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!