Leadership

February 23, 2015

“The Doxology” Kimmie-Style

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Last week, I marveled as my daughter Kimberlyn praised the Lord with “The Doxology” on Tulsa morning news. Proverbs 18:16 reminds that a person’s gift opens doors. Wow, Kimmie. What a gift! What doors lie ahead? May you keep using your gifts to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. You go, Girl! Click the link if you would like to watch Kim Simon Doxology

October 17, 2014

God Is Working

God is at work in the world.

In the very popular book Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby and Claude King discuss seven realities of experiencing God:

God is always at work around you.
God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you. (Blackaby and King, Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, 50)

Are you cooperating with what He is doing?

October 2, 2014

10 Inadequate Motives for Leadership

Do you aspire to lead? Terrific! Leaders are wanted. Actually, Godly leaders are desperately needed. “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV)

Twenty-first century church leaders are profoundly needed. The world has had too many wash-outs and burn-outs. One of the central reasons for many failures is improper motives driving a person to lead in a sphere of ministry to which God has not called them. Christ’s Body needs faithful leaders that will finish the noble task to which they have been called.

What is your motive behind your desire to be a leader in the church? Carefully evaluate your motives. Why do you want to lead? Motivation is the key. Why are you seeking to be a leader? For yourself? For Christ? Are you seeking after God’s agenda or your own? Jesus told His disciples, “I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:30b NIV). Is pleasing God at the root of your desire to lead? Are you living for God’s fame?

Don’t be too quick to excuse your own self-promotion. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah cautions his secretary Baruch, “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it!” (Jeremiah 45:5 NLT) Self-centeredness is a chain that binds you. Paul warns that some preachers actually “proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives” (Philippians 1:17 NASB).

Check yourself today. Is your foundation to lead built on any of the following inadequate motivations?

A desire for respect from your peers?
A desire to be recognized by the public?
A desire to show off your gifts and talents?
A desire for an official title in front of your name?
A desire to prove your worth or earn your acceptance?
A desire for power or to have authority of others?
A desire to be paid?
A desire to be praised on earth for your generosity or good deeds?
A desire to be served by others?
A desire to be more important than your currently are?

What is your motive? What is pushing your desire? Why are you aspiring to lead?

October 1, 2014

Psalm 23 Shepherd

A few hours before his death, a founding member of Valley Fellowship gave me a ceramic lamb and encouraged me to shepherd the flock. Everett Brooks was ready for heaven, but he wanted me to finish the race God marked out for me. I keep that lamb at my office to remind me of God’s call upon my life.

Several times, the New Testament connects shepherding imagery with the responsibility of a church leader. Peter proclaims, “Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve.” (1 Peter 5:2 GW) In Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian leaders, Paul declared, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28 HCSB) Many within our modern twenty-first century society have little personal experience with sheep, but the shepherding analogy remains an apt picture.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 NASB)

Shepherding is an appropriate analogy for describing the ministry of a pastor or church leader. Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd in charge of His flock – the Church – and He knows the best methodology for the care of sheep and adopts the best approach for the care of His sheep. I should imitate His example in character and in care-giving. To emulate Him and become an effective pastor or under-shepherd, I must maintain firsthand relationship with the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ.

My dad did his best to model for me how an under-shepherd should live in connection with Christ. I still honor Dad by attesting he was the same man at home that he was in the pulpit. Today, I opened a folder with some of my dad’s old notes and read something I thought was quite appropriate. On one of the pages was a handwritten outline of Psalm 23. I am pretty sure Dad was copying or paraphrasing something he had heard or read, but I don’t know from where. Here is what was written (with a few edits and added Scripture verses):

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” (Psalm 23:2a NASB) He makes the sheep lie down in green pastures which He Himself has already surveyed as good and healthy for the sheep.

“He leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2b NASB) He leads the sheep beside quiet, restful waters that He Himself has already examined to be clean and pure for the sheep.

“He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:3a NASB) He restores the souls and lives of the sheep – after He Himself has examined each sheep for its faults and hurts.

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“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 NASB) He comforts the sheep with His rod and staff while they travel through dark valleys before which He Himself has traveled.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:5a NASB) He prepares good grazing land for the sheep even when they are surrounded by wolves, knowing a satisfying diet will keep the sheep from wandering away from the flock and being eaten by the wolves.

“You have anointed my head with oil.” (Psalm 23:5b NASB) He anoints all the heads of the sheep with oil which will protect and keep flying insects from bothering His sheep.

“My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5c NASB) He causes the diet of the sheep to be so satisfying which will cause their wool to be healthy and plentiful.

Dad, thanks for writing that down. I am pondering Jesus’ example as the Good Shepherd. Jesus called me into ministry as His under-shepherd. The call is real; the mission is vital; the task is formidable, but I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Essential shepherding duties seem to never end, but my personal connection with Jesus Christ provides me with the spiritual strength to accomplish His will.

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 NASB)

September 17, 2014

Cross-Bearing for Dummies & Smarties

Cross-bearing isn’t optional for a Christ-following disciple. Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27 NIV) What is cross-bearing? Basically, cross-bearing is giving Jesus Christ first place in my life. When I adopt willingness to do whatever it takes for God to be glorified in and through my life, I am bearing my cross. When I lay my life on the line – even to the point of death – then I am cross-bearing.

For some, cross-bearing involves death, but even death cannot keep a person from pleasing the Lord. Shocking recent reports from the Middle East tell of thousands of believers who have been killed. Radicals unsuccessfully tried to make Christians deny Christ. The kingdom of darkness violently assaults the Church, but the blood of martyrs testifies to God’s glory. The ultimate sacrifice of life could be a part of cross-bearing, but for most of us cross-bearing has to do with how we live here on earth.

Water baptism is a powerful symbol of cross-bearing – burying an old life in exchange for Christ’s life. Alan’s testimony from the baptistry on that day touched my heart. Here was a guy publicly announcing his decision to offer every part of himself, his choice to bear his cross.

Cross-bearing encompasses every dimension of living. Evangelist Billy Graham wisely affirms, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.” The Apostle Paul stresses, “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.” (Romans 6:13 NIV) What a call! Every part? Wow, I have got some work to do.
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Many years ago, Thomas À Kempis bemoaned the lack of cross-bearing by many within the church of the 1400’s. Kempis called for renewed devotion. His message is still relevant in the 21st century. Kempis wrote:

“Jesus has many lovers of the heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He has many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to endure anything for Him, or with Him. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup. Many reverence His miracles; few follow the ignominy of His cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities befall them, many praise and bless Him so long as they receive any consolations from Him; but if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them but a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too much dejection of mind.”

Cross-bearing is part of that process by which I am changed more and more into Christ’s likeness. Cross-bearing is a characteristic of someone maturing spiritually. Spiritual maturity is not automatic – it is a process. I am certainly not perfect. None of us is perfect yet. Therefore, I must surrender myself daily. Jesus Christ declares, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross DAILY and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 NIV) I must choose EVERYDAY to deny myself and follow God’s will for my life.

“In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility.” (A.W. Tozer)

I want all that God has for me, so I gotta grab my cross. Lord, grant me grace to bear my cross and follow you today.

September 10, 2014

A Church and a Christian School Can Work Together

Life-giving Christian schools do exist. I am a senior pastor of church with a twenty-seven year old Christian school and I have a strong conviction about the necessity and benefit of good Christian schools. I am personally invested in Valley Fellowship Christian Academy, including regularly teaching Bible classes and elementary chapels. With a God-given responsibility to train their children, many parents find an excellent partner with a quality Christian school.

Recently, I read a blog post (from a pastor I respect) that questioned whether or not Christian schools “work”. Unfortunately, I think past disappointments flavored his viewpoint. He advocated that Christian schools work for some but devastate other children, however his logic is flawed. Poor experience by some does not justify a broad attack against the Christian school movement. Parenting “works” for some children, but for some their parental experiences devastated their lives. Some kids have a good experience with parents; some do not have a good experience with parents. Do we discredit or disavow all parenting? Of course, not. And, Christian school cannot be so easily disavowed.

Under the guise of Christian liberty, he suggested the abandonment of Honor Codes because he thinks they are legalistic and without room for repentance. Honor Codes, like the Ten Commandments of old, are a standard for living that should not be discarded. Wise Christian educators do allow for repentance. Respect the distinctive of a particular school. Some Christian schools have an evangelistic mission (allow anyone); some Christian school have a discipleship mission (limit pre-Christians). Different points of view are studied and debated in a Christian school, but an effective teacher will communicate truth.

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Students attending a school that shares space with a local congregation DO NOT get TOO MUCH of church. A building isn’t the reason for the poor experience of some. Many own daughters love and serve God after spending their academic careers (until college) in a school that shared space with a church. Positive experience of my own children and the constructive experience of many others testifies that a church and a school CAN work together. It can work for a school and a church to share property. Also, the financial reality is that many Christian schools would not exist without a local congregation willing to “share” space in order to see children trained and transformed through a real encounter with Christ.

Based upon more than thirty years of personal observation, students do not need Christian schools and public schools to fare better. If I could go back, I still would not send my daughters to a public school, but I would send them to life-giving Christian school. If a Christian school was not an option, then I would homeschool. Christ affirmed that a fully-trained student will be like the teacher. I want my kids to become more like Christ and a healthy partnership with good Christian school educators increases that potential.

April 1, 2014

“Noah” – Heresy Repackaged?

As Christ followers we must stay focused on Christ, the Real Christ, the Christ of God’s Word, the One True and Living Way.

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NLT)

I am currently teaching a Valley Fellowship Christian Academy (VFCA) high school Bible class – New Testament Survey (NTS). As we continued our review of the Book of Colossians today in class, I was struck by how old heresies (false teachings) seem to return time and again. Paul was certainly concerned that the believers to which he wrote not fall prey to the enemy’s deception. Paul does not provide a formal definition of the false teaching to which he addresses much of the Book of Colossians, but we have some idea about the nature of the “Colossian Heresy.”

Robert Gundry, the author of our VFCA NTS textbook highlights aspects of the Colossian heresy.

The heresy:

Diminishes the person of Christ, so that Paul stresses the preeminence of Christ (1:15–19)

Emphasizes human philosophy, that is, human speculations divorced from divine revelation (2:8)

Contains elements of Judaism, such as circumcision (2:11; 3:11), rabbinic tradition (2:8), dietary regulations and Sabbath and festival observances (2:16)

Includes the worship of angels as intermediaries keeping the highest God (pure Spirit) unsullied through contact with the physical universe (a pagan feature, since although orthodox Jews have constructed a hierarchy of angels, they do not worship them or regard the materiality of the universe as evil [2:18])

Flaunts an exclusivist air of secrecy and superiority, against which Paul stresses the all-inclusiveness and publicity of the gospel (1:20, 23, 28; 3:11).

The Colossian heresy, then, blends together Jewish legalism, Greek philosophic speculation, and oriental mysticism. (A Survey of the New Testament, 4th edition, pp.419-419)

I encourage you to read the first half of Colossians and let God’s Word sink into your spirit.

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2 NASB)

After refocusing your thoughts on Christ, you might want to consider how heresy tries to creep into United States culture. For example, the new movie “Noah” is definitely not about the Noah of which the Book of Genesis expounds. I don’t know a lot about Dr. Brian Mattson, but his critique of “Noah” should open some eyes. Check out his journal post from yesterday titled “Sympathy For The Devil”.

February 3, 2014

We Need Each Other

I need you and you need me. That isn’t hard to type, but it is often hard to live out. Why do I struggle sometimes to admit that I really need people?

I need my wife and Patti needs me. We are interdependent upon one another. Without a flow of love and mutual ministry between us, there would be a tremendous hole in our emotions. God gave me His gift of marriage because I need it and Patti needs it. Patti and I need each other.

As the pastor of a local congregation, I need the people that make up Valley Fellowship. I’m not all by myself. I am not self-sufficient; I can’t do “church” on my own. Even the pastoral and preaching ministry I have received from the Lord couldn’t happen without believers standing with me, helping, praying, giving, loving. God put you and He put me into a body of which we are a part. I am not every member of the body. You are not every member of the body. WE need each other.

Why? In this article we are going to evaluate this battle and try to understand where it is going. learningworksca.org generic sales viagra Following the complete guidelines while taking Kamagra dose, one can get the relief from ED canada viagra cialis in the first day. Meanwhile, a large number of macrophage accumulations in abdominal cavity can be caused due to endometriosis prices for cialis right here disease. Another advantage of buying Kamagra oral jelly online from an online store to save a lot of money into developing, researching and testing the new canada viagra cheap loved that drug had a side effect that they did not expect. My experience with the amazing people who make up Valley Fellowship Church, make it easy for me to understand Paul’s joy when he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5 NIV). I don’t stand alone. Patti and I don’t just stand together. For more than twenty-five years, we have been partnered with the greatest church family on earth. I have benefited from the sacrificial investments of so many people. Thank you! I need you and we need each other.

We cannot do ministry or life alone. God’s work isn’t finished. I am asking God to deepen my appreciation for the partnership I share with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am also praying that God will give you a deep understanding of what our partnership together is doing in the Tennessee Valley and in you. Thank you, Lord! My heart is filled with joy! I am made for connection and so are you.We need each other.

Hey, partner, are you ready to enjoy the journey together?

January 31, 2014

You Can Persevere in God’s Strength

It’s human nature to feel tired when trouble comes our way or when we haven’t had enough rest or when we have selflessly given out to serve other. We’ve all had moments when our bodies just don’t want to put out any more energy. We’ve even had days it seems like everything is working against us. If we’re not careful, those days can turn into weeks and weeks into months. Next thing we know, we’re tired, discouraged, angry, and burning out.

I certainly enjoy ministering around the world, but even ministry can be tiring. God can still use us – even when we are physically drained – but we do need to take time to rest.

We may be stretched, but God doesn’t want His followers to lead exhausted lives. God wants to give us strength to live every day to the fullest. The apostle Paul asked God to strengthen every follower of Christ with an inward spiritual strength “through His Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).” In 2 Timothy 2:1, Paul compelled Timothy to “be strong strengthened inwardly in the grace that is to be found only in Christ Jesus.” Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to rely on God for physical and spiritual strength, you can rely on the Lord and to preserve in His strength.

“Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10 GNT)

Throughout Scripture, God reminds His people that we need to run to Him when we feel weary. “The Lord is like a strong tower; those who do right can run to him for safety (Proverbs 18:10 NCV).” In Psalms, He refers to Himself as our “refuge” and as a “very present help” (Psalm 46:1). These images are strong illustrations of God as a safe haven for our immediate problems – both spiritual and physical, large and small. Even when troubles flood our lives God promises, “I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you (Isaiah 41:10 NIV84).

Isaiah 40:31 is another promise from God’s Word that has sustained me:

But those who wait for the Lord and expect, look for and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power, they shall life their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary: they shall walk and not faint or become tired (AMP).

God has promised we can run the race of our lives with Him and with much strength, advancing from glory to glory and from strength to strength.

Refresh yourself in God’s strength by spending time in His Word. Using your own Bible or biblegateway.com, read the many Scripture references I have listed in this article. Take time to think about them. Meditate the Word of God (John 6:53-66). Keep yourself free from sin that drains away your strength (Ephesians 5:4; Colossians 3:8; Hebrews 12:15). Drink from the living water of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-38).

Don’t let bad days become bad weeks. Don’t grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). Don’t burn out. Set time aside to rest (Matthew 11:29). Stay connected with the Holy Spirit and discover rest in His grace and mercies because they are new every morning. As we pay attention to God’s Word and trust His promises we’ll become stronger each day.

November 5, 2013

Garden Hose for Jesus?

“Be a garden hose, a PVC pipe, a channel for God’s healing power,” Dad encouraged. “You don’t have to be fine china to be used by God. In fact, the Lord delights in using styrofoam cups, ordinary people just like us.”

A garden hose not connected to a water source doesn’t do much to benefit grass or potted plants. But, in the hands of a master gardener a hose connected to water becomes a perfectly suited tool to connect thirty flowers with life-giving water. You and I are the perfectly suited instruments designed to release God’s love on earth.

“Do not look upon the vessel, but upon what it holds.” (Hebrew Proverb)

Why not keep streams of living water flowing out you to keep the water fresh? Get the kinks worked out of your life so that living water can stream without impediment.

Keep yourself free from rebellion or sin that clogs and contaminants. “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NLT)

I am willing to be a garden hose for Jesus Christ.

The Lord wants to use us to communicate His message, to impart His love, to extend His forgiveness, and to minister His healing power. Are you willing to let the healing power of the Lord flow through you? Are you ready to be a garden hose for Jesus?