What Are You Thinking?

I remember my dad telling me "You have to learn to think for yourself." Sometimes he said this because I did something foolish without giving it much thought. Other times it was because I needed to learn how to make wise decisions without depending on others. 

The truth is that if we do not think for ourselves someone will think for us. How many times have you heard someone say to you, "I think..." and then give you advice, sometimes good and sometimes bad. 

One of life's valuable lessons I have learned is that every day I have to be intentional with my thoughts. To be intentional with my thoughts I have to be intentional with who I am listening to. Who is the voices speaking into your life daily? 

What books are you reading or podcast are you listening to? What voices speaks loudly to you on a regular basis? My prayer is that God will renew our minds daily and help us to think wisely. "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

I remember watching the sitcom in the 70's "Gomer Pyle" where Gomer is sitting in an Army Barrack with a bucket on his head. His sergeant, Sergeant Carter told him it would "help his thinking"! Some kids were made to sit in the corner, facing the wall, because it was supposed to help them think. 

I know a better way to improve your thinking. While this is not an all-inclusive list of things you can do, here is five things you can do that will help you be an intentional thinker:

1. Spend time worshipping Him. It helps us to focus on Who is important. Listen to music that brings honor and glory to Him each morning as you begin your day and spend time in prayer.
2. Read the Bible. Gods ways are higher then ours and his thoughts are greater then ours. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:10 KJV).
3. Focus on good things. "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Thank about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippines 4:8).
4. Look for ways to encourage others. Look for words that will encourage those around you.
5. Choose what you listen to. You cannot always choose what you hear but you can choose who and what you listen to.

The person that chooses not to think for themselves are choosing to allow others around them to shape and influence their way of thinking.

What are you thinking?

Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World

For the last several days I have been reminded of this song that I learned as a child, 

"Jesus loves the little children of the world...
They're all precious in His sight. "

In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

In serving in the area of ministry as the Conference Superintendent of LifePoint Ministries (LPM) one of the highest honors I have is to serve on the Falcon Children's Home (FCH) Executive Board in Falcon, North Carolina. 

This Children's Home Ministry is quickly expanding, recently opening another Children's Home in South Carolina. They also have a ministry (Royal Home Ministry) for young pregnant mothers offering, counseling, and educational opportunities in a nurturing, protected atmosphere at the Falcon, North Carolina campus. On the campus at Falcon they have a "Falcon Christian Academy" as well as other various programs that minister to the children.

I sat this past week in a FCH Executive Board meeting and was reminded of how God is using this ministry to save the lives of the unborn, and to touch the lives of many children often in very heart-rending circumstances. I am very thankful for the opportunity that allows me to spend 4 to 6 days a year traveling to Falcon and investing in this ministry. 

Thousands of dollars have been given over the years from LifePoint Ministries IPHC churches and individuals to this ministry. Thanks you for your heart to give! Also thanks to the Women's Ministries of LifePoint Ministries IPHC for helping those within our organization to be aware of the needs at FCH. When you support LifePoint Ministries IPHC you are also helping to support this ministry. This is one of many different organizations that we network with to help fulfill the Great Commission. 

If you would like to find out more about this home you can go to 
http://iphc.org/discipleship/falcon-childrens-home/

On the home front: I encourage you this weekend to intentionally notice the little children that God has place around you. Be intentional in speaking, encouraging, and possibly (with parent's permission) praying with a child. It could make a world difference in their heart and life.

After all, they really are "precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world!"

God Built Your Platform

"God has given everyone a platform. Some of those are broad and highly visible, but others are small..." Tony Dungy

The truth is that God designed and built your platform. A platform is defined as "a raised level surface on which people or things can stand." The platform that I am referring to is not made of wood but of a greater substance. It is an elevated place where God has created for you to share your story, and everyone has a story to share. 

There are many shapes and sizes of platforms. Some are small, or seem to be, while others are much larger. However all platforms measure the same when they impact the lives of others, even just one.

Sometimes we step off of our platform. We find ourselves in places where our story is not being seen nor heard. I encourage you to seek God to point you to your platform. Is it social media where you share God's grace and love toward others? Is it on your job where you are given a platform to speak into the lives of others? Is it in church where God has placed you to make a difference? Or most of all, is it a family member, or family members, that God has given you to be a good influence in their life?

My prayer today is Lord; help me to recognize my platform, the place where you have elevated me to speak into the lives of others. If it is through social media, public speaking, or speaking to my neighbor, help me to step up on my platform, stand, and share of your marvelous grace in my life.  In Jesus' name I pray! Amen

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" 
I Corinthians1: 27 NKJV

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

God doesn't have any calendars in heaven! But he does use time to help us navigate the activities of life. New Year Resolutions are made every December and I recently read that 25% of the resolutions are forsaken and often forgotten by the end of the first week in January. An article in Wall Street Journal in 2012 stated that 88% of all New Year Resolutions fail. However statistics also showed that those that make New Year Resolutions are 10 times more likely to succeed.

I really prefer using the term "goal" in place of "resolution." Setting goals are different then most resolutions in that with goals usually it is measurable and it has an end. For example, a New Year Resolution may say, "I am going on a diet the first of the year" but a goal says, "I have a goal to lose 20 pounds by March 30, 2017."

Do I set personal goals at the beginning of each year? Definitely! Do I accomplish all of those goals? Definitely not! But for me, setting goals are very important. It helps me to examine my past and look to the future to things that I need to personally accomplish.

My goals are personal but yet look like many others. Goals to eat better, exercise much, spend less, save more, pray effectively, and read a lot; goals to have better relationships with God, family and friends. Easy to say these things but now it is time to put it on paper. Take time today to list a few goals. Make them measurable and attainable. Set aside time each day to review and work on your goals. Set mile markers and deadlines for completion. Keep a journal of how you are doing and review on the first day of each month to see how you are progressing. Make it enjoyable and not a burden.

Earnest Hemingway once said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Goals are important but the end result is what counts. Enjoy life, live with purpose, and fulfill God's plan for your life.

"By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us."  Eugene Peterson (The Message Bible)

These Three Remain

(Below is an article contributed by a friend, Rev. William Strickland. William is editor of the Gospel Messenger and serves his organization (Congregation Holiness Church) in Missions USA. Enjoy!

If you were to ask me what it takes to become and remain a great Christian leader, I could sum up all I know by experience and education in three short statements. But first, I'd have to tell you to not worry so much about becoming a great leader. If being a great leader is the chief goal of your life, you will surely not become all that Christ has called you to be. But in answer to the question, these three remain in my mind as the chief trio of prerequisites for anyone to be recognized as a great leader: Lead self well. Practice servanthood. Work well with others.

1) There must be present an increasing degree of leading yourself well. This requires the consistent practice of self-discipline in order to lead the various aspects of your self-life: spiritual and physical, mind and body, nutrition and entertainment. Make no mistake about it, Christ followers must continuously solicit the help of our Father in order to have any level of success in leading self-will. It requires self-discipline which when practiced according to Romans 12:1-2, becomes a Holy Spirit controlled (disciplined) life.

2) Others should be able to observe you consistently practicing servanthood. Servants live under the constant knowledge that their life is not their own; they have a Master. The Master of the servant of The Lord is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. Most who aspire to greatness rarely achieve it because they refuse to fully yield to the Lord-ship of Christ. He must reign on the throne of your heart, mind, and free-will in order for you to approach being a servant with the right attitude. That right attitude always resembles submission to the sovereignty of the Master. Servants of The Lord walk in humility and they refuse to believe their own press. I've made it a habit of telling myself for years now that I'm not nearly as good as my biggest fans think I am. But I also remind myself regularly that I am not nearly as bad as my worst critics think, or the devil for that matter. As a matter of thought, I've come to believe that it matters much less what others think of me as long as I am thinking correctly according to the words of my Master. If as a servant, I know my Master is satisfied with me, then little else matters to me.

3) Interpersonal relationship skills are a must and should continue to increase. Leaders must be able to work well with others and be seen as the ultimate team player. Everyone should want you on their team, because of the value you bring to the table. But make no mistake about it. Just because you have a seat at the leadership table or perhaps you sit at the head of the table, does not mean you are the smartest one at the table or that you are always right. Hence, this working well with others requires you to increasingly grow in these interpersonal relationship skills. Ministry leadership is not about how much you know or how much you can accomplish. As a servant-leader in the Body of Christ, you must be willing to get over yourself and how gifted you are, and learn that you're only a member of the Body. Working well with the other members of the Body will bring us closer to fulfilling the will of God than any individual effort. Aristotle said, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The wisdom for the Kingdom is in understanding that we can only accomplish a John 14:12-13, "greater works than these" ministry when we learn to cooperatively work with others. Those are the projects that the Holy Spirit strongly desires to empower.

Yes, these three remain the top behaviors that I have to work on. None of these behaviors simply happen. Sure, some individuals find some aspects of these three to be easier than others. But as I continue on my journey of servant leadership, I'm continuously reminded that I am 100% responsible to be intentional in my pursuit of these three. I cannot blame anyone else if I am not becoming all that Christ has called me to be as a follower. And while I know that a great number of other characteristics could be listed, I feel sure that most of the items on such a list would fall under one of these three categories.

At the end of my life and after the eulogies have been spoken, I'd rather be remembered as a faithful servant of a great Master than as a great leader. What about you? What aspects introduced here do you find easier or more difficult than others? And since I have said "these three remain," which one would you say is the greatest of these? Let's talk about that and help each other grow.

RIGHT TURN AHEAD

Recently while traveling, I missed my turned and my GPS (Global Positioning System) "recalculated" and rerouted me down an unfamiliar road.  I ventured down the path that I was being instructed until I came to an intersection and cross over "Nowhere Road".   I chuckled and thought, "When you listen to the wrong voices in your life you will end up on Nowhere Road".

The wise old king, Solomon, addresses this as we have recorded in Proverbs 4:10-15 MSG,

"Dear Friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.  I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.  I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns..."

Probably all of us have taken many wrong turns in life.  But I am thankful that we have our GPS (God's Positioning System) that helps us to get back on the right road.  As you begin a New Year I encourage you to look ahead:

Map out the scriptures you plan to read for 2015.
What translation will you use?  Will you start from Genesis and go to Revelation or do you have another plan?  Are there a book(s) of the bible that you want to study more in detail?

Purchase or download a prayer journal.  
 It's always good to go back a year later and read what God spoke to you the year before.  Include scriptures you read, thoughts you received, and prayers needs you mentioned as you write in your prayer journal daily.

Plan a time daily to read, write and pray.
All of our lives are busy and there is never seemly a convenient time.  It is nearly impossible to do this the exact time 365 days of the year, but find the time that works best for you.  Do it and you will not regret it!

Be intentional about the books you read and conversations you have.
I like to read from several difference sources every morning.  I want to hear God speak to me through His Word as well as hear what He has spoken to others.  A good devotional book, a book on leadership, and a bible commentary is usually pretty close to me during my "devotional time".

I am watching for the signs ahead instead of always looking behind in regret.  Along the way I want to influence others to follow Christ.  To do this I must take the right roads of life and not lead any down the wrong path.  Solomon once said, (Proverbs 28:10 MSG)

"Lead good people down a wrong path and you'll come to a bad end..."  

As Dale Evans Rogers once wrote, "Happy trails until we meet again!"

May God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face shine on you in 2015!

PREACHER SHOES

While going into a Cracker Barrel Restaurant this week, during my travels, a four year old boy came up to me and asked, "Are you a preacher?"

Now I am asked that a lot by adults.  Probably because I wear a shirt sometimes with engraving that identifies the ministry I am involved in.  But never by a four year old!  I first looked at my shirt to realize I didn't have a "ministry shirt" on.  But then if I had, certainly a four year old could not have read the name on my shirt.  

I responded to the lad, "Yes I am."  Then in my curiosity I asked,  "How did you know?"  He immediately looked down at my shoes and without any hesitation said, "Cause you are wearing 'preacher shoes!'"  

I walked away somewhat amused by the logic of this four year old.  But also inspired that morning with a thought.

The prophet Isaiah use a similar analogy when he penned, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"                                                   Isaiah 52:7 NIV

It was the Apostle Paul in Acts 13:25 NIV that reminds us that it was John, while completing his work, he said: "Who do you suppose I am?  I am not the one that you are looking for.  But there is one whose sandals (shoes) I am not worthy to untie."  

Shoes are mentioned several occasions in the bible including one where God told Moses to "take off your shoes for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

It is definitely not the shoes we wear but the message we share that makes the difference in the lives of others.

Are you sharing the good news?

Here are five things that all Christians should be doing:

1. Sharing the Good News
2. Heralding Peace
3. Overcoming Evil
4. Explaining the Plan of Salvation to Others
5. Shouting "Our God Reigns"!

Now for the decision of the morning, "What shoes will I wear today?"  Of course, my "preacher shoes"!

One Preacher’s Perspective

(Written by Guest Writer, William Strickland - Editor of the Gospel Messenger)

Got a few minutes? Let me share some random thoughts with you. Like many ministers, I really enjoy the opportunity to guest preach in any size church without regard to race, culture, or denominational affiliation (as long as I’m allowed to preach what I feel like I should). One thing I accomplish is temporarily lightening the load of the pastor during the week prior to that Sunday (less sermon prep). A meal with the host pastor and spouse or some of the staff if pastor was away, is usually a part of the experience as well. I try to be as encouraging as possible in all my interactions. And my personal ministry experiences continue to challenge my perspective and force me to grow. Maybe you already know these, but I feel the need to share anyway.

1) The majority of churches are not mega-church sized and that's okay. Approximately 80% will have 100 or less in attendance for their Sunday morning service. Over half of the visits I make are to congregations that have either leveled off or are in decline. It's not always the fault of the pastor, though they must lead the solutions. And I don’t believe there is a set pattern to get every congregation back on track to growth. But there are some principles that are applicable everywhere and the changes needed must be led by the key influencers of the congregation. With a holy unrest I have actually prayed more than once for The Lord to move me, if I needed to leave in order for growth to begin again. It sounds counterintuitive but it leads me to number two.

2) The overwhelming majority of pastors (and staff members) are bi-vocational and could really just use a break. Seriously, most are more tired than they realize. The life of a bi-vocational minister leaves little room for rest or unaccounted for time. Therefore, sermons will not usually be as smooth and polished as your favorite TV preacher. There's no staff to delegate other tasks to and there’s not enough time available in the week.

3) So, please stop comparing your pastor to every other minister. Your pastor is most likely doing the best he can. He is not your former pastor and he does not preach like your favorite evangelist. Please let each of God's servants have the freedom of realizing their own potential with their particular skill set and gift mix. Appreciate them for Whose they are and for who they are. One of the best ways to appreciate your pastor is to help ensure some regular time off. A week or two of with pay and away from the church every quarter of the year will do wonders for the servant of God.

4) Most churches do not have professional quality music and that's okay. They don't have to. Leading God's people in worship isn't supposed to be a performance for spectators to observe. But on the same subject, everyone involved in your worship service needs to have a heart after God in pursuit of excellence. Regardless of how gifted they are, if they lack evidence of growing in Christ-like maturity and refuse accountability, they should not be participating in worship leadership. 

5) Yes, money really is a big deal. Jesus taught fiscal principles too often for me to tell you otherwise. While church leadership should not have to nag congregations about the issue, please understand that it is vital for you to do your part. And that's all you have to do; your part. Regardless of what size it is, your tithes and offerings are more about your heart to worship. And it keeps the lights on, takes care of the pastor, guest speakers, and provides for missions across the street and across the sea. Seriously, money is a spiritual issue and you're going to have a hard time convincing God otherwise. Personal compliance to your local church and organization’s financial plan will bring great blessing. It takes real money to do real ministry!

6) When I stop to consider my own organization, one thing stands out as it pertains to ministers: Approximately 85% of our pastors and ordained ministry leaders are bi-vocational. Therefore only about 15% of them ARE fully funded in the ministry without having to be employed outside of the ministry or be dependent upon retirement funds. I use my terms because I don't like the terms part-time or full-time when it comes to committed servants of our Master. During my years of bi-vocational ministry, I did my best to be a full-time follower, servant, and minister of Christ (some days, I blew it). My calling served as an excuse to strive for excellence as an employee of the company and as a witness for the Gospel with integrity. Every ounce of training and expertise gained in secular employment made me a better minister. And likewise, my study of the Scriptures, experience, and training in the ministry made me a better employee for the company. So, perhaps two are better than one. It is my humble opinion that a minister should be content and consider it a privilege to serve God in a bi-vocational manner, until and unless He specifically transitions you into a fully funded ministry situation. And within American Christianity, fully funded positions are not plentiful.

7) It brings a little sorrow to my heart when a church does not make time for prayer in worship services. We expect the preacher to bring us a fresh sermon message each week and then we find an exit when it comes time for a prayerful response. None of us are too busy or so holy that a few extra minutes in prayer aren't beneficial. Prayer changes us, works miracles, moves mountains, and affects eternity – so lunch can wait. And if others are in the altars and you are not, let's stay focused on heavenly things and not begin those loud conversations. And if you must leave before the end of service, please do so quietly. It could be described as hypocritical for Pentecostals to proclaim such belief in the power of God and say we desire a great spiritual awakening, and then our actions say we are in too big of a hurry for prayer.

This is simply one preacher’s perspective. I welcome your comments and I’d be glad to hear your perspective. And as a reasonable adult, I'd be glad to discuss your disagreements.  

                                                   Guest Writer - William Strickland

                                                   

This Rose Is For You

What ever happen to the idea of wearing a white or red carnation on Mother's Day?

Living in the southern part of the United States during my childhood it was tradition for you to wear a carnation to church on Mother's Day.  I soon realized that some wore red carnations and others white carnations.  Every Mother's Day, because we could not afford a carnation from the florist, mother would find a rose bush that was blooming and pin a red rose to my shirt.  Not only to me but also to both of my siblings, and my dad had to wear a flower as well.  (He wore a white flower, because his mother passed away six weeks after his birth.)

I asked mother one time what this meant and she simply stated, if you wore a red carnation it meant that your mom was still living.  If you wore a white carnation it meant your mom was dead.

Seldom today, in the culture that I live around, do you see anyone wearing a flower in church on Mother's Day.  But today we still celebrate an over 100-year tradition of honoring our mothers.  Interesting enough it was May 10, 1914, that President Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation declaring the second Sunday of May the first National Mother's Day.

History books tell us that it was as early as 1868 that a special day was thought of to honor mothers. It was an attempt by one woman by the name of Anna Jarvis to reunite families due to the Civil War among the states.  And guess what?  Mrs. Jarvis's favorite flower was said to be a carnation.

Civil War in the United States today is not the problem in family separations, but many families are much divided.  It is my prayer that today is a day that families are reunited and those that are united that their cords will be stronger and will not be broken.

Roses in honor of Carissa
and my mother...

Now I may not be wearing a red rose today but mother thank you for being the mom that you are.  Thanks for all the times that you and dad sacrifice so that we could enjoy life as children in a godly home.  Thanks for the teaching of God's Word but more so the example you lived before me.

To my wife, Carissa, who has always loved children and has been a great mom to our three children and a loving grandmother to our grandson.  Carissa has been that mother figure to many of the children in her Pre-K Class in the public school and in her Sunday School classes that she taught for the past 34 years.  Thanks for being a mom to so many.

Roses in honor of all of the great moms...

Thank you to the many moms that have sacrificed many things for their children.  For some moms that I know that has been misunderstood or others that have suffered abused.  Thanks for being the caring, compassionate, mom that you are.  For loving your children and making their life simpler by doing all that you do for them.

I have been blessed to know many great ladies; some of who are moms and others that are not, that have been a part of Carissa and my life.  They have influenced many others and us.  Thank you for being the person you are and the difference you are making in the lives of those around you.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!