In my study for our current series on Nehemiah, Fearless, I came across this list of 21 Attributes of a Leader from observations of Nehemiah by Donald K. Campbell in his book, "Nehemiah: Man in Charge" (p. 23).  While Campbell's book is over 30 years old, I thought those of you interested in becoming more effective leaders would appreciate his insight:

1. He established a reasonable and attainable goal.
2. He had a sense of mission.
3. He was willing to get involved.
4. He rearranged his priorities in order to accomplish his goal.
5. He patiently waited for God’s timing.
6. He showed respect to his superior.
7. He prayed at crucial times.
8. He made his request with tact and graciousness.
9. He was well prepared and thought of his needs in advance.
10. He went through proper channels.
11. He took time (three days) to rest, pray, and plan.
12. He investigated the situation firsthand.
13. He informed others only after he knew the size of the problem.
14. He identified himself as one with the people.
15. He set before them a reasonable and attainable goal.
16. He assured them God was in the project.
17. He displayed self-confidence in facing obstacles.
18. He displayed God’s confidence in facing obstacles.
19. He did not argue with opponents.
20. He was not discouraged by opposition.
21. He courageously used the authority of his position.

"View from the Bridge" July 23, 2010 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

“Leaders are readers” … that idea has been ingrained in me by various influential men in my life over the years. The reality is: reading typically demonstrates that a person is growing intellectually personally and, hopefully, learning more and more about the world around them.

Since I am a little ADD (that’s as good of an excuse as anything) I like to read multiple books at once. Here are the books I am currently working on:

“He is not silent: preaching in a post-modern world.” By Al Mohler I try to read a book a year on the art of preaching. This is my first one for this year … Mohler has challenged me to revisit some of the way I approach this key part of my calling.

“Peace child” by Don Richardson This mission story is a classic and I have been meaning to read for quite some time. The truth is, I bought it for my kids to read but jumped on it before they could get their hands on it.

“Do hard things” by Alex and Brett Harris and Chuck Norris  This is another book I bought for my kids to read this summer; it is a challenge to teenagers to live up to their God-given potential and reject our cultural norm of passive irresponsibility granted most teenagers. One of my kids grabbed this one before me, though, … I think Grant is almost done!

Change your Brain, Change Your Body” by Daniel Amen I want to be as mentally and spiritually sharp as possible in order to live out my calling to make the greatest possible impact for the Lord as possible with my time, talents and treasure. Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family and I am reading this book looking for both ways to give me greater mental focus now and as a preventative for what may be in my medical future.

“Values Driven Leadership” by Aubrey Malphurs Everything rises and falls on leadership ability – personally, in my family and ministry. So, there is almost always a book on leadership on my current reading list. Malphurs is well known for his expertise in this area. The book has been around for a while but I am just now getting to it.

“The Cross and Christian Ministry” by D.A. Carson
I also try to balance my reading with at least one text on the deeper, finer points of theology. Dr. Carson is truly one of the most intelligent and biblically conservative men I have come across in recent years. This has been especially valuable because it is an exposition of select passages from 1 Corinthians.

Okay – those are the book covers you will see me hiding behind when waiting for the dentist, at the beach or waiting for one of the kid’s practice/orthodontist appointment to finish up!

I suspect they help you get to know me a little better … and that you consider that to be a good thing! Haha.

Blessings,
Pastor Paul

Church Family - following is an email I received from the American Family Association (AFA).  I think the AFA is an organization you need to be better aware of as well as involved in the issue this email addresses:

Home Depot exposes children to homosexuality in celebrated style Home Depot is a willing participant in exposing children to unhealthy and risky homosexual activities. June 21, 2010

According to the 2010 Southern Maine Pride website, Home Depot signed on as a major sponsor of its 2010 Gay Pride events. But simply financing and marching in the parade wasn't enough for the big box chain.

Home Depot also signed on as a "festival" vendor, conducting Kid's Craft Workshops for children in the midst of loud and boisterous gay activities.

To this end, Home Depot is basically encouraging the attendance of children at events which openly expose them to transvestites, cross-dressers, and homosexual activists.

Unfortunately, Home Depot's participation in the Southern Maine Pride Festival doesn't stand alone. It has also sponsored and participated in the 2010 Boston Gay Pride parade.

Gay pride events have a long track record for offensive public displays of homosexual conduct. Obviously, Home Depot is OK with the idea of exposing children to an unhealthy and risky environment. So much so, it is willing to also celebrate it by participating in its promotion, as demonstrated in these photos from the 2010 Maine and Boston events.

TAKE ACTION
Send an email to Home Depot and let them know you are opposed to their support and approval of children at homosexual events. If you are a customer, please add an additional personal line to our prepared letter to Home Depot.
After sending your email, make an extra effort to protect children by calling Home Depot personally. Brad Shaw is the Vice President of Public Relations. His direct number is 770-384-5350.

Note: AFA has attempted a number of times to reach out to Home Depot to discuss our concerns. Home Depot has never returned our calls.

Talked to Judy Crosby last night and thrilled to hear that Mega Sports Camp is going well.  Thank God for the children He has placed in our care.  I am praying that this evening and tomorrow evening will be a time when many of those children come to faith in Christ!

We enjoyed time last evening with Terry and Earline Williams as we make plans for a summer of ministry together.  They are such great people with hearts for the Lord and I look forward to seeing them interact with and help lead our church family!  Terry begins this Saturday night with a full rehearsal of our Praise Team and Band then will be leading worship Sunday morning!

We are packing up this morning and heading home to JAX ... look forward  to seeing everyone Sunday morning and finishing out the sermon series, "We become what we are committed to."

So, there has been a lot of discussion and debate and blogging and political maneuvering because change is always frightening … it always amazes me at the vehement way people will argue to retain what is clearly broken and not working. Those we set aside to lead us were well prepared, Christ-like, answered concerns and questions and (finally) convention voted to approve the GCR recommendation. As a result, I am convinced that our greatest days of cooperation to take the gospel to a lost world are ahead of us.

For a better understanding of the GCR report and to review some of the fantastic resources the GCR Task Force assembled, click here.

The items that I was excited to hear were …

• Expanding the International Mission Board’s scope of responsibility to include unreached people groups residing in the United States.
  

• Redirecting the focus of the North American Mission Board to church planting and resourcing the discipleship ministries of our local churches.
  

• Challenge to local churches to be more globally minded – in part by adopting one of the many unreached people groups in the world then praying, giving and going to help see them come to faith in Christ! (BTW – we will be looking at one of these people groups very soon to adopt at Faithbridge!)
  

• Redirecting our finances and efforts to reach the largely unchurched portions of North America for Christ rather than keeping those in the Bible belt and in our local churches.

The most serious concerns I heard expressed were from those who either did not seem to fully understand or those who were concerned that the Cooperative Program giving would be diluted by directed giving. The GCR leaders attempted to answer the concerns expressed among the first group and reworded the proposal to satisfy the second group by making clear that we still esteem the wisdom and genius of the cooperative giving that distinguishes us from all other mission organizations!

Okay ... tomorrow is the last day of what I believe is a historic convention ... then the nearly 11,000 assembled will return to their homes and field of service and we will see whether God's hand is on this effort or not.

Sunday night and Monday's sessions have been important to me personally ... here are a few reasons why:

• There are a lot of people here who lead churches with whom we (Faithbridge) cooperate to do ministry that are extremely intelligent, thoroughly Biblical, deliberately humble and who are dreaming great dreams of serving God and building His good name.  It's easy to lose sight of the good guys when the goofballs, pop-off's and boneheads seem to get so much of the press. I am inspired and encouraged once again that we have linked arms with so men and women who inspire and challenge me, people whose walk of faith is of Biblical proportions.  So, so many are here for the same reason I am ... to hear from God and to be reminded that we serve the same King and that He is not finished with anyone one of us yet. It is so encouraging to look around and see the people with whom we have agreed to partner to do ministry and missions around the world!

• Worship is worship ... and music is music.  Music isn't necessarily worship ... and worship isn't necessarily a certain type of music. The worship leadership team includes very talented, young and humble leaders (some are well known and some I have never heard of before) from all over the country. There is a live band ... and creative staging and video work ... at times there is a choir (of 1,000 + voices!) ... and at times a praise team ... and at times a powerful soloist ... at times it is very contemporary ... and at times it has an ethnic flair ... and sometimes straight hymns. BUT ... each time it inspires genuine worship for so, so many.  It draws the crowd to a good place where their attention is off themselves, their lunch or their church back home and leads them to sit quietly in the Lord's presence and then drink deeply from His word. It is a powerful experience to worship the Lord with so, so many and in different but God-focused ways ... it makes me think of Heaven when, one day, this will be the order of business all day every day.

• Preaching is, as I was once taught, "truth through a personality." It is thrilling to hear God's word, explained and applied by men who are so different yet so same.  So different in that we have heard from an Asian immigrant who grew up in a Chinese congregation in the US ... a young mega-church pastor whose battle with brain cancer means he is only one doctor's appointment away from hear the terminal report ... a seasoned Florida pastor whose humility, humor and lifetime of wisdom made me hang on his every word ... an Indian apologist who - despite great intellect - simply called the pastor's assembled to be wary of Satan's ploys and stay close to Jesus through God's word ... an African American pastor of an inner city church who fired up the troops and reminded us that the church is a violent place since so much is at stake ... a young pastor of staggering intellect who could barely remain composed, choked with emotion throughout His sermon as he called upon the pastor's to sacrifice everything to take Christ to the unreached people groups of the world  These men are wildly different in life experience, style of communication, and even in dress in the pulpit ... but there are the same in their commitment to God's will for their lives, their conviction of truthfulness and authority of His word and the need to fearlessly lead God's people to re-orient their lives to make a priority out of serving Him..

Thank you, church family, for making it possible for Rachel and me as well as Tom and Kelly Price to participate in this Convention.  Today begins the business portion ... specifically the report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force that will be presented mid-afternoon.  So much of our future work together rides on the changes that will be proposed and potentially implemented. That report is the reason that I, and many others, made it a point to be here this year.

Mega Sports Camp is on my mind and in my prayers.  I am eager to hear how the Kick-off went last night and am hopeful we will see many boys and girls come to faith in Christ this year.

God bless you today, church family.

Don Brewer Testimony from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

Jamie Miley Interview from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

With a church made up of so many young families, faith training is a constant part of the conversation at Faithbridge ... of the many ways we may measure success in our lives, effectively passing the faith on to our children must be at the top of the list.  Making this a priority will produce a harvest for generations!

Psalm 78 has an encouragement and a sober warning on this subject:  He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. (vv. 5-8)

• The statutes for Jacob are the Laws and ways of God that one generation is to pass on to the next ... and in a way that would impact those who are yet unborn! SO the simple question each parent and grandparent has to ask is: what am I doing to teach the next generation about the Law and ways of God?  For the record, dropping them off for a class or program someone else teaches doesn't not fulfill the role we should be playing - it may undergird it and support us in this role but it is not something we can delegate to others.  I always have concern when asked to teach or preach on parenting because Rachel and I are no where near finished!  Only when our children are married, walking with the Lord and actively teaching their children the ways and law of God will we have a sense of completion.

• Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. The goal of our instruction, then, is not merely information but application.  Our teaching has only been successful when it results in our children actively trusting and serving the Lord.  In your mind's eye, imagine what your family will be like with children who love and serve the Lord passionately?  It is a beautiful and compelling thing to consider. Yet, as the old adage goes, "faith is better caught than taught."  So the question on this count is, do your kids or grand kids see you making hard choices to trust God, do you pray together, do you let them in on some big decisions and see how you trust God?

• They would not be like their forefathers ... we only ever one generation away from the faith disappearing.  God is sovereign and is always at work but His principal plan is for parents to live and pas on their faith to their kids.  Since faith permeates the whole person - body, soul and spirit - it means we have to be praying people.  There is no time for you develop a prayer life over the next few years -get busy interceding for God's will for your children's hearts, lives and character now.  So the final question is this: what are you doing TODAY to fulfill this great calling and responsibility?

Parenting is a messy business with lots of starts, stops and failures.  Being engaged is a large part of the battle.  Hang in there parent or grandparent - it is worth the fight!

View from the Bridge 20100521 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

“What is it about Faithbridge that keeps you coming back?” That was the question that Pastor Paul asked at our home gathering meeting and it really got me thinking.

Why are we here? There has to be a reason that we willingly choose to come week in and week out and sit in these seats. When this question was first presented to me,I really didn’t have a good answer.Sure, I could use the old go-to that “the preaching was good” or “I enjoyed the music” which may certainly have been true, but these things are also true at dozens of churches around this city and are not unique to ours. In my opinion, these things can’t sustain a commitment on their merit alone. No,there has to be more. As I really thought about this question, I really had to go back and dig deeper. I thought about the first time we visited here.

How did we find out about this church? I remember my wife telling me that one of the ladies that she went to MOPS with told her about this church and said that she thought we would like it. The interesting thing was that this person did not even attend here, but she had a friend that sang with the praise team that she felt my wife would connect well with. That was enough for us to give it a shot. It was a personal connection,one-on-one, from someone that had an investment in our lives and genuinely cared for us and our family’s spiritual well-being. Would we have chosen to come to this church on our own? There is a chance we would have. We had driven by the building numerous times and had even mentioned trying it out. But we hadn’t prior to that. It was the personal touch that did it.

When we visited for the first time, we were impressed by the music, the message, and the facility. We were especially impressed with the commitment to the children’s ministry. These things created enough of an impact on us that we decided to return for a second visit. On our return, we actually met the person we had been told about, Julie Hadden. She had a radiating personality and immediately made us feel welcomed. It was Julie that planted the seed that we ought to try out a connection group. I am sure that the pastor had made an announcement about the importance of connection groups to plug in, but it was the personal invitation that stuck with us. So the next week we attended Shannon Roberts’ Connection Group. That is where Ivey Shealy stepped in.

She came right up to us and introduced herself and took a genuine interest in our family. It wasn’t the obligatory “Nice to meet you” that is often the case in so many first encounters. She asked questions and genuinely cared what the answers were. During and after class, she introduced us to dozens of people, many of which are now some of our closest friends. She invited us to sit with her in the service. She invested in our family and instantly, the church began to feel like home. My wife and I discussed things that evening and unanimously decided that this was the church for us and we have been attending ever since.

So now, I ask myself “Why are we here?” The answer is exceedingly clear to me now. It is because of the personal relationships that we have established and the investments that we have in one another’s lives. If it hadn’t been for the numerous Julie Haddens or the Ivey Shealys here at this church, would we be here today? I’ll never know for sure,but I do know that we tried many churches before this one that had good music,a good preacher, a good facility, and good programs for our children, but were missing something that lead us to look elsewhere. I am convinced that the missing ingredient was an authentic personal connection. I know that there have to be many people in this church that can relate to this story because I see so many people that are willing to invest in others. If this is not a familiar story to you,consider reaching out to that unfamiliar face sitting next to you the next time you are in a service. You might just be the person that creates the lasting impression that this person truly needs.

- Justin Stricklin

A View From the Bridge 03/12/2010 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

As our church takes to heart the challenge of each reaching and providing for One More Life, I thought this story was very encouraging.  A church member sent it to me (thank you Angela N!) and it comes from Max Lucado's "From In the Eye of the Storm" (Thomas Nelson, 1997)

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to say thanks. I wish I could thank you personally, but I don’t know where you are. I wish I could call you, but I don’t know your name. If I knew your appearance, I’d look for you, but your face is fuzzy in my memory. But I’ll never forget what you did.

There you were, leaning against your pickup in the West Texas oil field. An engineer of some sort. A supervisor on the job. Your khakis and clean shirt set you apart from us roustabouts. In the oil field pecking order, we were at the bottom. You were the boss. We were the workers. You read the blueprints. We dug the ditches. You inspected the pipe. We laid it. You ate with the bosses in the shed. We ate with each other in the shade.

Except that day.

I remember wondering why you did it.

We weren’t much to look at. What wasn’t sweaty was oily. Faces burnt from the sun; skin black from the grease. Didn’t bother me, though. I was there only for the summer. A high-school boy earning good money laying pipe.

We weren’t much to listen to, either. Our language was sandpaper coarse. After lunch, we’d light the cigarettes and begin the jokes. Someone always had a deck of cards with lacy-clad girls on the back. For thirty minutes in the heat of the day, the oil patch became Las Vegas—replete with foul language, dirty stories, blackjack, and barstools that doubled as lunch pails.

In the middle of such a game, you approached us. I thought you had a job for us that couldn’t wait another few minutes. Like the others, I groaned when I saw you coming.

You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak.

“Uh, fellows,” you started.

We turned and looked up at you.

“I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite … ”

You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work.

“I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh … ”

“What?” I couldn’t believe it. “He’s talking church? Out here? With us?”

“I wanted to invite any of you to come along.”

Silence. Screaming silence.

Several guys stared at the dirt. A few shot glances at the others. Snickers rose just inches from the surface.

“Well, that’s it. Uh, if any of you want to go … uh, let me know.”

After you turned and left, we turned and laughed. We called you “reverend,” “preacher,” and “the pope.” We poked fun at each other, daring one another to go. You became the butt of the day’s jokes.

I’m sure you knew that. I’m sure you went back to your truck knowing the only good you’d done was to make a good fool out of yourself. If that’s what you thought, then you were wrong.

That’s the reason for this letter.

Some five years later, a college sophomore was struggling with a decision. He had drifted from the faith given to him by his parents. He wanted to come back. He wanted to come home. But the price was high. His friends might laugh. His habits would have to change. His reputation would have to be overcome.

Could he do it? Did he have the courage?

That’s when I thought of you. As I sat in my dorm room late one night, looking for the guts to do what I knew was right, I thought of you.

I thought of how your love for God had been greater than your love for your reputation.

I thought of how your obedience had been greater than your common sense.

I remembered how you had cared more about making disciples than about making a good first impression. And when I thought of you, your memory became my motivation.

So I came home.

I’ve told your story dozens of times to thousands of people. Each time the reaction is the same: The audience becomes a sea of smiles, and heads bob in understanding. Some smile because they think of the “clean-shirted engineers” in their lives. They remember the neighbor who brought the cake, the aunt who wrote the letter, the teacher who listened …

Others smile because they have done what you did. And they, too, wonder if their “lunchtime loyalty” was worth the effort.

You wondered that. What you did that day wasn’t much. And I’m sure you walked away that day thinking that your efforts had been wasted.

Excerpted fromThey weren’t.

So I’m writing to say thanks. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the courage. Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me.

Gratefully,
max

Max

P.S. If by some remarkable coincidence you read this and remember that day, please give me a call. I owe you lunch.

Paul Blog 20100305 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

Participants log in and are randomly paired with someone by webcam from somewhere else in the globe ... often doing or asking for lewd and bizarre things.  For the same reasons that you would never toss your child into the lion's pen at the zoo (or, for that matter, the pedophile ward at the local penitentiary) you should not allow any minor you care about to be involved.  For that matter, no Jesus loving, serious minded disciple has any business on the site either.  Click here to read more about it.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   Philippians 4:8

Much of what is done on these webcams is, apparently (I have read about it but deliberately not participated myself), illicit and often would be illegal and prosecutable if it happened in your neighborhood ... instead, it goes both uncensored and unreported..

The appeal of this voyeuristic and exhibitionist experience is that it caters to the curious, banal and self absorbed side of us all. Once logged on, the rotating cast of possible "chat" partners suddenly appear on screen feeding the desire to be shocked and scintillated.  To call it a social networking site is misleading.  Some apparently do meet and converse with others from around the world ... but it is not until after they have exposed themselves to (pardon the pun) to all sorts of perverted behavior.

MY RECOMMENDATION: Stay away and take precautions to protect your children. There is no redeeming value to Chatroulette that makes it worth what it welcomes into your life, heart and home.

View From the Bridge 02/26/2010 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

I am struggling to read the news lately … the stories of brutality and violence, of brokenness and heartbreak are almost too much to stand.  At the same time, I am reading through the book of Judges and have had a similar experience … the tragedy, war, betrayal, murder and the like are so raw and brutal it is hard to take it all.  Hardly the stuff of Children’s Sunday School.

I used to find comfort in the idea that ‘the safest place to be is the center of God’s will.”  However, I have come to realize that my personal comfort and safety aren’t God’s top priority.  I mean, try explaining that the many first century Christians who died martyr’s deaths! As a matter of fact, when God was telling Ananias about why he and the early church should receive the murderous Saul of Tarsus into their church as a brother in Christ he said of him, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. (Acts 9:16).

Pain, suffering and tragedy are a part of life … but they do not have to exist without purpose.  Saul (later known as Paul) went on to reflect on his suffering when he said, we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance (Romans 15:4). Perseverance is one of many ways that God is glorified when we remain focused on Him during the hard times and derive our hope from his sovereign rule over all things, joy and strength from His presence and comfort from His limitless and unchanging love.  Scriptures describes giving God a sacrifice of praise … sometimes that sacrifice means handing over our dreams, plans, comforts and desires to praise Him … anyway.

One comfort in the dark days of trial is to remember that God understands.  In human form, Jesus suffered more greatly than we can imagine.  Hebrews 2:20 says, In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. When you cry out to the Lord in a dark time, know He understands. Peter explains that the way in which Jesus dealt with suffering serves us today: To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21).  How did he suffer?  Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT) describes it this way: And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

My dear friends, if you are suffering … choose to trust the Lord, lay your burden before Him knowing of His great love for you and ask for His power and presence.  Finally, ask Him to use your trial to build His glory and your faith and to accomplish His perfect will in your life.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Paul

View from the Bridge 2010-02-12 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

Since Friday, many of you have called or emailed to say how powerful the day was for you personally ... some described a specific prayer time, worship experience or truth from God's word, others have been delivered of oppressive influences in their lives, one was called into vocational ministry ... and many just drank it all in and enjoyed the goodness of God's presence.

For me, there were several things that stood out as especially important ...

 FIRST was preparing for the Solemn Assembly ... prayerfully studying and seeking to understand what constituted a fast that was "acceptable" to the Lord (see Isaiah 58).  It was such a sweet time of prayer and searching the scriptures as plans for that day were put in place.

SECOND occurred during the time of prayer and praise in the morning as we considered the holiness of God then praised Him for His character revealed in His names from the Old Testament.  I have taught through and studied the names of God on several occasions but was stopped in my tracks by Jehovah Shalom, The Lord our Peace, from Judges 6.  In that passage, Gideon is hiding in a wine press treading out the grain so as to not be detected by the Mideonite army.  An angel of the lord calls to him,"O valiant warrior ..." Kinda ironic right?  Anyway, Gideon basically says, "Hey, where is the God I've heard so many great stories about ... we're getting our tails kicked here!"  The angel responds by reminding Gideon that God was Jehovah Shalom.  He got up out of the wine press facing the same problems he crawled in there with but now Gideon was different.  I wake up at night because of the issues our church is facing, people in our church are dealing with and my family is dealing with ... praising God for being Jehovah Shalom was an important and personal time during the day where God ministered to me.

THIRD was during the worship time at lunch.  The focus was from Isaiah 6:1-6 and Isaiah 58:1-6 in calling God's people to consider where they had sinned and seek the Lord's forgiveness and cleansing.  During one of our Wednesday night services in anticipation of the Solemn Assembly we compiled a list of sins we felt our church as a whole was guilty of committing.  You can look at that list by clicking here.  At the end of that service, each person was to nail their sin list to an actual cross. At this point in the service, I was looking ahead to what was about o happen next when I strongly felt the Lord telling me that I needed to participate as well.  So, I had to walk to the back of the auditorium to pick up a blank piece of paper and pen to make my sin list ... when it was my time to hammer that to the cross ... the feel of the steel and sound of the hammer really pierced my heart as I nailed that list to the cross and was reminded of His great love for me ... I get emotional even now as I relive that.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU?  What did the Lord doing your life or how did He speak to you during our time of Solemn Assembly ... I think we would all enjoy hearing how God is at work in your life ... please respond below.

(To see more details on FaithBridge Church's Solemn Assembly, click here.)

View From the Bridge 2010-01-29 from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

Grace - Illustrated by .... from FaithBridge Church on Vimeo.

This morning in my Quiet Time I read from Exodus 1 where the Pharaoh is a wicked, wicked king who calls up the Jewish midwives then all of the parents to murder newborn boys.  I was stopped in my tracks at the power and influence one man could have over so many others … and in this case it was destructive.

I am humbled by my responsibility to lead my family and our church.  It sent me looking in the Message translation of Proverbs for wisdom and direction.  Here are the highlights of what I found:

A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit …Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. (16:10, 12-13)

Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. (20:28)

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.  We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives. (21:1-2)

Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down; you need a break from bickering and griping! God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.  (22:10-11)

Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep. (25:3)

A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste. (29:4)

The impact and effect of the leader on so many others is a sobering truth that I am dealing with today.  I so very much want for my leadership to provide shelter, nourishment, faith, stability and spiritual growth for my family, staff and church.  I pray God would meet the needs of my heart so I can meet the needs of those I serve.

Today, I sought the Lord and these were my prayers.  If you feel so compelled I would covet your prayers for me as well:

·                 I pray for wisdom.

·                 I pray for energy and enthusiasm.

·                 I pray for courage.

·                 I pray for humility.

·                 I pray for God-given inspiration.

·                 I pray for miraculous growth for our church.

·                 I pray for protection.

·                 I pray for God’s favor.

·                 I pray for whole-hearted devotion to Christ.

You are a leader , too, … you know that right?  It may be in a large or a small arena but we each exercise influence at some level and our leadership should always be “as unto the Lord.”  I pray each of us will be found faithful.

Blessings,

Pastor Paul

October 19, 2009

This morning I read and prayed through the last half of Matthew 9 where there is one story after another of Jesus loving, healing, releasing from demon possession and raising back to life many common, everyday people. At the end of the chapter we have a glimpse of the character of Jesus, the very heart of God and His strategy for expanding the Kingdom.

Verses 35-38 describe Jesus’ compassion for the people and shows he is not satisfied to care for them one at a time.  He calls on His disciples to pray, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.  The harvest belongs to Him and is greater than what Jesus or any of us can address alone.

Father, please make FaithBridge a place where we multiply those who join in your harvest, taking the good news and love of Jesus to the hurting, to those who suffer and live in spiritual darkness.

Father, give me the wisdom I need to lead, our staff the wisdom and passion to lead and our church for the love, courage, sacrifice and passion to reach out to our world this fall through FaithBridge CARES.

Isaiah 40 says, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. There is not a lot of stability in this human existence ... the Lord knows the number of days and exactly how many each of us has left (but He is the only one who knows). Now, I am not being morbid, just realistic ... and focused.  On any given day, each of us could be waking up and going about our normal routine for the last time ... last time you go for a jog, kiss your wife, read the paper, brush your teeth, talk to your kids, ... 

How intentional and focused is your life?  Do you savor the experiences of each day, taking full advantage of every opportunity to express love to those you love, to bless your kids, to speak the truth?  Maybe you should stop holding back ... pray hard, laugh loud, be bold in talking about Jesus, give like it doesn't belong to you and live like there is no tomorrow. 

In the morning, if your wife is mad at you, say you're sorry and tease her till she breaks and smiles.  If you are mad at her, forgive her totally and completely and give her a big wet kiss!  Don't let spilled milk at the breakfast table or what the dog did on the carpet be a reason to grouch at the whole family.  Instead, bless your kids, tell you love them and, specifically, why you are proud of them!

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.                   Philippians 3:12-14

For many important reasons, I hope I have a whole another half to my life left.  For many other reasons, I would be thrilled to stand in the Lord's presence at any moment.  My prayer is that I would live ready for either each day, all day.  I challenge you to do the same.

After the children finished their ice cream they left the table to the teenagers and adults.  During this gathering of friends and family in Austin last summer a question was asked of Nick… “Do you Twitter?”  Recently graduated with honors from the University of Texas and now in his first position at beginning of a career in business … he hesitated … then said “yes”.  Seeing an opportunity I asked, ”why?” Again…he hesitated ... what he said next has caused me to reflect for the last several weeks.  What did he say?

“… I don’t want to be perceived as irrelevant.”

There it was – both brutal honesty … and a healthy self awareness. Twitter, Facebook, I-phones, and their myriad technological cousins and future progeny stand as emblems of everything considered the latest and greatest.  This evening, at an invitation-only event, Apple will reveal its much anticipated updated version of the I-pod.  Promising to be smaller, sleeker and more powerful it will – in a flash – make every adolescent who pulls the old model out of their backpack on the bus feel left behind and outdated.

Okay – we aren’t teenagers anymore and don’t (typically) rush out to replace our fully functional (car, phone, TV, … spouse ...?) with the latest model, but we do retain that same mindset, albeit we bury in deeper down in our psyche.

Over a recent lunch with an accomplished pastor and elder statesman of our faith, I asked why he thought the church was continually trading in one model of ministry for another program for another emphasis ... (which, often, are nothing more than an old model with a fresh coat of paint).  He smiled wryly then answered without hesitation…

“three reasons; the arrogance of youth, a laziness that looks for a way to avoid the inherently difficult and a lack of understanding of what has been.”

I am first to say that we have to minister to real people in a real world.  We must adjust our delivery methods to communicate clearly in a rapidly changing culture.  But, in the effort to remain relevant we must not lose the heart of real discipleship …

1. HUMILITY is a value for God’s children. In real life it means we hold our opinions gingerly, recognizing our limitations, imperfections and unexamined bias.  It means we can learn something from almost anyone… if our heart is right.

2. PERSPECTIVE helps us have an accurate view of what is and what has been. Isaac Newton is one of the most important figures in science having made advances in chemistry, theology, developed the theorems of calculus, proposed the Laws of Motion and Gravity……  Isaac is the one who first said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” 

3. GOD FOCUS means I have a greater desire to hear His “well done” at my life’s end than enjoying the applause of men’s throughout.

4. FOCUS ON EFFECTIVENESS in fulfilling the Great Commission and Great Commandment.  If the latest, greatest techno toy, ministry model or creative idea will make us more effective, then sign me up!  If we are simply twittering to show we can then let’s not bother.

5. EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE because the “work smarter, not harder” mantra has its limits.  Dad used to say, “Nothing of value comes easily.”  I have learned and relearned the wisdom of those words during my life. Ministry service almost always requires sacrifice.

Right now, I am reading two books… one is a collection of essays on the life and ministry of John Broadus.  He is one of, if not the, greatest pastor/scholars of the last 200 years.  The second book is called “Southern Baptist Identity;” it is also a series of essays written by some of the greatest theological minds in action today. By looking at and hearing from the lives of the wise and godly gone before I have been given a stronger footing and foundation, but also a clearer and greater appreciation for what I can see and on whose shoulders I stand. As a result, life is richer, roots of faith deeper, resolve to persevere stronger, mind more clear, passion for God's word more intense, fellowship with the saints sweeter and, hopefully, ministry more God-honoring and effective.

There is a time to look forward and there is a time to look back ...
Pastor Paul

I recently finished reading “An Unlikely Disciple” by Kevin Roose … and it has really made me think.

Roose is a self-described liberal, Ivy League College student who has had little personal interaction with evangelical Christians. While his friends made plans to study in Europe for a semester, Roose decided to “go undercover” at Liberty University and then write about his experience. 

During his time in Lynchburg, Roose endeavored to fully embrace the Liberty experience by singing in the choir at Thomas Rd. Baptist Church, going on an Spring Break Mission Trip to Daytona Beach, participating in dorm prayer groups, etc. In general, I thought he attempted to be fair and as unbiased as is possible in approaching and recording his “experiment.”

First  -  let me say that this book is not for everyone. I read it because I was interested in better understanding how a younger, irreligious generation of Americans looks at faith in general and evangelical Christianity in particular. Roose writes from the perspective of a free-wheeling college student so his subject matter will potentially offend at times.  With that proviso, here are my observations:

1. Roose was drawn to genuine expressions of faith but repulsed by Christian subculture… the former was ultimately hindered by the latter.
2. Roose reacted to Christian positions on social issues (abortion, homosexuality, and creation were his principal subjects)  reminding me of 1 Corinthians 2: 14. “The man without the Spirit does not accept things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Rooses’ belief that agreement on these matters is a prerequisite to start following Christ is unfortunate … but educational.
3. No surprise that Roose gravitated to other students at Liberty who chaffed at the rules but more surprising was his attraction to those who sincerely struggled in their faith.  The second group engaged him and drew him toward a personal faith … this was especially important since he seems regularly thrown off track by platitudes, angry and simplistic expressions of belief he regularly encountered.

As I read Roose's conclusions, I am reminded why I personally am often embarrassed by our Christian subculture. Having our own lackluster version of books, music, movies, etc. is strange to me considering Jesus’ commission that we be “salt” and “light.” I suspect that the goofiness and downright offensiveness of what is typically presented as “Christian” does untold damage to the real cause of Christ … good thing he didn’t notice the Testa-mints, bobble-headed Jesus or Sin erasers at the check out counter at the Christian bookstore!

MY TAKE-AWAYS ...

 1. People without Christ are often drawn to real faith…but there is a damaging effect when we fake it.

 2. People without Christ need to first hear what we are “for” before we address the things we are “against.”

 3. Real faith always has been and always will be a messy affair … with some steps forward and back … hence the regular New Testament rejoinder to “persevere.”

4. Now, more than ever before, Christ followers need to walk with Him daily… staying connected through prayer and God’s Word … so they can have the spiritual resources to live out salty, shining lives of faith and courage before a world who is desperate for “THE REAL DEAL.”

CELEBRATE          through weekly worship
CONNECT               through weekly involvement in
                                   connection groups
CULTIVATE            through daily use of spiritual habits
CONTRIBUTE        through finding your place of
                                   service to the body
CARE                       through reaching out to those
                                  without Christ

Each quarter we offer courses in our Master Plan of Discipleship.  They are titled - 101, 201, 301 & 401 - and each is designed to help you on this journey to full maturity as a disciple of Christ.

101        is designed to help you...CONNECT
201        is designed to help you...CULTIVATE
301        is designed to help you...CONTRIBUTE
401        is designed to help you...CARE

The next class offering will be 101 & 201 on Sunday, June 7th, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  There will be childcare, a snack supper and no cost, but we need to know you are coming!  Click here to sign up.

Jesus' Commission to every one of his followers of all time is recorded in five passages from the New Testament

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The simple mistake that most believers make is that we are willing to "go" but actually plan to stay.  Instead of that passive approach to obedience, Mike Hulsey challenged our church last Sunday to have hearts of obedience and give God room to be God in our lives.  Instead of deciding whether we think we can accomplish, afford and work in whatever God is calling us to do I challenge you to simply pray - be honest with God about what your preferences are but then pray His word back and present yourself for service.  Praying something like this,

"God, as your child I present myself for service and am ready to "go" wherever you send me.  I am going to make plans to go on one of the trips to Nicaragua that the church has planned unless you show me otherwise" 

 A prayer like that takes courage and requires us to walk by faith ... and puts us in a position to be used by God.  Last Sunday night at the Missions Banquet, one person came wanting to go on the trip Rachel is leading in early August.  However, after praying, she felt that God was showing her that she needed to help send others by supporting them financially.  That - my friends - is the Lord at work!  She was planning to go but willing to stay and the Lord made His will clear to her.

 If you are willing to pray the courageous kind of prayer just described then I propose the following three steps (these are the same ones I laid out for everyone at the Missions Banquet):

STEP ONE      Pray - ask God what He wants

STEP TWO     Get in touch with me or Rachel depending on the trip you are considering.  Our email addresses are:      paul@wearefaithbridge.com and rachel@wearefaithbridge.com

STEP THREE   Get started: get a passport if you have don't have one already get that process started; call the Health Department to schedule your shots, and (important you start early) send out your support letters. 

At the Mission banquet I passed our materials to help you better understand what we will be doing, immunizations needed, packing list, deposits due, sample support letter, etc.  Click here to download the Frequently Asked Questions and here for the Packing List.

It has been said, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."  That is a profound truth.  Do you believe it and are you willing to go after it?