Mother's Day is over! I pray it was a profitable day for all. I just want to write a quick note to thank all of you who responded to the Mother's Day post. I value the input that was given and I pray that I was able to put many of the things that I gleaned from you into practice.
From a personal standpoint, I just want to say that I feel like a weight has been lifted. If the Word is offensive when I preach, that is one thing, but when I had to take a "secular" holiday and try to marry it to a church service, I experienced much trepidation.
I you are interested, I was told after the service by one person that they felt the Lord had answered my prayer; "the right message, at the right time, for the right audience." Praise the Lord!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Married Up
Karen and I have an anniversary this week. May 8th. It may not be one of the big ones, but it means a lot to me. We were married young (against the advice of some) and we have "grown up" together. I know that many of you are thinking that I have much to be thankful for. I do.
As I have been thinking for the last two days about how busy our week is going to be, (and how I need to fit in some time to show Karen how much I appreciate her) I have also been thinking about our time together. As I review our marriage, something very significant comes to my mind. In the 15 years we have been married, I have never had to listen to anyone make negative or disparaging remarks about my wife. I am not only grateful for the lady that she is, but for the lady that she is perceived to be. No doubt, I married up!
The flip side is that she is not able to say the same. She has had to listen to many negative remarks about the man that she married. All of them probably having some percentage of merit. This is not over for her either. I would imagine that over the next year she will hear many more. I pray that the Lord will help me be sensitive to how that makes her feel. I pray that the Lord will help me protect and love her as she needs. I pray that at this time next year, we are even more thankful that the Lord has brought us together, that He has made us who we are, that we are not fearful to serve, that we live by faith, and that we find ourselves looking forward with anticipation to the years ahead.
As I have been thinking for the last two days about how busy our week is going to be, (and how I need to fit in some time to show Karen how much I appreciate her) I have also been thinking about our time together. As I review our marriage, something very significant comes to my mind. In the 15 years we have been married, I have never had to listen to anyone make negative or disparaging remarks about my wife. I am not only grateful for the lady that she is, but for the lady that she is perceived to be. No doubt, I married up!
The flip side is that she is not able to say the same. She has had to listen to many negative remarks about the man that she married. All of them probably having some percentage of merit. This is not over for her either. I would imagine that over the next year she will hear many more. I pray that the Lord will help me be sensitive to how that makes her feel. I pray that the Lord will help me protect and love her as she needs. I pray that at this time next year, we are even more thankful that the Lord has brought us together, that He has made us who we are, that we are not fearful to serve, that we live by faith, and that we find ourselves looking forward with anticipation to the years ahead.
Right?
I have been considering all the comments that have been submitted regarding the Mother's Day post. I have wondered for years about the gifts that have gone out to mothers and that is one of the reasons that I posted the questions that I did.
Mother's Day is next week. I have changed my message (and my plan) about three times. I was asked yesterday what the message was going to be about. This has been a difficult question for me to answer. With all of the things going on in our church at this time, I have been consumed with some very specific teachings. I have had to combat what I believe the Apostle Paul would term "doctrines of devils". These doctrines are being embraced by believers.
The reason that I write this on the blog is to ask you to pray that I will have discernment in the message that I deliver this coming Sunday. I want the message to be from the Lord, and I want it to be for the right audience. The "doctrines" that have been consuming my time for the last week need to be addressed in our church, but just because I have been given the "platform" doesn't mean that I need to deliver the message this week.
To put it plainly, I need the right message for the right audience at the right time.
Mother's Day is next week. I have changed my message (and my plan) about three times. I was asked yesterday what the message was going to be about. This has been a difficult question for me to answer. With all of the things going on in our church at this time, I have been consumed with some very specific teachings. I have had to combat what I believe the Apostle Paul would term "doctrines of devils". These doctrines are being embraced by believers.
The reason that I write this on the blog is to ask you to pray that I will have discernment in the message that I deliver this coming Sunday. I want the message to be from the Lord, and I want it to be for the right audience. The "doctrines" that have been consuming my time for the last week need to be addressed in our church, but just because I have been given the "platform" doesn't mean that I need to deliver the message this week.
To put it plainly, I need the right message for the right audience at the right time.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hypocrite?
It seems that in recent years the most stated reason for youth "abandoning the faith" is that they feel their parents are hypocrites. Hearing this reason stated repeatedly over the last two years, Karen and I have constantly been evaluating how our children perceive us. During this time we have had several concerns. I think that these have been due to the enormous responsibility of rearing children that belong to God and not us.
As we have parented our children, I can think of no other time that the weight of this responsibility has been more clear than two days ago when I was looking through my oldest daughters schoolwork. In her folder I found an assignment that was supposed to be a character sketch of whomever she chose. I pray that I can be the man she sees.
As we have parented our children, I can think of no other time that the weight of this responsibility has been more clear than two days ago when I was looking through my oldest daughters schoolwork. In her folder I found an assignment that was supposed to be a character sketch of whomever she chose. I pray that I can be the man she sees.
Click on picture to see a larger image.
Humbled, Jon
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a month away! I think these special days are the most difficult to prepare a message for. Do mothers come to church expecting to be praised? Do they expect to be challenged? Do they even want to be addressed from the pulpit on their day, or does Mother's Day only matter on the family level?
As I have been thinking about this for a few weeks now, one thing is certain. No one ever had a perfect mother, (although my own mom has a lot to be proud of) and only one mother ever had a perfect son. (this is not one of the things that my mom has to be proud of!)
If addressed from the pulpit, will this be difficult for those praying to become mothers? Will this be difficult for those mothers that have lost children? How does one make this an all inclusive message? Does it need to be, or can we focus on one group?
As an aside, I found out last night that the only reason I have the opportunity to preach on Mother's Day is because the Pastor who was first asked said he'd rather preach on a different week! No wonder.
As I have been thinking about this for a few weeks now, one thing is certain. No one ever had a perfect mother, (although my own mom has a lot to be proud of) and only one mother ever had a perfect son. (this is not one of the things that my mom has to be proud of!)
If addressed from the pulpit, will this be difficult for those praying to become mothers? Will this be difficult for those mothers that have lost children? How does one make this an all inclusive message? Does it need to be, or can we focus on one group?
As an aside, I found out last night that the only reason I have the opportunity to preach on Mother's Day is because the Pastor who was first asked said he'd rather preach on a different week! No wonder.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Clarification
As I read my last post, I realize that the meaning may not come across as I intend. I attempted to be vague, yet I fear I left the wrong impression.
To clarify, I believe the Lord may have gifted me to meet specific temporary needs. If I begin to think the Lord has given me a particular gift because of who I am, I will stray from His will. If I abandon the work that God has currently given me, assuming that I can use these gifts elsewhere, mightn't He take them away?
My last post was to say that I am remaining where I am at. It is here that God has put me and it is here that He has gifted me! Why look elsewhere? It is the work that He has for me and not the position that is important.
Clear as mud?
To clarify, I believe the Lord may have gifted me to meet specific temporary needs. If I begin to think the Lord has given me a particular gift because of who I am, I will stray from His will. If I abandon the work that God has currently given me, assuming that I can use these gifts elsewhere, mightn't He take them away?
My last post was to say that I am remaining where I am at. It is here that God has put me and it is here that He has gifted me! Why look elsewhere? It is the work that He has for me and not the position that is important.
Clear as mud?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Inside scoop
For those of you in the know, I thought I would add a short message today.
Karen and I, as well as many of you, have earnestly been praying about a possible career change for me. If you have not heard the latest update, I will not have the opportunity to change careers any time soon. I appreciate all of your prayers and would humbly ask you to continue praying that the Lord will continue to use me as He desires.
We know that the Lord uses many things to stretch us and cause growth. This may be one of those times. I believe that the Lord gifts people according to the needs of the church. When those needs change, mightn't the gifts as well?
I ask that to say this, a calling may be specific and not general. At least for now, I am going to assume that is the case in this instance. Until the Lord shows me differently, my desire is to be used where I am at.
Thanks for your prayers, Jon
Karen and I, as well as many of you, have earnestly been praying about a possible career change for me. If you have not heard the latest update, I will not have the opportunity to change careers any time soon. I appreciate all of your prayers and would humbly ask you to continue praying that the Lord will continue to use me as He desires.
We know that the Lord uses many things to stretch us and cause growth. This may be one of those times. I believe that the Lord gifts people according to the needs of the church. When those needs change, mightn't the gifts as well?
I ask that to say this, a calling may be specific and not general. At least for now, I am going to assume that is the case in this instance. Until the Lord shows me differently, my desire is to be used where I am at.
Thanks for your prayers, Jon
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