Apple and Discipleship

January 9, 2012 Church, Evangelism, Leadership 3 comments

Not sure where I read it, but I recently discovered that Apple Inc. (the iMakers of all iThings iWonderful) designates 15-20% of all revenue towards R&D (product research and development). This is a remarkable percentage.

I can certainly appreciate the value placed upon product development especially as I type this blog post upon my MacBook Air, while my iPhone and iPad are within reach. One can only imagine the kinds of innovation that we will enjoy in the coming years.

Despite the wonderful success Apple has had in creating game-changing products, their focus must continue to be upon the development of new technology for their competitive edge to remain sharp. Without R&D we might still be typing away on the Apple II (probably not, but you get the point…).

Now let’s consider the church.  What is our product per se?  What are we supposed to develop?

I believe the answer is disciples.

Jesus’ famous last words to his followers were clear: “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” (Matthew 28:19,20).

We are to be about making more and maturing disciples. This is both quantitative (more) and qualitative (maturing). It is quantitative in that we have “all nations” to draw from. That’s a pretty large pool of people!  And it’s qualitative in that the maturity of a disciple involves an initial point of decision (salvation & baptism) as well as ongoing obedience to the teachings of Jesus and the Scripture.

In John 8:31 Jesus says that a person is really his disciple “if you hold to my teachings.”

In John 13:35 Jesus goes onto say that others will recognize a disciple “if you love one another.”

Obedience and Love. Two marks of a maturing disciple and aspects for the church to emphasis as we endeavor to make more and maturing disciples.

As Christians, if our product is disciples then how much are we investing that direction?

2012: Year of the Word of God

January 2, 2012 Church No comments

2012. Here we go. I’m pretty excited about what is in store for the next 366 days (leap year!).

Together, let’s read the Bible. Let’s get a Word FROM God from the Word OF God every day this year.

Are you Hungry? Go ahead and feed yourself by reading and interacting with the Word of God.

Bill Hybels has said “that the most effective strategy for moving people forward in their journey of faith is biblical engagement. Not just getting people into the Bible when they’re in church–but helping them engage the Bible on their own….”

For all of January 2012 West Salem Foursquare will be increasing our appetite for the Scripture. Whether as a Snack, Meal or Feast we encourage you to “taste and see” that the Lord and his Word is GOOD.

Each weekday (Monday – Friday) the Ministry Center at WSFC will be open for a staff-led time of reading, journaling and interacting with God’s Word. Find a time(s) that works for you and your schedule then commit to one or more 20/20/20 Groups.

Perhaps you already have a group that you read the Word with. Great! Keep going. If you’re looking for a location closer to your home or work then grab some folks, set a time and place and go for it!

Bottom Line: If you’re HUNGRY for more of God…Feed Yourself!

Click here to download our January Reading Plan: bible-reading-plan—january

Nothing Rocks Forever

October 18, 2011 Church, Creative, Leadership One comment

A few weeks ago myself and our leadership team at West Salem Foursquare Church spent a few hours with Pastor Joe Wittwer of Life Center in Spokane. It was a really valuable time with a seasoned (yet amazingly youthful) leader. He had so many timely and stimulating thoughts for us to chew on.

One simple phrase he said has been rolling around in my heart for days now:  ”Nothing Rocks Forever.”

Nothing.

Rocks.

Forever.

What was once a big deal can become yesterday’s news. That which was once the biggest thing since “sliced bread” now feels like toast that’s been sitting out on the counter too long. This is how things go…whether we like it or not. Nothing rocks forever. We live in a time of discontinuous change. For change to be “discontinuous” means it is without sequential order or coherent form. In other words, it is unpredictable, unprecedented, unbiased, and often unbecoming.

Change is, well, messy.

That’s why it is important for leaders to foster an ongoing culture of change within their organizations. It’s not enough to resign ourselves to a “if we change…” mentality.  We must now operate on the premise of “when we change…” because nothing rocks forever. Discontinuous change is afoot.

How should we then live?

• Put more energy into operating principles rather than “soon-to-be obsolete” programs. Principles have greater duration, whereas programs die fast.

• Give everything an “Expiration Date.” Rather than waiting until an event, idea or program is on it’s last breath, consider establishing an expiration date. Throw it out before you have to wonder if it is rotten or not (and don’t make your friends “take a drink and tell you if it’s sour”)!

• Hang out with Change Artists. Immerse yourself in the writings, teachings, blogs, and company of individuals that understand that nothing rocks forever. Like iron that sharpens iron, we need these folks to keep us on the cutting edge. By the way, these don’t have to be the coolest kids in the crowd. Some of the best change artists I draw from have been dead for years, and others certainly wouldn’t be identified as “hipsters.” They do, however, understand change.

• Fail Forward. John Maxwell, an influential change artist, was the first person I heard use the phrase “fail forward.” The idea is that failure is inevitable so you might as well let it propel you towards growth. Too often, we equate failure as a setback, but for us to develop a culture of change, we must make friends with failure. Go ahead…try. Try something. Try anything. Don’t just sit there. Do something. Be something. Sure you will fail. Welcome to the club.

If you don’t try (and also fail) then you may never discover what ROCKS. There are a lot of ideas that are waiting to be discovered and ROCK for a season. Not forever, mind you.

Just for a season.

That’s how seasons work…they change.

Acts 24: The Patience of Paul

May 24, 2011 Devotions, Leadership One comment

“When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” Acts 24:27

Things seemed to be looking up.

It appeared as if Felix’s heart was warming.

Paul was given an opportunity to present his case before Felix the Governor and things were going rather well. Imagine a job interview or giving a report before a packed classroom. One waits, wonders, and well…prays, hoping for a seamless presentation and favorable results.

It appeared as if the situation was moving forward quite nicely, in that Felix informed Paul that his case would be decided soon (vs. 22). He then graciously allowed Paul to remain in “loose custody” and be granted various liberties, including unabated permission for visitation (vs. 23).

All lights were green when Felix, accompanied by his wife Drusilla, came to hear Paul speak further about faith in Jesus (vs. 24). But this is where the signals began to change. Doors started to close in succession and Paul was again being marginalized by the Governor. For nearly two years a ‘cat and mouse’ game was afoot, with Paul being the mouse (vs. 26). This season culminated with a changing of the governmental guard.

Felix was no longer in charge. Paul was stuck in prison.

How is patience produced? The answer, unfortunately, is not what we like. We tend to want things to happen quickly and without incident. But patience is only produced over time and with testing. There would be no need for patience if every aspect of our lives instantly and flawlessly converged.

We often joke about “asking for patience” because we know that that prayer if often like flipping a switch on problems. What if this is how God does his best work in us? Romans 5 affirms this:

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that sufferings produce endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”


Do you want to grow in patience?  How it is developed in your life?  Let me know.

Acts 10: God’s General Contractors

May 10, 2011 Church, Devotions No comments

Recently my wife and I were driving past a construction zone where a new middle school was being built near our home. We were amazed at how fast the structure was going up and the degree of expertise it would require to pull off such a feat. The foundation was huge and the steel beams rose to intersect in ways that boggled my mind. Inwardly, I was wondering if I could ever figure out how to do that kind of work if I wasn’t pastoring a church. I concluded it was…well…doubtful.

When I look at construction sites I see so many little details that all come together to form a wonderfully completed project. It is similar to what I discovered in Acts 10. All throughout this chapter there are multiple details, big and small, that are interwoven to form a beautiful end result. The end of Acts 10 describes the culmination of the Holy Spirit falling upon the Gentiles.

Gentiles.

This was a big deal because up to this point the Gospel had been focused upon the Jewish people and folks had very little interest in taking it beyond that particular group. But God was the architect of a massive and masterful plan: His Church was being built and it would include male, female, slave, free, Jew AND Gentile.

How was this huge project going to happen?

In Acts 10 we have two General Contractors, Cornelius and Peter. One may think that having TWO general contractors would be chaotic, divided and ultimately unproductive, unless both of them did the two important things that Cornelius and Peter did.

They prayed.

And they listened.

Both of these men were instrumental in the newly-opened door to the Gentiles, because both of these men knew how to pray and listen.

In verse 4, Cornelius prayed, and the Lord, in a vision, told this Gentile man to summon a Jew named Peter.

In verse 10, Peter was in prayer when he had a vision in which the Lord said some very specific, and noteably, difficult things.

Pray. Listen.

It’s these small details that bring massive and masterful plans of the Lord into fruition.

Acts 9: Saul the Terrorist

May 9, 2011 Church, Evangelism, Leadership No comments

In Acts 9 the spotlight undoubtedly shines brightly upon Saul. His conversion on the road to Damascus is one of the highlights in the Book of Acts and, certainly, a formative event in the genesis of the New Testament church.

The “Persecutor” Saul became the “Apostle” Paul by the power of God. It’s a simply amazing testimony with the classic “before and after” elements, the “I saw the light” moment (in this case, it was literal), and deep heart change.

This conversion, however, didn’t happen in a vacuum. The scripture tells us in verse 10, “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias…”

Ananias. Who is this guy?

The only other reference to him beyond chapter 9 is in Acts 22:12 – “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.”

Ananias was prompted of the Lord to be the first person to go to the Man of Tarsus. Please don’t overlook the implications of this bold move. Imagine the Lord asking you alone to make a house-call to a terrorist. Then imagine prayerfully laying hands upon that terrorist. Continue imagining being the first person to endorse that terrorist as a “changed man.”

Bold.

Ananias could have cried foul. He could have demanded his moment in the sun. After all, HE (not Saul) was devote and highly respected. He could have asserted that Saul had not been tested, nor could be trusted. Let’s be honest, would many of us feel it was our duty to “alert the public?” But instead, Ananias was obedient to the voice of the Lord and he was open to those that God had saved by his grace.

Obedient and Open.

Who will be the Ananias’ today? Who will defy conventional wisdom and listen to the direction of the Lord instead? Who will discover where God is working and join him there? Who will set aside fear (Saul) in order to gain clear perspective on the future (Paul)?

Acts 25: Confident and Blameless

April 25, 2011 Devotions, Leadership No comments

There is a big difference between confidence and cockiness.

Acts 25 portrays Paul as confident.

There is also a big difference between being blameless and sinless.

Acts 25 portrays Paul also as blameless.

Imagine being blameless. I mean, really, totally blameless.

Most of us would be hard pressed to claim that title. Frankly, it’s not a title we should bestow upon ourselves anyway. It’s much better coming from others.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 6:9 that Noah was blameless.

In Job 1:1 we read that “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.”

Neither of these men were sinless, because that is a description reserved for Jesus only. But they were denoted as blameless. Such is the case with the Apostle Paul. Throughout Acts 25, the ruling leaders simply couldn’t prove any charges of wrong-doing for which he was being held (vs. 7). Paul’s accusers struggled to pin anything on him. Everyone was at a loss as to how to investigate the charges brought against him.

Paul was blameless.

He was also confident. I shutter when I read verse 11: “If I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

Whoa. Caesar. Paul pulled out the big guns. Now, that’s confidence.

The reason Paul could appeal to Caesar is because he knew he was not at fault. The most durable confidence is that which is built upon blamelessness. Did you catch that?

Confidence flows from blamelessness.

Acts 22: It Only Takes A Spark

April 22, 2011 Church, Devotions, Leadership No comments

I’ve gone to hundreds of camps and retreats. Ever since I was young, I’ve been a camper, counselor, staff member, camp director or regional overseer. Suffice it to say, I’ve slept in too many uncomfortable bunk beds, sung lots of “Friends are Friends Forever” and thrown plenty of pinecones into the bonfire while swaying to the melody of “It Only Takes a Spark.”

Around those bonfires we would often have “testimony time.” Anyone could share what God had done or was doing in their life. Many times the testimonies would begin with something like this: “I really didn’t want to come to camp this year, but I’m so glad I did, because the Lord did some cool things in me, etc. etc.” Other testimonies were WAY more dramatic. They involved crazy things that I thought happened only in Rated R movies. Things like drugs or hurting people. Girls would testify to promiscuity and deep insecurity. Guys would tells us how they used to “drink, chew and date girls that do.”

I recall the various testimonies I’ve heard at those camps, and now the ones that I have the privilege of hearing as a pastor of a church, and there is a irrational thought that pops into my head almost every time:

“I wish I had a testimony like that.”

Now to be fair, I am grateful that I, by the grace of God, was able to side-step many tragic and life-altering pitfalls. I’m not actually wishing I had done the things I’ve heard others speak of, nor would I want anyone to go through such trauma, but a small part of me wonders what my testimony would sound like if it had more…well…spice.

In Acts 22, the Apostle Paul is defending himself in front of a Roman Tribune. I found it interesting to note that his defense was his testimony – pure and simple. Paul addressed them with the only thing that was completely HIS…his testimony. No one else could claim that. No one could borrow or buy it.

Near the end of chapter 22, while the Tribune was up in arms over Paul’s claims, one of the centurions overheard Paul say that he was a Roman citizen. This was a deal-breaker to the case they were building against Paul. The Tribune asked “Are you a Roman citizen?” Paul said, “Yes.” They told Paul that they had gotten their citizenship by paying a large sum of money. In other words, they’re identity was purchased whereas Paul was a Roman by birth. When they discovered this, the tribune withdrew immediately.

You’re testimony is YOUR testimony. You can’t get rid of it. There is great power in it.

Nor can you borrow or purchase someone else’s testimony. It’s not worth it. Like me, you may have thought, “Man, I wish I could tell a shocking BEFORE & AFTER story like the ones I hear other share,” but honestly, it wouldn’t be your story. Your story is…your story, and your story, regardless of its level of “spice” is powerful.

Tell it. Speak it out. This is what we find Paul doing in chapter 22. Today I was encouraged by him and his boldness.

I encourage you to be bold as well.

Acts 20: The Softer Side of Paul

April 20, 2011 Church, Devotions, Leadership No comments

“When Paul said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:36-38

This might be one of the more tender passages in Scripture and an intimate glimpse into the Apostle Paul that we don’t often see. Basically, it’s his softer side. Much of the time we follow him on his missionary journeys, teaching and preaching, working miracles, training and rebuking, and planting and shaping the direction of the fledgling church.

Here, however, he is weeping.

Why?

Because he loves the people of Ephesus.

Paul spent a handful of years with this congregation; more time than with any other group. He bonded. He grew with them. He was deeply concerned about their well-being, which was evident from the instructions he gave the Ephesian Elders before departing to Jerusalem. He asked them to carefully watch over the congregation, to guard it from ill-motived wolves, and to continue building up the church with the word of grace.

It’s probably similar to a Father giving away his daughter to the boy…I mean man, that she is marrying. With hopefully anticipation, and yet a wave of trepidation, one must trust that the hand-off will be successful.

Will the church/daughter be loved, cared for, and be nurtured?

These are the questions a Father asks, if he has any semblance of a heart. This is what Paul is asking as well. All too often, we miss the heart of Paul because we tend to focus only on his firm corrections and doctrinal challenges. But, this guy has a softer side too.

I like the softer side of Paul. How about you?

Acts 19: Viral Growth through Repentance

April 19, 2011 Church, Devotions, Leadership No comments

Four times in Book of Acts this little phrase is repeated: “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

We see it again in Acts 19:20.

In this way.

In what way you may ask? That’s what I wondered also.

In Acts 19:13-19 we get some background clues at to “what way” the word of the Lord was growing. In this portion of Scripture the reader discovers some amazingly miraculous events. In the midst of this grace-filled season, a few itinerant Jewish preachers tried their hand at casting out some demons (if Paul can do it, why couldn’t we?).

Well, they were in for it, that’s for sure. The demons that they assumed they could cast out actually questioned who they were. They said, “We know Jesus and we know Paul, but who in the world are these goofballs?” Then, to make matters worst, they proceeded to beat the snot out of the men, leaving them naked and wounded.

When this embarrassing debacle was posted on Twitter and Facebook (or whatever social media tools they had then), it spread like a silly YouTube video. Soon everyone throughout Ephesus had heard about the beatdown and were filled with fear.

The next few verses describe nothing short of wholesale repentance. People confessed sin, divulged secret practices, and burned stuff that they knew to be evil. It was time to clean house.

Repentance is the way “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” In the Greek language it is called “metenoia”  which means a change of mind.  Repentance looks like a 180 degree turn.

Wanna keep growing?  Repent often. This is at the heart of the Gospel and the ministry of Jesus: “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near” Matthew 4:17.

Why should we repent?  Well, because we are sinners. RC Sproul says, “We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.” Unfortunately one church historian has said that “…the appeal of modern evangelism is not for repentance but for enlistment.”

Sadly a large segment of the American Church has gotten to a place of wanting people to have rapport WITH Jesus rather than repent TO Jesus.

What are your thoughts about repentance?

« Older Entries   Recent Entries »