Rejoice Always

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
~ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

It is Thanksgiving Day, and my heart is full of gratitude for God’s blessings. Today, I encourage you to join me in that spirit. If you are fortunate, consider how you can bless those who are less fortunate. If you are free and at liberty to do and say what you wish, consider the oppressed people around you, across this land, and around the globe; how can you bless them? If you live with order and peace, think about those who live in chaos, both internally and externally driven. What can you say or do to serve them in Christ’s name? If you suffer from hatred, judgment, shortsighted accusations, do not return evil for evil. Consider those whom ruthless leaders imprison and kill for lesser things. Be grateful that your enemies only wound your pride or mildly hurt your reputation. Count it a blessing to be thought foolish for the love of Christ. If you’re a sinner, welcome to the club! We are all guilty before God’s holiness. Yet, God loves us and desires intimacy with everyone so much that God gave the greatest gift only God can give so that God could save us from a just wrath. Thank you, God!

I am most thankful for the gospel conundrum — God is angry at our sin, but loves us so much that God saves us from it. Reverence for God’s timeless sovereignty and amazing grace demands extraordinary loyalty, even while we continue to work out our salvation. While doing so, we are to love one another as God has loved us. The mystery is that we cannot change who God is, but we can change how we think of God, ourselves, and others, even if it seems like a contradiction. So, we do not have authority to judge and condemn ourselves and others just as we do not have authority to redefine God… “I am that I am” says God. (Exodus 3:14) I wish I could help everyone understand this because I am truly thankful to share the world with you and I am grateful for all that you contribute to it. I genuinely wish you joy and peace. But I love and revere God so much that I am compelled to honor God’s Word and continually strive to live it out in my life. While I continue to fall short of God’s glory, I cannot diminish God’s glory for the sake of my flesh—God saves me, anyway!  Thanks be to God. Today, I urge you to give thanks to the One who rightly deserves all the credit. Please choose to honor God at all costs, even while loving all neighbors as God has loved you.  

The Midnight Cry

I hear the sound

Of a mighty rushing wind

And it's closer now

Than it's ever been

I can almost hear the trumpet

And as Gabriel sounds the call

At the midnight cry

We'll be goin' home

“The Midnight Cry” by Chuck & Greg Day

Another Christian Year is closing with plenty of reasons to think our Lord’s return must surely be near. Each Christian Year begins with Advent, a season intended mainly for anticipating Christ’s return. Like most sacred aspects of the birth narrative of Jesus, Advent is more often used as a candy-coated countdown to Christmas celebrations. The Church Fathers (think figuratively with that term) intended to keep Christian Believers focused on Christ’s first coming prophecies fulfilled, so they would be equally prepared for His second coming promises to be fulfilled. Advent is a word that expresses the imminence of Christ’s return, as if it is as near as the next turn of the calendar. 

Absurdly, it is actually wise to dwell upon the hardships of the last year and its ample justifications for anxiety as we begin the new Christian Year. We would do well to look around and see those whose lives are not so blessed and to imagine how they feel about Christmas cheer and abundance. Spend some time considering the evil experienced by so many people you know of throughout the last year. Embrace your grief and disappointment for a little while. Why!? you may ask. Well, because ignorant bliss and worldly satisfaction blinds us to the desperate need for Christ’s return and reign. Then, if you are so fortunate, when you gather around the table of Thanksgiving and the Christmas gatherings in peace and prosperity, praise God above all else and count your blessings. 

If the sorrows and fears seem inescapable during the long nights of the season, then pray for the midnight cry to come soon. When you see symbols and signs of Christ’s first coming cry, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” Remember, His first coming brought about the blessed hope for all who received His gift of redemption and eternal new life in His Spirit. Remember, all the saints who now live in spirit with the LORD. Imagine, if you can, the glorious Day of the LORD when His light will shine across all creation and they will follow Him here as we rise to meet them. 

It may not make sense yet, but I’m betting that, if you do these things, you will have a better Thanksgiving and Christmas. One more suggestion remains and it comes from Scripture – “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT) Your Christian family is every bit as important as your natural one, especially when you consider living with them for all eternity. 

An Interview with Author Frank Viola on His New Book

The latest book by author Frank Viola released recently, and it immediately became a bestseller. 

It’s called, 48 Laws of Spiritual Power: Uncommon Wisdom for Greater Ministry Impact. 

The book is about ministry on every level, so it’s not just for leaders, but for all true Christians. It delves into the upside-down world of Christlike authority and power. 

Frank Viola was quoted on the Insurgence Facebook page saying,

“Almost 25 years ago some dude wrote a book called 48 Laws of Power. I have never heard of the author, but listened to four or five chapters at the recommendation of a friend about a decade ago. 

It’s all about leveraging the selfish nature of the flesh to gain power over others in work and relationships. 

After a few chapters in, I had to stop. 

The book applauds selfishness, which is the essence of sin according to the Bible, and it analyzes how to employ clever manipulation to overcome other people for selfish advantage. 

Basically, it’s a book about how to sin skillfully and even abusively. 

Interestingly, the book has sold over 1 million copies, and it’s especially popular with celebrities and prison inmates. 

My new book, 48 Laws of Spiritual Power - which just dropped - explores the opposite. 

It's a practical exploration on how to leverage the power of God to glorify Him and transform others.

The lessons are counterintuitive and counternatural. It’s the exact opposite of the other 48 laws book.

If my new book sold even a fraction of the other book, we'd see a revolution in the body of Christ.”

End of Frank’s quote.

In Western culture, most Christians unconsciously practice their faith in a worldly way that imitates society more than Christ. 

I feel strongly that poor leadership is to blame for this. 

Christian communities nearly always imitate the character of their respected leaders, and when those leaders don’t submit to the authority of our Lord, the effects ripple down through the people He charged them with serving in His Name. 

I’m grateful that Frank confronted this issue with counterintuitive, but biblically solid reasoning, just as Jesus did when He trained His first disciples.

The book covers far more than leadership. But that’s one aspect that resonated with my heart.

Many of Frank Viola’s books and public speaking – beginning with his 2018 book Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom – have profoundly affected me. 

After reading 48 Laws of Spiritual Power, I felt affirmed in many of my long-held beliefs about Christian leadership, and I was deeply convicted in areas in which I have been weak. 

I shared some of my comments and questions with Frank recently, and he graciously responded and allowed me to share the written interview with you.

Frank, you have succinctly stated your purpose in writing 48 Laws of Spiritual Power in a Facebook post I read when it first appeared on November 1, 2022. 

I quoted the first part above. Is there anything else you’d like to say about your vision and method as you created this book?

Thanks, Dan. Yes, the book is all about how to walk in God’s power, especially as it relates to ministry.

That would include sharing the gospel with a friend or helping someone out who is in a jam. 

So it’s not just a book for those who preach or teach publicly. It’s for all Christians. As I said in the book, if you’re in Christ, your entire life is a mission trip.

We are all called to bear witness to the Savior, and that’s ministry.

I have read a lot of leadership and self-improvement books over the years, and I have attended many conferences, seminars, and heard audio content on the subject.

48 Laws of Spiritual Power is unique in my experience because of its “authority through humility” message. 

I noticed that you gradually turned up the heat as laws 1 through 10 grew into laws 11 to 20 and so on. 

When I looked at the table of contents, my first impression was, “This is pretty basic stuff for a seasoned Christ-follower.” But when I started reading it, I realized this was a wrong impression. In fact, I was getting uncomfortable in some places due to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. 

Internal tension began when I got to laws 18, 19, and 20. 

As a lead pastor, I’ve felt the loneliness of isolation and the grief of betrayal often. While I focus on Christ’s cross, I struggle with how to frame my experiences while instinctively withdrawing from sources of pain. 

Renewal of one’s heart and mind begins with salvation and new birth, but after long years of walking with the Lord, it’s hard to tell the difference between instinctive flesh and the prompting of the Spirit. Can you comment on that, please?

Indeed, the book is not “basic stuff” for seasoned Christians. The comments I keep getting from seminary-trained ministers is, “I never learned much of this in seminary!”

For instance, the chapters entitled The Danger of God’s Power, Beware the Empty House, It Takes One to Make One, Find Spiritual Satisfaction, Realize It Doesn’t Work, etc. have been jaw-dropping chapters for many seasoned leaders. 

No one taught them these enduring principles before. So they’ve said.

I have a personal aversion for what is “basic.” I’ve gone on record saying that contemporary Christianity today is a mile wide and two inches deep.So any book I write is marked by spiritual depth. If it doesn’t have that element, I don’t car

e to write it.

That usually means it’s NOT for the masses. It’s for those who are hungry and thirsty for that which is deeper and higher. 

The hunger and thirst in my own heart is what provokes the books I write and the messages I deliver.

In answer to your question, in general, the flesh always seeks to benefit itself at the expense of others, while the Spirit seeks to benefit others at the expense of oneself. 

To expand that, here are some questions to ask ourselves that will help us navigate between flesh and Spirit:

“Where is the cross in this?” Meaning, “Where am I willing to lose (bear the cross) instead of trying to win?” 

“Where am I reacting out of fear instead of trusting in God?” 

“Where am I relying on my own power vs. the power of God?”

“Where am I doing unto others as I would have them do unto me?”

Then there’s the timing issue. 

There are times when we have to take a break from ministry to put the oxygen mask on (else we’ll be of no help to others). 

Sharpening our spiritual instincts can help us know when to act.

Sometimes when we’re not clear on God’s will, the best thing is to “play stall ball.” 

Meaning, wait. 

Often, God works out situations without our involvement when we wait on Him. 

Other times He makes His will clear to us after we’ve waited on Him.

I have to say that Law 27 — “Unveil Christ” — really hits home with me lately. I’ve recently entered an unfamiliar experience of pastoral ministry unlike anything I’ve known in the previous 25 years. 

It’s because my former denomination has routinely appointed me to churches where I stayed for about five years and then left before seeing what could happen if I served them longer. 

Now, I’m in a place in which I expect to serve far beyond my current five-year mark — Lord willing. 

I have often talked to the Lord about this because I’ve become pretty effective at fixing broken systems and establishing a clear vision and mission, but once I have done so, what’s the next big thing? 

How does the church grow and thrive? It might sound dumb, but I have found it deeply convicting to be reminded that leadership is both a temporal and spiritual matter in the local church. 

You have shown me I can work to take away barriers that inhibit people’s experience of our beautiful Savior sometimes, but I must help them know Him personally all the time. 

I recently read a Q&A in which a friend asked you what you would do if you had to pastor a church for a couple of years. 

I copied and pasted your answer to my personal notebook for reference. I suspect it has something to do with your personal relationship with Christ. 

Can you take that a little further and discuss how you would keep Christ at the center of everything as a leader? How do you ensure that you are preaching the beauty and majesty of Christ?

Law 4 answers this. “It Takes One to Make One.” 

A person cannot give stunning messages that unveil the Lord unless they’ve first had that revelation within themselves, a revelation (unveiling) that should be ongoing and continuous in a person’s life. 

In the book, I lay out a recipe for how to do just that. 

Instead of cutting and pasting that whole chapter, it’s better for those interested to just read the book and they’ll see the ingredients. 

I’d encourage you and everyone else to put those action steps into practice. 

What I find is that most people who don’t have a deep revelation of Christ are all over the place concerning the people they read and listen to.

They listen to and read too many voices. 

That’s why I recommend taking a full year off of reading and listening to everything except for one or two voices that are clearly and powerfully revealing Christ and nothing else. 

(Those who have ministries like that usually put out a ton of content, so it takes at least a year to get through most or all of their work.)

The recipe I give in that chapter has come out of my own life, and it’s what’s behind my own messages that unveil Jesus. 

It doesn’t matter how long a person has been in ministry or has been a Christian, I can usually tell within 15 minutes of hearing them speak if they have a deep revelation of Christ or not. 

Most preachers and teachers in our day do not. 

That’s one of the reasons why I wrote that chapter and why I have The Insurgence Experience Mentoring Mastermind for kingdom leaders. 

We focus on this very issue in highly practical ways. 

(People can hear testimonials from some of the leaders who went through it, if interested. Just go here and scroll down to the video.)

Law 41 – Rethink Success – is really hard for me because I don’t believe I am ego-driven to succeed, but I deeply fear failure. 

I live with a tension between the realities of maintaining a building I inherited from previous pastors and congregations and their often worldly pursuits and the genuine need for true discipleship in the community. 

It’s easy to imagine what failure looks like when you fret over things/stuff and financial security, and it’s easy to see the correlation between church growth and meeting those tactile needs. 

Generating Christian community within the things and stuff seems logical too. But it’s easy to imagine serving the flesh as a means of failure, too. 

So, somewhere in the middle there is a place where a Christian leader drives the people, and himself or herself, toward personal holiness and still maintains a building and tries to make it useful to the Lord. 

How do you recommend I deal with my deep-seated fear of being a failure and the fiscal realities I face? Oh, wait! Maybe that’s what you’re talking about in Law 48 – Realize It Doesn’t Work. Please enlighten me.

There are several elements in this question. 

One is personal. If you recall, I shared with you in private what I would do if I were in your shoes to meet the fiscal needs. I stand by the answer I gave.

But the other topic – the fear of failure – is endemic to all people in ministry. It also is for everyone who creates.

Discouragement is also pervasive for both groups. 

We can never eliminate fear or discouragement, but we can dance with them. 

And that’s the secret to overcoming both of them in the moment.

Fear is usually an indicator that a person is on to something that God wants. 

Fear is the obstacle that seeks to hinder it. So a person must dance with it to overcome it in the moment.

The chapter on leaving the results with God (Law 7) has freed many people in this area. 

Discouragement is typically the result of focusing on the wrong thing. 

For example, it’s focusing on the man who was asleep during your last message. 

Overcoming discouragement is to realize that your message wasn’t for that man.

It was for the woman sitting to his left who was on the edge of her seat, soaking in every word you uttered. 

It was for the guy who was trembling in the second row during your talk. 

It was for the woman who was taking so many notes her hands were aching.

My work isn’t for everyone. And I’m fine with that. 

If a person who only loves country music was asked to review a Hip Hop album, they’d give it a poor review. 

But that’s not because hip hop music is bad, it’s because it’s not for them.

People who love classic rock usually don’t care for country music. That doesn’t mean country music is bad. It’s simply not for them.

“This isn’t for that person” is a great way to defeat discouragement.

It’s wise to ignore most doubters. 

In one of the chapters I talk about three different kinds of critics.

Two of them you should listen to, but never listen to the third. They’ll never help you to improve.

The other side of this is that sometimes we lack because we’re not doing the things we should be doing.

I’ve had conversations with some people in ministry who had very unimpressive ministries. There was no power in their speaking, and thus, there was little effect.

The problem, however, is that despite what others told them, they just kept doing the same things. They didn’t take the prescriptions given.

That’s the other side of this issue. 

So on the one hand, we ought to ignore certain voices. But on the other, we are wise to listen to those who are beyond us in revealing Christ and take what they say to heart and act upon it. 

Regrettably, few people are willing to do that. And the result is that nothing changes.

For information on Frank’s new book, including a free sampler and audio interviews along with ordering information, go to 48Laws.com.

Speak to the Heart

“Let it be the hidden person of the heart . . . a gentle and quiet spirit.” ~ 1 PETER 3:4, NKJV

      

                I’ve finished reading Frank Viola’s latest book, “48 Laws of Spiritual Power: Uncommon Wisdom for Greater Ministry Impact” and am now going through it again with my highlighter. Like his previous release, “Hang On, Let Go: What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered and Life Is Falling Apart,” 48 Laws is an easy-to-read book of hard truths. Don’t be dismayed when I say “hard truths” because the most loving thing anyone can say to another is a truth that transforms. Hang On, Let Go often reminds readers that our perceptions of self, circumstances, and God must change so that healing and hope can flourish. Likewise, 48 Laws was written with grace from the Holy Spirit so that Christian leadership will flourish. 

               I have a passion for reframing the role of leadership in Christian communities, especially local churches, because I’ve seen the suffering and ultimate irrelevance that results from chaos in congregations. My list of practical-tactical observations could fill a short book that might be useful to a newly minted pastor or other spiritual leader, but I’d recommend 48 Laws as the primer, and, as I have realized lately, the revitalizing agent for veteran leaders. My first piece of advice, were I to write a book on leadership, would be to work on self-leadership above all else. Here’s a book that will help tremendously. It’s not only for leaders of organizations; it’s for anyone who will endeavor to lead others, even children, spouses, and teams.

When I started writing this, my goal was to share a learning from Frank’s book that rests prominently in my recollection of it. By now, I know, I know, it’s reading like a book review. Well, I’m your friend and pastor, and I just want to help you. When I read a good book, I’ll tell you about it — and that’s kind of what I’m driving toward right now. Several points have convicted me deeply in Frank’s 48 Laws book. Ironically, the weightiest is the realization that I like to inspire, inform, and encourage Christ’s beloved flock, but, How effectively do I present His loveliness and majesty?  

Frank’s Law 43 is, “Speak to the Heart.” He says this about that, “The human spirit is the deepest part of us. The Bible calls it ‘the lamp of the LORD’ (Proverbs 20:27). It’s the dwelling place of God’s Spirit.” (Viola, Frank. 48 Laws of Spiritual Power: Uncommon Wisdom for Greater Ministry Impact (p. 200). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.) https://frankviola.org/48laws/

I feel sure that Shiloh must grow by being disciples and seeking disciples for Jesus. Everyone who’s listening knows this because I talk about it so much, but what if I’m not telling people about why some of us just can’t help but follow him? Frank has reminded me that the deeper well from which we are trying to drink is the indwelling Spirit of Christ. It seems likely that it will start with a few of us in worship, classes, bands, and private devotions. The love of Christ will be so clear and compelling as to be irresistible. I really don’t know what that will look like in our context, but our LORD is gentle. He will not generate oppression and chaos — Let that sink in. He is the author of cosmic order, joy, and hope.     

As we move forward in being vital to the community through Christian discipleship, let us welcome fresh expressions of Christ in our midst. Let’s open the shutters of our souls so that His light will shine from us. We should not desire to grow the congregation around buildings, programs, society, or secularized religion. Let’s grow the congregation of Christian Believers whose souls reflect Christ’s irresistible love and majesty. 

A Non-Anxious Presence

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~ Matthew 6:34

Chronic, low-level anxiety with occasional debilitating episodes has plagued me all my life. I’ve learned to manage it pretty well over the years, but as I’ve grown older and a little wiser, the subtle nuances of my condition come into the light. Like many things, greater self-awareness sped up during recent times of global and local disruption. Ironically, collective anxiety is at an all-time high because of sped up trends. It has not been a peaceful time for a leader who is prone to anxiety. I am grateful to God for divine intervention and for strengthening me in times of great need, yet I am more aware of the faint signs of stress that hamper my service to Christ. So, I’m asking my LORD to sanctify my vulnerability for His Name’s sake.  

A new (to me) source of enlightenment and influence entered my life about a year ago as a podcast by Mark Sayers of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is the pastor of the Red Church and is skilled in interpreting the times we live in. His vast knowledge of social, political, environmental, and biblical context enables him to communicate remarkable insights to his constituents and other beneficiaries, like me. Sayers authored several books, which I am working through, including his latest aptly named, “A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders.” Sayers makes a crucial observation that hit home for me near the end of the book; “In anxious environments, leaders leverage influence through being a non-anxious presence.” (Sayers, Mark. A Non-Anxious Presence (p. 100). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.)

My life story contains countless episodes of crisis-intervention and mediation. The LORD seems to have wired me for it from an early age. I’ve been a first responder, EMT, firefighter, and Good Samaritan. In ministry, there are endless opportunities to be a non-anxious presence in times of acute anxiety. However, such times usually come and go, leaving interim periods of minimal stress. If not, the stress would debilitate, as I have learned through bitter experience. If I’m honest, then I have to realize my firefighter mindset — even when it looks like I’m relaxing, I’m expecting the alarm to go off at any moment. While being prepared is admirable, it is also possible for preparedness to devolve into chronic anxiety and stress. 

How do I leverage well-honed readiness for the sake of the vision and mission while resting in His presence, trusting in His provision, and releasing the full potential of sabbath?  So far, I’ve learned that God is way ahead of me, as always. He speaks, and when I listen, I am ready for change. For example, a friend recently risked wounding me to help me understand the way my anxiety comes out in meetings. An honest evaluation of anxiety reveals an expression of fear. So, the first thing an introspective, anxious person must do is identify the fear. I’m pretty sure I know what I fear in church meetings, but I’m not going there today. My firefighter readiness mindset and my sense of urgency about the discipleship mission generates behaviors that ultimately reduce my efficacy. My fear of failing enhances my chances of failing because it results in pressure applied to others that feel like expectations they cannot live up to. “LORD, I hear you telling me to be more patient with myself and others, even You.” 

What about you? Is there a place in your life where anxiety and fear causes you to do and say things you regret later? Do you find that people who love you accept your idiosyncrasies so well that you never realize what’s behind them? Ask the LORD to send a trustworthy friend to help you. The things that make you, you come from good places and bad. The way to sanctify the bad things is to embrace their effects and leverage them for serving the LORD. But, when your tendencies handicap leadership, you must have the courage to risk being in an emotional and intellectual space that is uncomfortable for you. For example, I have to go into meetings with a non-anxious spirit. I must learn to let the firefighter be off duty. I need to let the Holy Spirit temper my sense of urgency so that I can recognize the eternal perspective. With the LORD’s help, I can enhance my leadership by becoming a non-anxious presence in ordinary things. 

A Word to the Faithful Shiloh Family

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead as far as Dan, all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar. And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.” (Deuteronomy 34:1-4)

I am drawn back to memories of my first visit to Mount Nebo when I stood on the windswept precipice, seeing the same view as Moses. It’s hard to describe the awe and wonder I felt as I scanned the wilderness vista with a gleaming Dead Sea near Jericho just below and the barely visible sun flare reflected from the Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the distance. Moses would have seen the Negev Desert that borders Egypt to the South and he could trace the Jordan River snaking north to the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon, though haze obscured my view. 

We, too, are on the brink of a new land as Shiloh Church of Jasper. Like the Israelites who cast off the bondage of pagan oppressors and then refined their faith in Yahweh in the wilderness, we find ourselves reduced in number, leaner, and more efficient. The haze of myriad distractions and noise of endless media can obscure our view, but the land of God’s promise is still before us. There is a place where the Shiloh family will be God’s people and He will be their God. It is a place within the Kingdom of God’s Son who conquered sin and death for our sake so we can be a new people in a new land. We only have to trust and obey Him. 

The Israelites inhabited the land as instruments in God’s hands. When they tried to conquer their enemies in their own strength, they failed. But, when they simply did what the LORD told them to do, the battle belonged to the LORD of glory. We must do the same as we press into the promise. What is the promise? For Christian Believers it is the Word of Jesus Christ, whose promise comes with a command, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Our mission then, is to make disciples, first, of ourselves, then everyone whom the LORD puts before us. The same dynamic experienced by the Israelites is a play for the Shiloh family; trusting the LORD of glory and leaning not on our own understanding, we will inhabit the community with Christian virtue, gospel truth and love, words, and deeds worthy of our King, so that a new generation will know Him. 

Your faithfulness to God’s vision and mission through Shiloh Church, especially with your wealth, time, and talent is like confidently marching around the walls of Jericho as you wait to see the LORD break down earthly strongholds. Your regular giving, attending to worship and learning, and participation in the Christian community make you part of the Body of Christ, the new chosen people of God. When you walk by faith, not by sight, you rely upon Christ to direct your path, seeing that you do not stumble. (2 Corinthians 2:5) Therefore, I thank God for you and look forward to witnessing His glory in and through you in the coming months and years. Thank you for supporting the vision and mission set before us.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ~  Isaiah 43:19

I am conflicted today because of tension between upbeat and troubled feelings. I’m happy because we, the Shiloh family, have reached a place in our journey where we can see a bright, new season of preparing and planting for the LORD’s harvest. My hopes stem from faith in Christ to revive the hearts of His people and open the eyes of those who don’t yet know Him. My fears stem from many years of experience with church folk and keen interest in society and geopolitics. The famous introductory words of Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Tale of Two Cities” seem to apply to our times. 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Pandemic, politics, economy, church attender losses, war in Europe, liberals, progressives, conservatives, traditionalists, disaffiliation and its fallout, hurricanes, supply chain issues, poverty, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran…and “winter is coming.” Seems like the “worst of times”, doesn’t it? Another literary source, “Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin, fancifully, but accurately presents a world like ours wherein worldly ambitions, fleshly indulgence, and fearful supernatural forces crowd together in subtle and overt battles for supremacy, all while the inevitable long, dark winter draws nearer.      

When is upheaval and chaos ever “the best of times”!? Well, for example, after the hurricane, rescuers will seek those who suffer; the government will do some things we’re glad to help pay for; communities will unite for a common good, if only briefly. It turns out that the worst of times often brings out the best in people. It turns out that troubled seasons make it easier to see who the givers and takers are. When circumstances threaten their interests, the takers abandon others and retreat. Givers adapt and strive to relieve suffering and end chaos. It’s as basic as it gets; one can either be egocentric or others-oriented. Ironically, one can do good works for others and still be egocentric. The Bible calls us to be God-oriented, which leads to other-orientation for His sake. So, when the worst of times come, it’s more important than ever to be God-oriented, rooted in God’s Word, and united with like-minded Christian Believers. 

Should it surprise us when hard times highlight selfishness, childish posturing, and general wickedness in some? What if such seasons turn out to be defining moments that show us what matters most? All of Jesus’ apostles, even Judas, experienced it. Therefore, they lost friends and family, worldly security, and eventually their lives because of what mattered the most to them. Why shouldn’t we, Jesus’ disciples, expect the same? Fear, suppressed by faith; self-interests abandoned to Christ’s motives, and an eternal perspective changes our priorities and frees us to join the LORD in whatever He is doing, whatever the circumstances.

I’ve heard that many Shiloh folks want all the talk of disaffiliation to stop so we can get back to “church” again. I understand the sentiment because I too, am weary from the struggles. However, I fear that getting back to “church” means something I’d rather not go back to. If it’s about personal interests, tastes, and comforts, we should not go back to it. If it is a call to stop talking about denominational politics, I’m right there with you. Let’s get busy being the best of Christ’s people whatever the times seem like. Let’s never again come to worship so we can get what we want or receive services we feel entitled to. Worship is, after all, about the LORD and serving all that He is entitled to. When we are not adoring, praising, and submitting to Christ, let us be sources of grace and mercy to those for whom He suffered. Let us dedicate our whole lives worshiping and serving Christ, our King; doing all the good we can by all the means at our disposal so that people who don’t know Him might meet Christ through us.

The Power of Suggestion

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. ~  John 1:12

I have a small decorative plate hanging on a wall in my office that was a gift from my mother when I was a young teenager. She’d found it at a yard sale and bought it for me. An image of Daniel the prophet sitting in front of a lion fills the middle and the words “Daniel the Courageous” arches up from the bottom like a smile. It’s been in every bedroom I’ve occupied and then every office I used as a pastor. The plate reminds me of some very significant aspects of my life. First, my mom saw that plate and wanted to give it to me. Did she buy it so you could say, “Be courageous, Daniel”? Or was it because she saw courage in me and the plate reminded her of it? I’ve asked her about it and she just says, “It just made me think of you and I wanted to give it to you.” For a boy trying to figure out who he is, there are no more important influences than his parents. So, what happens when a father expresses love poorly and it seems entirely conditional because of mania? Maybe a sympathetic mother counters with ridiculously unconditional love. 

“Daniel the Courageous” became my secret identity after Mom whispered it in my ear. She may not have known the power of her deed, but she’s seen many expressions of it over the years. I won’t list them because one does not speak of such things without the risk of pride. The most courageous moments in life are very private as anxiety and strain sucks inwardly. Bold, public fearlessness does not define courage, but the opposite, risk without trepidation often slides into stupidity. A decision to go against fear marks each courageous moment. Even after reason reduces fearful things to calculated risks, there is an inevitable leap of faith. Mom saw courage in me way back then, and her faith in me breathed greater life into it. She nurtured seeds of leadership and perseverance that still serve me today. Thanks, Mom. I love you. 

Trusting the LORD takes courage that starts with a leap of faith. You will think it through as far as possible for a calculated risk and then you must step into the unknown. Is the LORD real? Will the LORD speak? What if the LORD changes me? Can I live with the change? The only way to know is to bravely press on toward the uncertainties. Need a little help? 

You may not know the LORD, but He knows you. The LORD has a secret name for you that reveals who you really are in His eyes. Embracing that identity releases you from all others and frees you to become all the God created you to be. It will take courage to move into your new life in Him, and as you do, fear will tempt you to think the LORD’s love is conditional and His moods will swing unpredictably like a maniac’s. Trust the LORD with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. His love is constant and His faith in you is greater than your faith in yourself. Ask the LORD to reveal your special quality to you. What will the plate on your wall say about you?

Be Still, and Know

Come rest your head upon His breast

Listen to the rhythm of

His unfailing heart of love

Steven Curtis Chapman ~ “Be Still, and Know” 

(CCLI Song # 2758912; CCLI License # 1252648)

My lower back sank deep into an old couch in an unlit wood paneled room. The young woman sitting next to me held my hand as we listened to music and talked. Suddenly, she let out a quiet squeal as if someone startled her. “What is it?” I asked. She pulled my hand to her belly, saying, “I just felt the first flutter.” It was the first movement of our baby growing in her womb. 

A few weeks later, we were in an obstetrician’s office listening to the little tugboat sound of the baby’s heartbeat — “chug-chug-chug-chug-chug.” I marveled at the sound as I imagined my bride’s heart beating stronger and slower just a few inches above; the steady whoosh of air entering and exiting her lungs as her diaphragm gentle, rhythmic rocking of the tiny child inside her. My wife’s heart pumped life-giving blood through her body and the baby’s. The baby’s life depended upon the rhythm and flow of its mother’s life. 

When God birthed creation by the Word of His heart and mind, a barely perceptible flutter preceded the rhythm of life we so often take for granted. Creation utterly depends on the heartbeat of the LORD and the tempo of His breath, the Holy Spirit. God’s blood pulses through all creation, sustaining and ordering it with cosmic harmony. Like the baby in a mother’s womb, all creation rocks gently within the LORD’s deepest being. He is the creator and sustainer in whom we live and move and have our being (see Psalm 104, Acts 17:28). 

God’s Enemy is the author of chaos and oppression. He would have you believe that being carved in the palm of God’s hand (Isaiah 49:16) is unfair confinement. He would tempt you to view the LORD’s rhythms and patterns as restrictive limits. But, the baby who rejects the sustenance of the one upon whom its life depends dies. When the child is ready, the mother pushes it from within her to live into its own breath and heartbeat, body and mind. The child is the image of the parents and yet she is synced rhythmically with them. 

Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son illustrates the LORD’s pain and loss at losing one who was part of His very being and then regaining him through repentance and grace that lead to new life and harmony. (Luke 15:11-32) Therefore, when you feel out of step with any aspect of creation, it is a sign of dissonance. It can be because of sickness in the body, mind, or spirit. In that moment of reckoning, stop. Be still and listen to rhythmic sounds wherever you are. Watch the rhythm of light and movement. Feel the rising and falling of your chest as you breathe; the pulse in your wrist or neck. Then, pray in sync with the rhythms saying something like, “LORD, I am still, and I know you are God.” “I repent of too much dissonance” “I want to come home” “Hold me close” “Beat and breath threw me.”  

Embrace rhythm as you seek harmony with God, and each other and you will notice His heartbeat everywhere. Consider the amazing relationship we all have with music, especially percussion. See how we cannot resist the urge to keep time with fingers, toes, and bobbing heads. Isn’t it amazing how the LORD’s rhythms affect the tribal drums of pagans? Even those who do not know the true Creator feel his thrumming pulse. The most primitive peoples felt the cadence of God’s creation and mimicked by beating logs and stretched animal hides as they swayed and hummed in resonance with God’s myriad frequencies. Magnificent orchestral works use vibrating strings, buzzing lips, and intricate tempos undergirded by drums, symbols, wood. A noisy punk band or metal rock band relies on electrical impulses, vibrating strings, pounding drumbeats and varying vocal ranges. The celestial throng joins even the one who sings or whistles in solitude as all echo the Creator’s heart and breath. God’s majestic grace and sustaining rhythms burst from His being so that even those who reject Him reflect Him. Their rhythms are echoes of God reverberating from outside space and time. How much better will it be when we join the LORD of the dance? The One who gave all that only He could give to bring you back into harmony with Him is He “who laid [earth’s] cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7)