Mike and Karen Pence Surprise March for Life Attendees

January 18, 2019

The 46th annual March for Life rally is currently taking place in Washington D.C. and thousands have flocked to the nation’s capital to show their support for the movement. This year, a number of high-profile pro-lifers spoke to the attendees, including Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen.

“Life is winning in America once again,” the Vice President told the attendees.

Mike and Karen Pence Weren’t on the March for Life 2019 Program

Mike Pence’s speech turned spiritual when he paraphrased Scripture to encourage attendees to be bold in their support for life. “Be prepared to give a reason for the hope you have. Be prepared to stand for life,” he said. He also warned attendees that others will attack them and try to silence them, but they should not be discouraged by that. He admonished pro-lifers to push back with gentleness and to remember that the one who said “before I formed you in the womb I knew you” also said he would never leave or forsake you.

The Vice President, who became the first Vice President in office to attend the March for Life in 2017, did not give up the opportunity to sing the praises of the administration he represents, though. Giving a brief recap of the things the Trump administration has accomplished related to abortion, Pence reminded the crowd of the following:

Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which blocks foreign non-governmental organizations from performing abortions while also receiving U.S. global family planning assistance.

According to Pence, Trump has “appointed more conservative men and women to our federal courts of appeals than any president in American history.”

Trump signed legislation to “empower states to defund planned parenthood.”

Karen Pence introduced her husband as “a very pro-life person” while the Vice President used his opportunity on the platform to introduce the “most pro-life president in American history,” President Donald Trump. In a pre-recorded message, Trump addressed the crowd and outlined the things he had accomplished for the pro-life movement. He also thanked the young people who showed up to the rally, saying their presence gives “hope for the future.”

“Pro-Life Is Pro-Science”

The theme of the march this year is “unique from day one,” although March for Life president Jeanne Mancini has also used the phrase “pro-life is pro-science” multiple times during her commentary throughout the rally. The issue of science is a point of contention between march leaders and non-supporters, including some of the medical field.

One speaker for the rally this year, popular podcaster and outspoken conservative Ben Shapiro, leaned on scientific fact during his speech. He gave a timeline for a baby developing in the womb, with vital functions developing early on in gestation. When Shapiro, an Orthodox Jew, makes pro-life arguments, he tends to steer clear of religion. “I always speak in terms of logic and science. I’ve never cited the Bible,” Shapiro told The Washington Post.

The ongoing debate continues between the majority of health professionals and pro-lifers who define the start of life differently. While those who take a pro-life view believe life starts at conception, Sarah Horvath speaks for 90 percent of the ob/gyns in the United States when she says, “I think that’s a gross exaggeration of an incredibly complex topic. There are many fertilized eggs that never implant, that implant in the wrong place…that become miscarriages, that in fact can become a type of cancer.”

In addition to science, Mancini also brought up human rights and social justice in one of her speeches. She called abortion a great “human rights abuse of today” and a “social injustice.”

2019 World Watch List: The Usual Suspects + Some Surprises

Stephanie Martin

January 18, 2019

For the first time since 2011, the Russian Federation appears on the Open Doors World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 most dangerous nations for Christians. Open Doors, which serves persecuted Christians throughout the world, notes in its newly released 2019 list that “radical Islam is largely to blame for Russia’s poor standing in how Christians are treated within its borders.”

Christians in Russia Face Numerous Challenges

Islamic oppression, denominational favoritism and governmental obstruction are three factors Open Doors cites in the persecution now occurring in Russia.

Of the nation’s 144 million residents, 82 percent say they’re Christian and only 12 percent are Muslim. Yet, according to Open Doors, “a strong, radical Islamic culture” in Russia’s Northern Caucasus region “exerts enormous adverse pressure and violent outbursts against Christians who have converted from a Muslim background.” In the Caucasus, Muslims outnumber Christians, and “Islamic militants are fighting against the Russian army to establish a Muslim emirate.”

Last February, an Islamic militant attacked a group of Russian Orthodox Christians in Dagestan, killing five women. Three months later, militants chanting “Allahu Akbar” (“Allah is greatest”) attacked a Russian Orthodox church in Chechnya, killing one person.

“Today’s Russia is certainly lightyears better for Christians than the days behind the Iron Curtain,” says David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA. “Yet for non-Russian Orthodox Christians in Russia, every move by the government to squelch religious freedom is another step toward making Russia an increasingly difficult place to live, especially for those Christians who are also already experiencing aggression in areas dominated by Islam.”

Open Doors research, which involves first-person interviews, reveals that in Russia “the brunt of persecution” is borne by “indigenous Christians who converted from Islam and live in Muslim-majority regions.” Because of a fear of execution, Russians often must keep their faith secret.

Laws Are Tightening Around Non-Orthodox Russians

Of the Christians in Russia, almost all (96.6 percent) are Russian Orthodox, and few have read the Bible or attend worship services. Russian president Vladimir Putin has used Russian Orthodox theology and thinking to justify his “imperial ambitions,” according to some international experts. Any members of non-Orthodox denominations who attempt to conduct Christian outreach are often viewed as heretics—and even as “un-Russian, Western spies,” notes Open Doors. The Russian Orthodox Church is particularly wary of “sheep stealing,” or being robbed of its members.

Since 2012, when Russia fell off the World Watch List, the country’s lawmakers (the Duma) have been passing religious restrictions—some of which receive approval from the Russian Orthodox Church. Open Doors points to three examples of how legislation targets non-Orthodox Christians: An “anti-missionary” amendment is used to punish churches, an immigration law targets expatriates who use social media for evangelism, and members of unregistered churches who engage in Gospel-sharing face surveillance and interrogation.

“An increase in state control has resulted in more tight controls for any Christian denomination seen as non-Russian, which means evangelical churches are often regarded with suspicion,” according to an Open Doors fact sheet. “The government continues to pass more restrictive legislation on religious freedom.”

Johnnie Moore, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Rights, says non-Orthodox Christians in Russia—including evangelicals—endure “incomprehensible marginalization and persecution from the government.” He adds, “It feels like certain leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church are…in collusion with the government in suppressing certain other groups.”

Geraldine Fagan, author of Believing in Russia: Religious Policy After Communism, says, “What we have seen in Russia since the Jehovah’s Witness organization was banned outright [in 2017] is without doubt the most severe crackdown on religious freedom since the Soviet era. In key respects,” she says, “it is uncannily reminiscent of late Soviet-era practice.”

Open Doors says the situation isn’t as oppressive as prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, when “Christians from all denominations found themselves in jail, psychiatric hospitals or labor camps,” but there’s “definitely a clear and unwanted signal of possible difficulties awaiting [non-Russian Orthodox] Christians in the future.”

10 Good Questions to Ask Your Team

Mark Cole

January 17, 2019

Are you a worship leader or music ministry leader? Asking your team the right questions really sets the right tone for your leadership. Asking the right questions will give you insight into any blind spots you might have. And asking the right questions will help your team and the people serving in it go to the next level. Here are 10 great questions to help you in your leadership.

1. How can I help you? The greatest leaders are really servants. If people sense that you are there to help them, they will buy into your leadership much faster.

2. What is the biggest challenge you have to being successful here? Our goal should be to help the people around us to be successful. Seeing life from their perspective really helps get past many barriers.

3. Do you understand what I’ve asked you to do? Or, what is your understanding of the vision of this music ministry? Clear communication and vision are so important. These are a great questions to get everyone on the same page.

4. What am I missing or what would you do differently if you were me? Leaders don’t always get it right. Getting advice is a key to leading with wisdom.

5. What do you see that I can’t see? In most organizations, it is really difficult to clearly see all the moving pieces. Getting great feedback from other perspectives is huge.

6. How can I improve as your leader? We all need to be improving as leaders. Being humble enough to search for advice and then apply it is real wisdom.

7. If we had authority to do anything—and money was no barrier—what would you like to see us do as a team/organization? We often have barriers in our mind that are imaginary and really hold us back. This kind of “blue sky” thinking really helps breaks down those barriers.

8. Where do you see yourself someday, and how can I assist you in getting there? Developing new leaders and helping your team members reach their God-given destiny is part of our job. We need to be teaching our people to be future leaders.

9. What are you currently learning that can help all of us? Learning from the full team will only help us all develop and learn faster.

10. How are you doing in your personal life and is there any way I can help you? Everyone has stuff that they are going through. We all need to love and support each other. This kind of personal interaction can help your team go to the next level.

Check out my new book, Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure, available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions. This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

5 Dangers of “Tower of Babel” Church Revitalizations

Chuck Lawless

January 17, 2019

I’ve never been more excited about the possibility of church revitalization in North America. The growing interest in this topic, even among young seminary students, is amazing to me. I have great hope that we will see not only many strong churches planted, but also many unhealthy churches restored to health.

At the same time, though, I’m concerned that some revitalization efforts could easily become “Tower of Babel” revitalizations—that is, they become projects that make a name for the human builder more than for the God who gives health. Nobody I know who’s doing revitalization starts out wanting to make a name for himself (unlike the people in Genesis 11), but the danger is real. Here’s why I think that could happen:

Revitalization is increasingly popular now. I’ve already stated my excitement about this passion, and I say it here again—with this caveat: That which is popular can easily become a source of recognition and honor. Riding a wave well can sometimes make you think you created the wave.
“Success” stories are important, and we need to tell them. They’re encouraging. They give us hope. They inspire other leaders to press forward. They bring glory to God. For many of us, however, it’s just tough to keep the focus on Him when our name’s always part of the story.
Because many have written off revitalization for years (and because revitalization is hard), successes are often portrayed as miraculous resurrections of life. And, frankly, that’s what they are when dying churches genuinely find new life—but the language of the miraculous can easily go to a leader’s head.
The line between giving God the glory and seeking our own glory can be a thin one. We can praise God verbally because that’s the right thing to do while also secretly hoping that others see what God has done through us. Pride lurks for even the most faithful, humble leaders; we all live on the edge of ego at times.
It’s possible to gain recognition for “revitalization” that looks good on the outside but is hollow on the inside. Perhaps you’ve seen it: The numbers grow both surprisingly and consistently, but the church is not really reaching non-believers or discipling believers. The crowd becomes more a personal kingdom than a revitalized church.

So, are the dangers so great that no one should engage revitalization? Of course not. Revitalize well, keep on revitalizing well, and help other churches revitalize—but stay on your knees through the process. It’s tough to build a tower to make a name for yourself when you’re continually lying on your face before God.

This article originally appeared here.

The Case for Clean – Marie Kondo Clean!

Mike O’Brien

January 17, 2019

When we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future. ― Marie Kondo

I recently took on an interim worship director position at a 25-year-old church that had several worship leaders before me. One of my self-imposed jobs was to clean out and organize the worship office, the soundboard area, and backstage. In the first couple of hours, I quickly filled over five massive trash bags with old VGA cables, Microsoft keyboards, countless cheap cables covered in electrical tape goo, stereo systems, and broken, outdated amps. Much of this gear had literally not seen the light in years. It was just taking up valuable storage space.

The Cluttered Church

In the Church, we have a unique relationship with the things that collect in our sound and media spaces. Many times people “gift” the outdated gear collecting in their homes or offices; we feel obligated to keep those donated items. A quick web search shows you that 300-foot spool of network cable goes for $12 on eBay — so you think, we need to hold onto this. Often people have purchased things for church programs or events and then leave it at the church; there’s a 1 percent chance we might need it again, so in an attempt to be a good steward, we keep it. Sermon illustrations from 1997 are still blocking the door.

One of the chief enemies of creativity in the church is disordered, cluttered, and mismanaged spaces. That well-meaning clutter pile needs to be purged. We must take action for a new, functional, and creative space for your teams.

The Case for Clean

Cluttered spaces are like kryptonite for certain personalities. Although some are fine with chaotic spaces, more people will be attracted to and work better in organized areas. Also, in emergencies, it’s easy to navigate well-labeled and orderly areas to find solutions.

Training and deploying volunteers is much easier when space speaks for itself vs. only one or two people knowing their way around the maze.

Clean begets clean. People are less likely to use your area as their area when your area is already tidy.

Mission-Minded Space

Organized, labeled, and de-cluttered work/storage spaces can serve the mission of a local church. Our computers, sound mixers, guitar cables, and drawers of tape help communicate the mission of the church. It’s actually really important how these tools are used and stored. Yes, we don’t want to throw away valuable items the church might actually need to fulfill its mission, but that well-meaning clutter pile might be becoming an obstacle. This is the perfect time to ask: “What needs to be trashed, donated, sold or kept?”

Finally, consider storage space when committing to purchase props for special events. Space is finite and valuable. I recommend this valuable resource: “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, by Marie Kondo “Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”

Is All This Busyness Just Idleness in Disguise?

Trillia Newbell

January 17, 2019

I sat across from a ministry partner in December, and we discussed my goals and dreams and hopes and desires for the future. It soon became apparent to him that I don’t really have a lot of goals or dreams or hopes. My work and ministry life has been an odd combination of taking steps of faith and a complete lack of ambition.

My journey into writing, for instance, seems unlike those of many of my peers. I wasn’t pining for a position or longing to write for 10 years. I was writing faithfully for my local newspaper, and from there I took a step of faith to begin writing from my Christian perspective. From there publishers and then an agent began to take interest, so I began writing books.

Maybe that path was unconventional—I don’t know. I hope I could say I was faithful in the little. I would hope to be able to say I will be faithful in the little I continue to do. But as my writing schedule has picked up, the need for deep work and focus has increased. I’ve been convicted of wasting valuable time that could be used to get work done and serve with greater effectiveness. So although I continue to be mostly goal-less in regards to my work, this year I’d like to change my methodology and my work habits. I’d like to be—what’s that word?— organized.

When Busyness Is Actually Idleness

Most of us wouldn’t describe ourselves as idle. Idleness by definition is laziness or a lack of action. And we aren’t lazy. In fact, we are busy—incredibly busy. But what if our busyness is sprinkled with lazy, brainless, idle activities? What if we took an honest look at our time and discovered we spend more of it searching on Google, watching random videos, taking those oh-so-interesting, time-wasting tests about things like what character you’d play in Pride and Prejudice, and scrolling through social media for “just a minute” that turns into an hour at least. All of sudden our busyness looks more like a lack of effective and efficient time management.

Paul strongly warned the Thessalonian church to steer clear of brothers who were idle, intentionally shirking their God-given responsibilities. Some individuals within that church were not only neglecting their work but also taking advantage of the kindness of the other members of the church and meddling in the affairs of the other Christians. Paul didn’t mince words in his rebuke: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:10–11). Ouch, Paul.

With that in mind, as I evaluated 2017, I began to ask honest questions about my time. Amid my normal frenzy of due dates and serving and caring for my family, was I truly that busy, or was I struggling with idleness? I discovered that I tended to fill much of my time with distractions rather than with work. I wasn’t too busy. I was too distracted. And my distractions, my time-sucking doodling around, produced in me an anxious heart.

But didn’t I need to take breaks? Didn’t God command us to rest? Absolutely!* But that wasn’t really what I’d been doing. My problem wasn’t rest, but an improper use of the time allotted for work. And I imagine I’m not alone.

Starts With Humility

There’s a temptation in us to try to fix things by adding rules and structures when what we really need is heart change. As Hannah Anderson explains in her book Humble Roots:

For years, I’ve heard that the solution to such stress comes from setting up boundaries, finding ways to be more productive, cultivating gratitude and scheduling “me time…” For years, I’ve thought that my sense of peace depends entirely on me.”

She continues,

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites tired, weary people—people like us—to come to Him… In other words, peace doesn’t start with me; peace starts with Him. Even more surprisingly, peace starts with learning His humility (p. 9−10).

Hannah is simply saying what we all know but tend to forget—that you and I are not God. Only God can accomplish all that needs to be done in any given day. For you and for me, using time better doesn’t begin with changing our schedules (although we will eventually get there!). It starts with an inner transformation, one that can only come by the mercy and grace of God.

Same Sex Relationships: Should We Just Agree to Disagree?

Sam Allberry

January 17, 2019

Some issues in the Christian life matter more than others. The apostle Paul made a distinction between matters that were primary to the gospel, and issues that were not. In 1 Corinthians 15:3 he writes, “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance.” This is not to say that other issues are of no importance, just that they are not of first importance.

In Romans 14:1 he instructs his readers not to pass judgment on “disputable matters.” On such issues Christians need to know their own mind and receive in fellowship those who differ. We might consider as examples of present day “disputable matters” issues like infant baptism, or our understanding of the end times. On such matters Christians are free to differ. But on matters of first importance we must remain in agreement if we are to be faithful to the gospel.

There are five reasons why we must regard the issue of homosexuality as being of first importance.

1. The witness of the church

For virtually all of church history the people of God have held that homosexual behaviour is sinful. This is still the case for the vast majority of Christians around the world today. Those in the church who demand that we affirm homosexual behaviour are proposing something that virtually every member of the universal church would be bewildered by. And the one place where this is being pushed is in the Western church at the precise moment our culture is making this a defining issue. This should give us enormous pause.

2. The authority of Scripture

What you have to do with the Bible to make it supportive of gay relationships is profoundly un-evangelical, un-Anglican and un-Christian. There are six passages that directly mention homosexual behaviour, and all of them do so negatively. For those of us with same-sex attraction these are not easy passages to read. But they are clear in what they say and we must receive them as good words to live by.

The only way to make such passages supportive of gay relationships is by employing the most torturous methods of interpretation to discount them. These methods include: ignoring the contexts such verses come in; and determining the meaning of key word and terms not by how the biblical author uses them but by how later secular culture uses them.

These passages are studied in detail in an excellent book by John Stott—in a freshly edited edition. John Stott remains a compelling and urgent voice in today’s discussions about human sexuality, and so it is wonderful to have his work refreshed and available to the church in this format, alongside stories that underline how God’s timeless word continues to bring goodness and flourishing.

3. The purpose of marriage

One of the purposes of the union of a man and woman in marriage is to display the mystery of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32). Marriage is the visual aid of how our saviour relates to his people. When we alter the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, we radically alter the gospel message which marriage is meant to visualise. The Bible’s teaching on marriage alone is enough to settle the issue of homosexuality. Even if the six passages directly mentioning homosexuality were not in the Bible, we would still be clear that homosexual practise is ungodly. Christians believe what we believe about homosexuality because we believe what we believe about marriage.

4. The fate of homosexual people

Paul is very clear that the “unrighteous” will not enter the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Among the very various examples of unrighteous behaviour he lists is homosexual practice. Paul is delivering a profound warning: Those who do not repent of such behavior will not enter heaven. Eternity is at stake. To say the issue does not matter is to say that the eternal destiny of people does not matter. This is not the case with secondary issues like infant baptism or women’s ordination.

5. The censure of Christ

In Revelation 2 Jesus rebukes the church in Thyatira for tolerating someone whose teaching leads people into sexual sin (Revelation 2:20). We do not know if this is a lone voice or one of many (most likely “Jezebel” is not the teacher’s name). What is more significant, however, is how Jesus responds to this situation: He is not just against those who are doing the teaching; he is against those who tolerate such teaching in their midst. Not all tolerance is godly, and it is Christ-like to be intolerant of certain things.

Not taking a side on this issue is to take a side. To decide it is a matter of indifference is to risk having Jesus against you. Read the description of him in Revelation 1 and consider if you would ever want to risk that Jesus being against you.

This is a gospel issue. When so-called evangelical leaders argue for affirmation of gay relationships in the church, I’m not saying they’re not my kind of evangelical, I’m saying they are no kind of evangelical. This is not an easy position to hold, for I have friends who hold to different views on this subject. But it is the right position to hold.

John Crist Is Back and Feeling Ready to Take on the New Year

Jessica Lea

January 17, 2019

Christian comedian John Crist announced a few days ago on Instagram that he had just spent a couple weeks at a retreat center called Onsite. Attendees are restricted from using their cell phones, so he was off social media during that time. He also couldn’t tell people there what he did for a living.

“I was petting some horses, doing some yoga, doing some meditation, talking to a therapist, had a few good conversations with the Good Lord, and I’m back!” said Crist in one of his Instagram stories.

Crist noted that a lot had happened since he’d been away, and—lest you think he lost his humor while he was gone—he took a moment of silence for all the single Christian women who were heartbroken that Tim Tebow had gotten engaged.

In his Insta story, Crist explained that Onsite helps people navigate a variety of issues, such as finances, marriage, trauma and substance abuse.

View this post on Instagram

SHAWTAAAY! Im back!! Spent the beginning of 2019 in the woods of rural Tennessee at a place called @onsiteworkshops, talking to a therapist, doing some mediating, some yoga, petting some horses, eating home cooked meals and having a few honest conversations with the Lord. This isn’t a sponsored post but if need help in life and just feel like it’s all too much and you can’t do it anymore, these people can help you. Im BACK and I’m excited and refreshed and I promise ill keep my insta stories shorter in 2019!!

A post shared by John Crist (@johnbcrist) on Jan 14, 2019 at 10:26am PST

While he joked that his specific problem was dealing with people on Instagram who don’t get his sense of humor, Crist did say he couldn’t imagine entering the new year without “taking some time to take care of myself, so that’s what I did.” Referring to not being able to talk about his job, Crist observed, “Everybody just knows me as a comedian. I don’t know who this John is…I got in touch with him again.”

While Crist has been doing stand-up comedy for years, it’s only recently that he’s become famous, mainly due to his popular YouTube videos.

His fans noticed his recent absence from social media. One follower commented on an Instagram post, “We want John! We want John! #whereisjohn.” Another said, “Where’s @johnbcrist ? Been missing from Social Media since 12/30/2018 – Please check your local Chic Fil A ! #WhereIsJohn.”

Apparently, the break was worth it. “I feel better,” said Crist, emphasizing that Onsite was not sponsoring him. “Go check these people out. They changed my entire life.”

The Biggest Thing Christian Parents Forget

Paul David Tripp

January 16, 2019

For Christian parents, today’s devotional is adapted from my brand-new book, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family.

Notice the title of the book. This is a gospel principle. Just because I’m applying it to parenting doesn’t mean it only has relevance for Christian parents. This principle—mercy—has implications for every situation, location and relationship in the Christian life.

So let’s begin!

One of the biggest errors Christian parents make is to forget. Not forgetting the baby’s diaper bag. Not forgetting to pack the school lunch. Not forgetting to pick the teenager up after practice.

No, there’s something much bigger that we forget.

When we, as earthly mothers and fathers, forget the daily mercies we’ve received from the Heavenly Father’s hands, mercies we could have never earned, deserved or achieved, it becomes much easier for us not to parent our children with mercy.

What is mercy? Mercy is tenderheartedness and compassion toward someone in need.

Our children are just that—needy. They need guidance and protection, they need help and rescue, they need wisdom and instruction, they need confrontation and discipline, they need patience and grace, they need love and compassion, they need support and provision, and they need to see God and themselves with accuracy.

There’s never been a day when your children haven’t needed mercy. We’ve been called to parent precisely because of their sin, weakness and failures. Every moment of the foolishness and failure of our children should remind us why the Heavenly Father provided children with parents. Because of this, your primary calling as a parent is not first to represent God’s judgment, but rather to constantly deliver his mercy.

You see, parenting is all about being God’s ambassadors in the lives of our children. It’s about faithfully representing his message, his methods and his character. It’s about working to make the invisible mercy of God visible as we respond with mercy toward our kids.

That’s an incredibly high and holy calling, but it will also prove to be perhaps your most difficult calling. I don’t know about you, but mercy simply isn’t natural for me. It’s natural for me to be harsh. It’s natural for me to be demanding and impatient. It’s natural for me to be a bit irritated that I have to repeat myself.

That’s why I need to remember, and I suspect you do too. We need to remember all the mercies that our Heavenly Father has showered on us so we in turn can shower our children with mercy.

No parent gives mercy better than the one who is reminded how much they desperately need mercy themselves. So write these verses down. They are eight of my favorite reminders about God’s mercy: Psalm 23:6, 28:6, 40:11, 103:4, 145:9, Isaiah 30:18, Ephesians 2:4 and Hebrews 4:16.

Christian parents, allow yourself to reflect on how much you need God’s mercy now, reflect on how much you needed the mercy of your parents as you grew up, and let sympathy grow in your heart. Mercy means that every action, reaction and response toward your children is tempered and shaped by tenderness, understanding, compassion and love.

Parenting is a life-long mission of humbly, joyfully and willingly giving mercy.

To discover the other 13 gospel principles that can radically change your family, visit PaulTripp.com/Parenting.

God bless

Paul Tripp

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

How did your child reveal their need for mercy this past week?
If mercy isn’t natural to you, what are some other natural reactions that have been revealed in your parenting?
How has God shown you mercy this past week, and how should that impact the mercy you show your children? Be specific.

This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com.

What’s Right With the Church

Shane Pruitt

January 16, 2019

It’s way too easy to find blogs, articles and books on “what’s wrong with the church.” Ways that she has fallen short of what God has called her to do and be, how she has strayed from the path to chase idols and what changes she needs to make if she wants to keep and attract the next generation.

And, you know what? I’ve written several of them myself. Because, as the church, we should always strive to be better with our witness and to be more effective at reaching our neighbors and the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, it’s easy to point out the faults, inconsistencies and hypocrisies.

However, what about what’s right with the church? Sadly you have to be a highly skilled Sherlock Holmes to find much written on what’s good and right with the church. Thankfully, the Word of God is effective at pointing out clearly what is beautiful about the church.

Let us step back, take a deep breath and be reminded about what’s right with the church.

The church is your forever family. If you have been bought by the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of God lives inside of you, you are the church. We can all be guilty of mentally removing ourselves from the church universal or the church local, and throw criticisms toward her. We’ve all done it, and we’ll probably do it again. However, you can’t forget. You’re the church. You will always be a part of it, even when you try to run from the local expression of it. It’s still you. It’s your forever family. When God saved you, He saved you into a family. In fact, some people are closer to their spiritual family than they are their physical family. The church is God’s answer to your loneliness. As the church, you get to laugh together and you get to cry together. You get to rejoice together and you get to mourn together. But, the most beautiful word in it all is “together.” Just like with your physical family, you’ll get annoyed, frustrated and angered by your spiritual family. However, we don’t run and abandon them. We press in. Enjoy them. Love them. Serve them. After all, you have to spend forever with them.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).”

Besides the Holy Spirit, there is not a greater force in the world. When the church is unified and mobilized—the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it. When it comes to responding to disasters, sex-slavery, injustice, orphan care and basically any other felt need—the church is the greatest responder of them all. Do we always get it right? No. Are we late to the party sometimes? Yes. However, when the church (fueled by the Holy Spirit) rallies around a cause, nothing can stop her. And, the world takes notice. I got to see this firsthand when the largest flood in U.S. history hit my home state—Texas. The unified church responded quickly and stayed long after the news cameras had left. In fact, they’re still working today—recovering and rebuilding. On September 12, 2017, a Washington Times article was published under the title “Christians Outpace FEMA in Aid to Hurricane Victims.”

The church maximizes the effectiveness of your life. Every born-again follower of Jesus has been called to do three major things through the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Love God. Love people. Make disciples. Have you ever noticed that the majority of our high-calling to be a follower Jesus has more to do with others than it does us? We are called to love God (someone else), we are called to love people (someone else), and we are called to make disciples (someone else). And, to do this, we are given spiritual gifts through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These spiritual gifts are to be used to strengthen others in the body of Christ. “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine (Romans 1:11 – 12).” Ironically, the more you serve, love and pour your life into others, the more joy, hope and peace you tend to have. The church isn’t an organization created to fulfill your preferences, the church is a people created to know the Lord and to serve others. It truly maximizes the effectiveness and legacy of your life.

The church has an awesome husband. We can’t forget that the church is the bride of Christ, and what we have to say about her is taken very seriously by her groom—Jesus. Imagine if folks constantly and continuously had a lot say about what’s wrong with your spouse, how she has lost touch with reality, she is always doing things with the wrong motives, styles and messages; and, if she ever wants to see her young people again—she better make massive changes. Basically, she needs to listen attentively and cater to ones who have left her, or are at least threatening to. If these were the comments constantly made toward and about your spouse, it would probably be a little disheartening and could even cause some righteous anger.

Truthfully, there are many things wrong with us, there are constantly changes we need to make, and many times we miss the mark badly. However, there are many things right with us, good in us, and the best thing about us is our husband, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He doesn’t need us, but by His grace and love He chooses to use us to do a lot of amazing things for His glory!

This article originally appeared here.

4 Vital Small Group Planning Questions

Chris Surratt

January 16, 2019

4 Vital Small Group Planning Questions

When I am taking time to work on a system, I like to think in frameworks with key questions. Asking those probing questions forces issues to the surface that we would have never discussed without them. I am also a big believer in working on it with a team. I am an introvert by nature, so it would be easier for me to work it out alone, but way less effective. A team outthinks an individual every time.

So as you pull your team together to plan for the future, here are four questions that I use to help filter the conversations toward results.

1. What was?

This is where we can have a tendency to get stuck, but we have to spend some time here to get to the next stage. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” What is the foundation for what you are attempting to build? If we rush into a new system without considering what it’s replacing, we will just make the same mistakes. Spend some time in your planning asking about what has been done before, but don’t stay in this stage too long.

2. What is?

This is your current reality. Take some time at this stage to do a careful analysis of your current systems and events. What is working, and what is not? What should you stop doing, and what should you start? Make sure that you have the latest facts as you spend time in this stage. It’s impossible to plan for the future when you don’t know the current state. Do some research and find out what the numbers are. It may be painful, but it’s necessary to get a 360 perspective before you can move to the next question.

3. What could be?

After you have gained perspective on where you have been and are now, it’s time to start dreaming about the future. This stage is about blue-sky thinking. Allow your team to put all of the “what ifs” on the table without worrying about the “how” yet. That will come in the next stage, but this is the time to answer the question: “What could we do if nothing was impossible?”

4. What will be?

Now that you have spent time dreaming about all of the possibilities, it’s time to decide on the initiatives that are realistic to tackle now and set goals for achieving them. Make sure to hang on to all of your ideas from the last stage and keep them somewhere to return to later.

At the end of this stage, determine the one or two goals that you have to achieve in the next six months or everything else will be a failure. In the military, this is referred to as the “Commander’s Intent”—a concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired end. How can the next six months be summed up, and what is the desired final result?

This article originally appeared here.

Ravi Zacharias: Does God Condemn People from Other Religions?

Megan Briggs

January 16, 2019

Editor’s Note: After the publishing of this article, an independent investigation found allegations implicating Ravi Zacharias of sexual abuse to be credible. Prior to this report, ChurchLeaders had published multiple articles about Ravi Zacharias and his ministry. Although our editorial team believes his work still has value since it involved articulating the truths of God’s Word, we would be remiss not to disclose the painful truth of Mr. Zacharias’ personal actions that have come to light following his death. For further reading, please see:
Sexting, Spiritual Abuse, Rape: Devastating Full Report on Ravi Zacharias Released
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 2): ‘Cursory’ Investigations and More Accusations

Ravi Zacharias is a well-known apologist who is not afraid of tough questions. Originally from India, he is used to thinking outside of our American church box. Which is perhaps why he is able to answer the following question as well as he does:

Isn’t it vastly unfair to claim that all the people who don’t believe in Jesus are condemned to hell?

What Ravi Zacharias Says

Zacharias starts by addressing the myth that since Jesus came only 2,000 years ago, everything that came before him (including our beliefs) would take precedence over him and the religion his life inspired. But 3,000 years before Jesus, we see Abraham, who grew up in a polytheistic society, yet found the one true God.

In Genesis 18:25, we are told “the Judge of all the earth will do that which is right.” This verse is in context to the judgment that was coming upon Sodom and Gomorrah as a result of their disobedience. Zacharias claims the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham show us that God “speaks through our consciences. He speaks through creation. He speaks ultimately through his word and then in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.”

Additionally, Zacharias claims “God doesn’t really send anybody to hell. We make our choice.” Ultimately, the decision to submit to our heavenly Father or not is our choice. Because, as he explains, “he will not violate our wills.” God is very concerned with our freedom. “That sacred gift of my freedom is given to me by God,” he says.

C.S. Lewis has a pertinent quote that Zacharias draws on: “There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who bend their knee to God and say to Him, ‘Your will be done,’ or those who refuse to bend their knee to God and God says to them, ‘Your will be done.’” Zacharias uses this quote to make the point that God will let us make our own choices—even if those choices land us in hell.

Zacharias ends his discussion by saying God’s “will is the most beautiful thing you can pursue.”

For other Ravi Zacharias Question and Answer videos, check out the following:

Does God Favor a Particular Gender?

Does Suicide Send You to Hell?

Is It OK to Just Follow Christ’s Commands?

Reflecting on Social Media: Some Tips to Navigate This Medium

Ed Stetzer

January 16, 2019

It’s 2019.

I figure since it’s a new year, I want to start it off right—by making a confession and some changes.

Here it goes: I am on social media too much.

One of the ways God has called me to serve the church today is by engaging the culture and helping churches and leaders think critically about the world around us. This is good.

What’s not good is what has happened as a result of my desire to be connected and up-to-date on current news and information. Simply put, I have found that my engagement in social media has caused me to become less effective as a leader and mentor to others.

This is not to say social media is bad. It’s not. But I am going to be making some changes, and my hope is that as you read this, if you sense God is calling you to tailor back on your social media usage, then you would heed that call as well.

Social media has changed, and we must change with it, especially if we are seeing that it has any negative implications in our lives.

We must begin with this simple assertion: Social media can take over your life. It can become a distraction that takes the best out of you. In my book Christians in the Age of Outrage, I write about this. Social media is decreasing the leadership capacity of some leaders because it has become all-encompassing. It’s time all leaders look at their own usage and assess whether it’s healthy, life-giving and Kingdom-building. For me, I’ve decided it’s not.

So I am going to be pulling back on social media so I can spend more time writing a new book on evangelicalism and spending more time with my leaders.

I want to quickly share some specific changes I’m going to make, and why.

Twitter

For me, Twitter is a great tool to communicate and has been my primary space. But Twitter has interestingly become less of a community and more of a place of shouting. Indeed, sometimes people need to shout and we can listen to them. But with little community, that shouting can just be an echo chamber that leads to little to no resolution—only more disagreement. Most of us just don’t have time to do that all day.

I’m going to pull back a bit on Twitter. I used to reply all the time to comments on Twitter and I just can’t—nor do I want to—sustain that anymore. Sure, I’ll reply to some people, but less frequently. I will post on occasion, but my team will be doing most of the posting from here on out.

Most of my posts will likely be more informational—providing links to people and things I think are worth reading about.

Facebook

I miss the community I used to have on Facebook. So much, in fact, that after talking with some Facebook staff members and understanding more of the algorithms they use, I am going to be creating a public group page where I will post and we can have conversation. The benefit of this is that more people will be notified when I post and can interact with what I am sharing. I’ll be sharing a couple of times a day there. More to come on this in the days ahead, but you can connect to that page here.

Instagram

I am a visual person and I actually really like Instagram. I just need to use it more. Stay tuned as I plan to take lots more photos and post those, along with links. You can connect here.

Why do I tell you this?

I don’t share this to push you to my social media. I also don’t share this to push you away from my (or others’) social media. What I do want you to do is consider how you are using social media, and why. Ask, How is it impacting my personal relationships? My character? My witness? My patience? My community? My marriage? My church?

Too many pastors and church leaders are spending an inordinate amount of time on social media debating, trolling and not doing their best. When you have that little red notification in the corner that keeps taking you away from the sermon you’re working on or the email you’re writing, it causes you to be less than you can be—in relationships, in work, in leadership.

As you consider how you are using social media, let me offer four quick tips I will also be considering myself:

First, turn off notifications or make it so you can’t see them.

Go to social media once or twice a day. This is my plan.

Second, regulate the amount of time you’re spending on social media.

If you’re a public person, pastor, church leader, I understand that social media and communication is part of your ministry. But that may be not the most efficient and effective use of your ministry time. I find that it’s increasingly not the most effective and efficient use of my ministry time. I am going to regulate the amount of time I spend online.

Third, don’t take part in some of the disembodied arguments on social media.

It’s just not the place to get it done. I’ve learned that. Social media as a place of argument is just not the right way.

Finally, assume those on social media don’t know you.

I’ve learned that sometimes my sense of humor is lost on people. I simply have too many followers to have a personal relationship with the vast majority at this point and I’ve learned to tailor back my posts. It’s unfortunate, but it’s important to assume that people can and will misunderstand what you post. Communicate with love and communicate well, bearing in mind our mission of showing and sharing the love of Jesus.

May all of us use social media for God’s glory and for the good of others as we start—and finish—2019.

This article originally appeared here.

Toward a More Meditative Life

Barry York

January 16, 2019

Quiet.

No, that’s not an exclamated command of “Quiet!” at you. Rather, it is an offer, a place noun, hopefully an expression of a desire that you have. You need, and I need, quiet in our lives.

We do not live in a time that encourages quietness and meditation. As Thomas Friedman, columnist for the The New York Times, said, “We have gone from the Iron Age to the Industrial Age to the Information Age to the Age of Interruption.” Indeed, we live with the constant interruptions of beeps, blinks and buzzes. They tell us now the average American spends more than half their days in front of a screen. We are not just interrupted; we are self-interrupted.

As you read the Scriptures, you find that the life of the believer is described typically as one that is peaceful and meditative (see Psalms 1:1-3; 4:8; 85:8 for a few examples). The frantic rush and distraction of the modern age is contrary to the singleminded devotion the Lord encourages in the life of his followers. My youngest daughter actually reminded me of this truth further yesterday as we had a sweet Sabbath discussion. She is reading a book by A.W. Tozer that has a short biography in the beginning. She told me how he loved solitude and personal worship, and how that gave him zeal for God. That’s a lesson we all need to hear.

So how do we create a meditative life? Mark described our Lord’s life during a busy ministry period in this way: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Based on His example, here are five one-word suggestions, whispered quietly into your ear to encourage you in this direction.

Schedule. The Lord made it a point to get up early and start the day speaking with His Father. In the same way, if we want time with the Lord we need to put it on the calendar. Just like advertiser’s know that “white space sells,” so we need “quiet space” in our scheduling.

Many times I have heard Ken Smith speak on prayer. One of the consistent themes he emphasizes in having a prayerful life is to schedule it on your calendar. Matter of fact, I still recall the time I phoned the church he was pastoring during business hours. The secretary told me he could not talk at that time for that hour of the morning he was in the sanctuary praying. Ken later told me that part of the work of the pastor is to pray. Just like in other areas of responsibility such as sermon prep or visitations, he had to schedule it to do it. Whether a pastor or not, anyone who wants the solitude of prayer has to plan and schedule it.

Morning. Certainly we are to meditate “day and night” (Joshua 1:8), and anytime is better than no time. Yet note that Jesus, again after a busy day of ministry that went well into the night (Mark 1:32-34), arose “very early in the morning, while it was still dark.” Giving the early time of your day to the Lord, before other activities, interactions and correspondence, has a way like no other of sensing His Spirit’s presence and getting your sails set in the right direction for that day.

Location. Jesus went to a lonely place. No crowds. No sounds. No distractions. Now eventually His disciples searched for Him, found Him and called Him back to work (Mark 1:36-37). But they had to work at it to do it!

So where is your lonely place where you can go and not be easily found or distracted? You need to identify it. When I was newly married, it was walking in the woods south of our apartment. While a student in seminary, a wooded cemetery down the street provided plenty of silence. As a pastor, various places such as my study, the church sanctuary and times at my in-laws’ home near a lake gave me refuge. Today, the solo commute I make to work, early morning in my office, and especially the woods by our home are places where I still my soul.

I would especially encourage having one place to go that is outside. Being out in the creation can help restore you. Some University of Michigan students even proved this truth in a study by having people spend time in the arboretum near campus. The results of this study rang true with me, as I often walked among those trees as a student there. God used a special time in that arboretum to guide me in a major life decision!

Plan. Jesus went to pray. He had a purpose for his solitude.

Similarly, you need to decide what you are going to do during your time of quiet by planning. Christians are not to practice Transcendental Meditation, where one seeks to transcend thought through repeating a mantra or prayer (Matt. 6:7). Rather, we are to fill our minds with thoughts of God. What will you read? What will you pray? What will you write down?

Minimize. Finally, note again that the place Jesus went to is described as desolate. That means there was not much there to distract Him.

Ever notice how antsy you can become in unanticipated silence? If no one is home, you turn on the TV. If in the car by yourself, the music comes on. If a few moments of inactivity occur while standing in line or waiting somewhere, out comes the smartphone.

Manage your lonely place so it is free of gadgets that distract. In order to truly meditate, put away all the items that can become idols and hinder you. Then listen for the voice of the Lord (see 1 Kings 19:11-13).

This article originally appeared here.

New Study: Teens Drop Out of Church for Seemingly Insignificant Reasons

Jessica Lea

January 16, 2019

A new study from LifeWay has found that the number of young people who go to church drops significantly once teens reach their college-age years.

“The reality is that Protestant churches continue to see the new generation walk away as young adults. Regardless of any external factors, the Protestant church is slowly shrinking from within,” says Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

LifeWay surveyed teens who had attended a Protestant church for a year or more during high school. When asked if they stopped regularly attending church (defined as twice a month or more) for at least a year during the ages of 18 and 22, 66 percent of teens said “Yes,” and 34 percent said “No.”

Not the Reasons You Might Think

The main reasons why young people changed their churchgoing habits had nothing to do with a crisis of faith or seriously disagreeing with core church beliefs. Rather, the majority (34 percent) of young adults stopped attending church consistently simply because their situations changed—that is, they started going to college. The next most common reason at 32 percent was that people in church were hypocritical or judgmental. Twenty-nine percent of young people listed a lack of connection at church as their reason for leaving, and 25 percent cited not agreeing with their churches on social or political topics.

Says McConnell, “Most of the reasons young adults leave the church reflect shifting personal priorities and changes in their own habits. Even when churches have faithfully communicated their beliefs through words and actions, not every teenager who attends embraces or prioritizes those beliefs.”

What were the reasons teens gave for why they attended church regularly at one point? Fifty-six percent said they did so because they saw church attendance as important to their relationship with God. Other reasons included a desire to receive guidance from the church, as well as the influence of their families.

So what does church attendance look like now for those who previously “dropped out” for a year? Twenty-nine percent say they do not currently go to church. Thirty-nine percent go once a month or less, and 31 percent go at least twice a month.

Notably, LifeWay did a similar study in 2007 and found that the dropout rate at the time was 70 percent, which is higher than it is now. While this shows that Protestant churches are not losing more students now than they have in the past, it does not necessarily demonstrate that churches are making meaningful progress when it comes to retaining students.

So how can churches make a better impact? Barna recently did a study on the next generation to follow Millennials, Gen Z, whom Barna defines as anyone born between 1999 and 2015. The study, however, only evaluated young people between the ages of 13 and 18. While this research doesn’t look at church attendance specifically, it does speak to what church leaders can do to disciple young people effectively.

Barna’s research found that today’s young people are prioritizing their careers and financial security. Consequently, Barna recommends that when discipling teens and young adults, churches would do well to educate “young people about the integration of faith and occupation, helping them to better understand the concept of calling and emphasizing the meaning and theological significance of work (not just their potential for professional or financial success).”

Jonathan Morrow of Impact 360, who has worked with Christian teens for 15 years, emphasizes the importance of educating teenagers on the reasons why Christianity is true, which includes giving them space to doubt well. He also believes it’s important to teach teens good habits for living out their faith and that it’s crucial to develop good relationships with them. He says, “I am convinced that relationships are the most powerful shaping influence during the teenage years.”

This advice could be key to helping young people continue to attend church, especially given the number of teens who mentioned lack of connection and hypocrisy as reasons why they stopped going.

James MacDonald’s ‘indefinite sabbatical’ Is Effective Immediately

Megan Briggs

January 16, 2019

Harvest Bible Chapel lawsuit — Screengrab Youtube @James MacDonald

Last week Harvest Bible Chapel announced they were dropping the lawsuit against their critics. This week, a new announcement: Head pastor James MacDonald is taking an “indefinite sabbatical from all preaching and leadership.”

“For a long time I have felt unequal to all but the preaching task at Harvest,” MacDonald wrote in the elder update released this morning. He says he has battled “cycles of injustice, hurt, anger and fear, which have wounded others without cause.”

James MacDonald Acknowledges He’s Hurt People

Saying he blames “only myself” for this recurring pattern, MacDonald acknowledges he has hurt people in “certain relationships.”

I have carried great shame about this pattern in certain relationships that can only be called sin. I am grieved that people I love have been hurt by me in ways they felt they could not express to me directly and have not been able to resolve. I blame only myself for this and want to devote my entire energy to understanding and addressing these recurring patterns.

MacDonald will be stepping away from “all writing and leadership,” effective immediately, in order to facilitate change and bring about an opportunity to reconcile with others. He does say, however, that he may continue preaching at Harvest’s Naples Campus “through some of the winter season.”

MacDonald isn’t the only one taking some responsibility for the conflict he and the church have been engaged in recently. The elder update indicates the elder board feels as if they could have handled things differently as well. They admit that as the board has addressed “external criticisms” over the past several years, they “have failed to fully identify and address our personal failures, sins and errors in leadership, thus perpetuating a continuation of the criticism.”

The elder update disclosed a private meeting of the Executive Committee of the Elders was held Monday, January 14, 2019, in which it was decided the church would participate in a peacemaking process that will seek “reconciliation and change.” The elders were reminded of the Scripture Matthew 5:23-24 about leaving a gift at the altar if you remember your brother has something against you and Matthew 7:3-5 about having a plank in your eye while trying to take a speck out of your brother’s.

The elder board has identified three steps in the peacemaking process on which they are embarking:

The selection of a team of experienced and highly respected conciliators and organizational consultants who will guide us through an objective and comprehensive review process.

Reaching out to individuals who have left our fellowship or have complaints against us, listening carefully to their insights and correction, and asking God to enable us to confess our sins and make needed changes in our leadership.

Thoroughly examining our church’s organizational, financial, management, and leadership policies and practices, and making whatever changes are necessary to ensure that every area is being managed according to professional best practices and in a way that honors God.

Harvest Bible Chapel has been criticized for a number of things, including their alleged financial mismanagement and allowing a “culture of fear and intimidation” to reign.

The elders assure parishioners that “Lead/Campus Pastors will continue to lead the day-to-day ministry of the church,” and life at the church will go on.

Not Everyone Is Convinced This Is Enough

However, some, including former leaders at Harvest, are not convinced allowing business-as-usual to continue at the beleaguered church is a good thing. Additionally, MacDonald’s presence and teaching at a different Harvest campus give them cause for concern. Julie Roys, the journalist who wrote the World Magazine article that delved deep into problems at Harvest and who was the target of Harvest’s lawsuit, published an article to her blog giving voice to those former leaders. Roys writes:

Former elder Earl Seals, who resigned from Harvest’s board in 2017, expressed dismay about today’s announcement. “James will still run the gang from prison,” he said in a text to me. “There needs to be an objective new appointment of EC (executive committee) and even old elders like Mark Hopwood and (Mike) Dunwoody have to go. Even recently, Robert Jones stepped back onto the EC. They are all pawns of James.”

Former campus pastor R.T. Maldaner, whose children were kicked out of Harvest Christian Academy because Maldaner planted a church near Harvest’s Elgin campus, had similar feelings. “I remain hesitant and cautious because James will soul search in Naples, while preaching to a people who haven’t figured out the disqualified nature of the man they have ‘leading them’ in the Word,” he said. “This decision perpetuates spiritual abuse in another geographical location and…is no good for the people at Harvest Naples, Chicago, or James himself.”

While the elders at Harvest indicate MacDonald will not be involved in the peacemaking process “other than to participate when and how requested,” some feel his remaining connected to the church, in any capacity, is a red flag.

Brent Crowe: When You Live and Lead With Regret

Jason Daye

January 16, 2019

Brent Crowe is the Vice President for Student Leadership University, a program that has trained over one hundred and fifty thousand students to commit themselves to excellence. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy and two masters degrees, a Masters of Divinity in Evangelism and a Masters of Arts in Ethics, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brent and his wife, Christina, have three children and live in Florida.

Key Questions for Brent Crowe

– You work with young people. What should leaders know about Gen Z’s characteristics?

– A lot of us leaders can look to the Apostle Paul, the leader of leaders in the early church, and feel we can’t relate. How do we humanize him?

– What can we learn from regret?

Key Quotes from Brent Crowe

“We’ve just recently gone through a generational shift.”

“I affectionately refer to Gen Z as the Toy Story generation.”

“The Millennials were one of the most fiscally irresponsible generations ever to exist, but Generation Z, we’re finding, is one of the most fiscally responsible generations ever to exist.”

“One thing that excites me about this generation…is what social scientists refer to as brand loyalty…There’s a stick-to-it-ness with this generation. They’re not looking to be like Millennials who like to associate with a hundred different brands at any given time.”

“[Gen Z] is committed to less things, but they’re committed to things on a deeper level. That’s very exciting if you’re making disciples.”

“Not that any generation is better than another, but this generation has a different appetite for longevity.”

“There’s never been a life lived that didn’t have regrets. There’s never been a life lived that didn’t fail on some level or another.”

“So many of us in Western context, as ministry leaders, we don’t give ourselves permission or a space in the paradigm of ministry leaders to fail.”

“There is a type of failure that attempts something that is consistent with God’s desired will and yet comes up short or doesn’t work out the way we thought it would. This is the type of failure that God doesn’t look at and go… ‘You’ve failed and you’ve sinned’… Number one I think it pleases him. Number two, I think he views it through the lens of sanctification and we’re being built up in the faith when we attempt things for God’s glory.”

“Fear detracts, it takes away from what it means to be fully human, following Jesus with this pilgrimage and this life that he’s given us.”

“I wonder how many of us (ministry leaders) have had our futures robbed by fear.”

“When I understand that I am free, it expands my capacity and it unleashes my imagination.”

“I think most ministry leaders would benefit greatly from counseling.”

Mentioned in the Show:

Moments til Midnight
SLULead.com
Brent on Twitter
Brent on Facebook
Brent on Instagram

Chip & Joanna Gaines: How Marriage Clarifies Your View of God

Megan Briggs

January 15, 2019

When Chip Gaines first met his wife, Joanna, he says she was a “wallflower” and “almost awkward.” But now that the couple has been married for several years, Chip sees how God has used Joanna to clarify his view of him.

The feeling is mutual, albeit expressed very differently. Joanna says, “I think God brought me Chip to show me what it’s like to follow Christ. A lot of things are going to push you to a place of discomfort or freaking out.”

“If I didn’t have Chip Gaines in my life, I’d still be dreaming in my head, but not acting out on any of that, not living it out,” Joanna says, speaking of the way Chip pushes her to try new things and not worry so much about playing it safe. In the video, she turns to him and says, “You push me out of my comfort zone.”

Chip describes Joanna “blossom[ing] in a way that was really fascinating to watch,” after she met him.

On the opposite end of the personality spectrum, though, is Chip. Joanna says, “If you give Chip a boundary, he’s going to break that boundary. If you give him a rule, he’s not going to follow it, and if you tell him he can’t go past this line, he’ll just tow over it.” Instead of scaring her, though, this is one of the things Joanna loves most about her husband.

“Fear and failure doesn’t even cross his mind,” she says. Chip’s personality caused Joanna to think there was something amiss in her faith in God. “My walk with God when I was little and up to my twenties was always ‘if you play by the rules, you’ll be blessed.’” But after meeting Chip, she’s learned “when you take a step out in faith (when it makes absolutely no sense), I think that’s where the greater reward is.”

Chip, on the other hand, grew up with a very different view of God. “I’ve learned so much about order and structure and processes through my wife. And God is all of those things to me, now. But at the beginning, God was just chaotic to me. He was wild. He was untamed. He was unruly,” Chip says.

“Joanna is the purest, most stable person I’ve ever met.” For someone who describes himself as always acting, Joanna has been a stabilizing force in Chip’s life. “I feel like she knows me in a way that has caused me to stop acting…When I caught her, I finally felt content for the first time in my life. I felt like I could be exactly who I was.”

Perhaps this give and take relationship, this balancing act that seems to be an integral part of the couple’s life, is why the show documenting the couple’s home improvement business has such a large following. In its most recent season, Fixer Upper drew 25 million viewers.

With all the negative portrayals of marriage and romantic relationships on television, Chip and Joanna’s relationship feels like a breath of fresh air. The best part is that it’s real and it draws its inspiration from the nature of God. Chip and Joanna recently released a bestselling book, The Magnolia Story.

4 Reminders in Times of Betrayal

Ron Edmondson

January 15, 2019

I was talking with a pastor who had been betrayed by someone in his church. He told him a secret in confidence and soon learned the friend had shared it with another, who, of course, shared it with another—who shared it with another—and you know the rest of this story.

I was empathetic, but thought to myself, “Welcome to the world of leadership.” And it can be true even in Christian leadership.

If you’ve been in leadership very long you know what it feels like to be betrayed. It can come at the hand of one you barely know or someone you trusted.

I love that God provides us real life examples from the Bible of men and women who faced the same struggles we face today. I once wrote 4 Ways to Process Betrayal about Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

Then consider these thoughts from the life of David.

Psalm 41:7, “All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.”

David, the man after God’s own heart, had men who talked behind his back. They spread rumors about him. They maligned his reputation and character. He was the subject of gossip. People said things about him that weren’t true; probably some that were partially true, but stretched out of proportion to reality.

Have you ever been there?

Then consider what David says in verse 9, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

David had been betrayed by someone he trusted completely.

Most likely you have also. Chances are good, if we are honest, we have been the the betrayer and the betrayed. It could have been in a business deal, with a family member, or even in a marriage. It might have been a misunderstanding or an intentional act of betrayal, but either way, it still hurt. You were tempted to get even, perhaps you held a grudge. Maybe you quit speaking to the person.

How should you respond in betrayal?

Here are four reminders for times of betrayal:

Be confident in who you are, and who you are not – You are not a super human. You are a man or woman. You have real feelings. You have emotions. You can be hurt. Don’t be surprised by your emotional response to betrayal. You will have to trust again, but you may be hurt again. That’s part of living among sinners like you and me.

Be confident who others are and who others are not – Don’t hold others to a standard they can’t live up to, but don’t allow them to control your reactions either. Others will let you down. Even the most well-meaning people will disappoint you at times. There may need to be consequences for others’ actions, but if you open yourself to betrayal by trusting others, which you will often have to do in leadership, life and love, you will be hurt at times. Just as you are not perfect, others are not either. Part of relationships is the vulnerability, which allows betrayal. They only way to avoid it completely is to avoid relationships.

Be confident in who God is and who He isn’t – God is able to protect you. He doesn’t always protect you from betrayal. Sometimes He even allows those closest to you to be the betrayer. He will, however, always use it for an ultimate good. We shouldn’t expect God to do as He hasn’t promised to do. We can expect God to never leave us nor forsake us and to be our strength when we are weak and to lift us up in due time when we humble ourselves before Him.

Be confident in what God has called you to do and what He hasn’t – God has not called you to please everyone. He has called you to be obedient to your call; regardless of the sacrifice. Even in the midst of betrayal, we are called to love mercy, act justly and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). He has also called you to forgive. He has not called you to enable bad behavior.

You can’t control the world from betraying you, but you can control your reaction to betrayal. That begins by living out of the confidence God has given you through your relationship with Him.

Have you ever been betrayed? How did you handle it?

This article originally appeared here.

Songs for When We Don’t Have the Words

David Manner

January 15, 2019

When we can’t possibly find the words, we are reminded that a text has been prepared for us. When disaster threatens to consume us, the psalmist has written words to express our deepest despair. When our hymns and songs fall short with clichéd platitudes, those songs framed in biblical text communicate for us.

So when we are faced with an utter loss of words and an oversupply of volatile emotions, we best rely not on our own stuttering speech, but on the reliable and profoundly relevant words of the Psalms.[1] When we ignore these emotions, we are communicating two messages: You must not feel that way, or you must not feel that way here.[2]

If authenticity is a goal of our worship, then we must honestly and publicly admit we don’t get it. We must honestly and publicly admit our hopelessness. We must honestly and publicly admit events can shake our faith. We must honestly and publicly admit that a façade of superficiality is disingenuous. We must honestly and publicly admit that not honestly and publicly admitting those feelings is dishonest. And we must honestly and publicly admit that God expects this language and is not threatened by it.

Martha Freeman writes, “Tears can enhance our vision, giving us new eyes that discern traces of the God who suffers with us. There is comfort in those tears. They bring fresh understanding that God is nearby, sharing our humanity in all its bitterness and all its blessedness.”[3]

[1] John D. Witvliet, “A Time to Weep: Liturgical Lament in Times of Crisis,” Reformed Worship 44 (June 1977): 22.

[2] Walter Brueggemann, “The Friday Voice of Faith,” Calvin Theological Journal 36 (April 2001): 15.

[3] Martha Freeman, “Has God Forsaken Us?” The Covenant Companion (November 2001): 8.

This article originally appeared here.

Mike and Karen Pence Weren’t on the March for Life 2019 Program

“Pro-Life Is Pro-Science”

Christians in Russia Face Numerous Challenges

Laws Are Tightening Around Non-Orthodox Russians

When Busyness Is Actually Idleness

Starts With Humility

1. The witness of the church

2. The authority of Scripture

3. The purpose of marriage

4. The fate of homosexual people

5. The censure of Christ

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

4 Vital Small Group Planning Questions

What Ravi Zacharias Says

Not the Reasons You Might Think

James MacDonald Acknowledges He’s Hurt People

Not Everyone Is Convinced This Is Enough

Key Questions for Brent Crowe

Key Quotes from Brent Crowe

Mentioned in the Show:

Here are four reminders for times of betrayal:

New Articles

New Podcasts