Are Church Leaders Really Prepared To Lead?

Dear Friends,

The church I lead is one that requires constant shepherding and working with people who have recently or semi-recently turned their lives over to Christ and learning to live that new life comes very difficult for many. So often, I come across situations and problems I so feel unqualified to deal with. I am talking about matters that would just blow Christians' minds who have never dealt with people vastly different than them.

While I am not qualified yet to be a shepherd, I have to serve in that function given that we do not have an eldership at this time. But I can sure see how critical it is to live under the Biblical standards laid out for church leaders. There is a new book I am reading (perhaps not so new to some) called "They Smell Like Sheep" by Lynn Anderson. It is so enlightening and helpful. (Now if God would just send us some men who could serve and do the work of Shepherds) :) Also, there is a book called "Biblical Eldership" by Strausch that is also very educational about Biblical standards and roles for elders/shepherds. Such books are good for anyone in Christian leadership--be they elders, deacons, ministers, small group leaders, Bible class teachers, evangelists, mentors and parents.

May the Lord equip us all to serve HIS church well.

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

Family Vacations

I am finishing up a family vacation--and it has been beautiful. I am reminded of when I was a boy and my family went on vacation each year. Of course, things are quite different now. For some reason, my parents often did not want to get out of the car to do things--just drive on by. "Hey son, there is the White House." "Oh cool, lets go.......lets go........oh........bye White House as I see you from a far?

Or "Look at that Grand Canyon kids." "Yes, I want to go stand on that.......oh.......gee.......by Grand Canyon as we drive away?

Don't get me wrong--we had some wonderful family vacations and great family time--I just always wanted to see more. But we certainly do now.

But really and truly--the family time is really what it is about!

Just being able to be alone with my wife and children is priceless time. If you spend money on things throughout the year but have not been able to get away on a vacation. I encourage you to buy less things so you can take a vacation with your family and build some great memories.

God is good.

Bruce

Why We Get To Celebrate Our Freedom

Today is the day we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is my hope that one day in the next few years, I will have the opportunity to take my children to visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia. But let us never forget what allowed that event to not only take place, but to endure for this many years.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, Trenton, New York City, Camden, Brandywine, and so many other places during the Revolutionary War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Tripoli and other parts of the Barbary Coast.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Baltimore, Quebec, Tippecanoe, and New Orleans during the War of 1812.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Vera Cruz, Monterrey, and Mexico City during the War with Mexico.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Antetiam, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Chancellorsville during the Civil War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Little Big Horn and other places in the West in hostilities with Indians.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Havana and in the Phillipines during the War with Spain.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Belleau Wood and the Argonne Forest during World War I.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, North Africa, Palermo, Paris, and Normandy Beach during World War II.
It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Inchon and the Chosen Resovoir during the Korean War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Dak To, Hue, and Da Nang during the War in Vietnam.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Grenada and Panama.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Kuwait and Southern Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Bosnia.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Afganistan, and in Baghdad.

And no matter the struggle, we never forget! May we never tire of serving each other and our country! Let freedom ring!!

Bruce

Living--Not Just Playing The Part

Read the following passage and be reminded of who we are called to be if we are serious about who we say we are:

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What does it mean for us who so often think we "have this Christian life down?" You mean we actually have to keep living all these Jesus traits? Isn't that kinda hard? But wait--verse 9 says that "if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." How many folks who show up to the church building 3 times as week exhibit this brother or sister who has simply forgotten what they have been saved from? Let us all keep reminding each other and allowing ourselves to be reminded by HIS word daily! We need to live the part--not just go through the motions.

God Speed,

Bruce

Church As Usual?

Do we often find ourselves just "doing church as usual?" We go to the building once, twice, or even three times a week. We make most of the major church functions, fellowships etc. We tithe. And yet, we sometimes find ourselves just flat dead spiritually. Why is that?

We sometimes just seem to have lost our way. We cannot remember the last time if ever that we led someone to Christ. We cannot remember the last time we spent time with a lost person who is not like us. We find ourselves treating God as if HE were some divine diety way up in the sky--and not a loving Father who longs to have an intimate relationship with us.

Our life in Christ was meant to be--and can be--better than this.

With more conversations with God, more personal time in the word, and more time serving other people in love and humility--we can begin to turn the corner. God can then begin to really feed our spirit to become more and more like Jesus. Oh, yeah yeah what day that will be!!

Let us not be about "church as usual." Let us be all about living out God's word every day!

Blessings,

Bruce

Leaving No One Behind

When we sit around our churches and talk about the Great Commission--how much of that charge to we look at as being for foreign nations and how much of that do we look at as our responsibility here at home? Sometimes it is so much easier to send a check overseas and not have to deal with people who have lots of problems and poverty and the list goes on. But Jesus did not just send a check. He spent time with poor people and sick people and prostitutes and all kinds of other sinners.

There are thousands upon thousands of lost people whose children are suffering with no love of Jesus in their lives--right here in our communities where we live!! Will we take on our responsibilities at Christians and go seek those lost and help bring them into the light? Or will we just keep paying others to do our jobs for us?

Jesus told us that the harvest is ripe. Let us go work the harvest in love and help set sinners free from their bondage.

What a God we serve--to love us all enough to give His beloved Son to die for us! Let us daily show our appreciation back to Him.

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

God Is Good!

Do you ever just stop for a moment to think about all that God has done for you? Do you ever just look around and see all that God created? He is so faithful. He is so good. He just keeps changing lives and blessing people. Let us keep praising HIM and telling others how wonderful HE is!

Grace and Peace,

Bruce