Church Leadership – Page 10

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God’s plan at the pumps…

Written by talk2shari Published November 14, 2013November 23, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

As a retired police officer, correctional officer and administrator of both juvenile and adult criminal populations, my friend Ed is no stranger to confrontation, nor has he ever been shy of its approach. I don’t have space on this blog to tell you how the Lord has used this man in the ministry and not because he’s wonderful (although he is), not because he’s talented (although he is) but because he’s willing.

After leaving the adult prison facility for which he is now Chaplain, he pulled into a 7Eleven Convenience Store for fuel. And then it happened… he noticed the nicely dressed man and his children exiting the store. It was a Wednesday night and Ed figured that they were likely going to church. It was then that God spoke to his heart, “Talk to them.” It was a gentle nudge in the beginning but grew more demanding as Ed argued with God that surely this man would think he was nuts to stop him and his children on a cold winter evening when they were obviously on their way somewhere. But after a brief debate, Ed surrendered to the Lord’s desire…

“Hey are you a Preacher?” Ed asked.

“Why yes I am he replied…”

And then God unfolded the plan.

Ed had been tirelessly working as Chaplain to a new facility of inmates with groups arriving each week needing his attention. He studied, preached, provided counseling and handled the administrative duties of his position as well. His active farm took its toll physically on his body and the pressure was mounting. He knew he needed help but unfamiliar with the location of the prison, and very much understanding the accountability of ministering the gospel “correctly”, Ed wasn’t about to hand the reigns over to just anyone.

But God had a plan.

The Preacher who Ed spoke to at the 7Eleven was a part of ministry team looking for a mission field opportunity in their area. Within a few minutes Ed was invited to meet their team; a doctrinally sound group of believers who have now offered to take on his Prison Bible studies as their mission.

They were looking, Ed was asking and God set up the meeting.

But… if Ed had not being willing to hear the Holy Spirit when He said “Speak.” God’s business would have been undone and Ed would have continued on, worn and tired.

Listen…

God may be just about to bless you.

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The Mess of Success. Its bull.

Written by talk2shari Published November 13, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Every day I strive to be a better Shari. Every day I feel like an epic fail. I have the grandest of intentions (the road to Hell is not the only one paved with them). Whatever project that I’m involved with chaos quite often ensues, just ask my church family. My house and my car are organized clutter. Meaning I know it’s there, I just often have to dig for it. My husband says if I’m in an accident it won’t be what’s outside the car that will kill me. I’m blessed with family and friends of high tolerance, but why do they do it? I think their reason is because among the mess has been an occasional success.

Proverbs 14:4 says Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

This verse was pointed out to me through a sermon I listened to a few weeks ago and I’ve not been able to get it out of my head. Mainly because every time I get in my car or walk into my house I think “Oh yeah, I meant to take care of that.” But the flip side of that is when my feet hit the floor at 4:30 a.m. each day my mind is on the ministry. I’m not saying I’m a super saint, it’s just who I’ve been since salvation in 1996. And this verse summed it up for me… there’s a mess in the ministry.

Your mess is likely different. But I can almost guarantee if you’re serving God there’s a mess around you somewhere. Relationships get messy in the ministry, even though you’re supposed to have all the answers. If you have children they’re likely imperfect and highly visible to church critics. Your finances are not what they should be, even though you try to live life biblical. Perhaps your issue is a quick temper or lack of discipline in your life. The point is if you’re in the ministry there is likely a mess somewhere in your life that makes you wonder why God chooses to use you at all. Or am I the only one?

It’s not hard to imagine what the stall of an ox is filled with or what it smells like. It has to be shoveled out and even then it leaves a trail of nastiness behind. But the labor of the field wouldn’t be getting done if the ox wasn’t in the stall. So before you (or I) are too hard on ourselves for the messes in life, remember… that mess just might be what equals success. The world doesn’t need to see perfect people in the ministry (Hallelujah!!!!). They need to see real people working through their day.

So, shovel out the barn and head to the field. You know what the Lord says, “for they are white already to harvest.” – John 4:35

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Confessions of a Church Thief

Written by talk2shari Published October 28, 2013October 28, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

It’s absolutely true.

I was perusing the aisles.

I eyed every single one until that one caught my eye. The one I didn’t have.

Before anyone at Victory Baptist Church begins to wonder if it happened at our church, it didn’t. It didn’t even happen at church. It happened on Facebook for cryin’ out loud. I’m so ashamed! Okay maybe that was a bit dramatic… I’m not really ashamed, just embarrassed for my Lord. You see… I was perusing the aisles of another church coveting their membership. It was a certain person that I love and I just thought to myself, “Wow, I wish they’d come to our church.” And then I happened to think about the cost of them coming to our church. They’d have to leave theirs, there would possibly be hurt feelings; I know how it’s been when someone has left our church who I loved. So in affect, I’d be wishing heartache on another congregation of believers. And then the harshest reality of all hit me… if every church in our community did what we were supposed to be doing, evangelizing the area, they’d be no need to wish for what another church had.

Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

William Chadwick’s book Stealing Sheep sums up well when he said “Jesus did not say, ‘Go into all the world and shift the sheep’ He also said a very wise thing when he said modern day churches were less about church growth and a little more about rearranging the ecclesiastical furniture. I almost laughed out loud when I read that, and then I thought, wow… that’s sad and true. Most church growth that we see does not come from seeing new souls saved for the Kingdom of God, but more about disgruntled or unchallenged church members who leave one church for another. Truth?

So what do we do about it? Well for starters, I can stop creeping on Facebook pages and start creeping up the hills and hollers of my community in search of creatures. Creatures? Maybe I should paraphrase that for clarity by saying “Creations.” Those who God created with purpose, who’s not only not fulfilling their potential for the cause of Christ, but are heading to Hell and will never know Him because we were too busy shifting sheep. This thought zinged my heart this morning. What about you?

I’m sending this out as a word of warning today to people in my path. I’m on a super sheep search. (say that three times fast). I’m looking for wild sheep! The ones that have never made it into anyone’s fold. This is my prayer… that God help them cross my path, help me to recognize them and then give me the boldness to ask, “Do you know my friend Jesus?”

No more thievin’. I’m turning over a new leaf.

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What Are You Spreading?

Written by talk2shari Published October 10, 2013October 10, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Sponge People

In reading Psalm 22 this morning chills ran down my spine as my thoughts ran through the words of David in verse 13-19:

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

You cannot help but see the correlation between David’s Psalm and the crucifixion of Christ. Whether or not David knew the weight these words would carry, I don’t know. But the church is without excuse as we carry them forward.

The final two verses of this Chapter, verses 30-31 read

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Verses 13-19 – That’s Christ.

Verses 30-31 – That’s Christ and us.

The Bible promises that until the end of time the Word will be taught in this place by these people of God that He’s chosen and He’s holding Himself accountable for it. If the Lord, the Creator of all, is holding Himself accountable for the Word, should we not hold ourselves accountable for the delivery of it? There are far too many people sitting idle in the churches across America giving way to every excuse in the book on why it’s not their responsibility to further the gospel. They’re soakers.

It reminded me somewhat of a kitchen sponge this morning. When the water of the Word flows into them, they enjoy it and they soak it up, the Holy Spirit gets into the mix and is like a detergent scrubbing the soul squeaking clean and then they leave the church and go back into the community. There they brush up against the germy counters of their lives and bits and pieces of the world’s pollution clings to them and as they go on their way they distribute bits and pieces of that pollution themselves because they haven’t got back to the Water to get cleansed again. It’s not wash day after all. And then wash day comes again. Sunday…more Word….more cleansing… and out they go again. I don’t know if you’ve ever kept a sponge for a while and didn’t use it a lot, but it gets this funky smell to it that eventually won’t wash out and you just have to throw it away, its spreading more germs than cleanliness.

The same is true in a Christian life when they don’t hold themselves accountable for the collection and distribution of the Word. In place of the Word they’re not reading, the world heaps into their soul polluted thoughts and those are the things that are spread. Where, if every day they’d just have taken a little time to let the water of the Word cleanse them again, it is those thought that would be distributed.

We’re not all called to be preachers, or teachers but we are called to serve Him. And that service is not an allotted time between 11 and noon on Sunday morning. You’re His. He is holding Himself accountable for making sure you have the Word that He willingly died for.

What are you doing with it?

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That Preacher said whaaaaatttt?

Written by talk2shari Published September 8, 2013September 8, 2013 Discussion 2 Comments

I’m not a preacher, nor am I a Bible scholar. I’m a Bible ponder-er. I was taught as a baby Christian to never assume what someone says about the Bible is correct, but rather read it myself, study the Word and the commentaries and let the Holy Spirit reveal truth. He is faithful. I seldom argue scripture because those who are inclined to argue are usually unwilling to consider any other possible truth than what they’ve determined already. And in so doing they short change themselves and Satan keeps their eyes blinded to the truth. In Acts 17 the Apostle Paul had just left from ministering to a sect of Jews in Thessalonica where (vs. 4) some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. And not surprisingly there were some religious people upset who, rather than search the scriptures themselves for the truth, joined forces with lewd fellows vs. 5) and caused an uproar in the city. There is a great correlation there with the world today. There are churches today that rather than getting on fire and turning the world (vs. 6) upside down for Christ, would rather just take the word of the world that what they need is acceptance of everyone’s word as fact; and harmony among the people will result. When in actuality what happens is not harmony, but fear and cowardice to proclaim the truth.

After the uproar Paul left them to their unwillingness to hear the Word of God and moved on to Berea and the church of double checkers.

Acts 17:11 – These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

They didn’t take Paul and Silas’ word or anyone else’s word; they too had been trained to research what thus saith the Lord. I cannot number the times when I have heard a preacher preach and hear inside my head “say whaaaatttt?” Is that the truth? And sure enough it was!

To know the truth in this world of lies you need to not only hear the Word of God, but read the Word of God let the Holy Spirit speak to you as to how to react. When Paul seen the upheaval in Thessalonica he knew it was time to move on. God’s usually not in the uproar. When people begin to argue and debate about what the Word of the Lord says in an uproarious way it is more about them than Him (God). But when a willing people hear the Word, know it as truth and react in a noble (decent and upright) way, people get saved!

(Vs. 12) Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Be forewarned that if you become a double checking, soul stirring, saint of God that turns the world upside down for Christ; people are going to be upset.

(Vs. 13) But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people

The religious people of Paul’s day were so upset about Christianity spreading that they left their own church to stir trouble in someone else’s. Hmmm….I’ve seen that a time or two as well!

It is my prayer that you and I both will be double checkin’ soul stirrin’ saints of God that turn our communities upside down! Go forth friend… Be noble, knowledgeable and noteworthy. Remember, God’s taking notes.

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Zealot’s and Drunkards, a trip to Church

Written by talk2shari Published September 6, 2013September 6, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

John 2:17 – And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Several years ago I sat in a meeting with some people of great authority in the organization I worked with. Although a few of them that I had worked closely with knew my stand in faith, several of the others likely assumed that I also treated Sunday as a “different” kind of day. When Monday came it was time get to work with the matters at hand and turn off “religion.” I agree. Hallelujah I never turned it on. But at this particular meeting our conversation went from “How great church was on Sunday to joking about how bad their hangovers were from Saturday and how very little they got from the service.” My face was red enough to light a cigarette off of or ashen white, I don’t recall, I just remember there was a color change.

This story came to mind this morning as I read the story of Jesus overturning the table and cleansing the temple. His disciples remembered that zeal from Psalm 69:9 where David had written the prophetic statement “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” The priest was forcing Jews to replace their good offe(rings by purchasing sacrificial animals from his own market. And now you may ask “What does that have to do with a bunch of drunk setting in a meeting on Monday?”

The people that I sat with in that meeting were not only people of authority in the organization I worked for, they were also people of authority in their church. And as they joked about their drunken state of mind I wanted to overturn their table. Their church was a newly built one that I passed every day and loved! It looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting… that’s kind of ironic from the way that Kinkade’s life ended. But it was and is a beautiful church. But one thing that strikes me as odd as I pass this church is the sign out front lists only a Sunday a.m. service. No Sunday p.m. service or Wednesday night, Just Sunday and I want to shout at it every time I pass “Where is your zeal people?”

It’s not just that church, its churches across America. And it’s not the church I’m concerned with, it’s the people outside the church. The final sacrifice has been made for us, Jesus Christ. There is no longer a priest making atonement for our sins, Jesus did that once and for all. And we (those who are saved) are now priests. (1 Peter 2:5) It is our responsibility to make sure the Word of God goes forth in our communities and that the Name of Christ is lifted high and we’re allowing nitwits like those I mentioned to drag His precious name through the mud and make a mockery of His house. The leadership of the church is attesting the lack of importance God plays in their life by making His house a Sunday morning token of their time. And the worlds says… “Why bother?”

Is it any wonder that Christ turned the table over and drove them out with a whip? What kind of heart would the people who had come to worship have when the priest was a crook? It makes me want to puke and I wasn’t even there.

I realize that those who read this blog are likely committed Christians, else you’d probably not bother. So why do I bother writing this. It’s a call to prayer. It’s a call to self-examination. Are we eaten up with zeal, or is the world eating us up?

In the story of Thomas Kinkade’s death his brother reported “that years of mean-spirited personal attacks on the painter and a split from his wife and four daughters wore Kinkade down. That led to his battle with alcoholism over the past four to five years.” The world we live in is a mean place, and it’s easy to lose our zeal for life. How a man like Kinkade, who inspired millions, could end on such a note is beyond my comprehension. And yet when I see the defeated lives of Christians everywhere I can understand how they can go from the church pew to the board room without any change, because so few churches now expect it.

They need to see us. We need to turn over a few tables and make it known that we expect a difference in our houses of worship. Amen?

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The Pressure of the Church

Written by talk2shari Published February 4, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Spend a short amount of time in the presence of teens and you’ll find out quickly the role peer pressure plays in their lives; the adult world is no different. The pressure may not be any worse than it is with youth but it’s just as bad. At this stage, jobs, money and position are now at play and the community influence is still great. I have only ever lived in a small community but I have a feeling within large communities there are pockets of influence that lead to greater influence as a whole; all of which add up to one thing… Pressure! The pressure within and without a person can change direction and attitude which will serve to affect the family, church and community.

Why this is on my heart this morning I do not know, but it is and maybe it’s for you! If so let me know.

As a leader in the church I wish I had a pressure gauge tester for our congregation so that I could tell when someone was about ready to blow. Wouldn’t that be handy! At a teen retreat this past weekend the kids were so good; there were however a few ill feelings that quickly smoothed over to forgiveness because someone stayed on top of it by testing the pressure so to speak and releasing a pop off valve by allowing a teen to voice their feelings.

Often the pressure we put on ourselves is the worst. In the church comparing ourselves to someone else can have a lethal result on our spirituality; that’s why when I discovered there was a “dead weight pressure gauge tester” I giggled and wondered if there was such a thing for the congregation of the Lord? People are at all levels of pressure in the church. Some of them, mostly leadership, have so much pressure that it bursts out of them! They’re ready for action and step up to volunteer and help where ever it’s needed. For others it’s consistent pressure, meaning that they are in their place every week, they help when they can but you generally won’t see them on the platform or stepping into leadership role. And then there are those that I wish I had the gauge for…

Dead weight

They sit in the pew, seldom speak, seldom react, arrive at 11 a.m. sharp, leave at 12 noon dull, don’t even consider the Sunday School hour because they’ve obviously arrived and have no need of any further enlightenment on scripture. Am I being judgmental… only slightly. (Insert grin here).

That’s why I want that deadweight tester! Maybe there’s a reason that I know nothing about on their lack of enthusiasm for the things of God. Possibly within them is party of emotions and excitement that just doesn’t show on the outside, but if I had a “deadweight tester” and hooked them up, the gauge would read in the red zone. With me you don’t have to guess. My pressure gauge is my mouth! And it usually is wide open and letting people know if I’m excited about something.

Amos 2:13 reads “Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.”

Sometimes we have so much pressure on us in life that we’re bogged down. Amos said that the pressure on him was like that of a cart loaded down with sheaves to the point it could not move. If the weight of your world is so heavy on you that you’re just sitting, not serving, you need to either dump your load completely or distribute the load between some friends.

I hope today finds your cart rolling merrily along for Jesus!

Please post below if I’ve encouraged you, or if you’d like to share an experience. Posts must be approved before they show, just in case someone hasn’t tested their pressure lately

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The Difference in the Church

Written by talk2shari Published January 29, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

When I got saved in 1996 I didn’t know enough about the Bible to tell you the difference between the Old Testament and New. I was ignorant of the things of God and the ways of God; so for a time I relied upon the teaching of my new Pastor and little by little I would discover on my own the truths of God as I read and studied His Word. I still make discoveries every time I read it today. For the 16 years I’ve been saved I’ve watched as my Pastor was ridiculed for his stand on the holiness of God and defended him when others mocked him of his strict stance on the holiness of the platform of our church. The Church outside the boundaries of the walls of the actual building have become so much like the world that when the world is brought inside the doors it seems natural. The holiness of God is pushed aside to make way to appease men. Oh, I’m not going to win too many friends here this morning, but it’s on my heart, so I’m going to say it.

As I read Exodus this morning my heart was pierced with this thought beginning in Exodus 24:

1-2 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

God was in church building mode, and from the beginning of it He called them out by name. They were all common people, but their role in the church was anything but common. If they were in His service they talked it and walked it or God smote them dead. I think that means He takes serving on the platform of the church pretty serious. When they began the construction of the tabernacle God was very specific right down to the nuts and bolts of how the church should be built as well as the tapestry and material for the drapes. God’s in the details!

By the same token, ask an unsaved person their opinion of those who serve in the church and they can call out the sinner and the saint in about three seconds. By the way, we’re all sinners, but I’m talking about those who live in habitual un-confessed sin. God set a standard in the Old Testament that hasn’t changed today, there’s a difference, and leadership of the church is going to be held accountable for what’s being allowed to happen in the church of God.

God called Moses and seventy-three others out for a leadership service; He then called Moses forward alone. I’m not a Bible scholar but this is how the Word spoke to me today. Pastor’s are held to the highest of standards, this is why my Pastor holds the platform of the church in such high regard as to be very careful who preaches and sings, because he alone will stand accountable to God for our Church. He wants to know that their testimony stands strong. Are they perfect, of course not, but they should be living in such a way that their reputation is founded in Christ. Church leadership falls right behind the Pastor, and so does their accountability. They will be held to a higher reckoning than those in the congregation for what goes on in the church. So if you’re a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Singer or other leader you have to have an understanding of the holiness and separation of God. Not just anyone or anything can be placed before the congregation of the Lord.

The New Testament reads:

2 Corinthians 6:17 ~ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

There’s a difference or at least there should be. I hope to hear from you today! Blessings in abundance to you and your family.