Thursday, March 14, 2024

 

We have a "coming home" ministry

 We didn't set out to start one, but it is now a significant part of our outreach ministry.  Coming Home.  People who used to follow Jesus.  People who were baptized but somehow got off track.  People who have been living in a far country.  People who want to come home and get back on their Jesus journey.

Our members at Hillcrest invite a lot of people to worship, or to the Journey class on Wednesdays or the Seekers class on Sunday.  Some get interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus.  And some tell us that they used to be a follower, used to go to church, used to be recognized as a Christian.

Some don't even know why or how they left their faith behind.  They just drifted away until one day they were not even going.  Not even thinking much about Jesus.  

Some got overwhelmed with life and just dropped out of faith.

Others got caught up in sin to the point where they lost their way.

And a few got mad at God when something went wrong in their life. The death of a child, or even a parent for example.

Or a few that got mad a church.  God feelings hurt, or felt they were mistreated.  Felt betrayed by a member.  

So we spend a lot of time talking about Jesus.  Helping them remember why they decided to follow him in the first place.  We talk about grace and forgiveness.  The Prodigal Son.  About it never being to late to come home.

When they decide to come back, we often announce them to the congregation, like we so anyone who wants to be part of our faith community.  But we will often say they have been away from God or lost their way, or got off track with life.  Some even have us talk about their sin (alcohol or greed or whatever).  So we pray them and welcome them home.

Our elders meet with them, just like they do with all our new Christians.  Pray over them.  One of us tells a little of their story.  Many of them tell their own stories.  They are raw and painful.  And sweet and holy.  

The one thing we don't do is try and defend /excuse the church, ministry, God.  Whoever or whatever hurt them.  We will say that we are sorry they were -- or felt -- hurt.  Grace goes both ways.  Most people that are coming home have realized holding on to the past is not going to help.

We did not intend to start a "get back on your journey" movement, yet here we are.  It is growing so much we are going to spend the summer in our Journey class talking about Starting or ReStarting with Jesus, using a book by Tim Archer of that name.  

And a soul saved is a soul saved.  Starting their journey, or getting back on their journey.


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

 

My church never talked about...

 I hear different versions of this statement often.  Sometimes negative.  Here is what was wrong with my old church.  They would never talk about the hard things.  Never addressed the difficult issues.  Never talked about the things that matter in our culture.

Or they talk about the new church they are going to and are thrilled because they heard a sermon.  A sermon on a topic that was never addressed in their old church. 

Always interesting when you know that subject was talked about, or you preached a sermon on that very topic.  So why do they not remember.  Or why do they even know the things talked about.

Here are a few things that may contribute to this misunderstanding.

You weren't there for every class or sermon.  And that is not a criticism.  But it is awkward when you assume the only topics discussed were those that you heard.

Or they talked about it and you weren't paying attention.  Sometimes you just aren't focused.  Or you were in a bit of a wilderness and just didn't stay engaged.

Maybe it was done so poorly that you didn't get the point.  I have heard poor communicators and it is hard to always know what they mean.  Of course, that does not mean they did not address it.

And ... maybe they talked about it but not like you thought they should.  They did not make the points you think they should have made.  Or drew conclusions you did not agree with.  That is not the same as not addressing it.

So be careful about making broad statements that may not be true.  I know some churches avoid the hard topics.  Much better to preach thru the text.  It is hard to avoid topics that way.  

So if you are in a church that really does avoid hard discussions, I would encourage you to be bold in standing on Scripture.

And if you are in a church that does talk about the hard things, kudos to you.


Thursday, March 07, 2024

 

Jesus, the Poor, and Government Assistance

 It is political season.  Many Christians not only exercise their American right to vote, but they try to tell me how Jesus wants me to vote (and it is always the way they vote).  They wrap their politics in religious sounding terms.  And I think many of them believe it.

Here is one example.  Jesus cares about poor people.  Christians should help poor people.  Many politicians promise to help poor people.  Some actually enact programs intended to help the poor.  So if I am a Christian, so of course I must vote for "fill in the blank".

I actually agree with much of that thinking.  Jesus cares about the poor (and the rich).  As a Christian, I should care too.  Feed the hungry.  Care for the sick.  And if government programs do that ...

But here are a few reasons why I do not think government programs -- or voting for candidates based on poverty programs -- are part of my Christian response to the poor in this world.

I would rather help the poor directly.  The less the government takes, the more I have to give.  I am not sure how effective government programs are, tho we certainly get whatever assistance we can for those in our community of faith.  I think it is better when I give to those I know and can directly help.  Of course, this assumes we will all give generously to those in need.

It is better to connect personally with people.  There is an emotional connection that matters.  Dignity matters.  The ability to have a conversation matters.  I may even have the opportunity to share Jesus with people.  Again, this only happens if you actually interact with people.  And if you actually share Jesus.

But here is the big one for me.  I want Jesus and God to get the glory/credit/praise for any help given.  I do not want the resources I have being used for the glory and praise of the government or any politician.  I want to help in the name of Jesus.   

I am always thankful when people are helped.  If God wants to use the government to do that, well... that is certainly His business.  But I just don't see working in earthly kingdoms as fullfilling my real Kingdom responsibility.

And this is what I think today.


Tuesday, March 05, 2024

 

A detached retina, Jesus, and me

One minute everything was fine.  The next my left eye was black in the lower third.  Knowing that could not be good, I called my eye Doctor .  I thought I ought to check it out before I flew two days later to speak up in Idaho.  He sent me to a retina specialist.  Immediately.  That doctor used terms like emergency surgery, not going to wait, you are not going to Idaho, and do you want to see out of that eye.

So I had emergency surgery for a detached retina.  And here is what I learned.

Life changes in an instant.  Your retina detaches.  A car wreck.  A heart attack.  Job loss.  Natural disaster.  Sin is discovered.  Relationships crumble.  Life is hard and this world is tough.

Get help.  I don't do well asking for help.  But I had to.  Doctors and nurses.  Elders who showed up to pray.  But I had lots of help I didn't even have to ask for.  Family of course.  Neighbors offering to feed cattle.  Prayers.  Food.  You need family and friends during crisis.  Family by birth and family by new birth.  

Trust.  The possibility of losing your sight in one eye is scary.  But I trusted my Doctors.  I trusted God more.  Decided that whatever happened, God has been so good to me that I would always love and trust him no matter what.

God heals.  It would have been His right not to restore my sight.  And actually, as I write this I really don't know the result of the surgery.  But I asked and He answered.  Just like He has done countless times before.

Recover.  The recovery process is harder than the surgery.  Don't move.  Keep your head down.  But when you need to heal, you do the hard things and trust God is working even if you can't see it.  Or can't yet see.

Well by now you know where I am going.  You need Jesus.  For the hard times.  In the good times.  You need your church family.  God hears.  God answers.  God heals.

I wish this hadn't happened, but it has been a good reminder of what really matters.    


Thursday, February 29, 2024

 

The Incredible story of Uliana, Gary, and Jesus

Gary became a Christian at a young age but wandered away from Jesus by the time he was grown.  Stayed away a long time.  But he married a faithful Christian, Jana.  Gary refued to have anything to do with Jesus for a long time, but a year or so ago he started having conversations about Jesus.  Before long, he was coming to church.  Then part of a small group of men that regularly have breakfast together, talk about Jesus, and pray with and for each other.  That's a good story.

 Uliana is a Russian lawyer practicing in California and Texas.  She was dating Gary's son and wanted to meet his parents so she came to Abilene.  Gary and Jana brought her to church one Sunday and that is how my wife and I met Uliana.

She was raised Russian Orthodox and has interest in Jesus but had never done much about making a true commitment  She was especially interested in baptism as the way to die with Jesus and be raised to a new life.  So over several months, Uliana and I would email and text about Jesus and about what her Jesus journey might look like.

Marsha and I drove from Abilene over to Arlington so meet her at a Starbucks and talk in person about it.  Three hours.  It is possible that I have a loud voice, so Marsha and Uliana still laught about the Starbucks Bible class.

So a couple of weeks ago, Uliana called Gary and Jana to tell them she wanted to come to Abilene and be baptized.  So we baptized her in the Country Club swimming pool.  It was wonderful.  Her first words when coming out of the water were "I am born again."  That is a good story.

And here is why it is a great story.

God used Gary to reach Uliana with the good news about Jesus .

All those years of Jana waiting on -- and praying for her husband.  

Gary coming back to Jesus.

Uliana searching.

Gary connecting us.

All so one more soul could be reached.

Only God.


Tuesday, February 27, 2024

 

A few reasons I love Jamie Ridgell as she turns 46

 Our daughter-in-law, Jamie Ridgell, turns 46 tomorrow.  She has been part of our family for a long time now so she is really more of a daughter.  So here are a few reasons I love Jamie so much.

She is really consistent.  I say a lot of the same things every year about her.  They have been true for a long time.  That speaks well of her and you always get to really know people over time.

She is great with her family.  She loves our son Joe Don.  Great Mom.  Has raised remarkable children.

She rolls with the flow.  I know things have to upset her or get to her, but you just rarely see it.  She takes life as it comes and deals with it.

She is really supportive of others.  Her family, her friends, us.  She encourages others to pursue their dreams.  Even if those dreams are not her dreams.  That is rare.

But here is the big one.  Jamie really, really loves Jesus.  Reads her Bible.  Prays.  Worships.  Tries to live like Jesus.  Encourages others to live like Jesus.

So God... thanks for putting our son and Jamie together.  We sure have been blessed by her.  Just like a lot of other people



Thursday, February 22, 2024

 

Six things to talk about at Easter

 We are starting into the weeks leading up to Easter and this is a good time to have Jesus discussions.  When you get opportunities to talk about Easter with non-believers, here are six ideas to get conversations started.  And they are also pretty good ideas for family conversations.

Easter is what Christmas is all about.  Jesus came into this world to save us.  He did that by dying on the cross.  Baby Jesus grew up to die.  For us.

Raised from the dead.  God raised Jesus from the dead.  He came out of the tomb.  Big deal.  Good news.  That is amazing and astounding.  God has power over death.

Death.  Yes I do talk about death at Easter.  Because there are people doing Easter without parents, or a mate, a friend, or a child.  The fact that God raised Jesus from the dead means he can raise me too.  And that means that our loved ones that believe in Jesus will be raised from the dead.  Us too if we believe.

New beginnings.  Easter is a great time to talk about starting over.  New life in Christ.  Forgiveness.  Purpose.  Joy.

Jesus.  Talk about Jesus.  Don't let the Easter message of life over death get lost in the flowers, baby rabbits, and pretty dresses. 

Starting over.  Re-writing your story.  Changing the ending.  Starting your Jesus journey.  Coming back to your Jesus journey.  Spring and Easter.  A new start. 

Great Sunday to invite people to go to church with you.  

Easter is one of those times where people are perhaps more open to the Jesus message.  Both those who never believed.  Or those who used to believe.


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