Pastor Bishop Author Friend Dave

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Just had lunch with David Eshleman. Former a CCF Pastor and Bishop. Now Author and Church Consultant. Always friend! He just told me his book will be released in April. Also found out that he wrote an article in the Mennonite Weekly Review (this is a Mennonite Newspaper). It's good. Click here to read it. Keep praying for he and his wife Helen. There are few dearer people you could meet!

Steps toward the Call

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Today is a special day for me. Actually have some butterflies in my stomach. I am leaving in a few minutes for Lancaster, PA (our headquarters if you will) to sit before a committee that will interview me this morning for ordination.

There have been many steps along the road to fulfilling my call. These steps have been moving me in the direction of responding to the call of God on my life to serve Him in full time Christian Service...a call that I have had since a boy. Today is a special day because it is another one of those steps (a final step of sorts...a step saying "I am in this for life.").

I enter this process humbly and by invitation of my Bishop. I am humbled and thankful for it. But, at the end of the day, I know that it is just man's way of symbolically sealing what God is already doing. And I am thankful that it is the sovereign Lord who calls!

I appreciate your prayers today (in case they really grill me).

Love!!

(Yes, the church will know all about this at the right time.)

Being a Student (too)

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Love being a Husband!

Love being a Dad!

Love being a Pastor!

Love learning new things!

Not so thrilled about being a student. I think I just prefer to learn because it's desired, not required.

Well, I AM A STUDENT! I am a Masters student at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. I have thought of transferring a few times, but it has worked great so far. (Leaving the AG to Pastor a Mennonite Church cost me my license with the AG, but my money is still good enough for their seminary...oops....did that just slip out?) Anyway, great classes with just a few students, conveniently scheduled and located. I mainly take one-week intensives. They go like this:

  1. Read a whole heck of a lot to prepare for class
  2. Write a bunch of papers to submit on the first day
  3. Go to class in PA for one week M-F 8-5 (at my Alma Mater, VFCC)
  4. Do a project or two in the several months following
  5. Mail it in to the Prof
  6. 3 credits down

Well, next week I am taking a class called "Missional Ministry; Growing Churches in the 21st Century."

Have more reading and more papers to finish by Sunday! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

--Noah

Deposits and Withdraws

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Okay, so this was one of those days that I came home from work and announced to my wife that I gave it all away! I told her I was on "E". It was just that kind of day. I had nothing left to give. Spent the first part of the day holding the hand of a dear sister in our church (Brigitte) whose Husband died during the night, dealt with several other heavy issues and ordeals, juggled meetings, juggled tasks, phone rang off the hook and then lead a counseling session and walked in the door of the house after 6pm. Exhausted. Low on energy. This is one of the many things that I have to protect against as a Pastor. It is easy to leave the leftovers to your family after giving the best of you away to everyone else.

Why am I sharing this?

Nights like this remind me of the rule of deposits and withdraws in relationships. I need to be making regular deposits into my marriage and into my kids. If I am, nights like tonight won't be a big deal. If I have sown in, it makes a big difference. Making regular deposits into our relational accounts gives us the relational equity to make a withdraw when we need to. Thankful that I have been doing better in this department over the last few years.

How are you doing with this? Are you spending adequate time with those you love so that you can check out when you need to without it being earth-shattering?

Davis Explains Where Daddy Goes Each Day

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According to Davis, Daddy goes to work for "money in pocket" and Daddy works for "Jesus"! Too precious! Oh, one more thing. He cannot pronounce an "s" without adding an "h" behind it. And he is constantly asking us to "SIT" next to him. Sit, mommy! Sit, Daddy! Except there is an "h" involved. What are you gonna do? Oh, the joy! Thought I would give you a Monday morning smile.

The Disease to Please

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Some notes from the message this morning:

  • My parents always said to me… "Son, you can please all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time."
  • Paul knew about this in Galatians 1:10 when he said….. Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
  • Read these words of John 12:42-43 by clicking here. It nails it too!
  • One of the biggest problems with people-pleasing is that people’s expectations are always changing. As soon as you hit it, it may have changed! But, God’s expectations never change, they are the same yesterday, today, and, and forever. "I am the Lord your God and I changest not!"
  • The problem comes when I begin doing what I do in order to please you, in order impress you, instead of pleasing God.
  • That, my friend, will stop revival. That will remove God’s hand of blessing…when we begin to do what we do to get “attaboys” from people instead of God.

The symptoms of the Disease to Please:
You might be a people pleaser if…

1. Frequently comparing yourself to others

2. Asking the wrong questions

  • Which of these 2 questions do you ask more often?
  • “What will God think?”
  • “What will they think?”
  • Becoming obsessed with what people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.

3. Using deception and making excuses

  • You obsess with covering you butt because you just cannot stand the thought of someone being displeased with you.

4. Regularly boasting

  • Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
  • It is far more impressive when others notice your good qualities without your help.

5. Poor at accepting criticism

  • People pleasers take most criticism personally. Any suggestion feels like a personal attack.

6. Often beat around the bush

  • People pleasers find it hard to express their feelings because they have to “please people” and are exceptionally careful to never upset anyone.

7. Can’t say NO

  • You'll be surprised; the world will not collapse around you just because you draw a line! People will take offense more rarely than you think.

8. Crippled by fear:


How can I heal from the Disease to Please?

1. Repent – It’s a sin. Admit it. Confess it. Ask for forgiveness. God I want to put your opinion first from now on!

2. Pray – Ask for help.

3. Don’t overcompensate with arrogance

  • You can easily react to this disease by becoming belligerent or arrogant. “Ok, well I am tired of pleasing people. The heck with all of them.” That attitude lacks care and is REACTIVE not PROACTIVE!!

4. Protect against YOU pleasing!

  • Do not fall into the trap of “ME” centered living. Bible calls that PRIDE!! Secular opinion is do what YOU want and what makes YOU happy. Not so for the Christian! Do what makes GOD happy and you will get more than happiness, you will get JOY!

5. The main medicine to this disease: start pleasing GOD and Fearing GOD!!

  • Serve for an audience of One … and your audience will be WON!

Some related verses to read:
• 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
• Matthew 6:1-4
• Proverbs 29:25
• 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

What did we do?

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So, what did we do last night?

My wife rocks! She is great at planning special things! Last night, she booked us a nice, but inexpensive hotel room up near BWI Airport (highly recommend the Hyatt Place on weekends....way cheaper than during the week because of business travel). I wondered why we needed to bring the card table and chairs. It was because she had chosen a restaurant that she knew I loved for us to carry out dinner. It is called G & M and they have killer crab cakes and cream of crab soup! Awesome dinner in our room, watched a movie and had an all around great night together.

Well, after a great day, I need to head to bed. Need a good night sleep for tomorrow. Preaching requires rest. Really looking forward to our service tomorrow. Come, let's worship and also find out whether we've got the disease to please.

--Noah

Oh, by the way....Happy Valentines Day!

Logging Out

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I am logging out of texts, calls, emails, twittering and blogging for the next 24 hours. My wife has planned a romantic one night getaway for the two of us to somewhere (who knows where?). All I know is...we need it, I am excited and you will NOT be hearing from me. Hopefully, I will not be hearing from you either unless it is an emergency! It's time for some relationship building! ;-)

See ya!

Love to Travel

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The weather over the last few days has given me the itch to travel! I love to travel. Why?

  • Love to see new things.
  • Enjoy meeting new people.
  • (The relaxation isn't too bad!)
  • I am fascinated by transportation--anything that moves
  • Travel broadens my perspectives on what is back at home.
  • It widens my worldview. (especially International travel)
  • Deepens my sense of awe for God! He made all of this?
  • Makes me feel smaller and God look bigger. And I need both!

For the last 10 years, I have kept a running tally of where I've been. Here's the list if you care to know:

  1. 30 US States that I will not list :-)
  2. Puerto Rico
  3. Bahamas
  4. Mexico
  5. Canada
  6. Lots of the Caribbean Islands (St. This, that and the other)
  7. Guyana
  8. Belize
  9. Belgium
  10. Holland
  11. Germany
  12. China

Well, I am entering into a season of travel for the next 6 months. Traveling once a month for the next 4 months (mostly church travel) and then heading into our Sabbatical June and July.

Starting to get really excited about it!

Seeing What No One Else Sees....YET

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Sunday, Pastor TC made a sub-point in his message about vision and I thought was strong. To paraphrase it, it was something like this:
The hardest season for the visionary is the early stages of seeing it and sharing it. It is hard to move into and toward a vision that YOU sense and YOU see, that no one else does (or they only see slivers of it). If it is a God ordained vision, everyone else will see it soon enough. Then, they will believe it and champion it. But in the early stages, they will question it. And that can be hard!

Oh, how I can relate to this. Even through my journey here at CCF. I have learned so very much about what clear and corporate vision can do in just the last 18 months! There are many signs around us that this CCF vision is God's and that it IS working! However, in the early stages of casting it, the confidence tank would get low. But, we held on and kept believing. Now, it is easier to see. Being a visionary is more "funner" once others see it's results. It takes a lot of courage to lead into it in the early stages!

So, what do you see God wanting to do in and through your life that others may question? I encourage you to hold onto it. It will be way easier when the truth of that vision is more fully revealed and noticed!

--Noah

Sermons on the Website

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We have been having some problems in our recording department. Technical difficulties with the CD burner and stuff. Anyway, we are getting back up. Got word tonight that our sermons since the first week of 2009 are updates on our website. Just wanted to let you know if you wanted to check one out or send the link along to others. We are considering moving to all web, no CD's. We shall see. The work and cost of the CD's really adds up and so few people have a computer now. Will let you know where we land.

Want to hear a sermon? Click here.

The Wait of Glory

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Our Youth Pastor, TC preached this past Sunday. Message was entitled "The Wait of Glory"! It was a fantastic message with excellent delivery. So blessed to have good preachers on the team each with our own gifts and styles. I love the diversity.

(This is him in the pic on the right. I know it is a poor quality pic, but you can see it on his face...his preachers face.)

Here are some takeaways from his sermon:

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

We never have enough time. But, God stands outside of time. From everlasting to everlasting he lives. From before the beginning to after the end, He lives. He is the Alpha and Omega, so even infinity and eternity cannot contain God.

But, time bothers us. Nobody likes the word “WAIT”! If you say it your kids will look at you crazy, people will roll their eyes, they may stop being your friend, and others will walk away and leave you. When God tells us this word, some of us cry, scream, and yell, or flat out disobey.

We don’t like to wait. If the light turns green, and the driver in front of you takes more than 2 seconds to start driving, we are checking to see if our horn still works. If the person at the ATM takes more than 60 seconds we feel like they’re doing their taxes. Fast food restaurants are too slow, the microwave takes forever, instant coffee is not instant enough, email is too slow, so I need you to text me right back!

We don’t want to wait until something is finished, until people are developed, for relationships to be revealed, for opportunities to come together, until we’ve been mentored, until we finish school, to get married, etc. We don’t want to wait! Not even for God.

But, God uses time to do 3 things in the life of the Disciple:

1. Time Shows. It shows what you are made of. It shows what relationships are made of. It shows the character that may be lacking. It shows the angles you need to approach a decision with the greatest wisdom. It shows whether the house was built on the sand or on the rock. Time lets a few storms swing into town to reveal what we’re really made of.

2. Time Seasons. Just like a good cut of meat has the most flavor when it has marinated, so will our lives. We have an absence of flavor today in our jobs, stability, romance and relationships. The seasoning of time brings about perseverance and character!

3. Time Strengthens. Endurance strength more that power strength. Delayed desire creates the intensity that strengthens your endurance! You can look at Joseph, Job, Abraham and others in scripture to see the truth of this!

Isaiah 40:30-31 says “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Ps 27:14 says “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Diversity Everywhere

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Maybe it was this recent political season, but I have been noticing expressions of diversity abounding all around. People and things that you would have never seen next to each other are now becoming accepted and even common. As a Pastor of a diverse congregation, I am always looking at expressions of diversity and trying to learn from them. As I was watching the Grammy Awards, I noticed crazy amounts of diversity in people singing together that just break the norm. Examples:

  • Al Green singing with Justin Timberlake (20's singing with 60's)
  • 4 Hip Hop artists on same stage together which is a BIG deal
  • Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers (black and white)
  • Cold Play and Jay-z (rock and rap)
  • Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift (pop/rock and country)
  • Adele and Sugarland (European and American)
  • Many, many more...

It just seems that the separating lines and dividing walls are breaking down more and more. Not sure what to do with that, but I think that it needs to be leveraged for the glory of God. So, how can we? What can we do to take this shift in our culture and leverage it for God? Ideas? Please leave a comment. Seeking to shape this as a "kingdom responder" to cultural realities.

(Tim Stevens would be proud of me...author of "Pop Goes the Church" that I posted about here.)

Why I Watch the Grammy's

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Here are a few things about me that usually shock people:

  • I do not watch stuff that is fiction. If it cannot happen in real life, I usually do not have any interest in watching it. Not against it, just don't prefer spending my time watching it. It's more torture than entertainment. That applies to both TV and Movies. Don't read fiction either.
  • Never seen Star Wars.
  • Never seen Lord of the Rings.
  • Never seen Star Trek.
  • I am really, really stupid when it comes to pop culture in general. I MIGHT be able to name 1 in every 10 "famous" actor, actress, TV Star or singer that you showed me a picture of.

Not necessarily proud of all of this, but it is what it is. So, where am I going with this? Every now and then I try to connect into pop culture. Something like the Grammy awards is a great place to do that. Here's why:

  • Get to see what people are resonding to and how they are responding.
  • Get to know the people that most of my mission field are in tune with. I am certain that many of the unsaved people that God is calling us to reach know all about this music.
  • As a pastor, it gives me a window into what people are searching for. You can see the themes in the songs.
  • Since I do not regularly follow this stuff, watching the Grammy's gives me a good fly over on popular music and artists.
  • I cannot tell you how many times knowing about a musical artist or the tune or a song have connected me to a young person who is shocked that I know about "their music." If that is all it takes to build a bridge...you can bet I am going to build it! If singing Beyonce's "Single Ladies" builds enough connection with our youth that they allow me to speak Jesus into their life, let the singing begin!

"...I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." I Corinthians 9:22

I pray for you!

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Hundreds and hundreds of people read this blog. Most of which I have no idea who you are. But felt inclined to tell you that I pray for you. I do. I often pray for those that read this blog. Here's why...

  • I consider this blog a place for digital discipleship to take place. I know some people who read this blog who do not even go to church. Others that are not plugged in too much to God or Church and there may be things that you read or see that plant a spiritual seed in you. I pray for you that the seed grows.
  • I know that many CCF members and friends read this blog. I pray for you that this will be a place that you feel God calling you to deeper love for and involvement in your church!
  • I never know where you are when you visit, who you are, why you care to log on, but I know that you are a child of God created for divine purpose. I consider YOU an extension of who I am Pastoring. Seriously, when I think of my influence as a leader, I think about several audiences. This is certainly one of them. And a growing one.

So, I pray for YOU!!

--Noah