tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47106182470887493672024-03-13T11:51:08.185-07:00Music MinuteMusic Minutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13996255587770202996noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-28841080501853291542011-04-18T10:07:00.001-07:002011-04-18T10:07:51.087-07:00Terry's blog has moved. <a href="http://tbaughman1.blogspot.com/">http://tbaughman1.blogspot.com</a>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-70810184439239069492011-03-14T17:05:00.000-07:002011-03-14T17:05:48.864-07:00The Power of a WhisperI know it has been a really long time since I lasted wrote on my blog. I just felt like I needed some time off from writing to refocus on God. I'm gonna let God lead my thoughts... <br />
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A whisper can be very powerful. We whisper things when we want people to really listen closely. I know that God has used the whisper to speak to me and I'm sure He was done the same for you. I’ve tried many times to listen for the whispers of God in my life and in my ministry. I didn’t do it well enough in the beginning, but as I learned to listen for God’s prompting, I must say, he hasn’t let me down yet. That isn’t to say that at times what he told me was easy. No, there have been many times when it was difficult to hear what God was prompting me to do. In the end, the rewards have far outweighed the tough times. And why not put my whole life in God’s hands? Why not trust him fully? “I challenge you to give him full clearance to lead your life, every area of your life, until the point that he proves himself untrustworthy.” Those were the words of a friend of mine who said that to me at a point in my ministry when I was doubting things. God’s whispers can even come from people who are around you. And there will be times when a certain number of whispers that come our way will drive us to our knees and stretch our faith, but so be it. I enjoy hearing people’s stories of God’s whispers in their life. I love know that God is speaking and we, all of us, need to lean in and really listen. He is talking...are we listening? What is your whisper story?Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-85568183500746047022011-01-02T17:10:00.000-08:002011-01-02T17:11:13.333-08:00God Longs for MoreI've been told to read a book called "Crazy Love". So I saw the book in a bookstore and opened it up to see what it was about. This is what I read..."To just read the Bible, attend church, and avoid "big" sins- is this passionate, wholehearted love for God?" Yeah, that’s the first quote that I got greeted with when I opened up the book, and it’s not even in the first chapter; it’s in the preface. I very rarely read a preface. I didn’t think there was ever any good stuff in the preface! <br />
Well, what do you think? Is that all there is? I believe if we are truthful, most of us think that’s all there is to this walk OR, are you like me and feel as though something is wrong? How many of you have read the New Testament and wondered if sometimes we in the church are missing it? I hope I’m not the only one, then I will think I’m really crazy! I believe God longs for more from the church. I think many of us, if we were truthful with ourselves would admit that the church as an establishment could do a better job. There’s a whole generation out there that loves Jesus, but not the church. I get an awful feeling deep down in my stomach when I think of how we are missing out on all that God wants for the people God loved enough to die for. Do you? I don’t know about you but I agree that we need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God! Another way of putting it is this- let’s be known for what we are for rather than what we are against. We just celebrated the birth of Jesus. He was born into this world to be a humble servant, but Jesus never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. He actually commands everything from his followers. So, where do we go from here? Do we adjust how we live daily, or do we stay the same? I can't wait to dig deeper into the book.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-43542789942680712292010-12-16T06:44:00.000-08:002010-12-16T06:44:35.637-08:00AdventIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…well sort of. We are in the season of Advent. You see, we can’t get to Christmas without getting through Advent. But what’s up with Advent? Why all the waiting? Advent is about anticipating the birth of Christ. It’s about longing, desire, that which is yet to come. That which isn’t here yet. Advent is important to go through. We remember that in Scripture there is a natural rhythm to things. When God created the universe, there was a natural rhythm, and then God rested. Our church calendar is set up to create a natural rhythm. Advent also confronts the corrosion of the heart with the insistence that God has not abandoned the world, hope is real and something is coming. Pastor Rob Bell puts it this way , “Advent charges into the temple of cynicism with a whip of hope, overturning the tables of despair, driving out the priests of that jaded cult, announcing there’s a new day and it’s not like the one that came before it.” Advent’s purpose is to open us up, to soften us up, and to turn our hearts in the direction of the coming day. And so we wait for that day when the baby cries His first cry . And we, surrounded by shepherds and angels and everybody in between, celebrate that sound in time that brings our Spirits what we’ve been longing for.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-5241252896368816722010-11-26T17:17:00.000-08:002010-11-26T17:17:16.080-08:00Running on EmptyBefore technology in vehicles, you had to guess how many miles you had left when the gas gauge was low. Today, we have the luxury to look at the dashboard and see what the computer estimates is left. Knowing that is a good thing. It helps you from running out of gas. How do we know if we are running on empty? Often times we don’t know until it is too late. One of my favorite songs is “Everlasting God”. It’s a song that is based on a passage from Isaiah 40 that reads, “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” <br />
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Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Many of us try to get through the whole week with just spending one hour on a Sunday morning with God and filling up as much as we can during that hour`. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and “drive-by” encounters with God are all things we look for and try to do. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.<br />
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In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjecting ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-89693013646935800952010-11-11T17:36:00.000-08:002010-11-11T17:36:54.002-08:00You Can Do It...He Will HelpI saw this shirt the other week. It was a bright orange shirt that looked like a billboard for the Home Depot. Actually, it looked just like the Home Depot sign. Instead of reading, “Home Depot” it read “Holy Spirit”. For years, the Home Depot has had the slogan, “You can do it, we can help.” Well on this shirt it says, “You can do it. He can help.” And it is true, you CAN do it! Whatever it is. Too often we limit the potential of the Holy Spirit by saying things like, “Oh I can’t do that.” We face resistance and we sometimes give up. But there is a voice that tells you, “I believe God is at work in you!” What would happen if we let go of our need to control? What would happen if we truly relied on the power of the Holy Spirit? What would happen if we truly believed God is at work in us? What would happen to us? What would happen to our churches? We know what it is like. We go to a conference, hear other speakers, read about new ideas only to have them squashed by other people. “Oh there’s no way we could ever do that,” some would say. “Oh people won't like that," others would say. “But we’re Lutheran,” comes the response. So!?! Why limit what we can do? Why limit the power of the Holy Spirit? Because when we do, we end up declining or happy with "status quo". We end up being half disciples only producing half of our potential. Because here is the truth found in Scripture- Jesus promises a coming Advocate (The Holy Spirit) and that Advocate is present with us. God has given us a God sized vision and we can’t let the present realities overshadow the possibilities of tomorrow. You CAN do it, and he WILL help!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-82910154018509990142010-11-05T13:49:00.000-07:002010-11-05T13:49:47.840-07:00Show It to One AnotherGod is doing amazing things. It’s hard sometimes to stop and realize what God’s Spirit is actually accomplishing in our lives. Too often we focus on the negative and let others drag us down. The culture in which we live in always tells us, “It’s not enough.” But when is it ever enough? If we stop and think about it, the more we gain and acquire, the more we demand. Dallas Willard, Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, once said in an interview, “We are designed to be creators and initiators, not just receivers.” What do you have to celebrate? How is God’s Spirit moving in your life? If you need a reminder, read the book of Philippians. Paul reminds this community in this letter about the encouragement, comfort, tenderness, and compassion they enjoyed in their relationship with Christ, and then directed them to show that to one another. I, like Paul, celebrate the good things that God is doing in the lives of others, and am blessed to see others blessed by God.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-6030802870206895242010-10-28T18:06:00.000-07:002010-10-28T18:06:09.486-07:00GratitudeI have to admit that I am one of those “go-for-broke” visionary people in ministry. I’m focused and always thinking about the next big thing. At times I find myself emotionally, spiritually, and physically stretched to my limits. Sometimes I fail to stop and appreciate the Spirit’s work that is being done right now. Gratitude for what God has done and will do, should be a natural and normal part of our life and ministry. The Psalms contain countless reminders to us to praise God for every conceivable thing. Gratitude transforms attitudes, inspires hearts, affirms our calling, and builds relationships. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said from his jail under Nazi rule, “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” We can learn from Dietrich. He was able to focus on what he could give while sitting in a Nazi concentration prison. During the time when life seemed hopeless, he was able to stop and give thanks. We can also. There is so much more to be thankful for in our lives, even when we too feel hopeless. Take some time to see all the good that God has done for you. Take the time to give Him thanks and praise.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-74814772053010369632010-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:002010-10-21T10:56:40.588-07:00Bless OthersProfound statements...I hear them, read them, see them. I ponder on these profound statements and try to apply them in some way. Not that I think they are the only thing in my life that I trust and follow, but I use them to help me have a better understanding of whose I am. Well, another profound statement jumped out at me while finishing the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell . <br />
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I was reading the section on serving others...I was thinking that I should get this book done because I have another one ready to go and "it" hit. "God chooses people to be used to bless other people". Yes, it is true. We are used to bless others in His name. That is why we are here. We are not here to exist for ourselves, but to bless others in His name. It could be through the church. It could be through our work. It could be while sitting at Starbucks. No matter what...we are here to bless others. Our words, our actions, our thoughts are all for God. If we keep the focus on what we are here for and the purpose God has for us, then the things we do will not only bless us, but also bless others. This makes our life and others ' lives better. I'm totally awed by how God uses people. I see the people that have been true blessings in my life by their words and actions. I pray that I'm a true blessing in others' lives by my words and actions. To bless others...sometimes it can be hard to do, but as I work on remembering whose I am, then blessing others will be the outcome of serving God.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-88218008139221021852010-10-15T06:24:00.000-07:002010-10-15T06:24:25.421-07:00SabbathI am almost done with the book "Velvet Elvis". It has been a powerful book to read but a very deep book with lots of thoughts to ponder. I have found myself reading over and over again the same paragraph...just yesterday, I found myself reading the same sentence over and over again. Yes, yesterday, I caught myself rereading the same sentence...it stuck in my mind...it really made me think more and more. The sentence..."I have learned that the real issue behind the Sabbath isn't which day of the week it is but how we live all the time." (Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell)<br />
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The Sabbath is a day when we should slow down. As Rob Bell puts it, we need to "let the engine come to an idle". What a concept. It is amazing what people tell me their schedule is like. Mine is the same way at times. We are running here and there. We are the "super____________" (you can fill in the blank). We have to do it all, be it all and fix it all. We are it all. Even on Sunday, in worship, we aren't completely engulfed in worship...we are thinking about what has to happen, where we need to be, what are we going to eat. We don't ever slow down and really have a Sabbath. A Sabbath is a chance to slow down and take a good look at what God has done. Take a look at all that is good and rejoice in it. A Sabbath is a time for us to receive the grace and peace of God and to really know that it is there. We all need to slow down. We all need to live the Sabbath. Not just on Sundays, but every day. Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-23435677925192925562010-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:002010-10-07T11:30:16.643-07:00Powerfully PresentThe pressures of ministry seem to be creeping up on me lately. I seem to have lost my “spark” for visioning for the future. That’s my gift, and it’s what I like to do. I see the big picture and I try to surround myself with people that can help catch the smaller details. Lately though I have been consumed by other “stuff”. What happens when all the “stuff” of the world creeps in on you? What do you do? What do you do when you feel like you are giving your all but God isn’t showing up? What do you do when you cast vision but few seem inspired? What do you do when criticism comes at you left and right? What do you do in those times of your life when you feel like you are a hamster on a wheel? We all have those times. Last week during one of my low points I was searching scripture and came upon the story of Joseph. I could identify with him. Bottom of a well? You bet! He was thrown in a well, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and ultimately imprisoned. Ok, so I started feeling a little better about my situation. And yet, right there in the middle of this BIG story there’s these words, “And the Lord was with Joseph.” What? I thought when the Lord was with you things are supposed to be going well. Don’t you agree? Isn’t it interesting that when things aren’t going well we always default to feeling as though God has abandoned us. And yet the truth in Joseph’s story-which is our story- is that God is most powerfully present even when it seems He is most apparently absent. We don’t get to choose when bad things will happen to us, but we do get to choose how we will respond. Joseph’s response was one of faith, and in that choice lies an amazing amount of hope.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-28831303136176856632010-09-30T18:38:00.000-07:002010-09-30T18:38:23.322-07:00All for His glory<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWB9eYo7seLJBeLCnl5gx1sPEf5wpl4rQMJesj1wNDqT4i7qn4NWtbsuxTP4eTl1z1BOfjU5j68zLNmwKRMxolEVQZsCUMG-bOwZyMjS5aeqkeO5wRicuIDDiN1Jcxzot1r7wflJUpwrg/s1600/romans-11-36-god-wants-in-between1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWB9eYo7seLJBeLCnl5gx1sPEf5wpl4rQMJesj1wNDqT4i7qn4NWtbsuxTP4eTl1z1BOfjU5j68zLNmwKRMxolEVQZsCUMG-bOwZyMjS5aeqkeO5wRicuIDDiN1Jcxzot1r7wflJUpwrg/s1600/romans-11-36-god-wants-in-between1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A few days ago, I received an email from a former student. Now I'm honored that they even remember me, but this email was different. This email was asking about spiritual issues. They want to serve the church, but they don't want to serve in the church. This question isn't anything new. Many people think about this. It isn't about working in the church, it is about working for the church...for the betterment of the Kingdom of God. Romans 11:36 states, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Simply stated, we exist to exhibit God, to display His glory. It doesn't matter where you work or what job you do. It doesn't matter if you are a doctor, working in retail, flipping burgers...If you follow Jesus and you are doing what you do in His name, then it is no longer secular work; it's sacred (Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell) We are all working for the glory of God. We are all working for the church. We are all working for the Lord. So my answer...it doesn't matter what job you have. It doesn't matter where you work. Do it for the glory of God. Do it for the right reasons and you are working for His kingdom.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-29178846020417159882010-09-23T13:11:00.000-07:002010-09-23T13:11:23.152-07:00Passion Starts With Us<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was recently reading the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. While reading this, you can see the passion in the heart of the Samaritan. <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Passion? Perhaps that is where we need to start? Do you have a passion to help people? We should. I think it is that easy to start being a good Samaritan. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just recently I read an article online from <em>Good</em> magazine that said, “The global problems are larger than before, but our capacity to meet them is larger still.” The author is right. Think about what the 12 disciples did with what little they had. In contrast think about the size of the church today and the means that we have of Internet, cars, phones, money, goods and services. Can we be doing more? I think we could and should. I recently read that if the Big 8 (the biggest 8 countries in the world) gave 1% more of their budgets to global poverty, we could end it in the entire world. Think about the size of these countries’ budgets and how little 1% might be. We are capable of what no other band of people can do: unite in love and passion to help bring reconciliation to every heart, soul, and corner of the world. Is it as easy as just starting? Passion? It has to begin with us.</span></span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-91411907226840491992010-09-14T17:26:00.000-07:002010-09-15T12:06:36.231-07:00It is a processI've heard farmers say, “We can’t make the seed grow, we can only be sure the soil is ready for the seed. God is the only one who can make the seed grow.” Those farmers are sharp sometimes. In 1 Corinthians we are reminded that spiritual growth is a process. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul calls believers God’s children, God’s field, and God’s building.<br /><br />We are God’s children, claimed so in the waters of our baptism. Our faith walk is a process. Sometimes we think that we have completed our journey We feel that we have gone as far as we can. We sometimes feel that after confirmation, we have completed our walk, but just as babies need the right environments to grow physically, people need the right environment to grow spiritually. That’s where the church can come in.<br /><br />We are God’s field. Fields do not bear fruit or crops on command. Trust me, I'm trying to grow tomatoes. They blossom in process, and to do so properly, they need the right environment and nutrients. This can happen for us in church.<br /><br />We are God’s building, God’s spiritual house if you will. God first built us. Then God redeemed us with his own blood. Next, God moved in. That’s right, God took up residence, God filled up every drawer. And guess what? God isn’t done! God continually works on us. God is constantly rearranging the furniture, challenging our ideas, thoughts, and opinions. We never do arrive. This continual work is inevitable. It is a lifelong process.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-2437827968588978562010-09-10T05:08:00.000-07:002010-09-10T06:06:12.189-07:00The Word is TodayI spend a lot of time reading scripture and really taking a good close look at the meaning behind it. I have always been taught to take time and read the scripture. This is something I took to heart on in college and have continued to do so. But lately, certain passages or stories grab me and won't let go. The bible becomes living and active in me. Rob Bell states it best in his book "Velvet Elvis". He says, <em>"Inspired words have a way of getting under our skin and taking on a life of their own. They work on us. We started out reading them, but they end up reading us." </em>How true. The word of God is reading me...reading us.<br /><br /><br />God has a knack of making sure we hear, read, see just those things that we need. Scripture is more than just words. Scripture is about today...the now! It is our job to not just read it, but to embrace it has living and active. Scripture gives us strength. It give us meaning and direction. It is more than just a history book, it is the meaning to the events. So really take the time to read scripture. Read it at its fullest. Read it and take it in. The Word is living and active. The Word will happen. Today!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-78157822584706645402010-09-04T05:20:00.000-07:002010-09-04T07:25:32.285-07:00PUSHI was told the other day to PUSH, when it came to my prayer life. Never heard of it! But it stands for "pray until something happens." What a great acronym! It reminds me how important it is to stay in contact with God. Between the words pray, prayer, praying, and prayed the word appears 512 times in the Bible. Do you think our Creator wants us to stay in contact with him? Just like it is important for a vine to stay connected to the main branch so it can be nourished and fed, so we also need to stay connected to God. When we do this, Jesus reminds us that it is easy to produce fruit (If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…John 15).<br />What would a church looked like that immersed itself in prayer? Think about the possibilities! Our God wants a relationship with us. As we enter into our fall season pray! Pray for our ministry. Pray that we continue to touch people's lives. Pray for our ministry to flourish and grow. Pray that we will follow the Spirit's guidance wherever that may be. Pray for our leaders, for our staff, for our kids, and for our community. When we do, we will most certainly see the fruits of the Spirit, and we will then be able to rejoice and give thanks to our most gracious and loving God!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-8594242770197875512010-08-18T06:19:00.000-07:002010-08-18T07:01:35.295-07:00GrowingThrough many conversations, the thought about growing has come to mind. Thoughts about how we could become a strong "community" of believers. What a community of authenticity, a community of acceptance, and a community of hope would look like. Through these conversations, the vision of how we could grow as a congregation and the Kingdom of God came to mind. It doesn’t matter how many great and wonderful programs a church can offer, if the church isn't authentic in their faith and who they are, if they aren’t reaching out in grace and love to other people, if they aren’t offering hope, it won’t grow. Growing isn’t always easy. Think about yourself or your children growing up. Growing up has a lot of up hill battles. Are we willing to go there as a church? Are we willing to enter the messiness of what it means to grow? Each one of us has been given gifts and abilities, finances and possessions, and time to use under God’s direction to love and serve Him and to help the church grow by uniting together in love and serving one another. In order to grow, we must give up playing God and let God be God. What are you saying, we play God? We can’t possibly play God! You’re right, but we do sometimes anyway. Think about it, how often do we get stressed and frustrated when life doesn’t do our will or when we think God isn’t doing what we want God to do? We must let go and let God be in control! He has a plan for our church, for our lives, for our community, and for our world. He has it all mapped out and we need to listen and follow His will. Let God do for us what we cannot do for ourselves! That’s when we will start to grow.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-338284111453623902010-08-10T17:27:00.001-07:002010-08-10T18:10:27.116-07:00Fingerprints in the ClayWhen I was taking a master's class, we were asked to mold a piece of clay into anything we wanted. For some reason I thought of a smooth skipping stone. You know those? They are these flat smooth rocks that have been formed by the waves that are ideal for skipping across the water. So as I molded the clay, I could see my finger prints on the clay. So too, when God molds us, God’s fingerprints are all over us. It is God who is shaping each one of us to be His, maybe not the way we feel we should be, but in the way He wants us to be. God has molded each of us in a special way. The gifts we have are His fingerprints. The way we use them show His glory to others. Isaiah 64:8 states, <em>Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. </em>We are His work...we are His creation...We are His. He has molded us to do His will, His work. How can we share His fingerprints to others? How can we share His glory?Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-48820376275070029062010-07-26T04:50:00.000-07:002010-07-26T06:23:25.899-07:00know or KNOWThere are times when we know God, and there are times when we KNOW God. Now, I recently read a poll that stated that 80% of people who live in America believe in God or some higher power. But my question is this- Is belief the same as personal knowledge? I’m not sure it is. For many of us the very idea of knowing God may seem unrealistic, out of reach. As I reflect on my relationship with God, it seems that sometimes I know more about God, than actually knowing God. God wants us to know him, like a spouse, or a family member, or a best friend. Can you imagine if we talked to our spouses, or family members as often as we sometimes talk to God? We wouldn’t know them very well would we? Our God is a relational God, and God wants us to know him. In Psalm 63, David talks about his experience of knowing God. He talks about how it creates a deeper longing for even more intimate knowledge of God. I love the first verse, “O God, you are my God!” MY God. Not someone else’s God. MY God, and only that can come with a knowledge of God. How well do you know God? When was the last time you really talked with God?Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-21626945087910019362010-07-06T11:50:00.000-07:002010-07-12T19:04:32.963-07:00The Journey Isn't EasyMy feet hurt. It hurts to walk right now. The gathering has begun! Even though the gathering just began, I think about the many miles I've already walked. As I think about how my feet hurt, I am reminded that sometimes it hurts to walk in the shadow of the cross. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him, but sometimes that journey isn’t easy. There isn’t anything easy about following Christ, well, perhaps the easiest thing is the grace we receive. Sometimes Christ calls us to unexpected places, to do unexpected things, and that is what this gathering is about. It was an unexpected place. Many didn’t feel we should be in this city, but the youth will do unexpected things. But in the process the people of New Orleans are receiving an unexpected gift, and in return, all participants are receiving it back! Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, as my former coaches have said, no pain, no gain. Perhaps they were right all those years!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-8020288075870622352010-07-06T11:41:00.000-07:002010-07-07T05:38:20.792-07:00Lifting Up the LowlyThe National Youth Gathering is fast approaching and I'm prepared to be totally exhausted. On day one of the National Youth Gathering, I'll have a chance to go over to the Superdome and hear over 27,000 youth worship and praise God. It is an event that totally blows me away! There will scripture readings, speakers, skits, the skit guys, and singing. 27,000 lifting their voices. Songs about how Jesus takes all our lows and lifts us up. You can't help but walk out of the first mass event uplifted...nothing at that point can bring you down. Jesus really does lift us up in the times we feel the lowest. Then the next day, the lows may start...the feeling of the burdens of life, relationships, the heat and humidity. All those things can bring out the lows in people. But you know, there are people around that will be lifting people up the whole day, even when things aren’t going well. Jesus lifted up those who were low. He lifted up the woman caught in adultery, he lifted up the paralyzed man, he lifted up the woman who anointed him with oil. And all of that began with a song from his mother Mary early on, before he was born. “He has lifted up the lowly, and casted down the mighty from their thrones.” And that is what 27,000 kids are going to do at the National Youth Gathering. To lift up the lowly. To be God’s hands, to do God’s work. To do as God would do to us when we are down, lift them up!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-5047445867396171372010-06-29T20:27:00.000-07:002010-06-30T03:36:22.542-07:00Worship or ServiceI’ve been thinking more and more about worship lately. Perhaps it is because of where I am at in my current ministry. What I have been pondering (struggling?) with is the term worship service. Should we call it a worship service any more? We may need to refocus the way we look at worship. Service entails doing something. There are times, I think we have lost the fact that worship is not about us, myself included. We come to worship on Sunday mornings or on Saturday nights, and we expect something out of it. We focus on whether we like the songs or not. We focus on how well the pastor preached the sermon. We focus on what was done or not done; what we did or did not get out of the worship service. Suddenly we seem to have lost the meaning behind why we are there in the first place. If we are going to use the term service, we need to be reminded that we are there in response to the goodness of what God is doing in our lives. Worship is about God, not us. But if we can’t get passed the service being for us and not for God, then what do we call it? We call it Worship. Or worship gathering. If I recall, worship service is never used in the Bible, but there are many references to a gathering of people FOR worship. Perhaps just by switching the word we use, maybe we can begin to get back to the heart of what worship is about. God...not you, not me. Not the people across from us. Not the people there or not there. It is about God and God alone! Worship...the focus is...God!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-14342900232862648722010-06-23T05:17:00.000-07:002010-06-23T05:30:20.426-07:00We Are The TreeSing with me now: <em>Zacheaus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. </em>We all know the song, and we all know the story of Zacheaus climbing that tree. How often we forget about the tree. It’s not a great song without his journey up that tree. We often think about the crowds, Zacheaus, and Jesus, but we hardly ever think about the tree. I’m reminded each week I work in ministry that what people seek is a viewpoint so very different from our own. Without the tree, their quest is impossible—and this song is not as much fun to sing. We are the tree. Too often we think of ourselves as Jesus in the story and the world around us as the crowd blocking people’s view of Jesus; but if we think about it, we are really the tree. We are all called to be trees. Those who haven’t heard Jesus’ words, those who aren’t a part of the church, they are longing to climb a tree so that their viewpoint may change. Many are at the bottom and are trying to look up and over the crowd that continues to block their view. Our job is to help lift people above the crowd to see the approaching Savior, not to be the crowd that blocks them. So often our churches become so cluttered that many people are simply busy doing church instead of being the church. Our challenge is to be guided by the sycamore metaphor. Not as a formula for success or steps to a healthy ministry, but as a way to understand the role —our roles—in the kingdom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><em>(based on thoughts from Pastor Otto)</em>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-12127781154709123962010-06-14T08:14:00.000-07:002010-06-15T05:35:59.820-07:00Is My Faith Strong Enough?Starbucks is a wonderful place. This week I have had another "by chance" meetings at Starbucks. I'm preparing music for worship at Starbucks and had to made a phone call for National Youth Gathering stuff. Well, when I hang up, the person at the table next to me stated, "I heard you say the word, God." I responded with "yes, I did". Then the conversation continued with "how do you know if my faith is strong enough to receive salvation?" I'm floored by this question...why, I wasn't expecting this question nor was I planning on a spiritual conversation at another Starbucks. So we got on a conversation about salvation.<br /><br />Is my faith strong enough for salvation? When you doubt that your faith is strong enough for you to be a child of God, it's a clear indication that you misunderstand the nature of faith. Faith in God doesn't involve certainty, nor does it imply the absence of doubts. What a torment, what a terrible burden, to believe that faith must be perfect before God will respond to our need! If we believe that our faith must be perfect, we have established an unattainable goal and enslaved ourselves to a new form of works-salvation. Rather than basing our faith on God's goodness and Christ's completed work of love on our behalf, we base it on our own achievement-our own perfection. People who think that their faith must be perfect before it will be acceptable to God ignore dozens of scriptural examples of people whose trust in God was imperfect, yet their faith was still accepted by Him. Moses, Abraham, David, Jacob, Elijah , Peter and Thomas are some of those people in scripture. In fact, all the disciples had moments like this. These examples show that it isn't the perfection of our trust that matters, but the perfection of God's love and forgiveness. As sinful people, we will at times doubt the strength of our faith. We will sometimes doubt our salvation, but because of the Grace of our Lord, we shouldn't worry. His love, His death, His resurrection, His forgiveness and mercy gives us that assurance that we can and will receive salvation in His name. To God be the glory!Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710618247088749367.post-17114917173464937772010-06-08T16:25:00.000-07:002010-06-08T18:28:17.160-07:00Being a CarrierThis past week, I had the opportunity to talk with a past college friend who is now a pastor. What a tremendous conversation we had. We talked about family, old college stories, and other random thoughts. Then we got serious...we started talking about why we are involved in the church. We shared thoughts about ministry and mission. We shared scripture and ideas. We talked about many aspects of each person's role in the church, but we both failed to share about the power of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />You see, we all get so involved about what we are doing in the church. He talked how he preached and how he leads bible study. I talked about how I use music to enhance the message and how music really speaks to me. Those things aren't bad. In fact they are good, but is that really our purpose. We sing, we preach, we read scripture, we pray, we sing. All those things are great, but our purpose is to share the wonderful saving message of our Lord and Savior. We are the carriers for God. It isn't about us...it isn't because of us, but because of Him. His Spirit works through all of us in all we do...from the smallest thing to the biggest. It is His work...it is all about Him. Our purpose is all for Him. We are His carrier...we are His messenger...we are doing His work.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You can hear Jared Anderson's song "Carrier" at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxfnGY8bSk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxfnGY8bSk</a>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08981035110626844548noreply@blogger.com0