic enough. They were wrong! One of the reasons I was successful in the local church was that I wasn’t too academic, and I was social. This is the point. My life would have been much easier if God would have spoken to my whole family, like God spoke to the five in the scripture lesson. God never told my parents about my calling, I had to convince them. God rarely speaks in a loud voice. Instead, God normally speaks to us in a soft, still voice. No wonder we ask God time and time again, “what do you want us to do”? 

If you google the phase, “how to discern God’s will.” Countless websites will be suggested. Apparently, there is a surplus of people trying to discern God’s will. All the websites were different, but they were all the same. A man by the name of Ron Edmonson seemed to have the best summarization. He says you can discern God’s will for your life by asking five questions. Each question is biblically based. No question is more important than another; they act in concert. I hope you remember them the next time you are faced with a difficult decision. I hope you remember them the next time you are trying to discern God’s will. These are Edmonson’s five questions: 

Does what you are considering conflict with the scriptures? That means you must read the Bible. Our country has spent a great deal on education. Use your education and read the Bible. There is no reason you should be ignorant of the Bible. There are some wonderful tools to help you understand the Bible. Be honest with yourself. How often do you read the Bible? Maybe one of the reasons you can’t discern God’s will is that you’re not reading the Bible? 

Does what you are considering conflict with your wise counsel? The faith was never to be lived out in isolation. That is why fellowship within the church is important. How many spiritually mature friends do you have? Spending time talking about sports or recipes will not help you discern God’s will. You need to cultivate some spiritually mature friends. What do your spiritually mature friends think about your plan of action? 

Does what you are considering conflict with the spirit within you? The Holy Spirit lives within each believer. Listen to Him. Does what you are considering bring you peace, or conflict? There has never been a time in your life when you were orphaned. God has always been with you. God is with you now. Is what you are considering bringing you closer to God?

Does what you are considering conflict with your experience? God gave you a brain; He expects you to use it. With age comes experience and wisdom. What are your past experiences telling you about your present situation? 

Does what you are considering conflict with your passion for life? God tends to call us to do the things that fuel our fire. When I look at Bible characters like Joseph, David, the disciples, Abraham, or Paul, it appears their calling matched their wiring. Your passion and your calling stand side by side.  

I like those five questions because they remind me of the old Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The founder of the great Methodist movement, John Wesley (1703-1791) believed you could discern God’s will by considering four things: scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Wesley believed it should be heavy on scripture. The commonality between John Wesley and Ron Edmonson is shocking.

Did you know approximately one hundred churches close in America each week? That figure came from Palmetto Family Research in South Carolina. After I retired, I worshipped in one of those churches. Located on the border between Pennsylvania and Ohio, in eastern Ohio, their last worship service was held on April 23rd of this year. Like the death of a terminally ill person, the death of that church was expected, yet it was still shocking. Everyone knew the end was coming, yet no one could prevent it. Weekly the faithful few gathered. They were nice people who talked about a wide variety of things. They reminisced about the “glory days” of their community. They reviewed the noteworthy news headlines. They lamented how the world had changed. They boasted about the latest conquest of their local high school team. They talked about everything, but they didn’t talk about their dying church. It was clear to me – they were in denial. With a world of things they could have done to save their church, they did nothing. In other words, they decided to close. Every decision we make has consequences.

I do not want to sound cold, but I want to be honest. I do not believe that now defunct church tried to discern God’s will. I have a hard time believing God told them to close. After all, our world is filled with physical and spiritual needs. It isn’t just true of churches. It is true of individuals. The choices we make say a great deal about ourselves and our faith. What is God calling you to do?

Your God

We find ourselves in the twelfth chapter of Acts, verses 12b-24. According to the text, Herod the Great (c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE), the Roman authority in that corner of the world, went to the harbor town of Caesarea in Judea. The day began like every other day. Herod was working. On his agenda were the representatives of the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They proposed peace with Herod because they were dependent on the king’s territory for food. Herod made a big show of the event. Trying to impress his people, he wore his royal robes, sat on his royal throne, and delivered a powerful message. The event was more than he could have dreamed. He energized the crowd. Verse 22 says, “This is the voice of a god, not a man.” Herod’s large ego must have grown even larger. He must have felt like the crowd was right, he was a god! Then, the unthinkable happened.

This magnificent scene of political power is ruined by human weakness. The author of Acts says it was the work of an angel. He died because of his own arrogance; Herod did not give his praise to God. In the end, he was eaten by worms. Our modern world would say he had a stroke or an aneurism, maybe a heart attack. Two thousand years later, the cause of death really doesn’t matter. The only thing that really matters is that Herod, the one-time god in the eyes of the people, was dead. The story reminds us how fast life can change. The story also reminds us of how easy it is to mix up our priorities. In the Christian faith, our top priority must be God!That leads us to our question for today: Who is your god? 

Did you know, according to the Pew Research, 31.1% of the world’s population are Christian. That makes Christianity the largest religion in the world, yet we are also a minority in the world. That means 68.9% of the world population are not Christian. Each world religion has a different understanding of God. The Islamic faith, 24.9% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Asian regions, Hinduism, and Buddhism, 15.1% and 6.9% respectively of the world’s population, have a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Hebrew faith, .2% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. There are many who do not believe there is a god. Atheists and agnostics make up 7% of the world’s population. While all of this is true, the story is not about theological differences. The story is about mixed-up priorities. You can claim Christianity as your own and still have other gods. Who is your god?  

There is a dark side to that question. Do you know anyone who has been scammed? According to CNBC Americans lost $5.8 billion to fraud last year. That is up 70% in the last three years. I find that figure shocking. There is nothing wrong with money, but you cannot make it your god. It is not just true of money. It is true of many things in our society. How many lives do you know have been ruined by alcohol? There are 29.5 million alcoholics in America. They have made alcohol their god. Cirrhosis of the liver is a horrible way to die. Did you know nearly 99,000 Americans died due to drug overdose? Drugs were their god. Child pornography must be at an all-time high. It makes me sick to my stomach. For some pornography is this god. Do I have to go on? Do I really have to go on? Our society has made many sinister things their god. They will sacrifice everything else in life for their god. However, this is our question for the day. 

Who is your god? The question is not aimed at someone else. The question is aimed at you. It is a personal question. Who is your god? I feel comfortable saying, if you are reading this blog, then you are not a sinister person. However, that does not mean, you don’t have your gods. Your god is the top priority in your life. What is your top priority? Let me look at a few good things that can’t be your god. As a Christian, your top priority must be God, Himself. Never forget, our God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 says it clearly, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.”  That is what makes our question of the day so important. Who is your god?

Have you made the United States of America your god? Sitting in the center of Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. It was designed by Levi Scofield (1842-1917) and was opened on July 4, 1894. It stands as a reminder of the soldiers and sailors who died during the Civil War from Cuyahoga County. It is a cheap date because it is open to the public free of charge. From an academic standpoint, it is an excellent example of civil religion. Every community has an example of civil religion. What is civil religion? It is when we mix our faith and our patriotism together. Civil Religion communicates to the world that God loves your country more than any other country. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) once said, “The question is not if God is on our side, the question is are we on God’s side.” 

America is a great place! I believe it is the greatest country in the world. I have visited other countries, but I have never wanted to stay. I was always ready to come home. With all our problems and challenges, we still have freedom and opportunity. If you can’t make it here, then you can’t make it anywhere. One of the hot topics in our country is illegal aliens. They are coming in record numbers, over and under fences, crossing rivers and seas. It is easy to be mad at them, but do you know the truth? I would be one of them, if I lived in their countries. I have seen their countries and I am not impressed. You should be proud of America! So, wear your American flag ties. Wear your American flag shirts. Fly your American flag in front of your house and light those fireworks on Independence Day. We have so much, but don’t make America your god. You could easily make America your god, but don’t do it. If you are lucky, you will live in America for one hundred years. You are going to spend eternity in heaven with God. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country, but God must be your god. Who is your god? 

The first church I served was the Pleasant Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lancaster, Kentucky. I have nothing negative to say about that congregation. They were good to me at a time when I needed some kindness. Like many small membership churches, it was dominated by a single family. That family did everything, and they were proud of their church. They were proud of the history of their church. The church was started shortly after the Civil War near Camp Dix. They were proud of the location of their church. It was surrounded by a horse farm. It was a picturesque setting. They were proud of the condition of their church building. The white framed structure was well maintained and clean. They were proud their ancestors went to that church and were buried in the church’s cemetery. As infants, they were dedicated in that church. At twelve-years old, they were baptized in that church. As adults, they worshipped in that church weekly. Annually, they spent every Christmas Eve and Easter morning in that church. They were married in that church, and they knew their funeral service would take place in that church. They knew everyone and everyone knew them. At that time, I thought that church was unique. Then, I learned the truth. They were not unique. It was the same in every church I served. Every congregation I served was proud of their church and they should have been. It would be easy to make your church your god, but don’t do it.

Have you made your church your god? Your local churchis a vehicle used by God; It is where you learn about Jesus. It is where you join with other disciples to encourage one another in the faith. Your church should have a special place in your heart. However, this is the danger. Your church cannot save your soul. It is possible to know everything about your church and know nothing about Jesus. Jesus is your only hope of salvation.There is nothing wrong with being proud of your church, but your church can’t be your god. Only God can be your God. Who is your god? 

Years ago, I watched Ken Burn’s documentary on World War II, The War. My father served during that war, so I feel some attachment. I particularly found the interviews with the survivors interesting. One night they interviewed a native-American soldier who was in the infantry. Years after the conflict, he cried about the day he took a German life with his own hands. Death did not come suddenly for the German. The soldier died slowly. Before he passed, he called out. According to the man interviewed, he didn’t call out for a medic. He did not call out for his Sergeant. He did not call out to his friend. He called out for his mother. Don’t tell me being a mother isn’t important. Don’t tell me family and friends aren’t important. They are extremely important.

Have you made the people in your life your god? The area that I live in is hard on itself. Many promote the negative things about this community. I do not understand those people. My community is filled with many good people. My community is a real community, in every sense of the word. We care about one another. We support one another. We pray for and sacrifice for one another. It would be easy to make your community your god. It would be easy to make you family your god. It would be easy to make the people in your life your god, but don’t do it. There is nothing wrong with loving the people in your life, but God must be your god.Who is your god? 

When the great missionary David Livingstone (1813-1873) died, a great debate broke out. Some said he should be buried in England where he was born. Others said he should be buried in Africa, the land he loved. A compromise was reached. His body was buried in England, but his heart was buried under a tree in a small village in Africa. That leads us to an interesting question. Where is your heart? In other words, who is your god? American bandleader Laurance Welk (1903-1992) once said, “Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people but put your full trust in God.

Effective Prayer

Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time, the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.” That leads us to an important question.

How often do you pray? In 2014, the Pew Research Group told us 55% of all Americans pray daily. In the same study, they reported 21% say they pray weekly or monthly. 23% of Americans say they seldom or never pray. I am happy to report I am in the 55% who pray daily. As a matter of fact, I pray more than once a day because I need God. Let me state the obvious. In the Christian faith, prayer is vital. The great reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” I wrote this blog to help you pray more effectively. That takes us to our scripture reading.

We find ourselves in the twelfth chapter of Acts, verses one through twelve. According to the text, King Herod (c. 72 BCE – 4 c. BCE) is on the throne. That was bad news for the early church because he is still practicing Christian persecution. Verse two is hard to read two thousand years later. It tells us James, the brother of John, had been put to death. His end was not pretty. He died as John the Baptist died, by the sword. I find verse three to be disturbing. The Jews were pleased at his death and longed for more blood. This time, the victim will be Peter himself. Like Jesus, he was arrested during the Passover and is watched by a surplus of guards. His outcome was predictable, except for one thing. In verse five, we are told the church begins to pray for him and the miraculous happens. An angel appears in his prison cell and helps him to escape. Isn’t it great when our prayers are answered, “Yes!” That is not the only story. There are many stories when God answered, “Yes!”

Dr. Helen Roseveare (1925-2016) was a missionary in Zaire, Africa. A mother at her mission station died shortly after giving birth to a premature baby. They tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle they had was beyond repair. So, she asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls prayed, “Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won’t feel so lonely.” That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as it was opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle!  Immediately, the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, “If God sent that, I’m sure He also sent a doll!” And she was right! The doll was in the bottom of the trunk. Isn’t it great when God answers our prayers, “Yes?” Wouldn’t it be nice if our prayers were always answered with a, yes? This is the truth. Experience has taught me sometimes God’s answer is no.

It was on a Sunday evening years ago. The plan was to bring a terminally ill woman to the altar for prayer. The medical world said there was no hope. She came to the church that evening by the nursing home’s van. When she arrived, the sanctuary lights were dimmed, and the candles were lit. The congregation who had assembled was ready for the miraculous. After the healing scriptures were read, she was surrounded by the most important people in her life. We laid hands on her, and I placed oil on her forehead to intensify our prayers. One by one, we all prayed for her. Filled with emotion, each word was genuine. When we said the Lord’s Prayer, the Holy Spirit washed over us. Emotionally and spiritually exhausted, the woman was placed back into her wheelchair and directed back to the van. With few words spoken, we watched her being driven out of the parking lot. That evening we boldly prayed for a complete healing, but it never came. A short time later, the same group gathered for her funeral. Sometimes our prayers are answered, “No!” Sometimes our prayers are answered, “Later”.

One of the great privileges I had in the ministry was praying with people. I prayed with people all the time and in various locations. I have prayed with people in my office and in the parlor. I have prayed with people at the altar and in their homes. I have prayed with people in the hospital. Several years ago, I was talking to a man who began complaining about something that happened years ago. He told me the story in detail. As I listened, I realized all the characters in his story were dead! He was mad at dead people. I said to him, “They may be dead, but they still have power over you! Look how upset you are! You need to pray!” He responded, “I don’t pray.” I said, “You do today!” And in the middle of the parking lot, I grabbed his hand, and we prayed that God would heal his damaged emotions. This is my question for you today.

What makes prayer effective? Many seem to believe effective prayer is always getting what you want. They pray for the terminally ill person, and they are healed. They pray for the winning lottery numbers, and they are drawn. They pray for the missing family pet, and they are returned. They pray for their favorite team, and they win. They pray for a new love, and one suddenly appears. Is that your definition of effective prayer? To God, effective prayer cultivates a relationship with God. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was not a Christian, but he saw the value of prayer. He once said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is a longing for the soul…It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than to have words without heart.”  You know it is true. Many of our prayers sound like a wish list for a rich uncle. Never forget it. When you pray, you are speaking to God, the creator of the universe. That reminder should change your prayer life. In comparison to God, we are nothing. In this blog, I want to help you improve your prayer life by reminding you of three things.

First, effective prayer praises God! In our scripture lesson, we were simply told the church prayed for Peter. Their prayer is not quoted, and no details are given. However, the early church was mindful of the fact that God was worthy of their praise. The one thing that united them was the resurrection of Jesus. If you have the power to bring a dead man back to life, then you have the power to do anything. Factor in this next statement. This all-powerful God wanted to have a relationship with them, and He wants to have a relationship you. If you let that divine truth sink into your heart, then you will be humbled. Does your prayer life include praise?

One of my favorite Bible stories is the transfiguration. It is found in all three of the synoptic Gospels: Mark 9:2-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36. Peter had just stated for the first time that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. That announcement changed everything. Jesus took the inner circle, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, to the top of the mountain to pray. They had no clue what was about to happen. Without warning, Jesus is transfigured. In other words, he begins to glow. Then, Moses and Elijah suddenly appear. Moses was the great law giver and Elijah was considered the greatest of the prophets. (They must have been wearing name tags for the disciples to recognize them.) Then God showed up covered by a cloud. He tells everyone Jesus is his son. “Listen to him!” The disciples are blown away. You cannot blame them. They had just experienced God, firsthand. When you pray, you are talking to God, the great and mighty one, one on one. God desires to be praised. (Hebrews 13:15) Effective prayer praises God!

Second, effective prayer obeys God! What you say is important. What you do is equally important. We are only in this world for a short time. We are going to be in heaven for eternity. Are you practicing today what you will be doing in heaven for eternity? How obedient are you to God? Jesus isn’t just your Savior. Jesus is also your Lord.

One of the great mysteries in life is discerning God’s will. Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do? I am convinced most of the time we know, but we just refuse to do it. We know we are to love everyone, but we only tolerate people who are just like us. We know we are to forgive, but we remember. We know that we are to sacrifice for others, but we save the best for ourselves. We know that we are to tithe (10%) but we give about 2%. We know we are to love God completely, but we only come to church when it is convenient. It is a matter of obedience. Effective prayer praises and obeys God!

Third, effective prayer trusts God! Sometime God answers, “No!” That means that your will and God’s will are running in opposite directions. Have you ever been mad at God because He didn’t listen to your advice? If so, then you are extremely arrogant and not very trusting. In prayer, we are cultivating a relationship with God. Do you have a good relationship with God, or do you have some work to do? It is a matter of trust.

In 1962, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch was published. It is considered one of the most significant works to emerge from Soviet Russia. It is set in a Soviet labor camp and focuses on a single day of one prisoner, Ivan Denisovitch. In one scene, he is praying with his eyes closed when a fellow prisoner notices him, and says with ridicule, “Prayers won’t help you get out of here any faster.” Opening his eyes, Ivan answers, “I do not pray to get out of prison, but to do the will of God.” Effective prayer praises, obeys and trusts God!

On April 13, 2021, I was in Chicago. My daughter Anna was married a few days earlier, and my wife and I were escaping the post wedding blues. We were excited about visiting the “Windy City.” We had a list of things we wanted to see. However, we never saw a single thing. Instead, I had emergency surgery at Northwestern Medical Center. That surgery triggered the longest months of my life. Complications set in. A friend had to drive to Chicago to take us home. A few days later, I was taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. They transferred me to the Cleveland Clinic. When I was released ten days later in early May, my recovery was slow. My wife gave me excellent care at home, along with the visiting nurse and a good friend. My church daily prayed for me and sent food. In time, I did rebound.

In August, I drove myself back to the Cleveland Clinic for my last doctor’s appointment. When my name was called, I sat in the small examining room. In a few minutes, the doctor walked in and began to smile. He asked me how I felt. I felt tired, but I was on the mend. In the middle of the pandemic, he sat next to me and said, “Can I tell you the truth? I thought you were coming in today to schedule more surgery. Obviously, you do not need it. What do you attribute to your recovery?” I answered with one word, “Prayer!” There can be no other answer. I am a living example that prayer is a powerful thing. I am thankful sometimes God answers our prayers with a “YES!” But that is not why we pray. We prayer to cultivate a relationship with God. That leads us back to our original question.

How often do you pray? In other words, how often do you talk to God? Are you cultivating a relationship with God? Or do your prayers sound like a wish list for a rich uncle? Is it possible you have forgotten you are speaking to God, the creator of the universe? Next to Him, we are nothing. Effective prayer praises God. Effective prayer obeys God. Effective prayer trusts God. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) once said, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.”