Prayer Journey

The National Day of Prayer was yesterday and we had a great Concert of Prayer service at the Deer Run Church of Christ in South Bend, Indiana. 

While I love special prayer times and days, it is practicing a life of prayer that really gets me excited.  Next week, May 5-10, I will be in the Louisiana gulf coast region to pray.  God has given me the opportunity to join with a friend of mine to spend a week praying in the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana.

Our goal is to listen to God and follow His lead in the conversation He has with us.  Our desire is to encourage Christians in their efforts of physical and spiritual rebuilding taking place in the region.  We will spend time praying in the communities of the region, on the campus of the University of New Orleans, and with the ministry of Operation Feed My Sheep.

If you are currently in the gulf coast area south of New Orleans and would like to join together sometime the week of May 5 - 10 for prayer, let me know.

If you would be willing to partner in prayer with my friend and I as we take this Prayer Journey, I have developed a prayer guide to help people know how to pray for us.  You can download a .pdf file of it at this link:  New Orleans area Prayer Journey Prayer Guide.

If this type of prayer involvement interests you, I am also planning a similiar Prayer Journey in the Salt Lake City area of Utah for June 23-28.  Contact me for more information if you are interested.

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out (part 3)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 3 - Sent Out  

In Part One of this series of articles, I introduced the concept of three major approaches to occupational ministry change that can be seen in Biblical example and in churches today.  In that first post, I wrote about the change method of being Thrown Out.  This is a harsh practice born out of arrogance and pride.  While it causes much hurt and long-term issues to deal with, God has an incredible way of picking up the pieces and putting them back together when a Thrown Out person turns to Him in complete humility and trust. 

In Part Two, I wrote about being Left Out and the issues that come from this approach to change.  While gentler than Thrown Out, Left Out still leaves people hurt and disillusioned.  Even in this, a consistent pursuit of God can transform a less than ideal situation into something that accomplishes great things for the kingdom.  When faced with being Left Out, we must hang on tightly to our trust and obedience to God.

As I finally get around to writing part three, it is with great pleasure that I can say there is a better way!  God has used, and will use, Thrown Out and Left Out to accomplish His will rather than allow them to defeat His purposes.  It is possible to learn great and valuable lessons through being thrown out or left out, but let me write of a more excellent way — Sent Out!

As I thought about this series of writings, I kept thinking of the New Testament church and how God used these various methods to accomplish the spreading of the gospel.  Yet as I considered the New Testament itself — the content of the writing, the planting of churches, and the equipping of young evangelists — I couldn’t help but notice that this one technique had a greater benefit in the kingdom of God for all involved.  It is a process that began with Jesus as He implored His followers to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest fields.”  As they did just that, He answered their prayers by sending them out in pairs to carry the message of the kingdom of God.  (Matthew 10 & Luke 10)

And then there is the following text from Acts 13:1-3:

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:  Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Here we have the early Christians worshiping God and listening to Him for direction.  As they worshiped and fasted, God spoke to them through His Spirit about a work that needed done.  Their response is to seek God further in prayer and fasting, leading Barnabas and Saul to be Sent Out. 

I love this approach!  Barnabas and Saul went on to accomplish the work God had for them through the sending out of them by the Christians at Antioch.  They were going with a purpose.  Not only did they know that God was behind it — it was a work to which He had called them — they also knew a group of believers were backing them as well.  I don’t think we can accurately estimate the power of being Sent Out.  The hurts, fears, and doubts of Thrown Out and Left Out are completely out of the picture.  Instead, you have strength, faith, and confidence, knowing that you have a job to do that someone else believes that you can do because God has called you to it.  We see this as Paul and Barnabas travel from place to place boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus.  We see it in Paul’s writings as he instructs, challenges, and calls Christian believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus.

I thank God that I have finally experienced the joy and pleasure of being Sent Out by a group of people.  It has been remarkable to watch God work to bring about this change of ministry I went through a couple of years ago.  In many ways, it seems like the script was taken directly from the passage in Acts above.  In a time of worship and prayer, God called me to a greater involvement in prayer with Impact Ministries International.  I had already experienced being Thrown Out and Left Out in ministry and just knew there had to be something better.  And so I prayed and I fasted.  I went to the elders of the Deer Run Church of Christ where I was on staff at the time and asked them to join me in seeking God’s direction and timing for His purposes in my life of ministry.  After several months of meeting and discussing with each other – but more importantly, with God — we all knew God was calling me into this prayer ministry and giving them the opportunity to partner with me and see that I was Sent Out well.  They responded to God’s leading and continue to stand with me, giving me strength, faith, and confidence to do the work God has called me to.

Sent Out — it is a more excellent way!  As you serve others in the name of Jesus, I pray that you are one who is Sent Out.  Even if no one else has acknowledged it, you have been Sent Out.  Jesus said to His followers — to you and I if we are His followers — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20)  You and I have been Sent Out.  We have been given the authority we need to share the message of the gospel.  Yes, it is much more pleasant when people participate in sending us out rather than throwing us out or leaving us out, but regardless of the actions of people, we are Sent Out!

I pray that you take seriously the fact that you have been Sent Out by God.  May He bring healing to you in the times that you are Thrown Out and Left Out by people.  I pray also that God will help you to be one who participates in others being Sent Out, rather than being a part of someone being Thrown Out or Left Out.  May Jesus be honored as we go about the work that He has called us to.

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out? (part 2)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 2 - Left Out  

In Part One of this series of articles, I introduced the concept of three major approaches to occupational ministry change that can be seen in Biblical example and in churches today.  In part one, I wrote about the abrupt transition of being thrown out.  This is a harsh way of accomplishing change.  The short-term gains rarely, if ever, outweigh the long-term hurt, disillusion, and bitterness that forms on both sides of the “thrown out” transition.  It is not a Biblical model of how Christians ought to treat one another.  In fact, the Biblical examples of ministry changes brought about by being “thrown out”, all involve non Jesus-followers versus Jesus followers.  How has the American church culture gotten to the point that we can tell a fellow believer, based solely on our personal preferences, to “Get Out!”?

Okay, long introduction and recap simply to bring us to part 2.  A seemingly gentler approach is a ministry change brought about by being left out.  Left Out has a wide range of causes and influences and is often closely related to the ministry change method of Walk Out.  Left Out is a hard issue to address because it comes from either party, and often both parties, to a ministry change. 

A Biblical example of being left out is found in the relationships of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark.  Let’s look at it as it is written:

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’  Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.  Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.”  Acts 15:36-40

It is a familiar story.  In most cases of being left out, there are actions of betrayal and abandonment — whether real or imagined — that leave a person isolated and no longer belonging to a group he once thought he was part of.  A choosing of sides takes place, followed by a parting of ways, and then you find yourself somewhere different and unexpected — wondering why it came to this.

As I stated earlier, you rarely find Left Out without his close cousin, Walked Out.  In the text above, we see Walk Out show up more than once!  The obvious one is pointed out for us in the text.  We read that John Mark had walked out on Paul, Barnabas, and company during an earlier “missionary” trip.  The other isn’t so obvious, but Paul and Barnabas walk out on each other.  Whatever discussion that takes place between them comes to a climatic end as they part company and go their separate ways.  The striking difference between “thrown out” and “left out” is the motivation.  Thrown Out is generally motivated by anger, pride, and arrogance.  Left Out is more subtle and driven by emotions of hurt, betrayal, and isolation.

Yet in this story, we see how God was able to use the hurts of Left Out to bring about good in this ministry change.  By Barnabas insisting that John Mark go along and Paul insisting that he doesn’t, two missionary teams are developed to take the message of the gospel to a greater number of people.  Being left out hurts, but God can use that to accomplish His will when we stay surrendered to Him.  The emotions of Left Out aren’t so deep and vibrant as those of Thrown Out, so the healing and reconciliation is often easier and more complete.  That is “the rest of the story” of the text above.  As Paul is imprisoned and near the end of his life, he writes to Timothy and asks him to come and to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:12). 

When you find yourself entangled in the complex maze of Left Out and Walk Out, know that while it is not the best situation, God can use it for great good.  Also remember that God has reconciled us to Himself to give us the ministry of reconciliation.  I pray that you and I would be mindful of those we have left out, those who feel left out, and those who walk out.  Let us carry with us, and to them, the message of reconciliation and usefulness.

. . . next up, part 3 - Sent Out. 

Discipleship Training Institute

Impact Ministries International
Presents:

 

D T I

Discipleship Training Institute

July 13 - August 2, 2008

Week 1:  Spiritual “boot camp” in Lansing, Michigan.  This will be led by Dean Trune, executive director of Impact Ministries International.  The time spent here will lay the foundation for the entire three weeks of learning and practicing a greater pursuit of God using the tools of spiritual disciplines.

 

  Week 2:  Backpacking trip in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  This portion of the insitute will be led by Dale Lautzenheiser, youth minister at the West Lansing Church of Christ.  Dale is an experienced leader of spiritually focused backpacking trips in Colorado.  This week will deepen the participants’ reliance on God and strengthen the pursuit of intimacy with God that was taught in the “boot camp”.

 

Week 3:  Prayer Journey in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.  This week of the institute will be led by Tom Lemler, director of prayer ministry for Impact Ministries International.  The week will be spent in communication with God about ministry in the Salt Lake area as we practice spiritual disciplines related to prayer.

——————————————————————————

The Discipleship Training Institute begins and end in Lansing, Michigan.

The cost for the entire 3 week institute is $895 per person.
(This includes all expenses at each location and travel between the locations once you arrive in Lansing, Michigan.  You will need money for minor incidentals and some meals during the travel times between Michigan, Colorado, and Utah.)

The institute is open to high school seniors, university students, and other adults seeking to grow in intimacy with God.

For more information or application form, contact Dean Trune:
dtrune@impactingtheworld.com

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out? (part 1)

Thrown Out, Left Out, or Sent Out?

Part 1 - Thrown Out  

These thoughts have been prompted by my recent conversations with a number of people experiencing transitions in, and out, of occupational ministry as well as reflections of my journey in ministry.

There seems to be three major approaches to occupational ministry change in churches today — thrown out, left out, or sent out.  I also see God using each of these three processes to move people into ministry where He wants them to be as I read the history of the early church in the New Testament.  I find this fascinating, because without the Biblical example of God using each of these methods to accomplish His purposes, my first reaction would be to think that only one of these approaches could be used by God effectively.  But that would limit God’s ability and sovereign nature, wouldn’t it?  To only be able to use one method would stand in stark contrast to a God who “causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

Not only that, I’ve seen first hand how God has used each of these methods to move me into the “work that He has prepared in advance for me to do.”  Let’s examine more closely some Biblical and personal examples of each of these approaches and determine to do transitions in a more excellent way!

The first approach is “thrown out”.  This is the most visibly harsh of the three methods of transition.  Often, this is used out of extreme hatred and ignorance.  You have various examples of the apostles being thrown out of the synagogues by the Jewish leaders, causing them to seek out listeners to the gospel message among the Gentiles.  Their ministry location would change because of being thrown out and barred from speaking to their original audience.  The persecution that spread throughout Jerusalem is another example of this.  Believers were scattered throughout the known world, thrown out of their hometown by religious leaders intent on putting a stop to Christianity.  This was slightly more subtle than the apostles being thrown out of the synagogues, but the actions of those opposed to Christianity made it clear — “You are not welcome here any longer.”

While God used the “throwing out” of His people to accomplish a greater spread of the gospel, those doing the throwing — even the religious leaders — tended to move farther and farther away from God.  Did it break God’s heart to see His servants treated that way?  I think so.  It broke His heart to see His Son treated that way.  But His desire is not to waste the pain and rejection that is experienced, but to use it for a greater good.  The lessons learned are often slow and painful but they can be of great benefit.  The key to growth when enduring the “thrown out” style of ministry change is to allow God’s love and mercy through others to bring healing and purpose. 

Being thrown out hurts.  Whether it is a physical persecution as the early Christians faced with all of its physical harm or just a simple, “You’re fired!”, the pain is real and the rejection can be overwhelming.  When you find yourself in that position, know that God wants to make something good come out of it and Satan simply wants you to become hard and bitter.  It becomes a battle for your heart and soul and it is critical that you allow God to bring healing, peace, and forgiveness into your life.  It takes time.  There is not a quick, easy, and painless “three steps to emotional healing” that can move you from thrown out today to healed and whole tomorrow.

For me, being thrown out of a ministry was one of the hardest things I have ever had to endure.  The healing and recovery process was long and hard.  I’m not even sure when it happened, but one day I no longer saw myself as the victim in the whole process.  The real victims were the lives that went untouched because people got so wrapped up in their own agendas that the only thing spread was hurt and confusion.

This isn’t unique to occupational ministry.  Most people have felt “thrown out” at some point in their life.  They’ve been “in” and told that have to get out.  We live in a throw away society and unfortunately that attitude infects the relationships that people have with one another.  If this job, marriage, friendship, or whatever other relationship doesn’t work out, that is okay — I’ll just throw it away and get another one. 

I pray that you and I would value people the way God values us.  If anyone ever had reason, God had all the reason in the world because of our sin to throw us away.  Instead, he redeemed us — bought us for His own and adopted us as sons and daughters.  What an incredible example when we begin to feel someone is of no use to us.  Don’t throw them away, guide them to a restored life in Jesus!

. . . next up, part 2 - Left Out. 

Look! No Hands!

A generation ago, I would often challenge myself to see how far I could ride my bicycle without using my hands.  Perhaps you have done that, or still do.

I have to admit, there was generally no good reason for why I would do that other than to say that I could.  This was most effective with an audience.  To be able to call out, “Look!  No hands!”, and have people stop what they were doing and watch.  The longer I could go, the longer they would watch.

As I thought about this week’s topic, “We Are the Body of Christ”, I couldn’t help but wonder how often we do the same thing as Christians.  We want attention, so we ride through the Christian life shouting out, “Look!  No hands!”, hoping that someone notices what we are doing and focuses their eyes and thoughts on us.  We say, “Look how impressive I am.  I don’t need the hands, or the eyes, or the feet, or whatever other part God has placed in the body.  I can do this without them and then I get all the credit.”  While not saying any of this out loud, we even go so far as to say, “I don’t even need the head.  I’ve got this all figured out on my own!”

We do it even though we know what eventually comes next.  I never could succesfully finish a “no-handed” bike ride without using my hands.  While I could ride long distances, eventually I had to choose.  Do I give in and use my hands or do I crash?  The conclusion for that is the same as for life — either learn to use the parts of the body God has put into place or we crash!  As hard as we try, we eventually reach a point where we must allow the head to control all of the parts of the body for the good of the entire body.  If we fail to do that, a crash is on its way.

How often does pride get in our way and keep us from being a body where “each member does its part”?  How much do we limit ourselves as the “body of Christ” because we refuse to allow each part to do the work God created it to do?  What will it take to bring complete surrender to the headship of Christ so that each part of the body receives accurate instructions and accomplishes them effectively as part of a healthy body?  Why is it that even in the church we struggle getting past our desire to be seen and noticed when we know it is Jesus who ought to be evident in our assembly?

I pray that as the body of Christ, you and I would value each part as we allow and equip every member of the body to be used by God to accomplish His purpose and will.

Don’t Let Anyone Look Down On You . . .

If there was ever a verse of scripture I would like to re-write, it would be the verse I want to discuss in today’s writing.  I’m not talking about a verse I want to change because I don’t like the conviction it brings in my life — I have a few of those and I understand my need for them.  I’m talking about a verse that often gets misused because of the way we read it as it is laid out in the English language.  Perhaps you recognize it:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”

As one who has attended many youth events, seminars, workshops, and conferences where this verse (or I should say, this portion of the verse) was used as the cornerstone for teaching and challenging youth to stand up for who they are, I often wonder how many of those teaching even knew what comes next — the rest of the verse!  When we look at the entire verse and the subsequent context, it should be obvious that the oft emphasized beginning is not really the main point Paul is trying to teach Timothy.  Let’s look at the whole thing in context.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  1 Timothy 4:12-16

To me, at least, that passage has an entirely different emphasis than the popular one often taught to young people — an arrogant attitude that says, “I can do what I want and God commands you not to look down on me for it!”  That comes out of the way we often read scripture.  We read until we find a line we like and then we adopt that as our life slogan — never mind what it means in context, who has time to read the whole thing anyhow?  If you read through the entire passage, it should be clear that the emphasis is on your own actions, not on the attitude of others.  I am not suggesting that we change scripture to make me happy, but listen to how I would word verse 12: 

You must set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity so that no one has a reason to look down on you because of your youthfulness.  1 Timothy 4:12 - Tom’s Paraphrase

That is what Paul is getting at.  It is not a command that you somehow force people to not look down on you.  It is instruction on how to live so that no one has an excuse to look down on you.  Those five areas — speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity — are often the main areas that a young person, and a not so young person, will stumble in.  That stumbling does not grant a person the right to look down on you, but it does often give them the excuse to.  When we commit to excelling in those areas, and any other area that exemplifies Christ, then the accusations, put-downs, and disdain have no merit and no reason to stick to us.

When you feel that people look down on you for whatever reason — it doesn’t have to be youthfulness — it is time for a self-examination.  Are you contributing to their attitude about you?  Are you setting an example that is visible in all areas of Christ-likeness?  “Don’t let anyone look down on you” is a great statement if it is used for yourself as a challenge to be an example above reproach.  For me, it is similar to the command, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  I think that instruction from Romans 12 and this verse from 1 Timothy are all about how we ought to live and respond to others, not a mandate on how I dictate the attitude they must have toward me.

I pray that your life and my life are lived as an example.  An example that gives no one an excuse to look down on either of us.

Follow Me Heart and Soul

I am not a good follower.

That is a hard thing to admit, but it is true.  I have too many questions.  I’ve been described as “needing to have all my ducks in a row” before I act.  I want to calculate all possibilities and be prepared for anything.  I want no surprises that had not been anticipated and thought through.

That is why it is so easy for me to follow God!  Yes, there are times that I have my doubts and can’t see clearly, but I know that nothing catches God by surprise.  I have confidence and faith in His ability to see yesterday, today, and tomorrow with the same degree of clarity.  I have complete trust that if I listen to and obey Him completely, that He has my best interest in mind and each circumstance that I face while in obedience to Him is designed to “prosper not harm” me — even when I don’t see how at the moment.

As I think about this week’s study topic, “God Says I Am An Example”, I have to wonder how I’m doing at instilling that same faith and confidence in others as they watch me.  Do people see me following God so closely that they wouldn’t hesitate to follow me?  Does my leading show the same love, care, and concern for the welfare of others that God’s leading of me shows?

Monday’s text was taken from 1 Samuel 14 where we find the nation of Israel in dire straights.  Israel’s army consisted of 600 men with two swords between them facing the Philistine army who had been oppressing the Israelites for quite some time.  It is at this time that Jonathan, who has one of the two swords, decides something needs to be done.  The cat and mouse game of being teased and destroyed needed to end.

So, Jonathan makes a decision to go over to the enemy outpost and asks his armor-bearer to go with him — an armor-bearer without a sword!  Jonathan’s reasoning is quite simple and full of faith.  “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.  Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”  This is where it gets hard for me.  It’s one thing for Jonathon to trust God and follow His leading.  It is another thing entirely for the armor-bearer to trust Jonathon and follow his leading.  I would be thinking, “Did you say ‘Perhaps!’?”  But that is just what he does.  I think his response says a lot more than first meets the eye.  He says, “Do all that you have in mind.  I am with you heart and soul.”  The outcome is incredible.  The two of them kill twenty of the enemy and it begins a panic that overcomes the entire Philistine army – “a panic sent by God”.  Victory is won because Jonathon follows God and says to his armor-bearer, “Follow me”.

“I am with you heart and soul” speaks deeply into how Jonathon could say, “Follow me,” and get a positive response from his armor-bearer.  The armor-bearer knew that Jonathon’s heart and soul was pursuing God.  God says that you and I are an example to others.  Our life calls out to people, “follow me”.  What kind of response we get often depends on what kind of life we are living.  I must constantly examine myself and see if I am living a life that “heart and soul” belongs to God.  If I am following Him “heart and soul”, then logic would say that someone following me “heart and soul” would actually be following God “heart and soul” because that is what they are seeing in me.

I am an example!  Am I a good example or bad?  That depends on what I am pursuing with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.  If that sounds familiar, it should.  God says all of that — all of me — belongs to Him. 

I pray that as you and I live life, our example is pure because it flows from our heart and soul belonging completely to God.