That's My Church!

Dear Transformers and friends of Transformation House,

Last night, we had the first of two classes for some of our leaders - those who are seen up front each Sunday. The class is called Being Upfront about being Up Front. I led this class, but I want to share a bit of what I got from the class.

I first asked for an evaluation of the service this past Sunday. Those who were up front during the service were Kristen, Tim, Derek, Lisa, Zach, Elena, Anna, Darnell, Amber, Tony, and Chris. I wondered, "To those who were first-time guests, who appeared to be in charge of the service?" The answer was "none of the above." Because everyone knows their role and fills it well, the Holy Spirit, who is truly in charge, can move us in any direction. When He is in charge, not one of us needs to take credit, there is a comfortable flow in the service, and everyone has an encounter with a loving God.

Another question that everyone answered was about their first impression of Transformation House. I asked if their first impression was correct or if they've adjusted what they believe about the church since their first visit.

One person answered, My first impression was that I was getting attention because that's what church folk do. They pay attention to first-timers, then it wears off over time. What I found was that the love they showed me on the first Sunday is the same love they show me now, almost two years later.

Another person said, My first impression was that this was different from any other church I had visited. I saw black, white, gay, straight, old, young, and all were accepted and have a place to belong and serve.

Another answer was, In my previous church, relationships were fake. Here, I feel like I fit in. Rather than just being talked to, I am heard.

I won't go on and on, so the final one I'll share was, When I came, I felt the Holy Spirit in this place - during worship and in interacting with others.

What gets me so pumped about these answers is that these all came from people that I had never met two years ago. At the time we were planning to start Transformation House, we prayed for God to send us to those who felt disenfranchised by the church. We prayed that in this place everyone could feel welcome and experience the presence of God. Every time someone spoke last night, I thought, "That's what we prayed for. That's exactly why we started this church!"

If you're not a part of a church that allows you to serve freely, I'm sorry. I've said it before, so I'll say it again, "If your church won't change, change churches."

What Is Your Trouble?

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Jesus left us many promises. I'm wondering if you've ever claimed this one: "In this world you will have trouble." He said we will, not we might, but we will. Then why are we so surprised? Why do we go into hiding or throw a tantrum when trouble comes. It's  not like we weren't warned.

 

Here's my definition of trouble. 

 

Trouble - n. a state or condition of distress, annoyance, malfunction, or difficulty

 

Let's break it down:

• Distress – trouble affecting your mind, thoughts, dreams
• Annoyance – trouble affecting your attitude, demeanor,
• Malfunction – trouble affecting your body, health, activities
• Difficulty – trouble affecting your future, direction, purpose

Which of these is most troubling to you right now? How are you handling it? When Jesus promised us trouble, it wasn't an isolated statement. It was wedged in between two messages of hope.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

He has told us what things? He said many things, but let's look at just three. First, in verse 7, He promised that we wouldn't be left alone or confused in our trouble. The counselor has come to us. Then, in verse 27, Jesus came to give us access to the Father’s love. And lastly, in verses 21-22, our trouble will be followed by a secure joy. No one will be able to wipe the smile from our face or rain on our parade. Joy born out of pain is real joy!

What does all this mean?

Before trouble arrives, we can be prepared through the wisdom God provides,
   in the midst of trouble, we can trust the Father's love,
      and when trouble is past, we will be left standing in unshakeable joy.

When troubles are troublesome, God is awsome.

A Pastor's Job

Most Bible folk know that in Ephesians 4:11 Paul wrote that, among other gifts, God gave pastors to the church. This was a fulfillment of a prophecy given in Jeremiah 3:15 when God said, "I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Oh, that churches would be led by welcoming, loving, generous, wise pastors - pastors full of the Holy Spirit and motivated by the undeserved grace they have themselves received.

However, God's gift was not without warning. "Woe be to the pastors who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" (Jeremiah 23:1)

It seems that God has a simple word for those he has called to this ministry: Feed, don't destroy or scatter, my sheep.

It has been my observation that it is possible to feed and destroy at the same time. It happens in many ways in churches.

• Trying to force-feed knowledge into a person
• Portions of spiritual food that are too small to maintain life
• Insistence that church members eat the same diet as the pastor
• A monotonous diet that has no variety

As good, observant parents know, you don't treat all children the same, nor do they all learn the same way. It's the same with feeding God's sheep. Each church member is unique and gains knowledge and understanding in different ways. Some learn from the hymns, others through graphics used in the church bulletin or on the screen. Some grow through a sermon with organized points, others through a casual conversation.

 

I don't know of a church that uses this method, but I wonder what it would be like to organize small groups so that members with similar learning styles were grouped together? I suspect that it works better to have different styles in each group - each learning from the other.

 

Either way, pastors, remember that your way isn't the only way. The gift you have been given is the privilege of feeding - nourishing and growing - people who become wholehearted disciples. By the way, they're becoming Jesus' disciples, not yours.

Failure Isn't Final

So, how bad did you mess up?  Bad enough that you want to quit?  Enough to feel disqualified, unworthy, or incapable of fulfilling you dreams and goals?  Have you convinced yourself now that you just don't measure up and you never will?

I'd like to suggest before you throw in the towel, that you give it another go.  Seriously, how bad could it really be?

After all, if everybody who failed just gave up, we'd still be in the Dark Ages - or probably at least somewhere in the Industrial Revolution.  Think of all the conveniences we wouldn't be enjoying if inventors had given up on the first (or second, or tenth) try.

Or how long would it have taken the other 10 disciples to create the Church if Peter had gone back fishing - permanently?  But wait, that wasn't even Peter's first pitiful failure was it?  How many times DID he fail?  Let's see, he failed at walking on water, he failed to understand Jesus' parables, he tried to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His mission, Jesus called him Satan (that one goes in the epic failure category), he failed to see the point of the Transfiguration, he failed the forgiveness quiz, he failed the servanthood test, he failed the anger test, he failed to stay awake during Jesus' most crucial prayer meeting, he failed to keep his word, and maybe worst of all, he denied even knowing Jesus on Jesus' most sorrowful night.

Based on all of that, it seems that Peter would have won The World's Worst Failure of Biblical Proportions.  Or did he?  I think we sometimes confuse these two words: fail and fell.  Actually, Peter succeeded at walking on water until he fell in fear.  He stumbled at Jesus' parables but came to understand them in time... and on and on.  Peter's failures were only momentary, and momentary failures are not failures at all.  There is a difference between a fall and a fail.

Peter was destined for greatness, and it shows throughout his life's story - even when he fell.  It was in God's plan that Peter would be a leader.  After all, who was the first (and only) disciple to say to Jesus, "I want to walk on water with you" and step out of the boat?  Peter.  Who thought he should plan Jesus' itinerary?  Peter.  Who had a sword to lead a charge against Jesus' enemies?  Peter.  Who constantly was at Jesus' coattails, watching every move and listening to every word?  Peter.  And when Peter did decide to go back fishing after Jesus' crucifixion, what did the other disciples do?   They followed him!  (John 21)  Even when he fell, Peter couldn't help but live out his God-given destiny as a leader.

Still, Peter didn't have to live out the rest of his days leading from failure.  Something happened on the Day of Pentecost to transform him forever.  Peter began to live, speak, think and act in the power of the Holy Spirit rather through his own abilities.

From my own experience, I can assure you that the Holy Spirit can still turn a mess into a message.  That's what Transformation House is all about:  We want to see people transformed.  We don't look at anyone as a hopeless failure but believe that there is potential through the transforming power of God to give us all a fulfilling purpose. 

TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

Nothing Is Impossible

The Christmas story is full of interesting characters, exciting encounters, dramatic tension, and supernatural wonders. Nestled in the midst of this wonderful and familiar story is a little promise that we cling to two thousand years later.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to announce the Virgin Mary’s upcoming pregnancy, Mary’s first response was to ask how this could be. She found some reassurance in Gabriel’s response. He told her that the Holy Spirit would overshadow and empower her, and added that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was also expecting a child.

The angel’s message ended with “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

I’m sure Mary paid attention to the part about the Holy Spirit, but the part about Elizabeth really caught her attention. Luke tells us that as soon as the angel left her, she ran to Elizabeth’s house. Within the year she found that everything the angel told her was true.

This story is similar to my life story. Perhaps you can relate.

The interesting characters in my story would include loving parents, manipulative friends, users and abusers, and godly mentors. Like Mary, I have found myself running to others in times of joy, and sometimes clinging to others for comfort or for acceptance.

My story includes some exciting encounters which were good but also some that were not. Some seemed to be exciting at the time but left an emptiness at the end of the day.

The fact that there was dramatic tension probably goes without saying. The greatest tension was inside my heart. I was torn between two overwhelming desires: the desire to serve Christ and the desire to feel accepted.

Just like in the Christmas story, the supernatural wonders are the best part of my story. Some of the ones recorded in the Gospel of Luke include angels appearing to shepherds, a pregnant virgin, and a star guiding the Wise Men.

Those wonders impacted my life too, because they accompanied the birth of my Savior. However, my Savior is still alive and still working miracles.

Let me tell you some of the supernatural wonders that He has done in my life. I have experienced the miracle of new birth. I was dead in my sin, but Jesus Christ raised me into a new life by His grace. I was a lonely, confused, and misguided man. Jesus Christ made me a child of God; I belong to His family and understand how I fit into His plan. I know how to be a loving husband and father.

I was full of pride, lust, and selfishness. My world now centers around His purpose for me. The only thing I can boast about is that I know Him. My desires have been transformed into a desire to know Him more.

Fifteen or twenty years ago, I thought there was no hope for me. I thought I would always live with discontent and that one day, I would die and the pain would be over. I knew that Jesus had given a promise
of abundant life, but I didn’t see how it could possibly apply to me. I was too messed up. I was too far gone. I would keep wearing the mask pretending that everything was ok, when I was dying on the inside.

God always keeps His promises. With God nothing shall be impossible. Maybe the holidays are difficult for you because you feel, as I did, that there is no hope. Please believe me when I tell you that God can turn your life around. You don’t have to go to your grave with heaviness and guilt.

Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to me, I will not turn away.”  Your story can have a happy ending.

Suddenly

After four days in North Carolina at a ministry retreat, I'm at home on a rainy Monday morning.  The high temperature today will be 58 degrees, a reminder that summer is over.  While we were at the beach last week the skies were clear and the temperature was in the upper 80's.  That's quite a switch in two days!

That reminds me of a "suddenly" verse in the Bible.  The first chapter of Acts tells of Jesus' promise to his disciples just before his ascension into Heaven.  He told them that the Holy Spirit would come to empower them to spread the gospel throughout the entire world.  He gave them just one instruction: wait for it.  Don't leave Jerusalem until it happens.

Of course, Peter was Mr Fix-it.  The first thing he did upon arriving back in the city was to call a business meeting.  Something's broke, and we need to fix it.  So, he called for a vote and took care of what he thought needed to be done.  But even Peter was smart enough to follow Jesus' advice - He stayed in Jerusalem.  He couldn't sit still, but at least he didn't leave. 

Often, we have some big dream of what is ahead and feel that we have to jump in with both feet immediately in order to accomplish the task.  We become impatient and want to make things happen in our timing or in our way.  Sometimes, the Lord just says, "Wait."  In our obedience, the answer comes.  Acts 2 reads, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And SUDDENLY there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting... and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..."

We can only see for a short distance, but God sees the eternal plan.  Peter later wrote regarding Jesus' other promise - the promise to return for his church.  Some were beginning to doubt that it would ever happen, but Peter admonished them, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

God's promise to me isn't just about me; it's about how I fit into the big picture.  Are you waiting for God to come through for you?  Be encouraged.  It's sort of like fitting a jigsaw puzzle piece in place.  You may think you know where it goes and try to force it to fit, but the puzzle will never be complete until you turn the piece the right direction and the other pieces around it are in place.  Then SUDDENLY, you have a beautiful picture.

God give me the grace to wait on you until my suddenly moment.