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Support Future Ministry Leaders

I’ve recently jumped in with a couple organizations that I want to let you know about. I’m letting you know for the same reason, I’m getting involved: the next generation of disciples will be better off for the work these organizations are doing and we can help!

The Alexander Christian Foundation raises funds for scholarships for students preparing for ministry. Ministry schools, like most other colleges in general, aren’t always the most affordable proposition these days – and since ministry (contrary to the image the preachers on TV still project) isn’t often financially lucrative, that cost can be a pretty big lever sending many potential ministry leaders in other directions. They just can’t afford Bible college. ACF wants to help that. ACF operates in a number of states, so with a little research, maybe you can find a way to help students in your area. If not, check out Oregon’s ACF and let me know if you have any questions or want to help. This year, we’ll be giving out $14,000 in scholarships and raising money to continue to help the next generation pursue vocational ministry. You can donate here to help us give even more next year!

Many Christian kids won’t go to Bible college, though. While that’s the route I took, and it was exactly the route I needed to take, many students will choose other options. Some won’t realize the life of ministry service that God is calling them into until later in life. Some simply are being raised up to serve and lead in a different way. Many people have to spend some time growing and learning and will be drawn into vocational ministry later in life. But the need for theological depth in ministry service doesn’t diminish.

The church needs leaders who are humbly learning and doctrinally sound, so Renew University has been built to provide a 20 month Certificate in Theology program that will provide a lot of what a student would get in Bible college at a fraction of the cost. Students will learn from some great teachers who are gifted with both academic and practical training and be placed in a cohort who will work through the online courses together. I’ve found the discussion in cohorts like this is a vital part of preparation (and continuation!) for ministry. I’m excited to be one of the cohort leaders and develop some new ministry relationships that will help growing church leaders unleash the potential of their churches to make disciples. (If you’d like to be in my cohort, get signed up right away as courses begin soon and let me know!)

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It Seemed Good…

Last Sunday, I talked about being a “spiritual family” as a part of our identity as a church. Part of what it means to be the church is that we’re a spiritual family. Now, don’t picture chants and robes and candles or pious behavior – being spiritual shouldn’t be reduced to those kinds of rituals or esthetics (though those things could be a part of our spirituality). Being a spiritual family means simply that we are led by His Spirit into His mission and empowered/enabled to do it by that same Spirit. (It’s the same Spirit, by the way, that raised Jesus out of the grave according to Paul’s letter to the Roman disciples!)

There’s a great example of this in the very early church that I didn’t mention Sunday in Acts 15 that I keep thinking about. Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch in Syria after the believers there sent them out on a preaching tour showing the many Gentiles in what is now Turkey the wide open door to the Kingdom of God. Some men showed up in Antioch who seemed to want to make sure the door wasn’t left too wide open, so they began teaching people there that they had to submit to the Jewish customs first, then they could come in. This issue came up multiple times in multiple places in the early church as Pharisees, even those who were coming to belief in Jesus, struggled to let go of their legalistic tendencies.

This threatened to cause a pretty big rift that could have been devastating, so the leaders of the believers in Antioch sent a delegation, including Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to discuss this teaching with the apostles and leaders of the church there. En route to Jerusalem, the delegation made several stops to tell the other churches in the region what God had been doing. The news that Gentiles were being welcomed by God into His Kingdom brought great joy all along the way.

And when they finally got to Jerusalem and met with the leaders there for resolution, it was decided that they didn’t want to make it difficult for Gentiles to turn to God. Peter said, “You know how God sent me to open the door to the Gentiles… ” James said “Let’s keep it wide open.” (Those are paraphrased statements, just for the record.) And the leaders all came to the same conclusion. They sent representatives with a letter back to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, to explain that they hadn’t sent the men who had bothered them and to clarify how there was now to be no distinction between Jew and Gentile as we are all saved the same way – the grace of Jesus.

Ok… enough back story.

Here’s a great statement that is too easy to miss. At the end of their brief letter in answer to the question of the church in Antioch (and the surrounding area), the apostles revealed the source of their decision:

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”

We have to remember, the early church was not led by a cadre of highly trained organizational gurus. It was led by a fellowship of Jesus-bound brothers who were paying attention to His Spirit. They engaged their own common sense and wisdom in subjection to and coordination with whatever direction they were sent by the Holy Spirit.

They sailed where His Wind pushed them!

I want to pay attention to the Spirit like that. I want to be able to tell what “seems good to the Spirit” don’t you?!

  • It happens when we come together to discuss ideas with others who are committed to living His Way with us.
  • It happens when we have soaked our minds in His Word so consistently that we can recognize His voice even when it’s still and small and the chaos around us is not.
  • It happens when we stop spinning our wheels and get still… and listen to Him.

Let’s do that church. God has a mission for us that we can accomplish no other way. Our friends and neighbors need us to set our sails to catch His Wind and show them the door is open for them, too.

Sails up!

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Stuck With a Story?

I recently read Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller’s book, Mind Your Mindset and came across a great thought. I’ve talked a lot with people about believing better stories about themselves and their circumstances than the ones they’ve been handed and this really resonated. You don’t have to continue to believe about your self all the things you’ve previously believed about your self.

I grew up thinking of myself as the small kid in the back of the room with a lot to say, but without a shred of the self confidence necessary to say it. Today, I stand in the front of the room a lot and say a lot of what I have to say (maybe too much!) to the people gathered – because my story was challenged by incredible friends and mentors. I learned that it wasn’t really confidence in my self that was missing, but confidence in God and His “assignment” for me. As my faith grew, I found myself believing different stories instead of conforming to the ones I’d told myself for years.

“No one will listen anyway…” was replaced with “You can faithfully say what I want you to say and I will take care of the results.”

“You might get it wrong and that would be the end – no one will ever trust you again…” was replaced with “You will get it wrong sometimes… Learn from it and let others learn from your mistakes.”

“I’m not really sure…” was replaced with “I Am… Trust me and say it.”

The narrator in my head meant well, but he was wrong. As I’ve soaked in the Word of God and learned to listen to Him more intently, my mind has been remade and my mindset has shifted into a gear that makes room for Him to move and work and bring people’s attention to Him.

How are the stories you’re telling yourself lately? Are they still true? What would it look like to sit down with God for a re-write?

Maybe check out one of these books to spark some ideas… (Full disclosure: if you buy a book from these links, I’ll get a small payment from Amazon – but I have read them each and highly recommend them if you’re looking to start living a better story.)

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A Moment Away

There is a moment that lies just ahead of you, out of reach for now, but coming sooner than you may think. It’s a big moment, full of the unknown and possibility and potential. It’s huge. It’s intimidating. But don’t be afraid… Our Creator is already there. He is ready to meet you in that moment and be everything you need of Him. In fact, He’s been moving Heaven and Earth to prepare that moment for you – and you for that moment.

You may not be ready now, but He is. You may not have the proper training or the right credentials and experience. You may not think you’re up for the challenge of the moment, but He is – and He can make you able to thrive in that moment, so that you give the world a glimpse of His greatness. Maybe that’s just what the moment is for – showing your neighbors and friends and family what God is like and what He is able to accomplish.

Because they know you. They’ve seen the moments where you’ve fallen short or hidden away before. They’ve seen other moments get the best of you. But this time, you’re not on your own. This time, you aren’t limited to your own resources to figure this moment out. You can trust Him to open up His vault and dig deep to provide everything you need.

No one else can meet this moment for you. There are multitudes who will meet it with you, though. We can’t take your place but we can certainly walk with you shoulder to shoulder. That’s why He’s put us together ~ brought us into one another’s lives. He’s crafted this whole thing from the beginning and now, your moment is an invitation to join Him in what He’s making!

The moment lingers…

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Can You Hear the Spirit?

In John 14, Jesus made one of His most amazing statements – after telling His disciples that He was leaving and they can’t come along just yet, He told them an Advocate was coming. A Spirit that would lead them in truth and remind them what He’d already taught them. A Spirit that would be in them and who was already with them!

The Holy Spirit is fully God, so I don’t mean this to put some sort of limitation on where He can work, but it sure seems to me that the Holy Spirit goes to work where He is welcome to work. He moves through the lives of those who are paying attention to His movement. So many times, we get busy and stop paying attention to Him.

What do you need to do this year to keep your attention aimed in His direction? Jesus said that many wouldn’t receive the Spirit because they didn’t recognize Him. How can you tune your heart to His frequency so that you will recognize His voice when He’s speaking to you?

Let me share a few things that help me:

  • Time in the Bible. As I study His Word, I’ve learned some of the patterns of His work. The more I tune in to His story, the more clearly I have been able to find my place in it.
  • Time with His people. God still speaks through His people, too. I have heard clear direction from God as I’ve listened to messages He’s sent through other servants. Sometimes, this comes in a sermon or a lesson of some kind, but often it comes in simple conversation born out of the deep fellowship forged in loyal service to His mission.
  • Time alone with Him. One of the things I’ve really loved about this new assignment I’ve found myself in, is the setting – the trees, the mountain mist, the ocean! I love to find a good trail through the forest and just go for a walk or drive with the Maker. It helps me connect with Him to see the incredible things He’s made and remember that of all the wonders He’s created, He called us His masterpiece.

As a disciple of Jesus, you may find a number of other ways to connect to the Holy Spirit He’s sent to us, but I’ve found these three to be pretty universal. In fact, I’d be pretty skeptical of anyone claiming to hear the Spirit without these three practices being prevalent in their life.

How are you making space to hear His Spirit clearly today?

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Old Roads…

I’m sure I’ve mentioned him here before, but one of the artists that I’ve appreciated most over the last few years has been Andrew Peterson. I often find the stories he tells, whether in his music or writing like The Wingfeather Saga or Adorning the Darkness, resonating deeply with the stories of my own life. One of those points of resonance lately has been a song from several years ago called You’ll Find Your Way. It’s the story of a father’s heart for his son as he grows into the life and the world around him. It’s a guidepost the father wants his son to remember among the joys and sorrows that he knows his son will face. It’s a prayer for his son’s future… My prayer for my own sons. Take a listen (and maybe grab a tissue)…

About a month ago, I dropped Kota off at university and this song played me all the way home across the state. He handles adversity well, but I know there will be big challenges and temptations coming. I know that he’s going to feel like he’s not enough someday. I also know that in most cases that feeling is a liar – and in every other case, when he really isn’t enough, I know that the One who is enough is right there with him hoping my son will lean into His strength. Right there in the old roads I’ve tried to show him.

A few days later, I compounded my fatherly confliction as I climbed into a Uhaul and left Siah standing on the curb in front of our old house while the remnant of my household began our trek 1300 miles away to begin a new ministry. He’s staying behind to finish his last semester of high school, and I felt as if I were abandoning him. In my head, I know we’re entrusting him to the care of God and the body of Christ, but my heart sometimes wants me to feel guilty so I’ll stop doing the good, hard things that God’s asking me to do. This one may have been the hardest. So I hugged him too long, blubbered some fatherly words that were probably incoherent, then I prayed that he’d grow to love the old roads, drove away through a blinding flood of tears, and skipped this song every time it came up for the next 3 days of driving.

That was Monday. I thought of this song for my boys. I want them to hear it’s words as my own words to them. I hope they’ll never forget how to find their way home.

But then on Wednesday, we had almost finished unloading the truck when LuAnn had to go to an urgent care as she fought the pain of a kidney stone. Then on Thursday, Josiah was admitted to the hospital to have an appendectomy. His appendix had ruptured and left a big mess of infection inside and he would spend the next 10 days in the hospital, 1300 miles away. (I can never thank our many friends who cared for him in our absence enough, but we will be forever grateful to you, and for you.) A few days later, our oldest daughter called from the side of the road 1700 miles away where her transmission had decided to go out (and take the engine down with it). I told the church here that if opposition and obstacles are greatest at the beginning of any important endeavor then we have great things to look forward to!

It has been one of the most gut wrenching times of my life – and I realize, I’m not only the father in this story of a song. I’m a son, treading through the joy and the sorrow of all that life brings. I know I’m not enough to handle all of this. And yet, here I am, lashed to the ancient mast to keep me standing, looking for the old roads (or what the prophet Jeremiah called “the ancient paths”), confident that if I keep mixing metaphors and plodding along, I’ll find my way. And trusting that my sons will, too.

I love you so much, boys. (Em & Liz… you, too!)

“Hold on boy(s), whatever you do, to the hope that’s taken ahold of you…”

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Needing Direction?

I need direction. Constantly! Without it, my mind will wander and ramble to worlds unknown and I’ll get sidetracked from accomplishing what I need to in the real world. I remember well the old line “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it…” from Come Thou Fount. There’s another great line in that song that says “Here I raise my ebenezer” and if you don’t know what an ebenezer is (who would?) you’ll miss a great thought.

It’s the thought that God has brought me this far, I want to trust Him with the next steps, and here is a reminder of how worthy of my trust He’s proven Himself to be already. In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites were gathered to fast and repent in hopes to end what seemed like a 20 year abandonment from God. Their nation was not well. They no longer knew that the God who brought them there was with them.

As Samuel urged them to return to God and gave them some direction to turn their hearts toward Him, the Philistines saw an opportunity to attack. This was understandably terrifying for Israel, they’d gathered to beg God for help, not for war. As the terror spread, Samuel urged them to continue to plead with God for deliverance.

God answered in a big way and the people of Israel celebrated a great victory. Samuel marked the occasion by standing up a monolith and naming it Ebenezer, the “stone of help” saying “up to this point the Lord has helped us!” This monument to God’s faithfulness served to remind them that the presence of God was still indeed available.

If you’re like me, you need such reminders, too. Reminders that God is at work in and around you. Reminders that He is faithfully here, with us, working to restore all things to the wholeness of His intent. These reminders help us find direction.

I have a handful of such ‘ebenezers’ in my life. A keychain from my first trip to another country… all alone (but not alone at all), artwork from a Catalyst conference where I was pushed in needed ways, a small root from a huge tree that had to be dug up to keep from caving in the basement wall of our first house (where God provided in so many ways), rhinos that remind me of the powerful force He’s left here to accomplish His mission (we call it church and when we pull together under His lead, we are unstoppable), an Acura center cap from a wheel that fell off my daughter’s car as she drove down the highway (He’s got plans for her, I have no doubt!)…

I’m a bit of a hoarder so I can clutter up my life with trinkets and memories, but these are a few that help me stay on course with His direction. Reminders of how God has helped me to this point – and of the promise that He will help me further as I continue to seek to serve Him. And I suppose, when it really comes down to it, that’s all the direction we really need.

What are your Ebenezers?

A few years ago, I developed a guided journal for my students and I to use in building up our conversation with God as we were seeking His direction. It’s helped me learn to recognize His voice and talk with Him (not just at Him). I’d love if it could help you to also find the direction you’re looking for. It’s simply called PRAY, and you can get one for $5 at that link right now!

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You Did What?!

So… a few weeks ago, I stood in front of the church where I have served since 2005 and told them that I would be leaving before long. I was pretty short on specifics, but the gist of the moment was that the youth pastor who’s been here for 16 graduations will not be here for a 17th. I resigned. (And for those who appreciate a good timeline, my last day will be July 3.)

The first question posed to me after the service was a little unexpected, partially because it came from someone I’ve never really met before: “Have you ever thought about teaching in a Bible college… in Zimbabwe?” Complete with a long pause before naming the nation! (Full disclosure… I can’t say that Zimbabwe has been at the front of my ministry search.)

Most of the questions were a little more expected… “Where will you be going?”

“What are you going to be doing?”

“How long until you leave?”

“Can I have your office?” (just kidding)

(mostly, haha!)

Let’s back up a little bit… I remember when I got my first job, my dad told me “Don’t ever quit a job until you have another one.” That’s wisdom that I mostly have lived up to, but not always. I quit my K-Mart job because everyone was grouchy and slow and Subway was friendly, fun, and fast, and I didn’t have to wear a tie. I quit Subway to get married and move away to college, where I found 3 jobs right away. I quit Hy-Vee so I could keep working at the YMCA and JCPenney and stay awake for 8:00 classes. I quit those when I finished college to go find a full time ministry. I quit the car lot because my boss wanted me to rip people off and I wouldn’t. Then I quit Perkins because God showed me what He was waiting for me to find – my first full time ministry in the last place I would’ve looked for it and the best place I could’ve found it! (That sounds like a lot of quitting, but I really don’t quit well… that’s a 30 year work history that started as a teen!) I quit my first full time ministry in Auburn to move to my second here in Scottsbluff… and that brings us to now.

For the second time, I’m telling a church that I love them, but it’s time for me to go. But this time, I don’t know what’s next yet. I have officially quit a great job with a great church without having a better offer on the line! What an idiot. Why would I do something like that?

The short answer is an inexplicable knowledge that this is where God has led. After a lot of conversation with the leadership here, I know that the ministry that WestWay needs done right now is not the ministry God is calling me to do right now. There have been years leading to this point, and fits of wrestling with God, searching for alternatives, and waiting for answers. I have had “windows” where the timing was right for us to move on, but the next step just never materialized. Today, the next step has still not been revealed, but there are some good possibilities coming into view.

I once wrote a song with a lyric, “If I jump can I know you’ll catch me?”

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for more than a few years have noticed that I’ve written a lot less over the past few. The space between posts has grown significantly as I’ve toed the ledge and wondered and waited for an answer to that question. Most of my writing here has been me processing my experiences in a way that I’ve hoped would be helpful to you. As I’ve wrestled through this particular season, there was a lot that I just couldn’t process outside my own head, but I’ve learned some things that I hope to share more moving forward.

So, where will we be going, what will we be doing, when exactly will we leave??? Again, a short answer, “We’ll see.” God hasn’t showed us that step yet, but I’m confident that He’s asked us to take this one, so “we’ll see…”

Another line from that same song was “I wonder where this road is taking me…”

Wonder with me…

I wonder where this road is taking me…
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Simply a Legend?

Words have carried a lot of weight in my life. I remember distinctly how certain words have built me up, puffed me up, or torn me down. Sticks and stones will hurt for a while, but cut me with words and I’ll bleed much longer than you’ll even remember what you said. On the other hand, I’ll run for miles on the momentum of genuine affirmation as well. I have a note from my dad from almost 30 years ago because its words helped shape me and prepare me to be a man that God could work through. (I also have a box full of letters from my wife telling me how awesome I was back in the days before emojis – not that she uses emojis or anything!) I have a distinct memory of a meeting in Jerry’s office at NCC when his words changed the trajectory of my education and shaped the way I’ve approached ministry, “Michael, you need to consider preaching.” I’ve seen great power in words. Words matter – and they move us.

Last week, we attended Sr. Day as our son prepared to graduate yesterday. The words, “He is simply a legend.” were used by his math teacher to describe Dakota as he was awarded Outstanding Math Student. To be fair… he is an outstanding math student. His brain is wired for math that looks like hieroglyphics to the rest of us, and he’s worked hard to fine tune his understanding. Because of that, he’s won a lot of math competitions, some scholarship money, and a reputation for being the guy to see when you’ve got a numbers problem.

But the word LEGEND caught me off guard a little bit. I’m glad Mr. Aaberg didn’t stop there. He continued with words that I pray will carry great weight for Dakota… He’s not just good at Math. He’s kind and patient to help other students understand as well. These are the words I hope he’ll carry with him. His greatness at math is a matter of engaging his God given neural pathways and making the most of an incredible gray matter filing system – but the way he treats people needing help is a matter of the heart and character that will take him beyond legend status in my book.

May we never settle for simply being a legend. May the stories ‘they’ tell of you always point beyond you. May we be men and women chasing after God’s own heart and serving those around us in every way we can. Well done, Son.

Every legend begins somewhere…
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Who Is Really the Greatest?

I love the episode in Mark 9 where Jesus is traveling with His disciples, people have been miraculously fed, demons have been cast out, blind people have been given sight, and Jesus has nonchalantly mentioned His upcoming death a couple times lately.

Mark tells us that the disciples didn’t understand what he was talking about… but they were afraid to ask.

So Jesus just let them walk in their ignorance for a while. He didn’t rush in to answer all their questions. And it seems they didn’t wonder deeply enough, because in the very next passage, just when everyone settles in for some rest after a lot of miles on the road, Jesus hits them with a question of his own…

“Hey, back there on the road, what were you guys “discussing”?”

Silence.

Even Peter didn’t want to open His mouth for this one… Can you imagine Jesus asking you a question and you just… don’t answer hoping the moment will pass as you shrink into the scenery? (I bet you can…)

Back on the road they must have gotten a little heated as the conversation moved from whispers of “What did he mean ‘rise from the dead’? Is this another one of those parable things?” Now, here in the calm of the house in Capernaum, they were embarrassed. He must have overheard as their conversation turned from resurrection to “Which one of us is the greatest?”

Oof…

This really probably should have been a settled question by this point, right? There should have been no doubt that Jesus was greatest, and maybe the disciples were jockeying for P2 in his kingdom, but even at that Jesus leaves no doubt:

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

So many times, Jesus paints this picture and flips our power structures on their head. Today, in the wake of so much discussion and celebration of Resurrection, let’s remember who is the greatest and find someone to serve in His Name.