China Challenge

In a few short weeks, Sue and I will be traveling to China to spend time with my brother and his family. We've never been to another country so this will be both exciting and weird! Looking forward to eating some 'interesting' foods they have planned for me.
While visiting with them at my parents home this month, I had the privilege of 'meeting' (through Skype) a group of kids that my brother and his family have connected with. It's not just that the kids are cute and incredible that caught my attention.

They are being raised by a man who I will call 'Jim'. Jim is 51, never been married and never been a dad. He is an American living and working in China. Did I mention that he is raising these kids - all 9 of them? They range in age from 2 to 13 years old. He is simply amazing.

These are kids that are literally left on the street, simply because they aren't born perfect. The slightest defect can cause the birth parents to reject the child and they end up on the street if not in a government run orphanage. When a foreigner takes responsibility for a child they won't step in and stop them. It literally is one less mouth to feed for them.

So here's 'Jim' being Christ to these young kids. As I write this he is in the states gathering what he can to take home to his kids. And this is where the challenge comes in for anyone reading this.

Sue and I want to take a suitcase full of clothes with us and give it 'Jim' as a gift from his partners in Christ in Pocatello, ID. I am going to have a suitcase here at the church from now until the first week of March. In it will be the gender and age of each of the kids, and possibly some additional info on likes and dislikes. We'll treat this just like Angel Tree, where you come in and grab a 'tag' and then go get that for the child. Nothing expensive. Very basic.

And if we get so much that we have to take 2 suitcases - well okay!

Pray about what you can or should do. DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING TO THIS if you are not hearing God say to do so. I can support obedience all day long - disobedience gets to be a little harder to support!

I'll keep you posted on how it's going throughout the process and, once we return, share some pictures of these incredible kids and their amazing dad.

See ya in church...

We've Made it Too Hard!!!!

I've had some great time with my family these past few weeks, even in the passing of my dad. We, my brothers and I, have had some good quality time and some good fun time with family and friends back in West Virginia.

We've also had some good, frank conversations about church and the impact it should be having on people.

My youngest brother made an interesting comment about church and Christianity. He lives in China and gets to see a different perspective - one that I will say was a very refreshing one. "We've made Christianity too complex here. It really is a simple, basic decision and commitment. But the church has made it way too hard."

I can't get that out of my head. "We've made it way too hard." We 'fight' over things that have NO Kingdom impact; we argue over who 'gets' to lead what; we complain when the church teaches about basic Biblical truths such as serving and tithing - the list could go on and on.

What happened to us? Where did we get so far off track that we are more concerned about what WE want and what WE think we need more than we care about the lost, the lonely, the poor, the orphaned and the widowed?

I want to be part of a church that teaches people how to be committed, serving followers of Christ everyday. I want to be part of a church that isn't afraid to teach from God's Word - no matter who it offends. I would much rather offend man than I would God. But somehow 'the church' in America is consumed with pleasing people over pleasing God. To that I have to ask - who does the church really worship?

My hope for this year is that we'll stop making it about US and start living like it really is about Him! Let's not get caught up in stupid arguments over things that don't have a Kingdom impact. Let's get on board with those things we KNOW that GOD has called us to do and get after them. The sooner we do the more people will be in heaven with us.

See ya in church...

Heart Leadership

In an age when leadership is a commodity aggressively sought after, it has also become a lost art in the church.

We look for certain 'types' of people to lead and have a list of traits that we hope to find in people we consider to be leader material. And it's not that different from church to church, or group to group.

But I fear we've allowed too much of the worlds view of leadership to impact the culture of the church. This coming from a guy who lived in the corporate world for many, many years! Whether we're in the church or the world, as Christians we have to begin where it all began - with Him.

True leadership in the church has to begin with the heart of the leader. Where is it grounded? What does it desire? Who does it follow and who influences it? What difference does the heart of the leader make on the outside, and is it good?

We've gotten so caught up in the need for leaders in the church that we've forgotten that our leaders have to be followers first - Christ followers. And they need to be committed to the cause of Christ in everything they do. That includes the home, the office, the golf course, or wherever they spend time. It cannot be about skill or ability above the heart of the person.

We desperately need leaders who are grounded in Christ, who lead from a place of high integrity, who have this priority list - God, family, church, others - and who are not afraid to make a stand for the right things of God. That includes leading in the workplace with the same intensity and focus.

Leaders, I am calling you out. Will you live your lives in such a way that wherever you go, you impact the world for the Kingdom of God? Will your actions speak volumes about your commitment to the King? Will you risk your reputation, your success, your 'fame' for the good of Christ? My prayer is that your answer will be and emphatic YES!

Praying for you and with you...

What will your life say?

Yesterday was a great day of celebration of a man I got to call DAD.

His quiet, confident, unshakable faith and leadership impacted many, many lives around the country. Everywhere we went he had an impact on someones life for the Kingdom of God. His faith was lived out in what he did, thought and said. As was said yesterday, when you met Dean you knew exactly who he was following in his life.

As I listened to all these people share about dad, I couldn't help but think about the legacy that I will leave. I will never be the man that dad was - and he wouldn't want me to be. I have to be who God created me to be, but he left us a GREAT example of how to live for Jesus in all that we do.

His priorities were very evident - God, family, church, the rest of life. Period. Nothing EVER shook this order. I need to work on these better, and plan to from now on.

What about the rest of you? Where does your walk with Christ play out in your priorities? Do you just make time for Him on Sunday, or do others know by your faith?

I want to challenge all of you who read this to become passionate, committed followers of Christ. Let NOTHING stand in your way as you pursue Him, follow Him and lead others to Him.

Along the journey, take time to appreciate the family you have been given. Whether a single parent or a house full, celebrate the fact that you have them. Families that follow Christ are an incredible gift from God!

When it's your time to go, my prayer is this: live life in such a way that at your funeral the preacher won't have to lie!

Blessings...

Dad Is With Jesus!

Saturday may have been the worst day of my life to date. Around 10:30 in the morning I got the call from my mom that dad had been outside, on the farm, shoveling snow. She heard him come in, turned around and watched him hit his head on a table just inside the door. She went to roll him over and help him, but it appeared that he had already gone. She worked on him until the paramedics arrived and they continued for close to another hour. He was gone.

I was utterly lost. My dad - the best dad that God ever created - was gone. My mom is alone after more than 50 years of marriage. (We just celebrated their 50th in West Virgina in August of last year.)

Later, she asked the right question - now what?

I told her that she needed to do nothing now except grieve the loss and celebrate the life. Don't try to plan anything just yet. For now, simply grieve.

Dad reminded us all the time that tomorrow isn't promised to us. Scripture is very clear about it. We are to live for today. That's how dad lived. One day at a time. And every day he lived it for God, family, the church, and then others.

As we head back to the farm (my wife and I are on our way Monday)I'm recounting as much of my dad's life as I can recall. It's not easy. There is a TON of stuff.

But what I keep coming back to is something that Aaron said this morning as he shared the news with the church family - legacy. Dad left an incredible legacy, not only in us boys and his grandchildren, but in the churches he served in, the company he worked for and the communities in which he and mom lived. I've never met anyone else in my life that has had this kind of life-changing impact than dad.

So let me challenge you today - look at the legacy you're leaving. Does it point people to God or someone else? Will your legacy continue on well after you've gone? Or will someone pick up the mantle and carry it to the next generation? I can't get this line out of my head for a song lyric - "What will they say about me when I'm gone?"

We will continue to be the men that dad raised us to be. We will love our families as he did his and look after the church to which God has called us to be a part of. That's what dad would want, because that's what God desires from each of us.

Dad can stand before our Father and hear, with loud and confident voice, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

I Love you, Dad!

Don't Miss Sunday!

I can't wait for Sunday!

We're going out on a limb: first we're going to teach/preach on baptism and then we're actually going to DO BAPTISMS! I know...CRAZY!

And still - it's the way it's always done in scripture. Believe, accept Jesus as LORD of your life, then make a public proclamation about it. That was a HUGE step and sacrifice for people in Jesus' time...not so much for us today, sadly.

If you know someone who needs to meet Jesus, and we ALL do, invite them this Sunday to hear about His grace and His way of life. Don't try to win them over if they won't listen yet...just plant the seed with the invite and let's see what God does.

Like I said in the previous post, God won't let me forget this idea. So we're gonna go with HIS plan and see what happens.

Hope to see you and your unsaved friends there at 9 or 11.

Out On A Limb!

We're going to start this new year off with a teaching series called "Signs of Life" which will include baptism, communion, service and membership.

This coming Sunday, 1/3, I am preaching/teaching on what Jesus says about baptism. (We just baptized 4 in December which was awesome!)

But here's the deal. We still have people who know they need to be baptized and haven't taken the plunge (no pun intended). So here's what I want to do this Sunday -
So here's where the limb comes in: I'm gonna have Vern fill the tank for this Sunday (both services) and invite folks to make their public proclamation as to who is LORD of their lives. (We'll have some extra shorts and tops and towels - all you need to do is bring an obedient heart.)

Jesus commanded that if we believe in Him then we must be baptized (Mark 16:16). And if you look at the times in scripture where folks made their profession they WENT AND WERE BAPTIZED. They didn't wait around for a class or seminar. They BOLDLY stepped into the waters to express their obedience to Christ. It is this outward expression of our inward faith that makes a loud, confident statement to a watching world that we are not ashamed of who is leading our lives.

SO...if you're one of those folks who just hasn't made this step yet, we'd love to walk you through it. We'll walk folks through it to make sure they know just what they're doing, so don't worry about that. I will be asking our Elders and other leaders to step up and talk with folks as they come forward to take this step.

I have NO IDEA what to expect from this. I have tried and tried to ignore this, but the more I study and pray about this message, I feel like God is saying, "Do this."

So, I'd rather do what He says than ignore Him.

See ya Sunday...

Update To Earlier Blog

I posted a video blog here a couple of weeks ago regarding the need to feed people in our part of the valley. Since then, we have received some additional food that has allowed us to help folks out. BUT WE STILL NEED MORE!
I even had someone chime in and issue a challenge of their own, saying that they would give their tithe AND tithe (10%) part of their grocery bill. They then issued that challenge to anyone reading about this. WOW!

Yes, there is a REAL NEED to help people all year long, not just now. If you are in a position to do something, then PRAY about it and LISTEN to God.

Again, you do what GOD TELLS YOU TO DO! Don't be pressured by someone else, including me.

Then do what HE tells you to do.

I would much rather have you be obedient to HIM than to man. (There's something about that in a book I read a lot!!!)

How else do you think we can feed AND help the hungry in our community? Drop me a note here or at karl@fbcpoky.com.

ALSO - this Sunday, December 13, we are BAPTIZING 4 new believers!!! All will be at the 2ND service, so come early to get a spot to celebrate with everyone. Snow or no snow, there's gonna be a party in heaven - and at FBC Pocatello!

See ya in church...

"Heisman" Leading

We will soon learn who the next Heisman trophy winner will be. This is THE coveted prize of players on every college team in the country, carrying with it hopes of making it in the NFL.

What has caught my attention about this trophy recently is the pose. It is one of a player with the ball under one arm and the other arm straight out in front, in preparation of a stiff arm to an on-coming player. The idea of the stiff arm is to push the defensive player out of the path of the offensive player in hopes of gaining extra yardage on the field. A tactic that works well when executed properly.

Have you ever noticed that we, as leaders, sometimes lead from the Heisman position? We say we're leading, but we're pushing people out of the way in hopes of gaining some extra ground somewhere. The problem is that we leave people in our wake bruised, reeling and confused.

We don't do it on purpose, but we do it nonetheless:
* We get 'protective' of our areas of leadership and sometimes frustrated when we get challenged on something.
* We push too hard in one direction sometimes, not knowing or even caring what impact it might have on others. We know it's the 'right thing to do' and so we do it - not realizing that people are being hurt in our 'pursuit' of that right thing.
* My favorite word is head-strong. Mom calls it stubborn. She's right. We don't realize that we need to hear a different perspective at times.
* For us in ministry, this is hard to swallow, but we sometimes will 'hide' behind what we are certain is a God-directed move. We don't seek good counsel, we don't have people we can bounce it off of, and we end up missing what God really intended because of our pride. I'm not saying this happens all the time, but we need to stop and look at our motives.

When God gives direction, I've found that people will be 'on the same page' to some degree when I present a thought or an idea. When it takes a ton of convincing, I have to step back and ask, "Am I leading from a self promoting position or a serve the King position?" What is my posture of leading in that moment?

As a leader, surround yourself with people who won't be afraid to tell you when you're leading from the Heisman position. Invite people that you trust to point out the times when you do it, and then seek suggestions on how NOT to continue to do it. It's never comfortable. But I've found it's ALWAYS beneficial for being the leader that I've been called to be.

See ya in church...

Christmas Season Hopes...

I told someone a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't remotely ready for Thanksgiving, let alone Christmas. And yet...here we are! I guess there's no sense in whining about it now, is there?

So here's what I'm hoping for during this Christmas season for us as a church:

1. That people would connect with the message series, focusing on the gifts of the Magi and what they mean for us today.
2. That people who don't know Christ would come to call Him King!
3. That we would have at least one Sunday where we celebrate baptism in December!
4. That our hearts, as a whole, would be broken for those who are worse off than we are, no matter our situation. If God is for us, NO ONE can stand against us, right?
5. That we would fully understand that He came to serve, not be served. And that we would realize we are here for the same purpose - to serve others!
6. I pray that we can let the Spirit work in our hearts during this season and direct our energy, attention and passion toward the things that move the Kingdom of God forward.

I look forward to seeing how God uses the artists', the technicians, the teachers, the greeters, the leaders in various positions to grow the Kingdom for His purpose and His glory in our little corner of the state.

See ya in church...and if you need a place to plug in and serve, drop me a note and I'll get you connected with the right folks!