As a part of trying to be disciplined in completing things I start, I am finishing a follow up to a previous post.  Comparing church staff (core leaders) as soldiers in war time. Here’s the point from that post:

♣  They might not have liked getting shot at but they accepted the responsibility of fighting naked aggression.

Soooooo, what’s that got to do with church culture?

Simply put, we have an understanding that we are in a continual conflict with the world.  As the scripture states.

James 4:4

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

Now that is not to say we are not to be friends with the people of the world.  That was how Jesus lived.  But we are not to be friendly to the world.  We are not to support and live by the morals, values, and conduct of the world.  Those things are in direct conflict with God.  They are usually in direct opposition with Him and therefore these things become God’s enemy?!

So…when we take on the responsibility of becoming an engaged and supportive partner with the church we are in turn saying, “I’m in the fight”.  It is safe to assume now that because you are in the fight you will take some liks.  It is to be expected.

But that’s ok. and here’s why:

• When on the aggressive side damage is not felt as much.
• If you choose not to fight when you are a Christian it does not take you off the battlefield.  Therefore you are actually going to get hurt more.
• Taking pain for the cause of Christ let’s you know you are on the right side.
• Pain also let’s you know that you are growing.  Your ’spiritual muscles’ develop and scars make you tough.
• In the process of getting tougher when you face the next battle you are even more prepared.

By choosing to be engaged we are actually showing God we love Him.  Not to get love from Him but because it is an outpouring of gratitude for what He has done for you. He fought for you through someone that had to take some damage along the way.  Wasn’t it worth it?

Three times I asked the boy to come down stairs after washing his hands.  Every time was, “ok daddy” but it never happened.  It was diner time and I had the baby and momma and Baylee were setting the table.  So usually being very patient I would get him, put him in time out and then make him wash his hands….but, this is a different day.

We have been working on following directions first time given.  This is essential when running a multi-child home. The direction is not a request but a demand. There is no choice other than to obey.  Why?… Because we run the house and he is my charge, he is a pre-Christian in training, it brings sanity to a home, it helps with his safety not to question us, and….I’m hungry .

So Charlee (my 4 month old) and I go up the stairs with my son’s most unliked cooking utensil, the Wooden Spoon.  Which my son always reminds me, “Daddy that no for spankin my hiney that for stirring!”  Well today it was my Samurai sword so when he saw me coming he took off downstairs and the only thing that saved his “hiney” was that it was firmly planted in his chair.

Now other than making you laugh when you see my son there is some similarities in this story.  I have been reading Jeremiah lately when God punishes Judah for their rebellion against Him.  Even though it was devastating it was better than turning the blind eye to the situation.

He had to correct them because they were His people, they belonged to Him.  Through them the Messiah would come so Judaism as we now know it had to happen.  They had to learn not to question His commands because it was for their own good.  His laws would bring order to a world that knew insanity.  In the end it would be His will over theirs.

Jeremiah 29:10-13 says it like this,

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When I get Avery’s attention it is because I have plans for him.  Plans to be great.  Plans to be the “Salt & Light” of the world.  Plans to find peace  by living for God.  And God has the same plans for you.

God is a father that likes to get your attention because He loves and is committed to you.

Bottom line, if you see Him coming.  Run and save your behind! Because he has your best interests at heart but your ‘hiney” won’t like it.

Ok so I got a little time, so here are my thoughts on this past week before I take a break.

• In dealing with our home builder we have had to use the discipline of pestering nicely in stead of yelling angrily.  Just like you find everywhere else in the world there are some things worth fighting for like getting things done right on the house. Heather and I find the practice of pestering vs expressing anger works a lot better.  Check it out here for a biblical perspective Proverbs 15:1-5.  I will write about this specifically later next week.
• Sometimes I have avoided what I considered to be ‘hot topics’ with my wife.  Like disciplining kids, budgeting, management of the home.  What I have noticed lately is that Heather and I have been developing a closer relationship as we actually talk about it more.  We find out we are both on the same page and we discuss outcomes and wants instead of pointing fingers at each other.
• Still working through how to use pastoral influence instead of pastoral authority.  It’s a lot like counseling.  As a pastor we need to reserve the right for telling people what they ’should’ do and try to get people to ’see why’ they should be doing something.  We need to save the authority card for when we need it.
• For the past few weeks the staff has been working late about 1 night a week.  I am seeing this really cool thing happen.  As we get bogged down in the desk work of the day the evenings are coming alive with special projects.  What makes it fun is that we are engaging with our volunteers and attendees during these times.  I think I am going to be pushing for two office days and work two nights    Just so we can hang with our folks.
• I talked about Baptism with a few people who are getting baptized this weekend.  Great stories from all walks of life.  From people suffering job loss, pregnant moms, kids, and prodigal sons.  Just more testimony that Jesus is for everyone and He is definitely moving in our midst here at Oak Leaf.  By the way if you want to get baptized we do it at the end of every month so let me know if you want to get dunked and we’ll talk.

Alright I am about to go wrestle with the boy for a while but if you need some help in discovering what God has called you to do at Oak Leaf let me know. Now go and make sure to rest and reflect on what God is doing in your life.

Using the System for Effective Prayers from Jody May on Vimeo.

This video is a little something extra to go along with the sermon below. We can have more effective prayers when we decide to be in biblical community.

Jesus – How To Have An Effective Prayer Life from Oak Leaf Church on Vimeo.

This was a sermon from the Jesus Series on Luke 11. We explored why our prayers aren’t effective – because we think it is all about us…