Waiting for Gustav in SW Louisiana -- Sunday afternoon

A couple of notes from Gustav land....

At this point, the weather is slightly breezy but certainly not forboding. That is do to change as the day unfolds tomorrow.

I had a difficult time getting home today as I needed to cross the two lane north/side highway that runs through our town. The traffic was epic, it occassionally included convoys of ambulances which I assume were transporting folks from hospitals and nursing homes.

It was reported that the local grocery story announced it was giving away all refigerated items this morning. All you can eat....till your power goes out as well!

Church this morning was interesting. Our attendance was likely about 40-50% of our normal crowd. This wasn't a surprise based on what I had been reading from people's facebook status bars. Many folks are quite concerned about the storm.

What was a surprise was that the folks that came were really quite at peace and far less distracted than I expected. In fact, I went ahead and preached more of a message than I had planned when I came to church.

Our family has spent the afternoon getting ourselves ready to head to church in the morning to join the folks riding out the storm there. The eye of the storm is still projected to go right over our community, but will have lost some intensity by the time it arrives.

Till then we hope to keep power, internet and cell phones up and running as long as possible. A/C wouldn't hurt either.

Waiting for Gustav in SW Louisiana -- Sunday

I woke up this morning with the news the storm is still heading directly to our community. We are 40-50 miles inland, so that will help some.

We are planning to have church this morning, but I am not sure how many will come. Church will be very brief. Likely a few words, a psalm and a prayer. Today is not a day for exposition! Folks need to be reminded of the goodness and the nearness of God, then they need to get back to their preparations.

We have planned to open the church for anyone in our church family that wanted to ride out the storm together. However, things could change. I stopped by the police station on the way to church this morning and several officers standing outside said that it was possible our entire town could be under mandatory evacuation.

We pray for wisdom. We pray calm. We pray for safety.

I wouldn't mind if you joined us in that prayer!

Waiting for Gustav in SW Louisiana

Here is SW Louisiana we are watching, waiting….and talking. For thirty of my thirty eight years I lived in the hurricane zone of the Florida and Louisiana coasts. In this part of the country we have four seasons just like everyone else, except we drop winter and add hurricane season. (Instead of making snowmen, we become experts in weathermen.)

There is a very unique energy that accompanies the approach of a storm. Everywhere you walk you hear the conversations and the storm related laughter. Then, prompted by some invisible signal the community takes the crisis seriously. You have never been to Wal-Mart till you have been to Wal-Mart during the run up to a storm!

At this time, the plot for the storm seems to be heading right for us or just a tick to our west. We are about 50 miles inland, but it looks like it could be an interesting week. Three years ago our church suddenly became an emergency shelter following Katrina. We housed several hundred people in our fellowship hall for weeks. It was beyond what appeared to be the limits of our facility and our people. But it was not beyond the limits of what God could do through a willing people. When I came as pastor a little over a year ago, the experience remained a defining moment for many people in our church.

At this time other resources are supposed to be available in our community and we do not plan to have the same role. But we watch and wait. Ready for whatever God would have for us to do.

Jeremiah 26 -- The Prophet Preached On

God is not loose with His words, He always speaks with purpose. By this point Jeremiah seems to have noticed this. So when another word comes to him, accompanied with the admonition “do not hold back a word,” he should have known something was up.

The message was typical. A charge against the people and the looming threat of judgment. (When you walked in during the middle of a Jeremiah sermon, you never had to ask the person next to you to catch you up to speed. Ever.) Equally predictable was the people’s response. Except this time the resentment seemed extra strong. As soon as he was done speaking his audience cried out “you shall die!”

Needless to say there was not a long line at media table after that service. No doubt as he was preaching, Jeremiah could feel the seeming brick walk of animosity being built by his hearers. To be honest, I don’t preach well enough to receive death threats, but I have preached some obvious duds. It is not uncommon during those messages to consider jettisoning sections of the message for the benefit of all involved. I wonder if Jeremiah did not face a similar temptation as he watched the anger and resentment growing.

But the LORD had warned him, “do not hold back a word.” So he preached on in the face of adversity. What should not have amazed Jeremiah (or us) is that they crowd waited till he had “finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him” before they rioted! It was the politest mob in history.

When God gives us a word we must not cower in the face menacing audiences. God is committed to His word being heard. And the reason is simple…“it may be that they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way.” With that as a possibility, the prophet preached on. (The extra nudge from God didn’t hurt either.)

Tim

Note -- Do all of these posts on the judgment words of Jeremiah reflect a blogger angry with his church? Not at all. Jeremiah simply is where I am spending time these days. The biggest impact the prophet has had on me is the priority and power of the Word. The best way I can care the church I love is speak most clearly and apologetically the word I understand that God has given me. I pray that Jeremiah is making me a stronger preacher.

Celebrating and Consoling...A Monday in Ministry

This morning I had the privilege to join a family to witness an adoption. It was a great experience. Just a few hours later I was consoling a different mother as she processed great pain that was unfolding in her family. It was a difficult conversation.

One family I know well. The other I only met today. One event was scheduled for weeks, the other squeezed into the gaps of a busy day. One oozed with joy and hugs, the other was full of pain and guilt. They represent the diversity of the experiences unfolding in congregations and communities each and every week. But for all their differences, both called for a pastor at a significant moment of their lives. I happened to be that pastor.

Yet, it was not really me they wanted. It was the presence of Christ that I, as a minister, in a small way represent.

On days like today I am overwhelmed by the places that I am invited in. I seem to live way over my head. The key for survival for the minister comes from the simple words of that first Baptist minister....

"I must decrease and He must increase."

Truly on days like today, we have nothing else to offer.

Tim

Go Ryan Hall!

Don't forget Ryan Hall (affectionately nicknamed the "American Kenyan" because he grew up at similar altitude as the great Kenyan runners and is now getting similar results) runs the Olympic Marathon Saturday night at 7:30 PM (Eastern time). Ryan has a real chance to medal in this race.

No matter what happens, I expect God will be glorified through this young man who wants nothing more than to honor God with the gifts and the platform he has been given.

Tim

Helping Deacons Deke

No two churches are like and every church has different strengths and weaknesses. But one place I believe the vast majority churches could improve is in the role of the deacons.

The transition in deacon ministry models that most churches have undergone in the last several decades has been a step in the right direction. But the transition is incomplete. And this has caused deep frustration and confusion that negatively impacts entire churches.

Based on Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3, I would describe the deacon as “men of Godly character working to improve the kingdom effectiveness of the local church, primarily through serving others”. This perspective moves the deacons away from the old model of being a board of directors or the executive council on all things church. In every church I have pastured I have emphasized that it matters far more who a deacon is, than what a deacon does.

But what am only now beginning to really understand is that biblical deacons were deep men of character….but they also did stuff. Our men today are willing to lay aside the old role of directors, but they hunger for something meaningful to do for the kingdom and they become restless serving without a purpose.

Programs have been developed to fill this gap. (The SBC Deacon Family Ministry Plan comes to mind.) But these plans often only address one area of need in a church and often only fit the gifts of a small portion of our men. I believe each deacon should find his own sphere “to improve the kingdom effectiveness of the church through serving others”.

When I asked my deacons this week, how I could help them fulfill their role as deacons, they simply said “tell us what needs to be done.” I am committed for their sake and for the church to do just that. Because it turns out, it is just as important what a deacon does as who a deacon is.

Still breathing, still learning.

Tim

Jeremiah 23 -- The Evil of Empty Words

Every 168 hours the pastor is called to speak a “word from the Lord” to his people. (For most of us with Sunday night and midweek services, it is much more frequent than that.) The question that we should ask is how does God think we are doing with that responsibility?

Through the years He has not always been pleased by the work of the professional proclaimers. For instance, the prophets of Jeremiah’s day have incurred the wrath of God. For one thing, their lives are inconsistent with their alleged calling (v. 11, 13-14). This stirs up the anger of God. As does the fact they speak their own words, not God’s. Even Jeremiah is sternly warned in this passage to only speak God’s words and nothing else. What is most sobering is that in the absence of the good and Godly Word “no one turns from his evil.” The silence is deafening, despite the noise of all the man made messages.

The prophets speak what their hearers want to hear. They steal each other’s words. Why do they offer straw when they could have wheat? Are not His words like fire and a hammer that breaks rocks? God seems to be incredulous that anyone would settle for these words.

Yet these proclaimers could have had a true word – if they had stood in the council of the LORD “to see and hear His word.” If they had stood in the council of the LORD they would have proclaimed His word….and God’s people would have been restored (vv. 18, 22).

Oh, the damage our man made messages have caused. Today is Thursday….and Sunday is coming. May we spend ample time in the council of the LORD!

Jeremiah 21 -- A Tale of Two Promises

In Jeremiah 21, King Zedekiah sends a delegation to Jeremiah in hopes that God will relent and save the city of Jerusalem. After all, God is such a good God. It is Zedekiah’s desire to rest on God’s record instead of his own. God’s response is not what Zedekiah was hoping for. In verse 10, God says “for I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good.”

Funny, I have never heard anyone claim Jeremiah 21:10 as their life verse.

Now, lots of folks claim Jeremiah 29:11 for their life verse. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

I am not sure we are supposed to choose either one. Since the verses are spoken to unique people in a specific settings it is somewhat dangerous to make one of these a blanket claim for our lives. However, if we are to apply one of these verses to our lives, it must be acknowledged that we don’t get to pick the one we want like, placing an order from a great celestial menu. This is God’s message to Zedekiah in chapter 21.

So what is the difference between a Jeremiah 21:10 life and a Jeremiah 29:11 life? My youth minister said the difference is “location, location, location!” You don’t want to live in the city that God has set His face against. Location is the most telling aspect of these two verses. In 21:10 the people are people inside their beloved city. Yet the hard word comes to them. And the blessing comes to those in exile far from home. Nobody would have guessed that combination.

So where would you rather live? In the midst of the “promised land” or inside the blessings of God? Yes, it is all about location, location, location.

Cheering for Character

I want our guys and girls to win, I really do. Several times a day I will check my computer for the most up to date Olympic results. Aside from Michael Phelps however, more than a few American athletes seem to have performed below expectations. It has been a bit disappointing, particulary in track and field.

But at the end of the day, I have been very impressed with the grace with which most of these athletes have handled their adversity. They do not hide their disappointment. But they congratulate their opponents and make no excuses.

And that type of character seems to be more rare in sports these day than even an Olympic gold medal.

A Capital Crime and A Priceless Privilege-- My Day in the Pulpit

I began a new sermon series at our church yesterday morning. The series is entitled "God's Expectations" and is built on Ephesians 2.8-10.

It was a challenge and a joy to preach on the great verses of grace that are Ephesians 2.8-9 to our congregation that contains so many whose understanding of faith has been strongly influenced by the Catholic church and culture. Even our best efforts to earn our own salvation only compounds the sin of self sufficiency first experienced in the Garden. (At its root sin rejects God and instead says "I will do it my way".)

But it may have been an even greater challenge to continue the message into verse 10 for those who have been so heavily influenced by Baptist/Protestant teaching and culture. I believe it is an exegetical capital crime to leave the message of grace unfinished. [My own guilt here makes me appreciate grace all the more.] We are not saved by works (it is the gift of God) but we are saved for good works. According to v. 10 good works are our purpose and our destiny. They are to form the very boundaries of our lives.

Despite its priority in my ministry, it feels these days as though I have been underestimating the power of pastoral preaching. There is no greater opportunity for influence than to stand before my people and deliver a passionate word from the depth of my heart every week. Despite our complaints about the squeeze of culture, the pastor before his people remains an unrivaled opportunity.

Which means we must get it right. Our preaching will only be at its most useful for the kingdom of God as it mirrors the message of God.

Small Town Ministry

In a few minutes I will be taking my kids out to lunch. Sometimes this can be one of the more frustrating things I do in the place that I live. It is not that I have troublesome kids, it is just tough to find a place to eat. It is not that there are no choices, there just are not that many. Most of my life I have lived in large cities. We loved living in South Florida with the energy of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Then God moved us to a community that was probably only a tenth the size of where we had been living. While it was not a metropolis, it was still a city.

Now we have moved again. To a place that is also about a tenth of the size of where we had been living. And while it is always good to live in the center of God’s will, lunch time can sometimes be frustrating in our small town.

But I am discovering there are some really wonderful things about doing ministry here. Our church’s Christmas musical and annual Women’s Conference are standing traditions for many in our community. Not long after I moved here there was a front page story with a color photo in our local paper introducing me to the community. (I was described as “tall and lean”. Our church still chuckles about that….far more than I think they should.)

As school began this week, our church delivered fruit trays to the teacher’s lounges in all seven of our local public schools. The response to that simple gift has been slightly short of remarkable. We have received phone calls, emails and I was even stopped on the street after a run to thank our church for the trays.

Last night, before prayer meeting, I attended the first planning meeting for next year’s the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. I think it will be a good thing for our church to be a part of and I thought it would give me an opportunity to spend time with folks outside our church. When I walked the room, my hunch was right as I did not know a single person. But what amazed me is when I man I did not know began to introduce me to everyone in the room. “You know Pastor Tim. Their church put on the 5K last spring.”

So I don’t know where we will eat lunch. I do know that wherever it is, I will likely see someone I know. And that’s the great thing about living where I live.

May you and your church find ways to impact your communities for Christ.

Tim

Jeremiah 20 -- The Dizzying Aspect of Ministry

If you get a chance, read Jeremiah 20.

If you already know what happens, try to forget.

As the chapter begins Jeremiah has just finished preaching in the temple courtyard his strongest words of judgment yet. Pashhur, the son of the chief officer of the temple hears the sermon and is not amused, to say the least. He has Jeremiah beaten and placed in stocks.

How does Jeremiah react in the face of such high-powered, violent opposition? The next morning, upon his release he makes a beeline for Pashhur and tells him that God has given Pashhur a new name, Big, Big Trouble (Tim's unpublished translation) and picks up his sermon right where he left off.

Jeremiah has not been intimidated, distracted or silenced. He is God's voice for that day. He is unmoved.

Then the wheels come off. In some of the sharpest words found in Scripture, Jeremiah accuses God of great unfairness. God has forced him into this situation and to make matters worse won't allow him to walk away. He is disgusted and worse.

However, reflection leads him back once again to his call. In the midst of these dangerous days, "the LORD is his dread warrior". Just as God had promised. In a seeming blink of an eye, he moves from anger to worship. Secure in the character of God.

But the chapter is not finished. Just as quickly, Jeremiah is once again gripped with despair. He curses the day he was born. He curses the one who announced his birth. He wishes his mother's womb had become his tomb. This is not your garden variety despair!

Then the chapter ends.

What does this mean? I have not been beaten or jailed for my preaching and I have yet to curse the day I was born. But I have had those days that I have been in love with my church, reflecting on the wonderful things that were unfolding all around me. Then a simple phone call or single off the cuff remark can make me wonder if there is any hope in my current place of ministry. From doxology to despair. I have seen it all happen in a fifteen minute stretch...more than once.

In these moments we must lean into the promises of God and the message of the Gospel. We should notice that despite the struggles of this chapter, Jeremiah has another thirty two chapters of ministry to go.

And we should stop measuring ministry in fifteen minute stretches!

Blog post worth reading about family at Fide-O

Here is a great list of ways that a minister should care for and love his family. Honestly, I don't think it is possible to get them all right. Just do what I did...read and see which ones convict you the most. Look out for #2, #23 and #30. Last night I read a Nancy Drew book for the first time ever so I survived #27.

http://fide-o.blogspot.com/2008/08/30-practical-ways-for-pastors-to-love.html

Tim

A Lord Supper Message

A general outline of my message preparing us the Lord’s Supper this past Sunday. In the lead up to this service I was deeply challenged to make the observance of Communion a significant event in the life of our church. I offer these words not from a sense that these words are worthy of emulation but instead I offer them to “spur us onto good work” in the ministry. Thankfully the service went very well and was wonderfully appreciated by our church. (In part I fear, because we were so overdue in our observance.)

****

Text -- 1 Corinthians 11.17-32

As we come to the Table we allow it to teach us.

This practice is not acquired tradition but the very instructions of Jesus Himself.

The meaning of this experience is found in Jesus’ complete giving of Himself.

The purpose of the table is the powerful proclamation of truth.

However, it is possible for a church to get this wrong.

This does not require a perfect approach to the table, for that misses the entire point of the table. But it does mean we cannot be openly broken in our relationship with those around us or with God.

We also come to the Table to be drawn in.

The touch, feel and taste of the bread and the cup is designed through the use of these symbols to move us across time so that the story of redemption is not a distant experience, but an ongoing reality. Do this in remembrance of me.


Finally, we come to the table to find common ground.

Missing in most of our worship experiences is the act of sitting around the table, looking at the faces across from us. At is around the table that we are reminded of the shared journey, shared Salvation and shared responsibility of the family that is the body of Christ.

***

May God bless your next observance of the Table.

Tim

Marking Fifteeen Years of Ministry

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this week I marked fifteen years of ordained pastoral ministry. Without a doubt one of the great joys of a pastor’s calling is to have my life connected with the people of God through local churches. The connections He has blessed me with have evidence of great grace.

Sunny Hill Baptist Church in rural southeast Louisiana was the first place to ever call me “pastor”. To say my wife and I were green at this point would be one of history’s great understatements. I was a twenty three-year seminary student , who had only preached five times before in my life. I think my wife, Susan summed it up quite bluntly, but honestly when she said, “we got far more out of that relationship than that poor church did.” But I am more than grateful for the grace they showed (and all they preaching advice they gave me!)

Upon graduation, Immanuel Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale was the first place I had the privilege of serving as a full time pastor. I did my first funerals here and once had Alice Cooper’s wife visit my Sunday School class (yes, that Alice Cooper). Here I learned what my greatest passions and convictions were. And I learned I still had much more to learn!

Looking back, our years at Chapel West seem to be our most difficult days in ministry. The planting of a church in a very large, brand new, mostly unchurched community was exciting. But it was also hard. Very hard. It seemed we never had a moment's rest and always lived waiting for the “breakthrough” we were certain would come. Looking back, I wonder if church planting may not have been the best fit for my gifts. However, while the plant did not survive our leaving, there is a beautiful company of believers who were eternally changed through the ministry of this church. In many ways, more so than any other place I have served. God’s call must be trusted.

I thought it was a waste of time to talk to the search committee from Immanuel Baptist Church of Panama City, FL. I doubted that this hundred year old traditional church in the Florida panhandle would really be interested in a struggling, nontraditional, church planter from South Florida. Then God knit us together….almost in an instant. Over time I prayed we would never have to move. While it was not always easy, it was almost always a blessing. No place has been more difficult to leave.

Today, it is my privilege to serve as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Eunice, LA. We are just a year into this ministry, but it gets richer by the day. We have seen God do some wonderful things in these months. But I most look forward to being here long enough to simply be part of the landscape of this church and community. And to celebrate a few more milestones along the way.

Jeremiah 19 -- An Uncomfortable Word

Jeremiah 19 is full of sharp images. God instructs Jeremiah to take a potter’s earthenware flask along with the elders of the people and the elders of the priests to the Potsherd Gate. There he is to describe God’s charges against the people and the consequences to come.

As it has been throughout the book, the language is vivid. “I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at.” He speaks these words to a crowd that already has great antipathy toward Jeremiah. He speaks the words holding the earthenware flask, most likely standing over a huge pile of earthenware rubble and rubbish.

Everybody knew what was coming. But I think it was still pretty powerful when Jeremiah shattered the flask and said “thus says the LORD of hosts: So I will break this people and this city….”

In Jeremiah one of the big questions I struggle with is who is God speaking to today in this passage? The godless culture that surrounds us? Those in our congregation who have wandered away from their faith? Or those who show up to my church every Sunday?

As much as I wish it applied to them, I am afraid it applies to us.

Which leads me to another question. When it comes to the sins of the people, I understand being less than faithful. We are always susceptible to that. But “filling this place with the blood of innocents” and building high places to Baal?

How was that not obvious to God’s people? How could they not be instantly convicted from the first word of the prophet?

It makes me wonder what sin is in my life to which I too am so blind!

Teaching The Book of Numbers

The Amazon delivery man came by the church today. This always brightens your day when your community’s leading bookseller is....Walmart. Today he brought me three new commentaries.

Numbers: God's Presence in the Wilderness (Preaching the Word)
Iain M. Duguid (Author), R. Kent Hughes (Series Editor)

The Book of Numbers (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) Timothy R. Ashley (Author)

Numbers (The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series) Gordon J. Wenham (Author)

As some of the blogosphere’s sharpest minds you have likely deduced that I will soon be teaching on the book of Numbers (midweek Bible study).

Numbers has some wonderful narrative and really speaks to life between “where we have been” and “where we are going”. I preached through the book about twelve years ago and I enjoyed looking over my old notes earlier this week. (Does anyone else read their old sermon notes and think… “why can’t I preach that anymore”?)

Not that anyone is asking me, but if I ever write a commentary on Numbers myself I am going to try to come up with a better opening paragraph than this one from Iain Duguid --

"Before I began work on this volume, I had little exposure to the book of Numbers. I had never preached on a text from Numbers, nor, as far as I know, had I ever even heard a sermon on the book of Numbers."

Not the most confidence inspiring introduction I have ever read.

If you have preached from Numbers recently I would love to hear some of your approach. What resources did you find useful?

Tim

Someone to cheer for this Summer

Looking for someone to cheer for in this Olympics may I suggest marathoner Ryan Hall. Watch this video and be impressed with the athlete, but more so with the young man.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5c60b9016f85cc43196f&page=1&viewtype=&category=

It is nearly impossible to find a clip on the internet of Ryan Hall where he is not talking about his faith!

Ryan sent us some cool stuff for our church's 5 Loaves 2 Fish 5K last year and we will be watching when he runs for His Glory this summer.

Not a Closet Prophet

As the summer of '08 winds down (our local schools start tomorrow) there is no question what was the season's most significant movement in our church. In the course of several weeks, traveling separate paths, three of our young people surrendered to ministry. Each came forward with confidence and deep conviction.

This week I invited the three of them to lunch to check in on how they are doing, wondering if the initial excitement of responding to their call had worn off any. It had not! (I think they were somewhat surprised and offended that I would even ask.) The three happen to each be ninth graders and they head into their first year of highschool with seminary in their minds. (When I entered ninth grade I think I had lunch on my mind.) I would invite you to pray for Cameron, Erica and Adam as you read this.

I must admit that one of the great graces of all this is that one of the three is my son. At lunch, I challenged the trio to study some of the "call" passages in the Bible for the next time we got together. That evening, my son was so excited to share with me that he had learned from Samuel's call. He was impressed by 1 Samuel 3:20 -- "All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD."

My son said, "Samuel was no closet prophet....I want to be that guy!"

This week, I mark fifteen years of ordained pastoral ministry. Son, I want to be that guy too.

Two Guys You Should Read

I must confess that despite being a thirty-something minister with some degree of professional curiosity, and I assume at least average intelligence, I have struggled to develop a working understanding of the Emergent/Emerging church trend. If you find yourself in a similar predicament you might want to pick up Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be).

Pastor Kevin DeYoung and moderately hip sportswriter Ted Kluck team up to write a compelling and engaging discussion of “the what” and “what’s wrong” of the movement. The book certainly helped me to consolidate the lose pieces of emergent understanding that I had gathered over the years. In my mind, the two strongest chapters were a reconsideration of the alleged evils of modernism (Kevin, chapter 7) and reflection on what new community really looks like (Ted, chapter 10).

It may be that the most useful critique of the movement was the call to replace “versus” with “and”.

“They pit information versus transformation, believing versus belonging, and propositions about Christ versus the person of Christ. The emerging church will be a helpful corrective against real, and sometimes perceived, abuses in evangelicalism when they discover the genius of the “and,” and stop forcing us to accept half-truths.” (page 75)

Overall, the tone of the book remained friendly. In fact, while the book confirmed that I remained more immersed than emerged, I am challenged to be certain that our church does not feed any of the more legitimate concerns that inspired the emergent movement (“emergment” anyone?) to grow.

Jeremiah 15 -- A Recall

Ministry was not easy for Jeremiah. His call was to preach a hard word to a hard people at a hard time. For Jeremiah life rarely deviated from this experience.

And the truth is, it wore on the man. In fact, by Jeremiah 15 we see a prophet in retreat. While he does not curse the day he was born...he does regret it. His frustration stems from the fact that he has done everything God has asked (vv. 16-17) yet his “a pain is unceasing” (v. 18)

The result seems to be that Jeremiah has walked away from ministry (v. 19).

In grace, the LORD invites Jeremiah to return with the promise of restoration.

What intrigues me is that Jeremiah’s recall to ministry is nearly identical to his original call to ministry. He is to speak God’s words (“you shall be my mouth”). It will be difficult and his life will be endangered. But God will protect him and deliver him throughout. The need has not changed, the call has not changed and God has not changed.

I am convinced that every once in a while all ministers need to be recalled to the ministry. Not all have packed up boxes or written any letters, but they are in retreat all the same. We need to return our hearts, our minds and our bodies to the hard work of being the “mouth of God*” to our generation.

May God bless your ministry today and if you need it, may you be blessed with great recall today.

Tim

* Note Jeremiah could only serve as the “mouth of God” as he consumed His Words and spoke “what is precious not what is worthless”. This is a role of pure awe and humility.

A Good Word

About four years ago I had the privilege of baptizing Joe and Sonya (and their son). They were new Christians and to say they were excited about their new life in Christ would be an understatement. Their only regret seemed to stem from the fact that they suddenly felt a strong disconnect with their old circle of friends. It was nobody's fault, it was just that the center of Joe and Sonya’s life had moved and no one really knew what to do about it.

According to Joe and Sonya, the easiest solution to this problem would be for their friends to move their lives to Jesus as well. After talking about the problem, we decided to start a sort of discovery class for their friends. We would meet at a local restaurant, get to know each other and over the course of four to six weeks I would present the gospel. Let me tell you, anytime I can eat unlimited chips and salsa and call it ministry I am so there!

The turnout wasn’t as great as we had hoped, but three friends came each week. We had some really meaningful discussions about the most important things in life. While several times I thought we were a moment away from someone giving their life to Christ the class finished with no commitments. On occasion, one of them might come to church with Joe and Sonya, but not much seemed to have really taken root.

One of the friends moved out of state. Some time later Sonya excitedly reported that her friend was getting baptized. A few more years have passed. I have now moved out of state. Sonya emailed again, another friend had given her life to Christ and was getting baptized today.

What a good word! What a good reminder that the kingdom of God is not always instant. I do not know if our little discussions made a difference in these lives or not. I do know that Joe and Sonya’s consistent witness and prayer certainly did. I also know that no matter how much we cared about these souls …God cared immeasurably more!

So far two of the three have confidently said “yes” to Jesus….and I have confidence the Spirit is not finished yet!

Tim

Celebrating the Lord's Table

I spent some time this week thinking about how we celebrate the Lord's Supper. Over the years I have never seemed to find the right pattern when it comes to frequency of observation.

The autonomy of our church tradition gives each church complete freedom to establish its own practice. However without precedent to guide us the Table can be unintentionally neglected. I know, it has happend to to me and my church...more than once. (This is particularly true while the church is without a pastor. In nearly all the churches I have pastored, the church is so excited the first time we come to the Table together. They almost always say, "it has been so long....we can't even remember the last time we did this".)

When I was growing up, my church celebrated the Lord's Supper once a month. Later churches I was a part of celebrated communion quarterly. In theory I felt something between the two would probably be best. In practice I have rarely been able to find such consistency.

Other tensions remain unresolved. How do we keep the worship experience full of meaning without being gimmicky? Should we feature the Lord Supper during morning worship so the most number of people may participate or do we use another service that allows for more flexibility and focus on the table?

In my current setting the situation is complicated by the very large portion of our church and community that has deep Catholic roots. With that in mind, I am resolved to celebrate the Table more frequently, in settings that allow for the most instruction and reflection -- typically Sunday nights.

Here is the order of service we will use next Sunday morning:

Prelude
Congegational Music
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Forever
Let the River Flow
Give Us Clean Hands

Offertory
Video clip of Last Supper

Opening Words of message
Special Music and taking of the Elements
Concluding Words of message

Time of Response
Mighty to Save