From the Shallows to the Deep

One of the greatest joys in the Gospel ministry is to see the difference Jesus Christ makes in the lives of those who know Him. Over the last few weeks I have been watching a young woman who came to us a few years ago and I wanted to share her story from my vantage point.

This woman came to us broken. Very broken. She was hurt deeply by a multitude of things but worst of all by religion. Her husband was at his wits end and his last hope of saving their marriage was to involve her in newLife. So we did.

The first thing I remember we did was connect her to a very mature woman in Christ who too had been deeply wounded but knew how to take that hurt and turn it into holiness. This mature woman's love and devotion pierced through the hurt of her broken heart and the healing began.

Over the next couple of years this newly healed young woman began to transform into the loving, kind, beautiful woman that had been hidden for so long. Her heart began to grow and grow but its one thing to live for Christ on the mountain top and another to live in the valley.

As it so happens one day that valley came. Her heart was hurt again and I wondered how she would process the pain. Would she go back to the protection of her past or would she press through in Christ. I wondered, Would she LIVE forgiveness and grace. I will be honest this is always a scary place for a Pastor and I was seriously concerned.

What happened? She navigated her hurt through a godly grace and a Christ~Like Forgiveness. On this side of her hurt I can with great assurance know that this young woman is no longer a student of a mature woman's Love and devotion but has become a teacher with a mature woman's love and devotion.

As her Pastor I am happy to know that her ability to navigate forgiveness has changed her life by  encouraging her marriage, enhancing her ministry, and honoring her Savior.

Through the work of many at newLife, She has gone from the shallow waters and rocky shores of her pain into the deeper things of God and I couldn't be more pleased.

3 John 1:4

 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

She's not alone..............

Thank you New Spring Church for sharing

Apples or Rotton Oranges

I don't mean to be so harsh but I have to say it. I HATE my Galaxy s4. I know I know its not good to hate, but I do. As an IPhone user for four years I was encouraged to try the Android System mainly because for some stupid reason Apple created the I Phone 5 with a tiny screen and I can't see it very well. But from the first day, I knew this transition was a wrong one and here is why.

#1 To do Anything with the Android you have to go through at least 6 steps to accomplish even the most simple of tasks. It reminds me of using my debit card at a grocery store and having to go through several screens just to purchase a $3 item. UGH.

#2 You can't pick the phone up without screwing something up. Literally, every time I pick it up I either erase an app, change a page, dial a number I didn't mean to dial, or send an empty text. I have even accidentally added photos to my background without understanding how they got there. Every swipe, drop of sweat, or gas bubble affects what happens on this phone.

#3 Yes, there are more apps available than the I Phone, but most of the apps are garbage and there is no clear way of knowing if the app is any good without downloading it onto your phone.

I never had any of these problems with my Apple Product. But it did make me think for a moment about the Church.

There are many churches just like the Android system.
To be a part of the church there are several hoops you need to jump through just to attend and no simple explanation how to navigate even the simplest of tasks.

You can't attend without offending someone. Literally every time you attend there is something negative about the experience. Its not intentional but it happens that either you offend or are offended.

Yes churches have many ministries as well as many activities, but most of them are garbage and there is no way of knowing if the activity is any good except you attend.

As soon as I can I am going back to the simple beauty of the I Phone. It was created to be a purposeful as well as powerful tool for mankind. And so was the Church.

Some may prefer the Android church, I'll stick with the 52 days of the Apple church.

A Purposeful as well as Powerful tool for mankind to connect with a God who seeks the simplicity of faith.

Steve Jobs was no fool.

Try Listening

Margin ~ To create space in life

He (the Preacher) said that it was important to create margin for things that were most important. But I didn't listen. I came home and went to work and worked hard.

He (the Preacher) said that if margin was not created by you it would be created for you. But I didn't listen and margin came. The space that was created was from the emptiness of creativity.

He (the Preacher) said that when margin came, even on its own, I should live in it. But I didn't listen and closed up the margin. Too much to do.

He s(the Preacher) said that if I closed up the margin that was created by not creating margin myself the result would be burn out. But I listened to that. I've burned out before and it always hurts.

So I opened up that margin again.

I canceled meetings with people and spent meetings with God. He spoke, I listened. I spoke, He answered. It was the inspiration and information that I needed to live better and work smarter and make the space in my life more enjoyable.

And all I had to do was listen and create space in life for God.

Maybe I need to get my ears cleaned?

A Sad Reality

Soon, Kathy, my faithful co-laborer will be leaving newLife. She is moving to Fallon Nevada with her husband and granddaughter to retire. Its a sad reality of earthly ministry that not everyone who starts with you ends with you.

Not that this is a bad thing, but it is a sad thing. For years I have been telling Kathy to move to a dryer climate to help her husbands aches, I just didn't think it would happen.

Trust me, I could not be happier for Kathy's new adventure. She deserves it, but that does not mean I can't be sad. I never thought that she would not be with me until we retired together. Weve been through a lot together and I just believed it would always be that way. But with my sadness comes a Joy.

Joy that she will be happier as her husband is healthier.
Joy that she will be so much closer to her whole family.
Joy that she will get to experience God in a new way as He leads her to this newLife.

But her life has given me so much joy as well.

Joy in her faithfulness not only to newLife but to me as her friend
Joy in Spiritual growth that has totally transformed her life
Joy in her willingness to trust me when I even questioned myself.

While we spend 17 years working together at newLife, our time apart will be short as our Lord will return soon and maybe in heaven God will grant us the blessing of having mansions on the same block.

I love you Kathy Butcher and while my sadness will be short lived the joy you've brought me will last long into eternity.

Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

 

Never under estimate the value of a Faithful Friend

Colossians 1:1 (ESV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul had an interesting habit in his writing as he would often not only introduce himself but someone who had been with him. In the letter to the Colossians he writes of his friend Timothy. Timothy was not a co-writer but a faithful friend, a companion.

Now, I am sure that Paul loved many different people, but his love for Timothy was unique. More than just someone Paul led to Christ, Timothy's presence comforted Paul.
In fact if you study this relationship you will find that it was Timothy who was most loved by Paul. They had together endured so much through long years of difficult ministry.

But Timothy wasn't the kind of companion you would expect the great Paul to rely upon. Timothy was often sick, hesitant, cried a lot, and always needed encouragement by Paul. Yet no one had a greater impact on Paul than Timothy and Paul placed no greater confidence in any other man.

This week I thought of some of the Timothy's God has given me and I just had to thank God. There are a few, who have endured so much through long years of difficult ministry. None of them are what you would think. They are often weak, fearful, and need constant encouragement but they comfort me. I am so glad that they are with me in life and this journey of ministry.

Never under estimate the value of faithful friends

I'm Not Sorry

"They" (my Life Group) tell me I say it too much. I guess I am always apologizing. I'm always saying that "I am Sorry" and I probably do. Maybe Sorry isn't the best word for me to express how I feel.
Maybe Sad would be better. I know they will chew me out for that as well but its true.

I'm sad at the state of Christianity ~ They really are negative
I'm sad at the spirit of some Churches ~ They really are Cold
I'm sad at the stands of some Self Righteous Pastors ~ They really are arrogant

and yes for years I have apologized not just for my own failures but the failures of others. Others who may have aided in creating a negative, cold, arrogant faith.

Christianity is the BEST Life we could ever Live
The Church is the BEST Place to Celebrate our Savior Jesus
and Pastors are in the BEST Position to recognize the greatness of Grace

So I am not Sorry ~ I'm Sad

Sad that those who do not know Christ, don't know how amazing being a follower of Jesus is.
Sad that many Christians spend their whole lives never experiencing an exciting church without judging it.
Sad that many Pastors hide behind their position instead of sharing their passion

But I can't be sad anymore.
Yes, I cant be sorry and I can't be sad.

Why? Because I'm a part of a group of people who believe that being a Christian IS the BEST Life we could ever live.
Because I am a member of a Church that LOVES to Celebrate our Savior Jesus.
and Because though I am a Pastor, my Church, my Friends, let me be a person.

Thank you newLife for the best year I have ever experienced as a Christian. I can't wait for 2014 and I'm not sorry, nor am I sad for thinking that.