The Man I Hope To Be...

I often talk about my dad in various places and situations. I came across this article that ran after his funeral and thought it would give you all some insight as to the kind of man I pray I will be like. He was the greatest and most godly man that I have ever known - period. This was written by one of the reporters who went to several funerals in the course of a week...

" ...next is Dean Pettit. I have known him all my life as he was a relative. I did not attend the funerals of Jan or Darlene but did attend Dean's. I have attended more funerals than I like, but none quite like Dean's. A true celebration of his life. Several speakers sharing touching and humorous stories involving him. What impressed me was the fact that his children were able to with composure speak of their dad and his teachings. When I stated that to one of the boys, his response was "that is how dad taught us." I came away from his service wishing I had known him much better and also wanting to know his God much better and to become closer to him. And after listening to each speaker, that was what Dean was all about, what he wanted each to take away from being around him and knowing him.  Dean will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him, all those that worked beside him as he served the various organizations as a volunteer. Our church as well as the Blue and Gold center will miss him greatly."

Every time I read this article I am in tears. Not just because I miss him, 'cause I do, but also because of the honor it brings me to be called his son. When I think of Christian character and what it looks like in life, I don't have to look far. Dad was that model. Was he perfect? No. But he knew where he was deficient and allowed God to mold in him the character of Christ as was needed. Everything about dad emulated a man of Christian character, purpose and devotion. It showed in his love for mom, for us and for those he knew and loved. I don't ever recall dad having any 'enemies' in life. He didn't like some people sometimes...but he knew how to forgive and love them to the next point in their relationship.

Man...have I got a long way to go. But that's what I'm striving for. To be known as a man of God in all situations, all arenas of my life - starting at home. I pray that my influence begins with Sue, then Kia and Austin and Missy, next flows to Daniel and our next grandchildren (not in any hurry) and then into the lives of those I have the privilege of serving in ministry in various places.

The man I hope to be is seen in the character of my Risen Savior, modeled for us boys in Dean Pettit, Sr. Help me, Father God, to be like the man you created in him...

The Poor...the Orphan...the Widow

We've all seen the pictures - faces of kids going without food, dirty and looking like a child from a third world country. Older women sitting on the edge of a road with bags and bundles of personal belongings. Children seemingly abandoned on the street...Problem with the pictures today is they are right here in the United States. You can't go one block, let alone one or two doors down from where you live, and NOT find someone living in or on the edge of poverty. 

On top of that, the faces continue to be blended into our weekly church gatherings all across this great country.

• The family sitting next to you in church doesn't know where their next meal is going to come from...
• Parents will go without food while their kids eat what little they get.
• The neighbor next door is barely getting by due to a series of events that have cost them hours/pay. Fear of losing a car, a home, even the kids they are trying to raise.
• The widow wondering if her money will make it this month and if she'll have enough to turn the heat on before the really cold temps roll in.

So where are these people supposed to turn for help? Is there family that can and SHOULD step up?
Is there a government agency that's supposed to step in and save the day? Is there some relief anywhere? If so, how can they find it and connect to it?

What about the one place where they should ALWAYS find respite, where they should ALWAYS find hope?

Where is the local church? Is the church doing ALL it can or only what it THINKS it can? Is there a vision, a plan to reach out and BE the church?

We are commanded in scripture to care for the poor, the orphan and the widow...more than once! And yet week after week we walk past them in the grocery store or see them on the street and look at them with pity and the slightest twinge of sadness. Then we get on with our day and forget about them.We're just grateful that it isn't US on the receiving end.

Pastor Mike hit it on the head this past Sunday. We have learned to LOVE money and USE people in this country. And it has infected everyone, including the church, across this land.
We need to learn how to LOVE people (like Jesus did) and USE money to be a blessing. FBC Poky is trying to do it's part, as are other churches in our community. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE THE WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD, not just five or six groups.

I challenge us ALL to step up our game and our giving. Are we serving those in our community and neighborhood who we know are in need? Are we joining other groups to be a larger, more impactful force? Are we giving of our finances FIRST to God? Is there room to increase, even a little more to help others?

The local church IS the hope of the world - time to BE the hope!

"Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother." Zechariah 7:10 (NKJV)

Praying for a Miracle...

We have been experiencing high numbers of late in our FBC Food Pantry. We are averaging serving over 500 people each month, getting over 600 at least once in the last 4 months. This is a great ministry that has truly touched lives and made life bearable for many that take part.
Our main source of food is from the Idaho Food Bank, who rely purely on donations from the community, businesses and food drives. They too have been hit hard and are running short on supply.

As of this writing, we will have to close our Food Pantry this week due to the lack of food. What little we did get on Sunday will supply us for less than 1 hour on Tuesday, our longest open day (til 7 pm).

SO, I'm praying for a miracle and invite you to pray with me.

I am asking God to provide us with $5000 so that we can continue to serve our community at least through the end of the year, possibly into 2012. In addition, this will allow us to better serve the poor, the orphan and the widow - the main groups who use our food pantry - into the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Our hope is and has always been to move folks from consumers of the program to self-sufficient individuals. This will be the next step in growing this ministry. Plans and programs are being evaluated and studied as I write this.

But in the meantime, we're in a bind. With the oncoming fall/winter season in Idaho, the job situation not improving as we'd hoped and growing families in our valley, it WILL take a miracle to continue.

Please pray with me for God to provide the funds that HE desires us to have - hopefully around $5K!

I will post updates here as we see God move and direct us...

What Corporate Worship is NOT...

I am one who will always be looking for ways to include people in the Sunday worship experience. Whether it be a form of art or music, or even sign language and dance, if it fits with what our focus and goal for worship is, I will find a way to use it - but it will always 'fit' or be intentional.
Our worship experience must be intentional in pointing people to God through various mediums - but ONLY if it makes sense. Our worship experience should never be about showcasing talent. If you look at 1 Corinthians 14, you'll see where Paul talks a lot about worship being done in a fitting and orderly way to glorify God and not man.

• The Sunday experience must be about GIVING our best to God in our worship. Sometimes that best place of giving is from a seat or pew. When the unbeliever or lost person comes in to worship, they need to hear and see people leading from the seat right next to them.`

1 Cor 14:24-25 reminds us that the unbeliever WILL be impacted by our worship.

• The Sunday experience is NOT about what you or I want. As Rick Warren starts out the Purpose Driven Life book, "It's not about you." The worship that we are all supposed to be sharing in each week is about God, for God and to God. Period. This issue of worship wars and music style arguments comes from a selfish heart and attitude. We all have it. But it does NOT belong in God's house. We BRING the sacrifice of praise - Hebrews 13:15 
• The attitude and heart of people leading out from a platform must be aligned with God. I have a huge responsibility to make sure that the people leading out from the platform each week are doing so out of the proper 'motivation' and heart. I take heat all the time because I won't put so and so up to 'do special music'. First, as I said before, I just don't throw someone up because it's nice to hear them sing. That's not the purpose. Does it fit with what we're doing, where we're going? But beyond that, what's the persons walk been like? Are they involved in our church? Are they serving somewhere? Do they have a servant attitude or a serve-me attitude?

If you had a football player who was really talented and could do just about anything, but didn't come to practice or participate regularly with the team, how much playing time would he really get? If he didn't regularly hit the weight room or work on his cardio, how effective would he be if he actually did get in the game?

It's the same with 'just putting people up front because they sing good or can DO something"...if the walk is not there, if the devotion to God is not there, the offering is offal (crap) to God.

Nowhere in scripture do I find direction or instruction that says to 'showcase' the 'talent' on Sunday during worship. God is our audience of one.

And since He is the audience, NOT US, then our focus must be one of intentionality, reverence, honor and praise TO Him, OF Him and FOR Him. Please, church, don't turn Sunday into the church version of America's Got Talent.

Honor God above all with your life in ALL places, not just Sunday morning. That's the church that a desperate world is dying to see!

(No Brainer) Lessons from the Farm

While my time away at the farm was a short vacation, a typical vacation it was not.
I went intentionally to work on some things around the place for mom and to spend time with her. I didn't really go with the intention of relaxing and getting caught up. Knew it wasn't going to happen!

But on the plane ride home, I had the opportunity to upgrade to 1st class, something that rarely if ever happens. So I took it. Comfy, roomy and well attended to. I told my wife I could get used to this...but I'm a realist.

Don't get me wrong - while at mom's I did 'rest' more than I normally do here in town. But for the first time in I don't remember when, I actually relaxed. It caught me off guard! I had that 'I forgot something' feeling.


And then I heard all those voices from my family, friends and church - "Karl, you had better take your day off and relax...You need to just goof off for a bit, stop biting off more than you can chew..."


You'll all be glad to know it's beginning to sink in!


But here's the deal: not only does this affect my ability to lead here in my home and church, it adversely impacts my witness to a watching world. And not in a good way.

• The lesson - let some stuff go (and some die) and get my heart and head back in the game for God. That means that folks in the church will need to step up and find a place to serve.That means that I will need to (and am willing to!) LET some stuff go. 

• The other harsh lesson of this trip was that I am not surrounding myself with people who need to hear about Jesus. I am surrounded by Christians at work and all my friends are Christian. My witness 'circle' is not so large!

How are you doing in these areas? Are you so busy doing 'church work' that you don't get any time for you, your family or your God? Are you surrounded by Christians more than non-Christians? What is your witness like?

If you're like me, we need some work. Know that I'm in the boat with you, striving to make the right choices and balance life out for God over what I think.

40 Days of Worship - Day 40

Tomorrow – we worship!

Well, technically it's a couple of days away...but who's counting?

We will all be worshiping somewhere on Sunday. We will go through our own routines of getting ready - prayer walks, vocal warm ups, mental checks, tuning of instruments, playing through progressions and transitions in our head - all in preparation to lead worship.

Then we'll walk out onto our respective stages and do what we do week after week. The caution for us is that it turn into a routine, something we 'just do week after week'.

Throughout scripture we're reminded that our God provides NEW and EXCITING things for us each and every day. His mercies are new...each day is new...His love for us is fresh each day. Do we look for Him daily? Do we look for what He's doing around us every day?
When we walk out onto the stage each week, do we look FOR HIM or do we look at the people and forget that it is FOR HIM that they are here? If we get into a routine, we will only see the people and miss Him. If we get into a routine, we have lost our first love for Him and need to step back.

I am humbled each and every time I get to lead worship. Especially on those days when it's just not 'on' with the team. I mentioned this earlier in our study, but on those days I am grateful for God's filter. It's not that our hearts and minds weren't right. We just weren't prepared as we should have been, so instead of worshiping that day we were working (almost like a rehearsal).

That's not what God desires nor what He deserves.

Do yourself, your church, and God a huge favor this week: DON'T take the platform if you're not ready, sold out or passionate about doing this for Him this Sunday. God is SOOOO worthy of the very best that we have to offer Him. He has blessed us and He expects us to use it for His glory. Don't disappoint Him or let Him down.

In reality, you're the one who gets shortchanged when you go through the routine.

Let's WORSHIP GOD like we've never done before and see what it is He wants to do in our churches!

Can't wait to hear more of the stories --- GOD BLESS!

40 Days of Worship - Day 39

Praise JUBILANTLY!

Scripture: Psalm 150

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Sing this Psalm today. Dance this Psalm today. Play this Psalm today. Live this Psalm out right now and throughout the day!

40 Days of Worship - Day 38

Praise as a weapon for God?

Scripture: Psalm 149

What an interesting psalm!

The verse that really caught my attention was verse 6. “The praise of God in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands…” (paraphrasing).

Wowsers!

But go back a couple of days and recall Psalm 144. We’re in a battle! And if the enemy won’t surrender, then they must be defeated. There’s an aspect of worship that doesn’t get too many songs on the CCLI Top 25!

In fact, I could count on one hand the number of songs that speak about using praise as a weapon!

However, our posture each week from the place where we lead out should be just that. We need to be singing and playing with such conviction that the enemy would hit the doors of the worship center, hear and see what we’re doing and then do a 180 and hit the streets!

Is the passion for God burning so in our hearts when we lead out? As we come to the stage, are we arming ourselves for battle? Ephesians 6:10-18 is a great place to go to be reminded about how we need to be preparing for battle.

Today, take 10 minutes to study the passage in Ephesians. When you’re done, fill in the following blanks:

1. Belt of ________________ - keeps us from giving in to the world’s beliefs.

2. Breastplate of ___________________________ - about being honest, good, humble, fair; standing up for those who are weak.

3. Feet with the gospel of __________________ - being right with God and being contented in troubled times.

4. Shield of _____________________ - being sure that God will keep His promises. Protects you when tempted to doubt.

5. Helmet of _______________________ - believing that Jesus died for your sins and rose again.

6. Sword of ________________ - God’s Word, our offensive weapon. When we tell others of God’s Word the Holy Spirit guides us.

40 Days of Worship - Day 37

Bold and stout hearted…for Him

Scripture: Psalm 138:3

Does it take courage to get up in front of people and speak? Does it take courage to get up in front of people and sing?

There is a difference for a lot of people. As musicians, we’re comfortable behind the mic or behind an instrument. It’s how we’ve been skilled, how we’ve been shaped.

I think we’ve overlooked the fact that, because of Who we do this for, we have received the boldness that the psalmist talks about in this passage. You each, at one point, called out to God and asked Him to help you do this. You were asking for a bold and stout heart – so that you could make music for Him, to Him and about Him.

And He answered your prayer!

Don’t ever lose sight of the fact that, at one time, you were scared, weak and afraid to be used by God. You’re life was such a mess that you thought He could never use you, not for Him. Sad that Satan can convince so many people of that still today.

And now we have the honor of sharing that with people every week. I’m reminded daily that I’m a sinner saved by grace, not worthy of the call He placed on my life. But I strive to live that life out one day at a time, so that He can be glorified.

Savior, He can move the mountains, our God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. Forever, author of salvation, our God is mighty to save He is mighty to save.
Shine your light and let the whole world sing, we’re singing, for the glory of the Risen King. (© 2010 Starfield)

40 Days of Worship - Day 36

Tell of His greatness to the next generation…

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-4

Okay. Let’s be honest. It’s hard to praise God every day of every week, isn’t it? Why? What is it that comes into our lives and ‘blocks’ us from even starting the day with praise? Have we gotten so busy that we just can’t make the time? Or perhaps the question is have we gotten so busy that we just won’t make the time?

Before you start calling me out and accusing me of being critical notice I said ‘our’ and ‘we’ in those statements!

But we sing about this stuff every week. “Every day it’s You I live for, every day I’ll follow after You…” So are we singing about stuff that we don’t believe? Are we singing about stuff that we struggle with doing daily?

David wrote this psalm as a reminder for us to tell of the greatness of our God. It wasn’t meant to be a downer, though sometimes we need things like this to shock us back to reality. He was so in love with God (a man after God’s own heart) that he did everything he could to ensure that future generations would be awed by God. From the Old Testament we’re reminded to teach these things to future generations, referring to God’s laws.

David’s call to commend your works to other generations means to pass it on so that others may come to know Him. In short he’s speaking about leaving a Godly legacy.

What legacy of worship are you leaving for your family? What will they remember about your life of worship that points them to God? Your mouth will speak praise to the Lord. Is the life you lead doing the same?

Take inventory today of where you are in your walk with God. Are you getting time daily with Him? Are you in His Word, allowing it to shape you? Are you living for Him, serving Him with your life?