One Pastor's Perspective

What an old school term … But relevant for today.

In the devotional I received today from the Blackaby Spiritual Leadership Network was this:

Backsliding is a common term in the church. It usually refers to people who do not attend services regularly as they once did. But of course, there is far more to it than that.

Backsliding means our heart and devotion for Christ have declined in their fervency. It signifies that something has been lost. We are not in the same place with God we once were.

There can be innumerable explanations and excuses for this. “I have been so busy lately!” “I don’t care for the pastor’s preaching.” “I don’t feel like I fit in.” “I am taking a little break.” But the truth is, our heart has turned away from our God.

The remedy to backsliding is to return to God. God has not gone anywhere! We have! So it is our response that is crucial. Thankfully, God not only welcomes us back, but He urges us to come.

Does any of this seem familiar??  Awesome thoughts that were too good not to share.  If you want more information about the Blackaby SLN, check them out here:  http://www.blackaby.net/sli/sln/

Authority from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

He Calms the Storm from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

Here I sit.  Studying.  In a quiet place.  NOT preparing a sermon or a Bible study.  But studying and praying, because a significant event is coming up and I am not ready.

In a few weeks, I will have a chance to do a couple/several pastor’s conferences in Honduras.  The moment will come when I will have opportunities to build into the lives of men (some of whom I already know and love and some I have yet to meet) who live a world away from us.  And all I can do right now is seek God’s face and continually ask Him, “Lord, what do you want me to say??”

I do not have it all figured out.  In fact, based on which members of Ebenezer you might ask, I have VERY LITTLE figured out.  (I, too, know this, but hoped I had done a better job of hiding it – :-))  The most important question in all of this for me is “God, what do YOU want them to hear??”

It is not that we in the US have it all figured out.  We are NOT worldwide church experts, let alone LOCAL experts.  In fact, most of what we do locally in SC WOULD NEVER WORK in Honduras.  The contexts are very different.  To our shame, we as churches have so many more resources and opportunities available to us.  And we seldom take advantage of them.  The churches in Honduras are RICH IN FAITH and RICH IN WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.  In some ways, they need to teach me!!

As I wrote above, I know some of these men and already have a great respect and love for them.  And I am praying that God will speak through me, because HE has PLENTY TO SAY!!!  Please pray for me in the next few weeks!

I walked among giants today… It was the first time in a long time that we have done something like this.  Perhaps too long.

Today, on my first day back from my real vacation, I met with the ministers of Ebenezer for most of the day.  And we talked.  We evaluated.  We dreamed.  We prayed for His vision for our church.  And we continue to do so.

And as I sat in that room I realized I was surrounded by GIANTS… Not the mean, Jack-in-the-Beanstalk variety of giant … But people who cast very large shadows in the kingdom of God.  People of faith.  People of vision and mission.  And we are fortunate enough to call them our church staff!!

Nathan, our newest member, brings a fresh perspective and a great passion for what he is called to do.  I really like his insight, because it is not jaded by circumstances or past experiences.  Andi, who has such a passion for children and their families that it brings her to tears.  Often.  Pam, who all of us agree is the GLUE that holds everything together.  Ed, who has been on staff at EBC the longest and brings a wealth of history AND spiritual insight.  And then there is me.

We did an exercise where we each identified one positive for every person in the room.  I was humbled by what they said about me.  And I am sitting there thinking about how much I really don’t deserve to be their pastor and their leader.  I had a week off to think about this meeting, and quite honestly, I am in awe of these four that surround me and carry their load and then some.  And I KNOW as all of us pray, God will provide GREAT THINGS that build HIS KINGDOM … and not ours!!

I guess what I am trying to write is this:  I am THANKFUL for Ed, Pam, Andi, and Nathan, and the GIGANTIC FAITH with which they walk.  I hope you are, too!!

Five Things Every Dad Needs to Know from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.