Pastors are Gifts!

Pastors are special people.  Everyone needs one.  I appreciate the five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers), but strongly believe that pastors are chosen to facilitate the ministry of the other four—all for the building up of the body of Christ.  In other words, pastors are heaven-assigned leaders, who are called “to tend” or “shepherd” local churches. 

Every ministry that happens in the local church needs to be filtered through the vision of the pastor (but that’s another blog!)  The Bible teaches that they are gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:11).  It seems, however, some churches want to exchange their gift after “opening it up!”  How sad.

When I was growing up, the Lord blessed me with three wonderful “gifts.”  These shepherds loved and regularly prayed for me.  While I don’t recall specific sermons, I do remember the way they blessed my life.  I told my churches over the years that they would not remember sermons I preached, but they would remember the way I treated them.  That’s true about relationships in general.  The acid test of true Christianity is the way we treat people.

Pastor Herb and Eunice Strahsburg founded the Jefferson Assembly of God (now Covenant) in 1956.  I still hold dear his departing words to me.  He said, “Rog, stay true to Jesus.”  He modeled faithfulness and perseverance during his 17-year ministry in Jefferson.  Much of who I am and how I approach ministry is due largely to his example.  I was honored to be one of three speakers at his funeral in 2013.

I met Gary and Nannie Lentz in 1973.  God sent this precious couple to Jefferson, if for no other reason, than to encourage me.  The Lentz’s had four young sons, but still found time to include me in their family activities.  Snacks after church, visitation, hospital calls, ministry trips, babysitting, praying at the altar, a strong love for the things of God, and their “realness” impacted my life during the 18 months they were my pastors.

During high school I occasionally attended youth meetings at the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene.  Pastor Don and Thelma Hoffman hold a special place in my heart.  Both have transitioned to heaven.  His musical ministry, solid Bible preaching and love for people; along with Mrs. Hoffman’s personal ministry to me following my mother’s untimely death, cemented my heart to theirs!  Jefferson sure has been blessed with wonderful shepherds over the years.

We at Hope Community Church pray often for all the churches in Jefferson, asking the Lord to bless their pastors, to give them continued favor in the community and souls for their labors.  These heroes of the faith are “elders who rule well (and) are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and the laborer is worthy of his wages’” (2 Timothy 5:17-18).

If you haven’t told your pastor lately that you love and appreciate him or her, do so today!   

Fixer Upper

Chip and Joanna Gaines are going off the air after their fifth season on HGTV.  Many “Fixer Upper” fans are disappointed—including me! 

The other day I was thinking about our upcoming “Freedom Ministries” class, when it occurred to me that what the Gaines do to homes, God wants to do in OUR lives. 

My wife and I are on a quest for healing.  Hopefully, you’ve read my blog entitled, “Teeter-Totter” where I outline the role of body, soul and spirit as they pertain to our tri-part being.  My premise remains:  The healing of the soul is often minimized or even neglected in most preaching. 

Many Christ followers are on their way to heaven because they have placed their faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, but frankly aren’t enjoying the trip because they hold on to hurts, habits and hang-ups that keep them imprisoned in their past.  Remember, the soul is comprised of a person’s mind, will and emotions.  God of course, desires that we walk out of those things that hold us back from true freedom.  Keep in mind that while salvation is the “miracle of a moment,” the on-going healing of the soul is mostly worked out in process. Both salvation and soul healing, however, involve surrender to God.

At the beginning of each episode, Chip and Joanna find a suitable home for each excited couple. Then after the new and improved look is agreed upon, Chip does what he refers to as “Demo-day.”  He seems to really enjoy this aspect of the “fixer upper.”  He and his crew go in and demolish everything that needs renovation and/or replacement.  Walls get knocked down, kitchen counters are torn out, bathrooms are gutted, flooring is removed, etc.  Next, the Gaines refurbish according to plan.  Then, Joanna places the final decorative touches inside each home; and at show’s end, they unveil the finished product to a waiting and ecstatic couple.

This is what God wants to do in our lives.  He first takes an original project that has been negatively impacted by time and life in general (US). He then shows us where we are not walking in freedom and gives us a game plan to walk out of our pain.  He then begins demolition – exposing those hidden away, “rooms” in our heart that need to be removed or refurbished. Then as we surrender to His truths versus our formerly held lies, He begins a process that brings beauty and a new look into our lives.  Only when we see Jesus face to face will our “fixer upper” be totally renovated!

“Freedom Ministry” is designed to place tools in the hands of God’s people who perhaps unknowingly live below their “Calvary privileges” -- the fullness of God’s grace and the abundant life afforded to them because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Each Monday evening, beginning October 9 at 7:00 p.m., my wife and I will bring biblically sound “freedom teaching”, which will be followed by times of introspection and prayer.  Hope Community Church welcomes you to participate in this six-week, life-changing course.  How can you know if “Freedom Ministry” is for you? Take a moment to answer the following questions.  If you answer “yes” to any, then you need “Freedom Ministry.”

Do you…

1.     Get easily offended?

2.     Easily offend others?

3.     Readily get your feelings hurt?

4.     Struggle with insecurity, rejection, anger, depression, jealousy, lust or unforgiveness?

5.     Have difficulty making and sustaining friendships?

OR, have you…

6.     Left behind a trail of broken relationships?

7.     Spent your life blaming others for your pain?

8.     Been molested or raped?

9.     Experienced emotional, mental, verbal or sexual abuse

10. Struggled with substance abuse of any kind?

THEN, let me ask you one final question: Are you breathing?

If you answered “yes” to this question, then you need “Freedom Ministry!”

 Final note:  Childcare will be provided.

The Teeter-Totter

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

In our faith tradition we talk a lot about people getting “saved.”  What exactly happens at salvation?  According to the Bible, specifically in Paul’s teachings, “our spirit man is sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13).  In other words, when we come to faith in Christ, our spirit, or the part of us that connects to the Spirit of God, comes alive.  We are born-again, saved, redeemed, (welcome to this Christian cliché festival)!  The part of us that knows and responds to God comes alive.  We are no “longer dead in our trespasses and sins.”  

According to the Bible, two classes of people exist:  “Saints and Aints” – those   who have experienced His grace and those who have yet to come to new life in Christ. 

The Bible lends support to the idea that man is a tri-part being.  He is a spirit, who lives in a body and who is guided by his soul (mind, will and emotions).  Those who experience the new birth are hot-wired to know God intimately and to hear His voice.

Then comes the body!   That part of you that stares back from the mirror every morning!  You have to love it.  The Bible discusses body care and maintenance.  Your spirit-man and soul constantly vie for control of the body man.  Yikes!

Now, let me briefly concentrate on the soul.  It’s the one that most preaching neglects to confront. 

Do you remember riding the teeter-totter on the playground at school?  Up and down, up and down!  Always balancing on the middle pole to insure a safe ride.  How many times did you crash to the ground because the other smart aleck decided to bail? 

Picture this:  The middle pole represents the spirit.  One seat represents the soul.  The other seat represents the body.  The middle pole is necessary to direct the seats.  The middle pole functions as an equalizer.  So it is with your spirit.  It is the great equalizer!  If it malfunctions, neither the soul nor the body can function properly.  The soul is governed by the spirit, and the body is guided by what the soul dictates.  Remember, our mind, will and emotions dictate the actions of the soul, who must be driven by the spirit, who derives authority and power from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  We are complex, yet intricately designed.

When we don’t feed our spirit on the Bible, God’s Word, it derives its nourishment from sources that cannot properly nourish it; and in turn, our soul takes a nosedive (like on the teeter-totter), and our body follows its own path as well.  And believe me, when we are not in line with God’s Word, we get ourselves into a mess, don’t we?

An unhealthy soul is transformed by input from the Spirit.  Root issues, when exposed by the Holy Spirit, are brought into the light of the Gospel and previously held lies are exchanged for God’s truth.  Soul issues of course, can be healed instantaneously; however, most are exposed and healed through process. 

I have just skimmed the surface of a very inexhaustive topic.  And I hope I have whetted your appetite to learn more about this tri-part teaching.  Hope Community offers Freedom Ministry, which explores the “healing of the saved,” and helps individuals come into fullness of life that Christ makes possible. Ask about our next session.

A Walk in Nature

Theologians tell us that God reveals Himself through General and Special Revelation.  In other words, He reveals Himself generally through nature and specifically in the Bible.  As I write, I am looking out the window of my home, marveling at the massive trees and beautiful terrain that surround me.  Ashtabula County really is a nice place to live.   Someone greater than I displays His handiwork!

The Designer has done well.  Centuries ago, the psalmist, while gazing upward was moved to write, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 18:1).

As a boy, I too witnessed God’s hand in creation.  Two incidents fashioned my belief in God and served as precursors to my conversion to Christ at age 14. 

It was a lazy summer day in 1963.  I was playing outdoors when suddenly I experienced a “visit from above.”  While swinging, I gazed high into the sky and was immediately overcome with emotion.  A loving presence embraced me and I cried openly as I basked in “His” wonderful love and warmth.

I can remember thinking, “I want to be a preacher.”  Later I wondered, “What is a preacher?”  You see, I wanted to preach before I personally knew the Lord! 

Five years later this unseen guest again revealed Himself to me in the middle of a severe summer thunderstorm.  For reasons I cannot remember, I retreated to our garage for solace after feeling quite upset with a family situation.  I was lonely and needing connection.

Torrents of rain eroded places in our gravel driveway.  The rain pounded heavily on the roof, and I reacted strongly to the noisy confusion.  I cried out, “God, if you’re real, make it stop raining on the roof only, and let it keep falling everywhere else.”  Immediately, the garage became quiet as heavy rainfall continued to pour around me.  Someone heard a 12-year-old boy’s request.  Overcome by emotion, I wept profusely.  Again, I was blanketed with love when heaven responded.

Two years later I heard a sermon about the Rapture of the Church preached by the late Donald Schorsch.  The same God, who twice revealed Himself to me in nature, spoke to me directly through His Word.  And I was what Jesus referred to as “born again.”  John 3:3 says, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 

Isn’t it wonderful that the Holy Spirit used 44 writers over a period of 1,600 years to bring the written Word to us?  From time to time, I’m asked the infamous question, “Will the heathen be saved?”  I was!   Both General and Special Revelation were imparted into my life.  The God of nature and the Author of the written Word is no respecter of persons.  He desires that all come to know Him intimately. 

The next time you feel down, take a walk and survey the beauties of nature.  Enjoy the designs and ask the Designer to touch you!